World’s 1st Autonomous Taxi Starts Operating in Tokyo

the world’s first autonomous taxi to run on public roads started operating in central Tokyo on Monday.

The vehicle, developed by Tokyo-based robot maker ZMP and operated by taxi company Hinomaru Kotsu, ferries passengers along a set 5.3 km route starting near Tokyo Station and ending in the Roppongi entertainment district, Nikkei reported.

For the time being, the taxi makes only four return trips per day and reservations have to be made online. The trip costs 1,500 yen ($13.5) one way and passengers use a smartphone app to get their trip started. The two companies hope to begin full commercial operations in 2020, when the city hosts the Summer Olympics.

The pilot project is partly financed by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and will run through Sept. 8.

Autonomous vehicles will reduce the cost of taxi services and make them more widely available, according to ZMP. Demand is expected to rise with the influx of tourists during the games. Inexpensive taxis can also help deal with shortages of public transportation in remote areas, the company claims.

The taxi operates fully autonomously—turning, changing lanes and stopping on its own—though a driver sits behind the wheel in case of emergency.

While the project marks a world-first in the development of smart mobility, companies in other countries have made greater progress in terms of testing autonomous vehicles.

Uber and Waymo, a subsidiary of Google’s parent company Alphabet, have been testing self-driving cars in cities across the US. German carmaker Daimler is also planning to launch self-driving taxis in partnership with automotive engineering company Bosch in California next year.

Various developments have also been made in China. Ride-hailing company Didi Chuxing has been testing self-driving vehicles on public roads, while search engine Baidu plans to start operating an autonomous bus service in the country. It is working with SoftBank Group subsidiary SB Drive to take the service to Japan next year.