Waymo's Massive Funding Round: A Glimpse into the Future of Autonomous Driving: Safety, Business, and Japan's Path Forward?

News that Waymo, an autonomous driving technology company under Alphabet, has secured approximately 853 billion yen in funding, the largest ever, has drawn significant attention to the autonomous driving industry. Waymo's aggressive stance is clear, with expansion of robotaxi services in San Francisco, Phoenix, and Los Angeles, new service deployments in Austin and Atlanta, and the start of tests in Buffalo, New York, and Washington D.C.

This massive funding round demonstrates that autonomous driving technology continues to garner significant investor expectations. However, it is also true that realizing autonomous driving presents numerous hurdles to overcome, including not only technological challenges but also safety, regulations, and social acceptance.

History of Autonomous Driving: From the Dawn to the AI Revolution, and on to Level 4

Looking back at the history of autonomous driving, the path has certainly not been smooth. From General Motors' (GM) presentation of an autonomous driving concept at the 1939 New York World's Fair, approximately 80 years ago, technology has greatly evolved, from guided cable systems to advanced systems utilizing cameras, sensors, and AI.

In particular, the launch of Google's autonomous driving development project in 2009 had a significant impact on the industry. Google viewed autonomous driving not as a "car" but as a "platform," and by utilizing massive amounts of data and AI technology, it dramatically advanced autonomous driving technology.

Currently, the autonomous driving level defined by SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) has reached "Level 4," meaning that fully autonomous driving is now possible, albeit under limited conditions. Overseas, companies like Waymo and China's Baidu have successfully commercialized driverless taxis, and the autonomous driving business has entered a new phase.

The Current State of Japan: A Focus on Safety and Challenges to Commercialization

In Japan, Level 4 was only recently legalized with the amendment of the Road Traffic Act in April 2023. Demonstrations are underway in various local governments, mainly focusing on autonomous buses, but the pace of commercialization is slower compared to overseas.

This is closely related to Japan's prioritization of "safety" in autonomous driving. In many demonstration tests, a person sits in the driver's seat, and the general view is that it will still take time to achieve true Level 4.

However, Japan's autonomous driving technology is by no means inferior to that of other countries. In fact, its high level of safety consciousness is a significant strength. With the spread of Level 4, we can expect business opportunities to expand, such as the application of autonomous taxis and logistics.

The Future Transformed by Autonomous Driving: Increased Disposable Time and New Business Opportunities

Once fully autonomous driving becomes a reality, our lifestyles will change dramatically. Freedom from driving will increase our disposable time, and how we spend time in the car is expected to diversify. The car has the potential to become a new entertainment space or workspace, allowing for movie watching, work, or relaxation.

Furthermore, autonomous driving will create new business opportunities. Innovation will accelerate in various fields, including in-car entertainment, in-car services, and the development and operation of autonomous driving systems. In rural areas, the expansion of autonomous driving-based mobility services is expected to contribute to countermeasures against depopulation and regional revitalization.

The Path Forward for Japan: Aiming for a Balance Between Safety and Business

Autonomous driving technology has the potential to bring about significant societal changes. Japan needs to leverage its strong technological capabilities and safety consciousness, while also referencing global trends, to accelerate the commercialization of autonomous driving.

To achieve this, the following initiatives are crucial:

Accelerate Level 4 demonstration tests and aim for early social implementation

Explore possibilities for business utilization, such as autonomous taxis and logistics

Advance legislation and infrastructure development related to autonomous driving

Conduct public relations and educational activities to increase social acceptance

Waymo's massive funding is a significant step towards the future of autonomous driving. Japan must not fall behind this trend. Through collaborative efforts between the public and private sectors, we must implement autonomous driving technology into society and enjoy its benefits.