# Autoware at Kumamoto, Japan: deployment

Canonical ID: `f239dfe2-2af7-4700-b58b-e93eb2283730`

Autonomous bus trial using [TIER IV](/companies/tier-iv.md) Minibus 2.0, operated by BOLDLY Inc. in partnership with Sumitomo Corporation, TaKuRoo, and SMAS. Public free rides available. Trial delayed from Feb 10 to Mar 21, 2025 after a rear-end collision during testing.

## Key facts

- **Vehicle:** TIER IV Minibus 2.0
- **Operator:** BOLDLY Inc.

**Trust tier:** Unverified

_Last updated: 2026-08-09_

- **Slug:** autoware-kumamoto-japan
- **Status:** pilot
- **Model:** [Autoware](/models/autoware.md) (id: `cdcb0582-9fe1-4ae8-9ab2-968a54040a11`)
- **Category:** [Robotaxis](/robotaxis)
- **Company:** [Tier IV](/companies/tier-iv.md) (id: `8c8a9f0b-110b-4d16-aad1-20798e85da1b`)
- **Location:** [Kumamoto, Japan](/locations/kumamoto-japan.md) (id: `dd5071d8-905e-4e28-b815-5ae3c44af71c`)
- **First seen:** 2025-03-21T00:00:00.000Z

## Verification log (0, append-only)

_No verifications recorded._

## Sources (1)

1. **Autonomous Bus Trial Launch in Kumamoto City** · https://www.sumitomocorp.com/en/easia/news/important/group/20250317 · 2025-03-21

## Verified answers

- [Where can you actually ride a robotaxi in 2026?](/where-can-you-ride-a-robotaxi.md)
- [Robotaxi safety record: every recall, crash, and investigation](/robotaxi-safety-record.md)

## Common questions

### What is the Autoware deployment at Kumamoto, Japan?

Autoware, built by Tier IV, is recorded as a deployment at Kumamoto, Japan on the DEPLOY registry. Tier IV operates the deployment directly.

### Who operates Autoware at Kumamoto, Japan?

Tier IV, the manufacturer of Autoware, operates this deployment directly. This is a maker-deploys-its-own-product arrangement rather than a customer pilot.

### When did the Autoware deployment at Kumamoto, Japan go live?

The deployment is recorded as starting March 21, 2025 on the DEPLOY registry. Earlier activity may exist but is not yet sourced.

### Have there been incidents at the Autoware deployment at Kumamoto, Japan?

No active incidents affecting this deployment are recorded on the DEPLOY registry. Absence of recorded incidents is not a guarantee no incident occurred; DEPLOY records only sourced incidents and suppresses retracted ones.


_API: GET /v1/robots/f239dfe2-2af7-4700-b58b-e93eb2283730 · feeds: GET /v1/feeds?deploymentId=f239dfe2-2af7-4700-b58b-e93eb2283730 · canonical URL: /deployments/autoware-kumamoto-japan_