Isuzu, a Japanese automobile manufacturer, plans to create a test track for autonomous driving.

Isuzu to Build Japan's First Dedicated Autonomous Driving Test Course for Commercial Vehicles

Isuzu Motors Limited, a leading Japanese commercial vehicle manufacturer, has announced plans to create Japan's first dedicated autonomous driving test course for commercial vehicles. The course will be located within the Isuzu Hokkaido Proving Ground (IHPG) in Mukawa, Hokkaido, and is scheduled to begin full-scale operations in September 2027.

The test course, covering approximately 190,000 square metres, will simulate urban streets, highway entry and exit sections, and rural roads. It is designed to accommodate large vehicles, such as articulated buses and heavy truck trailers, providing a controlled environment for testing high-risk scenarios.

The initiative is part of Isuzu's mid-term business plan, which identifies autonomous driving as a key area for development. The company aims to introduce Level 4 autonomous trucks and buses in the 2027 financial year.

The collaboration with national and local governments, as well as research institutions, is planned for the Isuzu test course. Traffic infrastructure will be installed to allow complex scenarios to be reproduced more safely than on public roads.

Isuzu intends to open the test course to external organizations, including startups, suppliers, and infrastructure specialists. The course is expected to become a hub for open innovation and a center for autonomous driving research and development.

A new research and maintenance facility will be constructed alongside the test course to provide workspace for partners. The initiative is also expected to support the creation of safety standards, certification processes, and operational guidelines.

Japan's logistics and passenger transport sectors are facing pressures from demographic change, including an ageing population and a shortage of drivers. Isuzu positions autonomous driving as one response to these challenges.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the Isuzu test course was held on 27 August 2025, attended by around 40 participants. The first autonomous vehicle test site for commercial vehicles within the IHPG is expected to play a crucial role in Isuzu's leadership in autonomous driving for commercial vehicles.

The Isuzu test course is essential infrastructure for the Isuzu Group's ambition to lead in the development and deployment of autonomous driving technology for commercial vehicles. The company believes that the test course will contribute significantly to the advancement of autonomous driving technology in Japan and beyond.