Autonomous shuttle maker NAVYA enters the Japanese market

NAVYA sold two autonomous shuttles NAVYA ARMA to SB Drive Corp. in March. With this new sale, NAVYA is continuing its international conquest and demonstrating that the new smart mobility solutions it is offering can anticipate passenger expectations.

SB Drive, a subsidiary of SoftBank Corp., is an entity created last year to develop autonomous vehicle technology for public transport. SB Drive conducts social trials of self-driving technologies. Currently SB Drive has smart mobility partnership agreements with four municipalities in Japan.

A very first in Japan

A research committee has done all the tests a few days before a first trial.

From July 18 to July 23, and for the first time in Japan, an autonomous driverless and 100% electric shuttle circulated in the Shiba Park in Tokyo which attracted more than 800 people in 5 days.

NAVYA continues its expansion in Asia after sales in Singapour, China (Honk Kong) and now Japan. Today 45 shuttles are deployed all around the world and they have already transported up to 170.000 passengers.

The road to a new mobility in Asia is on the way !

About SB Drive

SB Drive is a subsidiary of SoftBank Corp. and was created in 2016. It conducts social trials of self-driving technologies. Currently SB Drive has smart mobility partnership agreements with four municipalities in Japan.

About NAVYA

NAVYA, created in 2014, is a French company specializing in developing innovative, smart and sustainable mobility solutions. NAVYA develops driverless, automated electric vehicles that are independent of all infrastructure. These vehicles are designed for the intelligent transport of people and goods.

In October 2015, NAVYA launched the NAVYA ARMA, a 100% autonomous, driverless and electric shuttle which can transport up to 15 people and which is now operating on different sites: private sites and public roads.

The vehicle is equipped with numerous sensors and an on-board computing system that enables it to interact with its surroundings. It is also intended to provide efficient mobility solutions in terms of space and energy. NAVYA benefits from major advances in technology in the autonomous, electric vehicle sector thanks to its experience in the field and a highly-qualified R&D team. Christophe Sapet, its CEO, is supported by a team of 130 people divided up between Lyon and Paris.

October 2016 saw NAVYA’s shareholders unanimously approve a raise in capital of 30 million euros. French groups VALEO and KEOLIS and the Qatari GROUP8 acquired a stake in the company alongside GRAVITATION and CAPDECISIF MANAGEMENT, who joined in 2015 and ROBOLUTION CAPITAL, the original investor.