Korean entity Autonomous A2Z joins forces with Japanese company Kanematsu to advance Level 4 self-driving technology within Japan's borders.
Japanese Trading Giant Kanematsu Partners with Autonomous A2Z for Autonomous Mobility Development
In a significant move towards autonomous mobility, Japanese trading company Kanematsu has announced its collaboration with Autonomous A2Z, a leading Korean autonomous driving solutions provider. The partnership, which was formalized through a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed in early August 2025, marks Autonomous A2Z's official entry into the Japanese market.
Under the terms of the agreement, the two companies aim to jointly commercialize and demonstrate Autonomous A2Z’s Level 4 autonomous driving technology in Japan. This technology, which allows vehicles to operate without driver intervention within designated areas, is set to introduce a new dimension to Japan's transportation sector.
Kanematsu, with its extensive experience in mobility sales and local system preparation in Japan, will leverage its expertise to facilitate the partnership. Autonomous A2Z, on the other hand, will provide the advanced autonomous driving technology and deploy expert personnel as needed to ensure practical cooperation.
The partnership also includes efforts to secure local certification and regulatory approval for the autonomous driving technology in Japan. This is a crucial step towards making autonomous mobility a reality in the country.
Autonomous A2Z holds the longest cumulative autonomous driving record among Korean companies, having operated over 68,000 kilometers of real-world autonomous driving across Korea. This expertise and the company's proprietary self-driving technology will be deployed in Japan as part of the collaboration.
The partnership between Autonomous A2Z and Kanematsu is not just about mobility innovation; it's about addressing key societal challenges in Japan. By accelerating the adoption of autonomous driving, the partnership aims to alleviate labor shortages and enhance transportation stability.
Speaking about the partnership, Autonomous A2Z's CEO, Han Ji-hyeong, stated, "Kanematsu is a strong partner capable of bridging the autonomous driving industry and Japan's social system."
As of the beginning of August 2025, no further updates beyond this initial agreement have been announced. However, this partnership is poised to revolutionize Japan's transportation sector and pave the way for a future of autonomous mobility.
[1] Expanding autonomous driving adoption [2] Addressing labor shortages [3] Enhancing transportation stability
Note: Information sourced from various press releases and news articles.
This partnership between Kanematsu and Autonomous A2Z aims to expand autonomous driving adoption in Japan, addressing labor shortages and enhancing transportation stability. With Kanematsu's expertise in the mobility industry and local system preparation, and Autonomous A2Z's advanced autonomous driving technology, they aim to commercialize and demonstrate Level 4 autonomy, introducing a new dimension to Japan's transportation sector while securing local certification and regulatory approval. This collaboration also leverages Autonomous A2Z's proprietary self-driving technology and expertise in autonomous driving, having operated over 68,000 kilometers across Korea.
