TuSimple Holdings Inc. announced it has begun Level 4 autonomous test runs on Japan's most critical freight corridor that connects the major cities of Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka. In 2021, TuSimple Japan, a subsidiary of TuSimple, completed a series of safety validation and testing work of its autonomous driving system with a local Japanese OEM's truck. In January 2023, TuSimple Japan commenced regular testing on the Tomei Expressway.

Japan's freight industry faces a serious challenge of driver shortage and aging population. Japan'sMinistry of Internal Affairs and Communications reported in 2022 that 45.2% of the drivers in the country's transportation industry were aged 50 or older. It has been reported that the Japanese government is planning to launch a self-driving lane on some sections of the New Tomei Expressway by 2024 and will allow commercial operation of SAE Level 4 fully autonomous trucks in 2026.