Toyota (TM.US) to enter the market with dual technology pathways featuring AI + "guardrails"; plans to mass-produce passenger cars equipped with advanced driver assistance systems starting in 2028

Zhitong Finance APP has learned that, according to reports, Toyota Motor (TM.US) plans to introduce an advanced driver assistance system to passenger vehicles in 2028. This system is positioned as Level 2++ and aims to significantly reduce the need for driver intervention. The Japanese automaker plans to expand this technology to more models from 2030, while also concurrently advancing Level 4 autonomous driving for commercial vehicles, with the goal of implementation by the end of this decade.

Toyota expects its e-Palette fully electric model—which can operate as a shuttle bus—to achieve Level 4 autonomous driving capability as early as fiscal year 2027, and plans to accelerate the deployment of autonomous commercial vehicles in Japan from 2030.

Japan officially approved Level 4 autonomous driving on the road in 2023, and has set a goal to have 10,000 autonomous buses, taxis, and other vehicles operating nationwide by fiscal year 2030. In addition, Toyota is considering collaborating with Alphabet’s autonomous driving subsidiary Waymo to carry out Robotaxi operations, though a concrete launch date has not yet been determined.

From a technical architecture perspective, Toyota plans to combine an AI-based end-to-end autonomous driving system with a rule-based “guardrail” mechanism. The latter acts as a safety intervention agent, stepping in when AI behaves unexpectedly, and also provides critical explanations for root cause tracing in case of accidents. The company believes this solution could potentially reduce traffic accident casualties by around 60%.

Akihiro Sarada, head of Toyota’s software development center, said: “We will develop Level 4 autonomous driving from a technical standpoint, but at the commercialization level, it will be offered to the market in the form of Level 2++.”

Toyota is not the only Japanese automaker accelerating its autonomous driving plans. Nissan Motor intends to equip certain mass-produced models for the Japanese market with advanced driver assistance systems within fiscal year 2027. Honda also plans to introduce next-generation driver assistance systems on new models such as the new VEZEL from 2028.