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    1. Alt. Mobility
    2. Autonomous Vehicles

    May Mobility launches public road testing of natively automated vehicle based on Toyota Sienna

    May 21, 2021
    Additional shuttles are under development and will be ready for use in public fleets in 2022.
    Related To: May Mobility
    May Mobility
    May Mobility Autonomous Driving Kit 60a7d47eb7e9f

    May Mobility is testing a Toyota Sienna equipped with the next generation of its autonomous driving kit (ADK) and will work with Toyota to add the vehicle to public shuttle fleets in 2022.

    The automated vehicle based on the Sienna features Toyota's highly adaptable Vehicle Control Interface (VCI), allowing for seamless technology integration and operation of key vehicle control systems, such as steering, brakes and acceleration.

    "As we've seen throughout the industry, companies developing self-driving vehicles need strong OEM partners to be successful," said Edwin Olson, co-founder and CEO of May Mobility. "With Toyota, May Mobility can deploy our unique self-driving technology on the best vehicles in the world."

    The Sienna technology integration is a major milestone in May Mobility's cooperative relationship with Toyota. From the initial investment in May Mobility to the Series B fundraising in 2019, the relationship has expanded to include a shuttle fleet in Hiroshima, Japan, with MONET (a joint venture between Softbank and Toyota). May Mobility was also selected to provide autonomous shuttle services in Indianapolis, Ind., as part of a Toyota Mobility Foundation (TMF) initiative beginning later this spring.

    "We are delighted that Toyota's Autono-MaaS (autonomous-mobility as a service) vehicle based on the Sienna will be utilized for May Mobility's public road testing,” said Keiji Yamamoto, operating officer of Toyota and president of Connected Company. “This vehicle is equipped with the Vehicle Control Interface (VCI) that can easily connect to the ADK. Toyota continues to collaborate with automated mobility service providers through these vehicles and is implementing Autono-MaaS swiftly, aiming to realize a society where all people have the freedom of movement."

    Modifications to the Sienna include the addition of LIDAR, RADAR and camera sensors, along with the compute and control modules that make up May Mobility's autonomous driving kit. The May Mobility Toyota Sienna shuttle is currently being tested on public roads in Ann Arbor. Additional shuttles are under development and will be ready for use in public fleets in 2022.