Australia's NTRO buys its first autonomous bus from Japan's TIER IV

A 15-seater electric bus named Rita

The vehicle is a 15-seater electric bus with an autonomous driving system developed by TIER IV, according to the announcement. NTRO has named it Rita in honor of Rita Excell. She was executive director of the Australian Driverless Vehicle Initiative when she partnered with the Australian Road Research Board (ARRB), a precursor of NTRO, for the country's first autonomous vehicle trial with Volvo XC90s in November 2015.

NTRO and TIER IV have already tested the bus and fine-tuned it for Australian conditions on a dedicated track. The aim is to demonstrate driverless operation as well as conditional automated driving with a driver present.

The purchase follows a strategic collaboration the two organizations established in 2024. It combines NTRO's experience running trials in the region with TIER IV's track record of autonomous bus deployments in Japan. TIER IV describes itself as a pioneer in open-source software for autonomous driving, built around its Autoware platform.

Trials open to agencies, operators and airports

NTRO is now offering state transport agencies, bus operators, local councils, airports and other organizations in Australia and New Zealand the chance to experience the bus. This will happen through demonstrations and in-service public transport trials, including on public roads.

According to the announcement, the initiative aligns with Australia's National Road Safety Strategy target of zero deaths and serious injuries on roads by 2050. It also addresses a bus driver shortage that is expected to worsen as many drivers reach retirement age in the late 2020s.

What the companies say

NTRO Chief Executive Officer Michael Caltabiano called the acquisition of Australia's first autonomous bus from TIER IV "an exciting moment for NTRO and Australia". He said NTRO has the skills and expertise to develop the tools needed to deploy the technology, citing needs such as safely transporting elderly people between their homes, shops and hospitals. In his view, services delivered by Rita will be more cost-effective and environmentally sustainable than the current fleet of buses.

Caltabiano also pointed to examples from around the world, saying successful models have shown the technology can benefit elderly and mobility-challenged individuals, support communities that rely on regular short trips to public facilities, and help schools with dedicated pick-up routes to reduce congestion in busy morning and afternoon periods.

TIER IV founder and CEO Shinpei Kato said the company is delighted to partner with NTRO. He said the collaboration builds on its experience deploying autonomous buses across Japan. With Rita, TIER IV aims to show that autonomous buses can enhance mobility and offer a model for safe and reliable services in communities worldwide.

What it means for transport operators

For public transport bodies in Australia and New Zealand, the main change is access. Agencies, operators, councils and airports can now see an autonomous bus working in local conditions and take part in trials, rather than relying on overseas examples. The source does not give details on trial locations, schedules or costs, and it does not say when public road trials will begin.

NTRO says it has over 60 years of experience through the Australian Road Research Board and now serves as a central hub for transport research, policy and project work in both countries. The two partners present Rita as a step toward wider autonomous vehicle deployment in the region.