The archive · Logistics & Supply · Strategic decision · 2024–2026
RoboTruck Bets on Japan's Driver Shortage: TuSimple Co-founder's New Venture, ¥1.65B Pre-A
Founded April 2024, RoboTruck uses L4 tech for driverless trucks on Tokyo–Nagoya and Tokyo–Osaka routes, with ¥1.65B Pre-A funding.
RoboTruck (株式会社ロボトラック)
What the business is
Develops autonomous driving systems for large trucks used in Japanese trunk-haul logistics (targeting L4 fully driverless), providing systems and operational solutions to logistics companies and vehicle manufacturers.
Starting capital：Seed round ¥300 million (3亿日元) (March 2025, University of Tokyo IPC (东大IPC), PKSHA Algorithm Fund, AIS Capital); cumulative Pre-A ¥1.65 billion (16.5亿日元) (September 2025, led by GLOBIS, with participation from ORIX, Archetype Ventures, Mizuho Leaguer, JIC VGI, SMBC VC, etc.).
How it started
In April 2024, Nan Wu, who had co-founded TuSimple in the United States (which developed the world's first batch of L4 heavy-truck autonomous driving and listed on Nasdaq), founded RoboTruck in Tokyo, targeting Japan's '2024 problem' (2024年问题)—tightened overtime limits for truck drivers made the capacity shortfall visible; in June 2025, former SkyDrive COO Yusuke Haga (羽賀雄介) became CEO, responsible for management and business development.
What happened
Completed a ¥300 million (3亿日元) seed round in March 2025; in July 2025, Pre-A of about ¥1.2 billion (12亿日元) (led by GLOBIS, with ORIX participating through a capital-business partnership); in September 2025, cumulative funding reached ¥1.65 billion (16.5亿日元) and JIC VGI and SMBC VC were introduced; within one year of establishment, completed a 100 km (100公里) L4-equivalent driving test on the Shin-Tomei Expressway (新东名高速), plans L4 demonstrations on Tokyo—Nagoya in fiscal year 2025 and Tokyo—Osaka in fiscal year 2026, and commercialization around fiscal years 2027/2028.
How it ended up
Still running: in development and demonstration stage, no public revenue; aims to become a leading player in Japan's long-distance trunk-haul autonomous trucks.
Background
RoboTruck, founded in Tokyo in April 2024 by TuSimple co-founder Nan Wu, develops L4 autonomous driving for large trucks, aiming for driverless operation. Former SkyDrive COO Yusuke Haga became CEO in June 2025.
Betting on Japan's 2024 problem, where driver overtime limits worsen shortages, with MLIT estimating 1/3 of truck transport lacking drivers by 2030. RoboTruck targets Tokyo–Nagoya and Tokyo–Osaka corridors with fully driverless trucks.
Within a year, completed 100 km L4 test on Shin-Tomei Expressway and joined METI Mobility DX. Raised ¥300M seed in March 2025, ¥1.2B Pre-A in July 2025, totaling ¥1.65B by September 2025. Plans L4 demos in FY2025/26, commercialization by FY2027/28.
What has to be true
- The market shortfall has a regulatory clock: the overtime limits under the '2024 problem' (2024年问题) are a statutory deadline, and the capacity shortfall can be quantified.
- The team reuses U.S. experience: TuSimple co-founder brings the technology and pitfall record of the world's earliest L4 heavy trucks.
- Path choice is extreme but clear: directly do fully driverless operation, rather than following assisted driving.
- Set milestones first, then raise financing: within one year of establishment, completed a 100 km expressway L4 demonstration, allowing capital to see progress.
What can be applied
Nan Wu applied U.S. trucking lessons to Japan, leveraging a regulatory clock and quantifiable shortfall, using small-step financing to reach commercialization.
Aftermath
As of September 2025, RoboTruck raised ¥1.65B cumulatively from GLOBIS, ORIX, Archetype, Mizuho Leaguer, UTokyo IPC, PKSHA, AIS, JIC VGI, SMBC VC. Completed 100 km L4 test on Shin-Tomei Expressway, selected for METI Mobility DX. Plans L4 demos on Tokyo–Nagoya in FY2025, Tokyo–Osaka in FY2026, commercialization around FY2027/28. Still in development, no revenue.
Sources
- ロボトラック、約12億円を調達─自動運転トラック事業化加速と経営体制強化
- UTokyo IPC Exercises Stock Options to Make Additional Investment in Robotruck
- ON&BOARD Portfolio Company Robotruck Secures a Total of ¥1.65 Billion in Pre-Series A Funding
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