Eve Autonomy Co. and Bridgestone Corporation will equip a Level 4 autonomous vehicle (an unmanned automated guided vehicle) with the next-generation “AirFree” tyre for verification at Bridgestone’s Nasu plant in Japan. The AirFree tyre requires no tyre pressure management and eliminates concerns about punctures.
In previous test drives and demonstration experiments, they have confirmed that the unmanned automated guided vehicle fitted with “AirFree” can operate stably.
As securing mobility in the face of population decline and an aging society, along with the growing severity of labour shortages, becomes a pressing social issue, demand for autonomous driving, supporting the movement of both people and goods, is expected to expand going forward. In this context, Eve Autonomy and Bridgestone have recognised the potential to further enhance the value of “uninterrupted mobility” by combining autonomous driving technology with AirFree, and have been conducting technical studies since 2024 using Eve’s unmanned automated transport vehicles.
The unmanned automated guided vehicles are equipped with a Level 4 autonomous driving system, enabling them to operate autonomously without driver intervention in non?public road environments such as factory premises. For such autonomous vehicles, it is essential to ensure stable operation and improve uptime by enhancing vehicle reliability and reducing maintenance burdens.
Bridgestone’s “AirFree” features a structure that supports loads using a recyclable, thermoplastic resin shaped like spokes instead of air, eliminating the risk of punctures and enhancing resource efficiency while streamlining maintenance. Offering the value of “never stopping movement,” AirFree is expected to exhibit strong compatibility with autonomous vehicles, which require stable operation.
In test runs conducted on the “B-Mobility” test course within Bridgestone Innovation Park (Kodaira City, Tokyo), the firm has confirmed that the vehicle can operate without affecting its autonomous driving functions even when equipped with “AirFree.”
Furthermore, it has verified that there are no changes in tyre characteristics due to air pressure fluctuations, and that the high steering responsiveness enables stable adherence to the designated driving route.
Based on these findings, Bridgestone’s Nasu Plant, which already utilises Eve’s unmanned automated transport vehicles for inter?building logistics, began a demonstration experiment in June 2026.
It adds that in actual production processes as well, it has been confirmed that unmanned automated transport vehicles fitted with “AirFree” can travel reliably.