Autonomous shuttle bus at Osaka Expo hits wall after unexpected movement
An autonomous shuttle bus operated by Osaka Metro for the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo moved unexpectedly in a holding area while in manual mode with no driver present and struck a concrete wall. The operator is investigating whether the incident resulted from a system error or human factors, and has suspended operations of the same model pending findings.
What happened
On April 28, 2025 at approximately 4:30 p.m., an autonomous shuttle bus operated by Osaka Metro moved unexpectedly while parked in a holding area on the artificial island of Maishima and struck a concrete wall.
The operator had switched the bus to manual driving mode and left the driver's seat when the bus began moving and made contact with the wall. The bus was in non-revenue operation with no passengers aboard, and the driver was uninjured.
Reported impact
The shuttle bus, which carries visitors between a park-and-ride parking lot and the Osaka-Kansai Expo venue, sustained partial vehicle damage in the incident.
Osaka Metro suspended operations of the same model bus pending determination of the cause. The operator stated it is investigating both system errors and human factors.
Index analysis
The incident raises concerns about autonomous vehicle control systems, as the bus moved despite being in manual mode with the operator away from the controls.
The simultaneous investigation into both system error and human factors suggests uncertainty about whether the problem originates from the vehicle's autonomous systems or operator error.
Governance controls
Osaka Metro suspended operation of five buses of the same model until investigation concludes, resuming manual-only operation on the route in the interim.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.