Tier IV
Tier IV (ティアフォー) is a Tokyo-based autonomous driving software company founded in 2015 that develops Autoware, the world's first open-source Level 4 self-driving platform, serving Japanese automotive OEMs, logistics operators, and government agencies across Japan, the U.S., and Europe.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersTokyo, Japan
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Tier IV does
Tier IV (ティアフォー) is a Tokyo-headquartered autonomous driving technology company founded in 2015 that develops open-source software for Level 4 self-driving vehicles. The company created Autoware, the world's first open-source autonomous driving platform, stewarded through The Autoware Foundation, and delivers a hardware-agnostic Level 4 software-defined vehicle stack supporting multiple SoC and sensor configurations. Tier IV maintains three wholly-owned operating sub-brands built around Autoware — Pilot.Auto (development platform), Web.Auto (web-based tools), and Edge.Auto (edge computing) — and expanded into hardware with the MP Camera Series launched in 2026, plus proprietary AI and LiDAR accelerators developed through imec's Automotive Chiplet Program.
The company generates revenue through software licensing, development services, and end-to-end solution services. It targets enterprise customers including automotive OEMs (Toyota, Isuzu, Mitsubishi Fuso), logistics operators (Yamato Transport, Newmo), government and defense agencies (Japan Ministry of Defense, METI, NEDO, ATLA, MIC), and transportation providers (JR Central). Tier IV has strategic technology alliances with NVIDIA (Alpamayo VLA model, Cosmos world foundation model, DRIVE Hyperion for Isuzu buses), imec (chiplet-based accelerators), Quadric (Chimera AI processor SDK), Deepen AI (sensor fusion annotation), and KDDI (communications infrastructure and remote operation). It operates testing hubs in Tokyo, Pittsburgh, and Munich, with partnerships extended into the UK (HORIBA MIRA) and Taiwan (Turing Drive). The company employs 251–500 people and has raised roughly $370 million cumulatively across 12 funding rounds between 2017 and 2026.
Tier IV firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Tier IV
- Legal name
- TIER IV, Inc.
- Website
- https://tier4.jp
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Tier IV (ティアフォー) is a Tokyo-based autonomous driving software company founded in 2015 that develops Autoware, the world's first open-source Level 4 self-driving platform, serving Japanese automotive OEMs, logistics operators, and government agencies across Japan, the U.S., and Europe.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Tier IV industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Autonomous Driving Software
- NAICS
- Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511), Software Publishers (5132)
- SIC
- Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Autonomous Vehicles & Ground Mobility (HDAAAIAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Autonomous Driving & ADAS Perception (HDAAAEAI), Autonomous Ride-Hailing / Robotaxi Platforms (THADADAL), Military & Tactical Off-Highway Vehicles (Armored, Tactical Mobility) (IMAHAIAJ)
Keywords
Where Tier IV is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tokyo
- HQ country
- Japan
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices1 record
Markets served
Tier IV business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Software Licensing: Tier IV licenses its Autoware-based autonomous driving software to automotive OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, and other companies developing autonomous vehicles. The open-source platform is freely available while commercial support and specialized implementations generate revenue.
- Development Services: Professional services including autonomous driving system integration, customization, and development support for enterprise customers implementing Autoware-based solutions.
- Solution Services: End-to-end autonomous driving solutions including hardware integration, sensor fusion, and deployment support for specific use cases such as shuttles, buses, and trucks.
- Technology Partnerships: Collaborations with technology partners like NVIDIA, Quadric, and imec that contribute to platform development and provide integration opportunities.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
Tier IV product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Tier IV develops and licenses Autoware, the world's first open-source Level 4 autonomous driving software platform that provides a complete software-defined vehicle stack. The company delivers this through three core product sub-brands (Pilot.Auto, Web.Auto, Edge.Auto) plus automotive-grade camera hardware (MP Camera Series), and supplements the software with professional development, solution, and mobility services for enterprise customers.
Product overview
TIER IV offers an open-source autonomous driving platform centered on Autoware, the industry's first open-source software for Level 4 autonomous driving. The product portfolio consists of three core sub-brands built around Autoware: Pilot.Auto for development and operations, Web.Auto for web-based applications, and Edge.Auto for edge computing. The company has expanded into hardware with the MP Camera Series, an automotive-grade camera lineup for Level 4 autonomous driving. TIER IV provides services across mobility services (robotaxi, autonomous buses, trucking), development services, and solution services to support the social implementation of autonomous driving.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Pilot.Auto: Open-source autonomous driving development platform for scalable solutions
- Web.Auto
- Edge.Auto
- Autoware
- Co-MLOps
Quantifiable outcome
- Japan government target: 100+ locations with Level 4 autonomous services by FY2027
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Tier IV
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Tier IV technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration6 records
AI capability6 records
Feature12 records
Tier IV partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
20 partnerships are on record, tiered supporting, core and major.
- GrabsupportingGrab is mentioned as a partner using NVIDIA DRIVE Hyperion platform. Tier IV collaborates with NVIDIA which has partnerships with Grab for autonomous vehicle technology.
- University of TokyosupportingAcademic partnership for testing AI-powered Level 4 autonomous driving stacks using Toyota JPN TAXI in Tokyo.
- Carnegie Mellon UniversitysupportingAcademic partnership for testing AI-powered Level 4 autonomous driving stacks using Hyundai IONIQ 5 for robotaxi routes in Pittsburgh.
- Technical University of MunichsupportingAcademic partnership for testing AI-powered Level 4 autonomous driving stacks using Volkswagen T7 Multivan in Munich.
- NVIDIAcoreStrategic collaboration expanding to integrate NVIDIA's Alpamayo (10B parameter vision-language-action model) and Cosmos world foundation models into Autoware software and Co-MLOps platform. The integration enhances Level 4 autonomous driving with complex reasoning, explainability, and synthetic data generation capabilities. Tier IV showcased these technologies at NVIDIA GTC 2026.
- ImecmajorTier IV joined imec's Automotive Chiplet Program to develop chiplet-based architectures for autonomous driving solutions. Collaboration focuses on hardware accelerators including AI and LiDAR processors, ensuring compatibility across various SoC architectures.
- Isuzu MotorscoreTier IV and Isuzu Motors deployed Level 4 autonomous buses powered by NVIDIA DRIVE Hyperion in Isuzu ERGA electric and diesel models. The collaboration combines Tier IV's Autoware-based software stack, Isuzu's bus platforms, and NVIDIA's AI compute to create autonomous transit solutions targeting Japan's national driver shortage.
- Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus CorporationcoreTier IV partnered with Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation and Yamato Transport for autonomous trucking proof-of-concept tests on a 500km Tokyo-Osaka route. The collaboration used semi-trailer trucks equipped with Level 2+ automated driving technology.
- KDDImajorPartnership with KDDI for autonomous driving services social implementation, addressing driver shortages and regional transportation gaps. KDDI provides communications infrastructure and remote operation technologies.
- QuadricsupportingTier IV licensed Quadric's Chimera AI processor SDK to evaluate and optimize future iterations of Autoware. The partnership positions Quadric's GPNPU technology as a development tool for automotive network optimization in next-generation autonomous vehicles.
- Multiple Technology Partners (Astemo, Arm, Excelfore, Corellium, Multicoreware, AMD, AWS, Siemens)supportingCollaboration with multiple technology partners including Astemo, Arm, Excelfore, Corellium, Multicoreware, AMD, Amazon Web Services, and Siemens for SOAFEE-enabled software-defined vehicle platform and autonomous driving development.
- Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central)majorTier IV and JR Central formed a capital and business alliance to develop first- and last-mile mobility solutions using autonomous driving technology. The partnership aims to improve access to railway stations and support regional development, with potential integration with the Linear Chuo Shinkansen.
- Turing DrivesupportingTier IV invested in Taiwan-based startup Turing Drive to develop autonomous driving technology and expand globally. Turing Drive specializes in self-driving solutions for low-speed, geofenced areas across Asia including Taiwan and Japan.
- HORIBA MIRAmajorCollaboration to develop and deploy autonomous driving technologies in UK and Europe, starting with an autonomous bus deployment on HORIBA MIRA's proving ground. Tier IV provides autonomous driving software and hardware; HORIBA MIRA offers engineering, validation, and localization services.
- Deepen AIsupportingTier IV expanded its use of Deepen AI's sensor fusion annotation tools to support multiple autonomous driving projects including robotaxi perception systems over more than four years. Deepen AI's tools are integral to Tier IV's ecosystem approach for developing perception models.
- Yamato TransportcoreYamato Transport, Mitsubishi Fuso, and Tier IV joined a Japanese government project to test autonomous trucks for long-haul transportation. The project aimed for Level 4 semi-trailer truck deployment on Yamato's route, with proof-of-concept tests completed in 2026 on the 500km Tokyo-Osaka route.
- Japan Government (Various)coreTier IV participates in multiple Japanese government projects including METI's National Diet shuttle service, Ministry of Defense UGV deployment, NEDO AI data platform development, and ATLA autonomous driving study for SDF facilities.
- NewmocoreTier IV and Newmo partnered to commercialize made-in-Japan robotaxi services. The collaboration leverages Tier IV's open-source Autoware software and Newmo's existing taxi and ridesharing operations of over 1,000 vehicles in Osaka Prefecture. Addresses regional mobility challenges driven by aging population.
- PlusmajorPartnership announced in March 2025 to deploy Level 4 autonomous trucks in Japan, combining Plus's SuperDrive virtual driver with Tier IV's Autoware-based platform for commercial trucks from Isuzu Motors and Mitsubishi Fuso. Supports Japan's Autonomy 2.0 initiative and addresses projected 35% driver shortage by 2030.
- System76supportingTier IV evaluated System76's Thelio Astra Arm64 workstation (built on Ampere's Arm architecture) as a potential central computing platform to consolidate self-driving vehicle development operations and address performance bottlenecks.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Tier IV competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Waymo: Alphabet's autonomous driving subsidiary and the commercial robotaxi leader. Both Tier IV and Waymo develop full-stack Level 4 autonomous driving software and target OEM partnerships and robotaxi services.
- Mobileye: Intel-owned AV/ADAS supplier providing perception, mapping, and self-driving stacks to global OEMs. Like Tier IV, Mobileye licenses AV software to automakers, though its stack is proprietary rather than open-source.
- Aurora Innovation: US-based autonomous driving company developing the Aurora Driver for trucks and robotaxi. Comparable to Tier IV in providing a full-stack autonomy platform targeting commercial deployment with logistics and OEM partners.
- Pony.ai: Chinese-funded autonomous driving company operating robotaxi and autonomous trucking fleets. Directly competes with Tier IV in Asia-Pacific markets and pursues similar OEM and municipal partnerships.
- WeRide: L4 autonomous driving company with commercial robotaxi and minibus operations across China and select international markets. Comparable to Tier IV in offering full-stack AV software for multiple vehicle types.
- Plus: Autonomous trucking software provider whose SuperDrive platform Tier IV integrates with for the Japan long-haul program. Plus and Tier IV are direct partners but also competitors in the AV truck software market.
- Cruise: GM-backed robotaxi operator developing proprietary autonomous driving software. A direct competitor to Tier IV in pursuing OEM-sponsored commercial robotaxi services, though currently focused on US operations.
Regional players
- Baidu Apollo: China-based open-source autonomous driving platform operated by Baidu. Conceptually closest to Tier IV's Autoware as an open-source AV stack, but focused primarily on the Chinese market with deep Baidu ecosystem integration.
Emerging players
- Applied Intuition: Provider of simulation and development tools for autonomous driving and ADAS. Adjacent to Tier IV's Co-MLOps platform, serving overlapping automotive OEM customers developing L2–L4 autonomy programs.
Broad incumbents
- NVIDIA: Tier IV's deepest technology partner via Alpamayo, Cosmos, and DRIVE Hyperion, but also a broader incumbent that offers OEMs competing end-to-end AV compute and software stacks (e.g., DRIVE IX, Hyperion).
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Tier IV social profiles
Digital presenceTier IV financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Tier IV leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
Tier IV subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
Tier IV funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds12 records
Investors17 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Tier IV M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments4 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Tier IV
What does Tier IV do?
Tier IV develops and licenses Autoware, the world's first open-source Level 4 autonomous driving software platform that provides a complete software-defined vehicle stack. The company delivers this through three core product sub-brands (Pilot.Auto, Web.Auto, Edge.Auto) plus automotive-grade camera hardware (MP Camera Series), and supplements the software with professional development, solution, and mobility services for enterprise customers.
Is Tier IV a public or private company?
Tier IV is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Tier IV founded?
Tier IV was founded in 2015. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Tier IV based?
Tier IV is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, in the Asia region.
How does Tier IV make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Software Licensing is the primary driver. The others are development Services, solution Services and technology Partnerships.
Who are Tier IV's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Waymo, Mobileye, Aurora Innovation, Pony.ai, WeRide, Plus and Cruise. Baidu Apollo is listed as a regional player. Applied Intuition is listed as an emerging player. NVIDIA is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Tier IV have an API?
No public API is recorded for Tier IV.
What industry is Tier IV in?
Tier IV's product category is Autonomous Driving Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAAAIAF, Autonomous Vehicles & Ground Mobility, with a secondary code of HDAAAEAI, Autonomous Driving & ADAS Perception. Its NAICS code is 334511 and its SIC code is 3812.