STATION Ai Launches Call for Startups to Conduct Mobility Projects with Toyota's "e-Palette"

STATION Ai Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Showa-ku, Nagoya; President and CEO: Hirotaka Sahashi) will begin accepting applications on June 15, 2026, for companies interested in participating in demonstration experiments utilizing the battery electric vehicle "e-Palette" developed by Toyota Motor Corporation. This initiative is conducted as part of the "Next-Generation Mobility Demonstration Support Project" adopted by Aichi Prefecture.

This project supports verification projects utilizing "e-Palette" based on technologies, services, and business hypotheses held by startups and business enterprises. In addition to providing financial support of up to 4 million yen (excluding tax) per company for three selected firms, STATION Ai will offer hands-on mentoring in formulation of business plans and execution of demonstration tests, aiming for commercialization and sustainable social implementation post-demonstration.

Background of the Project

Aichi Prefecture, as a major cluster for the automobile and mobility industries, is promoting innovation in the field of next-generation mobility.

STATION Ai has been working to create new businesses by supporting co-creation among various stakeholders, including startups, major corporations, universities, and administrative bodies.

In this project, rather than viewing the battery EV "e-Palette" merely as a means of transportation, we will leverage it as a "mobile space," a "venue for service delivery," and a "customer touchpoint." Through this approach, we aim to verify new use cases and the feasibility of social implementation for next-generation mobility.

In the previous fiscal year's demonstration support project utilizing "e-Palette," various business ideas and service proposals were submitted. This fiscal year, we aim to clarify the utilization requirements and environmental conditions for "e-Palette," facilitate verification of technologies, services, and business hypotheses by enterprises, and create demonstration experiments leading to social implementation.

Key Features of the Project

1. Provision of Verification Environment Utilizing "e-Palette" We offer an opportunity to utilize the next-generation mobility vehicle "e-Palette" free of charge for up to one month to verify new services and technologies.

2. Verification Financial Support of Up to 4 Million Yen (Excluding Tax) We will sign outsourcing agreements for the verification tests and support expenses up to 4 million yen (excluding tax) per selected firm.

3. Hands-on Mentoring Targeting Commercialization With a view toward commercialization and social implementation, we provide continuous support ranging from formulating business execution plans, periodic mentoring, KPI (Key Performance Indicator) management, to organizing outcome reports to ensure smooth execution of verification tests.

Verification Environment Provided by the Project

This project provides a verification environment for testing technologies, services, and business hypotheses by utilizing the vehicle characteristics of "e-Palette" and the co-creation environment of STATION Ai.

Selected companies can utilize "e-Palette" for a set period to deliver services using the internal vehicle space or the surrounding area, verify user experience, confirm operational flow, and evaluate business feasibility (*1).

Details of the verification environment will be adjusted after selection, based on the content of the verification and safety management requirements.

Vehicle to be Used Battery EV "e-Palette" developed by Toyota Motor Corporation

Lease Period Maximum of one month per company

Location Basically, demonstration tests on regular transit routes. Testing on other routes will be determined after consultation.

Utilization Method Use as internal space, vehicle exterior/surrounding space, service delivery hub, customer touchpoint, etc.

Verification Content User experience, service delivery methods, operational framework, business viability, possibility of social implementation, etc.

Support Details Formulation of verification plans, coordination with related parties, KPI design, progress management during verification, support for outcome reports, etc.

Precautions Driving feasibility, transit conditions, insurance, safety management, equipment installation requirements, etc., will be reviewed individually according to the verification details.

*1 Depending on the verification details, restrictions may apply regarding vehicle utilization methods, installed equipment, driving/parking conditions, test locations, target audience, and safety management systems.

Outline of Recruitment

Project Name Next-Generation Mobility Demonstration Support Project

Recruitment Content Creation of verification ideas for services/technologies utilizing "e-Palette"

Target Startups and business entities, centered on tenant companies of STATION Ai

Recruitment Period June 15, 2026 (Monday) to July 6, 2026 (Monday)

Number of Selected Companies 3 companies

Support for Selected Companies Demonstration experiment expenses up to 4 million yen (excluding tax) per company

Evaluation Criteria Technical feasibility, user acceptance/social implementation feasibility, operational feasibility, business viability, etc.

*STATION Ai tenancy is not required. After selection, specified criteria must be met before signing the contract. *Details of the specified criteria are to be verified.

Key Schedule

Recruitment Period: June 15, 2026 (Monday) to July 6, 2026 (Monday) First-round Review: 2026