Company Directory › Robotics › Embodied AI & Robot Software › Japan
Embodied AI & robot software companies in Japan
Japan is home to 4 embodied AI & robot software companies listed in the GlobleMatch directory. Two of the four build autonomous driving technology — Tier IV around the open-source Autoware platform and Turing with end-to-end driving AI — while Preferred Networks works across the AI stack and Hutzper applies AI to factory digital transformation. Every profile below is compiled from public sources and human-reviewed, and each company can claim and update its profile free of charge.
Key facts
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Category | Embodied AI & robot software |
| Country | Japan |
| Companies listed | 4 |
| Subcategory focus (top 3 by count) | Autonomous driving systems and platforms, Vertically integrated AI, AI services for manufacturing |
| Data verified | 13 November 2026 |
Market data: Japan
Industrial robot installations, 2025: 36,219 installations, down 19% on the previous year. Installations fell by roughly a fifth year on year in the 2025 data. Source: IFR World Robotics 2026, press release 2026-09-24.
All 4 companies
| Company | City | What they make or do | Website | Profile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preferred Networks | Tokyo | Vertically integrated AI company working from chips and computing to foundation models and solutions | preferred.jp | View profile |
| Tier IV | Tokyo | Autonomous driving technology company behind the Autoware open-source platform | tier4.jp | View profile |
| Hutzper | Osaka | AI services that implement digital transformation for manufacturing companies | hutzper.com | View profile |
| Turing Inc. | Tokyo | Startup developing fully autonomous driving technology with end-to-end generative AI | turing-motors.com | View profile |
Company notes
- Preferred Networks — Preferred Networks, headquartered in Tokyo's Otemachi Building, was founded on 26 March 2014 (company-stated in its official factsheet). It works vertically across the AI stack — chips, computing, foundation models and solutions — for transportation, manufacturing, life sciences and other industries in Japan and globally.
- Tier IV — Tier IV, founded in December 2015 and based in Tokyo's Shinagawa ward, builds autonomous driving systems and platforms around Autoware. Its stated markets are autonomous mobility and logistics, including last-mile driverless services, and it sells globally rather than only in Japan.
- Hutzper — Hutzper, incorporated on 1 April 2020 per the JPX listing outline, is an Osaka company that implements manufacturing digital transformation with AI services. The industries listed on its official site include automotive, transport equipment, pharmaceuticals, food and beverages, electrical machinery, printing, cosmetics and logistics.
- Turing Inc. — Turing, founded on 20 August 2021 (company-stated) and headquartered in Tokyo's Ota ward, develops fully autonomous driving technology under the slogan "We Overtake Tesla." The company states cumulative funding of ¥36.6 billion (company-stated), and its customers are automakers and automotive suppliers.
How to source embodied AI & robot software from Japan
Start by deciding which layer of the stack you are buying, because these four companies sell different things. Preferred Networks is the broadest offer: a vertically integrated AI company spanning chips, computing infrastructure, foundation models and applied solutions. Tier IV sells autonomous driving systems and platforms built on Autoware, aimed at mobility and logistics operators, including last-mile driverless services. Turing is narrower and more radical — a startup betting on end-to-end learning with generative AI as the route to full autonomy in passenger vehicles. Hutzper is the factory-facing option, implementing manufacturing digital transformation with AI services for industries from automotive to cosmetics. A buyer comparing the two driving companies should test the same routes and edge cases on both stacks and compare intervention data, not demonstrations. Posting a sourcing request on GlobleMatch costs nothing; the companies that fit reply directly, and introductions follow fit rather than payment. For manufacturing AI, Hutzper's industry list is Japan-focused, while Preferred Networks describes projects in Japan and global markets.
What to check before you contact
- Separate platform from product: Tier IV's offer centres on the Autoware platform, while Turing sells a complete full-autonomy approach — the integration work left to you differs sharply.
- Check language and support geography: Hutzper lists Japan as its market, while Preferred Networks and Tier IV both describe global markets.
- Treat headline funding as company-stated: Turing's ¥36.6 billion cumulative funding figure comes from its own profile (company-stated), not from an independent audit.
- Confirm where the engineering team sits: three of the four are in Tokyo, but Hutzper is in Osaka, which matters for on-site pilot support in manufacturing projects.
Frequently asked questions
How many embodied AI & robot software companies are there in Japan?
The GlobleMatch directory lists 4 embodied AI & robot software companies based in Japan, verified 13 November 2026. Three are headquartered in Tokyo and one, Hutzper, in Osaka; the count changes as new profiles are reviewed and added.
Can I contact these companies directly?
Yes. Each profile carries the company's official website and contact route, or you can post a sourcing request and let matching companies answer. Preferred Networks, for example, publishes its site at preferred.jp.
Does it cost anything to be listed on this page?
No. Directory profiles are free, human-reviewed and claimable by the company at any time, with no pay-to-rank. Preferred Networks (founded 2014) and Turing (founded 2021) are listed on exactly the same basis.
How many industrial robots were installed in Japan in 2025?
IFR World Robotics 2026 counts 36,219 installations in 2025, a fall of 19% on the previous year (IFR, press release 2026-09-24). The software companies on this page sell into the automation base behind those installations.
What do embodied AI & robot software companies in Japan specialise in?
Based on listed profiles, autonomous driving is the largest focus, with 2 of the 4 companies (Tier IV and Turing). The others cover vertically integrated AI (Preferred Networks) and AI services for manufacturing (Hutzper).
Run a company in this category? Claim your free profile.
Every company on this page is listed in the GlobleMatch directory with a verified official website as of 13 November 2026. Profiles are compiled from public sources and human-reviewed before they appear; a company can claim its profile free of charge and correct or remove its details at any time.