GACHA, the First Self-driving Bus from MUJI

The famous Japanese company MUJI created plans for a self-driving bus. Named GACHA, this vehicle was designed in collaboration with Sensible 4, a Finnish company specialising in self-driving technology.

GACHA will be able to face all weather conditions, which MUJI claim is a first.

A vehicle that can withstand arctic conditions

Until now, heavy rain, fog and snow have prevented autonomous vehicles from driving with ease because ‘the existing technology is mainly tested and developed in warm climatic conditions‘, the company explains. To remedy this, Sensible 4 tested GACHA in arctic conditions, allowing it to drive autonomously and in total safety, MUJI asserts.

While Sensible 4 took care of the technical side, MUJI – known for its minimalist style – took charge of the aesthetic design of the vehicle. The bus is therefore pared down, with monochrome colours and cubic or curved shapes. What makes GACHA especially different is the fact that it has been designed so it is impossible to distinguish the front from the back. It’s a display of true technological prowess.

Practical trials of GACHA began in Finland in 2019 with the goal of making GACHA available for real-world use in the near future.