The vehicles are equipped with special software and hardware that allows the delivery service worker to unlock the recipient’s car using a “digital key” by scanning the barcode on the package. The vehicle can be unlocked for no more than 10 minutes, but its engine cannot be started. If the courier forgets to close it again, the application on the smartphone will remind you of this.
Participants in the beta test included owners of a limited number of Toyota cars in Tokyo and Aichi prefectures. The experiment started on February 1 and will last until April 30, 2022.
The project involves Toyota Motor, telecommunications giant KDDI and delivery service Yamato Transport. The organizers of the experiment announced their intention to launch the full operation of the trunk delivery service after they are convinced of its safety.
As NHK notes, every year in Japan the number of parcels left at the entrance to homes increases. At the same time, no one is safe from theft. Yamato Transport hopes that the option to leave delivery in the trunk of a locked car will protect a large number of Japanese from such unpleasant incidents.
