Philippines resort picked for test of Japanese self-driving sky tram

Zip Infrastructure targets Southeast Asia with cheaper alternative to monorails

Zip Infrastructure's autonomous tramway can be built for about a fifth of the cost of a monorail, according to the startup. (Zip Infrastructure illustration)

SHOGO KODAMA, Nikkei staff writer

August 2, 2024 04:20 JST

TOKYO -- A Japanese startup will soon begin a feasibility survey for an autonomous aerial tramway in the Philippine mountain resort city of Baguio, seeking a foothold in Southeast Asia for low-cost public transportation technology.

Zip Infrastructure aims to start operating the tramway on a former U.S. military facility in Baguio as early as fiscal 2027, pending approval from local authorities. The line would span several hundred meters, transporting tourists along a route that includes a hotel and a golf course.