In special-needs vehicles, there are nursing care type vehicles used for transporting individuals with physical disabilities or elderly people, and self-operating type vehicles equipped with assistance devices for individuals with physical disabilities to drive themselves. In 1976, Honda released the Honda TECHMATIC SYSTEM, a driving assistance device for individuals with physical disabilities, and has been supporting the desire to drive oneself for many years. For this test drive event, provided the manual driving assistance device Type D, allowing accelerator/brake operation with only the left hand, where pulling the control grip towards the driver activates the accelerator, and pushing it forward activates the brakes. This device is designed for individuals with disabilities affecting both legs.

At the time, I was focused on the model development I was then involved in, so I had no understanding of special-needs vehicles or Techmatic at all. In the process of developing the Techmatic, as I researched and deepened my understanding of people with disabilities, special-needs vehicles, and how these devices are needed in society, I came to realize, “This is something that truly helps people! Yeah! I’ll do this!” and my motivation surged. Now, I consider this development to be my mission, and I am dedicated to it.

Honda Sun Co., Ltd., located in Oita Prefecture, Japan is a special subsidiary established in 1981 under the principle of “promoting the social independence of people with disabilities through Honda’s manufacturing”. First and foremost, based on the “Three Realities Principle”, we created an opportunity to directly hear the real voices of our colleagues working within the Honda Group.

Ms. Mariya Matsuda, the owner of a FIT (product name in Japan), is the representative of general users. Having owned a 2nd and 4th generation FIT, she has accumulated a total of 260,000 kilometers, the equivalent of circling the Earth 6.5 times! I believe she is Japan's foremost Techmatic user.

In the user interviews conducted so far, a gap was often felt between the intended value to provide from the development side and the perspectives of the users. This opportunity allowed actual users to test drive more than a regular car, and is believed to be an important part of listening to their opinions.

I've been loyal to the FIT all along. I considered other cars as well, but I overwhelmingly felt the spaciousness inside the Honda vehicle. Most importantly, Techmatic, the driving assistance device for the FIT, being a genuine manufacturer accessory*, provides reassurance.

Since my wheelchair wasn't foldable, I chose the ODYSSEY with sliding doors, considering ease of boarding and alighting, as well as securing space for wheelchair storage. I've been using a non-Honda assistive device for seven years.

Since starting to use assistive devices for driving, I've changed cars more than 10 times. I'm currently driving a Honda car with a non-Honda assistive device.

I'm quite satisfied with the current ride comfort, but because I have a low sitting height, I end up gripping the grip from slightly below compared to others. In such cases, I hope there won't be any buttons that are difficult to reach, and I hope there won’t be such concerns in the future.

While driving, a lot of information comes in intuitively, so it's important for things to simply feel “good” when in motion, and genuine accessories are accompanied by a sense of trust.

The sensation of accelerator/brake obtained through pedal operation with the feet, compared to the lever operation with the hands, is completely different. Therefore, experiments are taking place with specifications that minimize the load and allow for ease of operation by pursuing the sense of control such as the stroke, feel, and integration with the car that is felt through lever operation with the hands.

Another thing that wheelchair users who drive with assistive devices often talk about is that they want the devices to be as simple and inconspicuous as possible. I understand that feeling, but through this test drive, I thought it would be nice if there were car choices where people think, “I'll buy a Honda because this assistive device is the coolest”, even if that is based on having the Techmatic.

According to information released by the government, there are approximately 1.23 million people nationwide with lower limb disabilities in Japan. Of those, it is said that about 200,000 people have driver's licenses, but in reality, only about 60,000 people are actually driving*, which is less than half of the license holders. It is said that one reason for this is the opposition by family members concerning driving. Therefore, we hope that by providing assistive devices that cooperate with advanced safety equipment already installed in cars, this will serve as a catalyst for people, including their families, to make the choice with peace of mind.

Personally, I hadn't considered it to that extent, but being involved in the development of Techmatic, I've come to realize that “people worldwide” includes those who have physical disabilities but still want to drive. We must create a system to make that possible. At that moment, I suddenly realized that we are all looking towards the same goal.

"People in wheelchairs can drive", I think there are many people who are not aware of this fact. Many people are surprised when they see me taking the wheelchair (stored in the passenger seat) out of the car through the driver's side door and trying to sit in it from the driver's seat. The societal awareness is still very low.

One of my current dreams is to make the Techmatic into a mainstream presence. It's not just limited to the automotive industry, but the development of special care products faces a dilemma in balancing social significance with business viability. Through using of the latest manufacturing techniques and materials to create high-quality products and increasing the number of users, properly commercializing this within the involved companies, development will accelerate, allowing us to deliver even better products to users. I hope everyone involved can achieve a win-win situation. I think this may be aligned with Honda's fundamental principle of “The Three Joys”*?

Since I can remember, I have always been in a wheelchair, so I've always needed help to get around. But when I finally got a car, I was ecstatic, thinking, for the first time, "I can drive and take someone wherever they want to go! I can be useful to others too!" By driving, I gained confidence and the freedom to go wherever I wanted to go. It truly felt like I had grown wings. So, I hope it spreads even more.

Being able to drive opens up so many possibilities and enhances the freedom and independence in daily life. I know a colleague at Honda Sun who goes solo camping, so I feel that the potential for hobbies is also expanding.

When I go out by car, I check the exterior of the destination store on Street View and look for wheelchair-accessible parking spaces using Google Earth's aerial photos. Lately, I've started to feel the joy of travel, thinking, “This is also part of the pleasure of driving a car”.

Sometimes, I wonder if the technology used to operate computers and musical instruments with just eye movements could be adapted for driving a car. Additionally, if operation can be performed with just a thought, even more people will be able to drive.

A realistic desire would be to have the option to change the grip material or select optional devices, allowing customization to suit one's driving style. That would be enjoyable.

Given the rapidly aging society we're in, I believe the Techmatic could serve as a supportive tool for many. It would be wonderful to have the option to choose between pedals and grips for driving. It would be great if a future came where people could say, “Do you drive with pedals? I use grips!”.

I hope that Techmatic will continue to evolve, adapting to changing times, effectively utilizing the equipment and controls available at the time, and also responding to electrification. By doing so, it may become possible to customize the driving feel to one's liking at the dealership. In the midst of such evolution, we aim to deploy this advancement across many Honda vehicles, making it an assistive device that everyone can use conveniently. We want to continue developing products that support the dreams of all those who are motivated to move forward, driven by the smiles of customers who use and enjoy our products.