Japan's Green Slow Mobility Introduction Promotion Program has reopened for a second round of applicants, with the window running from September 7 to October 16, 2026. The subsidy targets a narrowly defined vehicle class: electric vehicles limited to under 20 km/h on public roads, deployed as small-scale mobility services for short local trips. The listing links to a Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism explainer that defines the same speed-capped category, commonly labeled green slow mobility.
The grant is administered by a nonprofit industry association, which the listing says received a funding decision from Japan's Ministry of Environment under its CO2 Emission Reduction Countermeasures subsidy, specifically the regional public transport and decarbonization transition promotion line. The association is now soliciting operators who will receive the funding and deploy the vehicles. The stated purpose pairs two goals in a single funding line: cutting emissions from regional transport while addressing local mobility gaps. The listing tags the program under three policy themes: green transition, regional development, and digital transformation.
Terms are concrete. Tracked under subsidy number S-00006173, the program covers up to one-half of eligible project costs, per the rate stated in the filing. The call is open nationwide, carries no restriction on an applicant's employee count, and permits multiple applications from the same applicant. The filing classifies it as a general-type grant, with eligible industries spanning manufacturing, composite services businesses, other services not elsewhere classified, public administration, transport and postal services, real estate and equipment rental, and medical and welfare providers. Applicants can also select from four listed use purposes: safety and disaster-prevention support, town-planning and regional-revitalization support, equipment and IT introduction, and eco and SDGs activity support.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Application window | September 7 to October 16, 2026 |
| Subsidy rate | Up to one-half of eligible costs |
| Funding source | Environment Ministry's CO2 Emission Reduction Countermeasures subsidy, regional transport decarbonization line |
| Eligible vehicle | Electric vehicle limited to under 20 km/h on public roads |
| Coverage area | Nationwide; no employee-count restriction on applicants |
That the program has reached a second call within the same fiscal year points to continuing interest from regional operators. For overseas suppliers of small electric vehicles, the repeat call is a concrete signal: Japan is still funding half the cost of sub-20-km/h shuttles for regional transport operators, and is doing so beyond the program's first round. Full terms are listed under subsidy number S-00006173 on the jGrants portal.