Toyota tests “Merge Assist” data sharing tech in real-world trial with Transurban

Toyota Australia has just announced that it is testing advanced vehicle-to-everything (V2X) technology in Melbourne, refining its Merge Assist feature and paving the way for future autonomous driving capabilities. In partnership with toll road operator Transurban, Toyota fitted HiLux test vehicles with next-generation cooperative intelligent transport systems (C-ITS) hardware. The trial, which began in August, focuses on highway merging, one of the riskiest manoeuvres for Australian drivers.

How Toyota’s V2X Tech Creates a Smarter and Safer Merge

The system relies on Transurban’s proprietary traffic management network which uses AI-powered cameras to monitor road conditions, vehicle density and speed to transmit that data onto participating vehicles. Participating drivers receive alerts about speed mismatches, nearby traffic or vehicles hidden in their blind spots.

Toyota Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Franchise Operations Sean Hanley said the trial offered “valuable learnings” for the carmaker’s push toward automated driving: “Technologies like the Merge Assist feature being trialled will help in the development of future automated driving capabilities, which will help improve safety outcomes for all, in particular on motorways,” Mr Hanley said.

Data and Privacy Concerns & infrastructure-to-vehicle data sharing

While Toyota and Transurban pitch safety and efficiency, the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) warns that infrastructure-to-vehicle data sharing raises difficult questions. The government’s privacy regulator has also listed “new surveillance technologies”, including car tracking, as a top priority for 2025.

Moreover, Toyota’s Connected Services platform has already attracted the ire of CHOICE, Australia’s leading consumer group in 2024, for automatically collecting location, driving behaviour, fuel use and odometer readings without consent. Notably, Toyota has since updated its Connected Services terms to provide more detail about how the system operates.

Real-World Testing on Melbourne’s Roads

Testing is currently underway at Port Melbourne’s Cook Street on-ramp with the program running through to September. Toyota says insights from the project will shape its future development of automated vehicles, representing a step towards smarter and more automated mobility.

The Future of Automated Driving and Driver Surveillance

But for the public, concerns remain: how much surveillance are we willing to accept on the promise of safer, smoother roads? And can safeguards and transparent data practices keep pace?