Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd. (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Representative Director and President: Norimasa Sakai, hereinafter "Idemitsu Kosan"), T2 Inc. (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Representative Director and CEO: Masatomo Kumabe, hereinafter "T2"), and Isuzu Motors Limited (Yokohama, Kanagawa, Representative Director, President and CEO: Masanori Yamaguchi, hereinafter "Isuzu") today announced their collaboration to promote the adoption of next-generation biodiesel fuel with the aim of achieving carbon neutrality in the truck transportation sector. Starting this summer, Idemitsu Kosan will supply its next-generation biodiesel fuel, "Idemitsu Renewable Diesel*1" (hereinafter "IRD"), to T2. T2 will conduct trial use of IRD in the commercial operation*4 of its Level 2*2 automated driving trucks*3, which are provided to major logistics companies for highway transport between the Kanto and Kansai regions, a distance of approximately 500 kilometers. Furthermore, Isuzu will provide repair and maintenance services for T2's automated driving trucks using IRD, ensuring operations are equivalent to those with diesel fuel. [Image: T2's automated driving truck trial-using Idemitsu's IRD] As efforts to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 expand, next-generation biodiesel fuels, which are expected to reduce CO2 emissions across their entire lifecycle, are gaining attention in the truck transportation sector. However, challenges remain for widespread adoption, including an insufficient number of refueling stations for next-generation biodiesel fuels and higher price points compared to conventional fuels. Additionally, concerns persist regarding the impact on truck performance and durability, as well as unclear repair and service responses in case of malfunctions, hindering logistics companies from readily adopting these fuels. As a first step to address these challenges, the three companies will collaborate to verify the effectiveness of refueling operations through the continuous use of IRD in actual ope