Sojitz Announces Surface Scanner for Pre-owned Vehicle Inspections - Providing New Digital Diagnostics Solutions to Increase Transparency in Pre-owned Vehicle Distribution -

Sojitz Corporation (“Sojitz”) has announced joint development with Preferred Networks, Inc. (“PFN”) of a drive-through car surface scanner to detect damage such as scratches, dents, rust, and repaints to the surface of pre-owned passenger cars. In fall 2025, Sojitz will begin demonstration tests of the scanner in the vehicle inspection lane of major pre-owned vehicle auction company, JU Gifu Hashima Auto Auction, Inc. (Head Office: Hashima, Gifu; “JU Gifu Hashima”). Inspection services with the scanner are scheduled to begin from spring 2026. Additionally, Sojitz is distributor of Bosch Corporation (“Bosch”), the Japanese subsidiary of major automotive parts manufacturer Bosch Group. Sojitz has started sales as the authorized distributor of the Bosch Car History Report (“BCHR”) in Japan, which is a service developed to provide transparency on vehicle accident history developed by Bosch. Through both the car scanner and BCHR service, Sojitz strives to provide digital diagnostic solutions that offer objective data on vehicle repair and accident history in order to improve transparency in the distribution of pre-owned vehicles.

In Japan, the Automobile Fair Trade Council requires that repair history be disclosed in the sale of pre-owned vehicles in accordance with the Automobile Fair Competition Code. However, inspections for pre-owned vehicles generally involve visual inspections by an inspector, and there is urgent demand to address discrepancies and ensure precision, secure human resources, and increase transparency of car inspections.

The drive-through car surface scanner has a gate-like design with a width of 5m, height of 3.6m and depth of 1.2m. The scanner can be retrofitted to existing vehicle inspection lanes. The scanner was jointly developed together with PFN, which is engaged in the development and sale of AI-related solutions and products. Utilizing a camera with optical technology, the scanner can simultaneously scan the front, back, top, and sides of a vehicle. Image processing is then used for detection and monitor-based visualization of scratches, dents, rust, repaint marks, and other damage on the car’s surface. The scanner is highly adept at detecting damage on white, silver, and grey vehicles, which are particularly difficult to discern for inspectors conducting visual inspections.*¹ A scan is estimated to be 30 seconds for a single car. Demonstration tests are scheduled to begin in fall 2025. By acquiring vast amounts of training data for AI learning, Sojitz aims to automate detection of damages and increase detection accuracy while also developing the technology for auto-generated inspection reports.

JU Gifu Hashima is a leading auto auction company that auctions 230,000 units annually in Japan. The scanner will be installed as part of JU Gifu Hashima’s vehicle inspection lane for conducting car surface damage inspections. At the same time, JU Gifu Hashima will also introduce Sojitz’s in-house developed tire tread depth gauge to measure tire wear down to 0.1 millimeter units as well as Sojitz’s vehicle underbody imaging system to visualize corrosion and damage under the vehicle. Based on the results of the scanner demonstration tests to be completed in March 2026, improvements will be made to the system, AI will be used to enhance the system’s functions, and adjustments will be made to auto auction workflows. Sales of the scanner service are expected to begin in spring 2026.

Bosch is engaged in the development and sale of a Crash Data Retrieval (CDR) tool, which generates reports using collision data read from event data recorder (EDR) *² devices. Bosch is the only company holding contracts with 25 global manufacturers to provide coverage for more than 100 vehicle models under 74 brands. Bosch’s CDR is compatible with all new passenger vehicles released in Japan from July 2022 following Japan’s law on mandatory EDR device installation. This CDR data is highly reliable and recognized as evidence by Japan’s police departments and courts. Bosch’s CDR is used to extract and analyze data to create a diagnostic report of a vehicle’s collision history, and Sojitz will continue to respond to customer needs in order to provide customized BCHR as collision history reports.

BCHR services will be introduced at JU Gifu Hashima from October 2025, and JU Gifu Hashima will begin providing a new service menu with BCHR to participating auction companies.

In Medium-term Management Plan 2026, Sojitz announced its aim to realize the Sojitz Growth Story through a “Digital in All” approach. Sojitz is accelerating DX through the three pillars of its digital strategy: 1) Earning with digital technologies, 2) Improvement of value with digital technologies, and 3) Development of digital infrastructure. The automotive division not only operates wholesale, assembly, and retail businesses in Japan and overseas, but is also building new automotive-related service businesses to meet the changing needs of the times. Through this new digital inspection service for pre-owned cars, Sojitz aims to raise transparency in distribution and contribute to the realization of a digital society in Japan.

*1: Patent pending
*2: Event data recorder (EDR): Devices installed in vehicles to record speed, brake application, force of impact, time of collision, and other data related to an accident.

Contact: Sojitz Corporation　Public Relations Dept.　hodo@sojitz.com