Nissan has initiated demonstrations of a prototype vehicle equipped with advanced autonomous drive technologies, marking a significant step towards its goal of launching autonomous mobility services by fiscal year 2027. The prototype, based on the Nissan LEAF, is equipped with 14 cameras, 10 radars, and 6 LIDAR sensors, enhancing its ability to navigate complex urban environments. This array of sensors significantly expands the vehicle’s detection capabilities, improving its recognition performance, behavioral prediction, judgment functions, and overall control. The vehicle’s smooth operation in scenarios like predicting pedestrian behavior, conducting lane changes, and safely entering intersections is being showcased on the busy streets of Yokohama, near Nissan’s global headquarters in Japan.
Nissan has been exploring business models for future mobility services since 2017. Currently demonstrating SAE Level 2 equivalent autonomy with a safety driver, Nissan plans to expand this functionality, aiming to offer autonomous-drive mobility services in Japan starting in fiscal year 2027, in collaboration with local authorities and transport operators. Trials are set to begin in the Minato Mirai area in the fourth quarter of this fiscal year, with service demonstration tests planned for fiscal year 2025. These trials, supported by various Japanese ministries, will gradually increase the level of autonomous functionality while assessing customer acceptance, ultimately aiming to provide driverless services. Nissan’s long-term vision is to address transportation challenges faced by local communities, such as driver shortages due to an ageing population, by offering a wide range of new services that facilitate free movement.
