Nissan has made a significant leap forward in autonomous driving (AD) technology with a groundbreaking demonstration in Yokohama, Japan. For the first time in the country, a test vehicle without a driver was able to navigate a public road in a complex urban environment. This achievement is a crucial step towards Nissan’s goal of launching a new mobility service in Japan, which aims to tackle the transportation challenges faced by local communities, such as the growing shortage of drivers due to an aging population.
Nissan is dedicated to ensuring the safety and reliability of its AD technology under varying traffic conditions worldwide. To this end, it is leveraging insights from its research in Japan, the Nissan Advanced Technology Centre in Silicon Valley, and its participation in the UK’s evolvAD project. This global approach is helping Nissan refine its technology for broader deployment.
The test vehicles used for the demonstration are based on the Serena, Japan’s top-selling minivan. They feature 14 cameras, nine radars, and six LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) sensors, which are mounted on the roof to provide enhanced detection capabilities. The use of artificial intelligence (AI) has further improved the vehicle’s recognition, predictive behavior, judgment, and control, allowing for smooth operation in complex driving scenarios.
To ensure safety, Nissan engineers tested an extensive range of possible scenarios and introduced a fail-safe emergency stop function. Moving forward, Nissan plans to conduct further demonstrations involving around 20 vehicles in Yokohama throughout fiscal years 2025 and 2026. By fiscal year 2027, the company aims to introduce its autonomous driving mobility services, collaborating with municipalities and transport operators to create a comprehensive operational framework, including remote monitoring capabilities.
Nissan’s push into autonomous mobility services promises to reshape transportation in Japan and beyond, providing new solutions to urban mobility challenges while enhancing safety and efficiency.
