Nissan has made a major breakthrough in autonomous driving, successfully testing a fully driverless vehicle in a complex urban setting.
For the first time in Japan, a Serena minivan equipped with advanced sensors and artificial intelligence (AI) navigated Yokohama’s Minato Mirai district without a driver inside, marking a crucial step towards commercialising autonomous mobility services.
Tackling transport challenges
Japan faces increasing transport challenges, particularly in ageing communities where driver shortages are becoming critical. Nissan aims to address this issue by leveraging advanced autonomous-drive (AD) technology to enhance mobility solutions.
The latest Serena-based test vehicle features a sophisticated sensor suite, including 14 cameras, nine radars and six LiDAR sensors.
The high-mounted sensors maximise detection accuracy, improving navigation in dense urban areas. AI-driven advancements in recognition, behavioural prediction and decision-making ensure seamless operation across various real-world conditions.
Nissan’s bold move
Nissan’s push for self-driving technology comes in the wake of its failed merger talks with Honda. The two Japanese automakers had explored a potential partnership to share electric vehicle (EV) and autonomous vehicle development costs, but the talks collapsed due to strategic and financial disagreements.
With the merger off the table, Nissan has opted to accelerate its investment in autonomous driving, seeing it as a key differentiator in an increasingly crowded EV market. This latest test in Yokohama is part of a broader strategy to solidify Nissan’s position as a leader in mobility services.
Addressing mobility needs
Beyond technological advancements, Nissan’s autonomous vehicle strategy is also aimed at addressing the growing mobility concerns of an ageing population.
A recent survey conducted in the UK by Nissan and OnePoll found that more than half of participants over 70 feared losing independence if they could no longer drive. Additionally, 64% expressed interest in driverless cars as a way to maintain their freedom.
The potential impact of self-driving technology on elderly mobility has already been demonstrated. As part of Nissan’s evolvAD project in the UK, 93-year-old Brad Ashton, a long-time Nissan owner, took a ride in an autonomous Nissan Leaf and described the experience as “the future of motoring.”
Nissan sees such real-world applications as validation that autonomous mobility could significantly improve transportation access for older generations, particularly in areas with limited public transport.
Safety, regulation and global context
Nissan engineers conducted extensive scenario testing, integrating emergency stop functions and redundancy measures to mitigate risks.
The company has been refining its AD technology since 2017, with research hubs in Japan, Silicon Valley, and the UK’s evolvAD project. Japan has also been actively working to enable Level 4 autonomous driving, recently accelerating regulatory efforts to allow self-driving mobility services.
Nissan’s project aligns with government initiatives, including the Level 4 Mobility Acceleration Committee, aimed at fast-tracking commercial adoption.
Globally, Nissan’s efforts put it in competition with companies like Waymo, Tesla and Hyundai, which have also been making strides in autonomous transport.
While Waymo leads in fully driverless commercial services in the US, Nissan’s focus on Japan’s regulatory landscape and urban mobility solutions positions it as a key player in Asia’s self-driving future.
What’s next for Nissan?
Looking ahead, Nissan plans to scale up trials, deploying around 20 test vehicles in Yokohama from 2025 to 2026. By 2027, it aims to launch a full-fledged autonomous mobility service in partnership with municipalities and transport operators.
As the global race for driverless technology heats up, Nissan’s advancements could play a pivotal role in shaping Japan’s autonomous transport landscape while influencing broader adoption worldwide.
