- Nissan will trial five autonomous Serena people movers across Yokohama from November 2025 to January 2026.
- The fleet will operate under SAE Level 2 supervision with safety drivers, monitored remotely from a new control hub.
- Data from the pilot will guide development toward a fully driverless Level 4 commercial mobility service.
Nissan is taking another big stride toward an autonomous future, this time on its home turf.
The carmaker has teamed up with fellow Japanese companies to launch a public pilot of its upcoming mobility service, running from late November 2025 to January 2026 across central Yokohama.
A taste of tomorrow’s transport
The trial will see five autonomous Nissan Serena people movers shuttle passengers between 26 boarding points across popular districts including Minato Mirai, Sakuragi-cho, Kannai and Chinatown.
Each vehicle will carry up to three passengers, operating Tuesday to Friday, mornings through afternoons (with a short pause for the New Year break).
Though still classified as SAE Level 2, with safety drivers on board, the fleet will be remotely supported via a new control hub (aptly named Plot48) based in Minato Mirai. Nissan says the program’s findings will pave the way for fully driverless Level 4 operations when the service officially launches in 2026 or 2027.
Locals invited to ride (and rate)
Up to 300 Yokohama residents are being recruited as volunteer “general monitors” to test the system. Participants can travel free within the route in exchange for feedback through surveys and questionnaires. Registration runs through October via the Easy Ride website (Japanese only) and includes a short briefing session and consent form.
The team behind the wheel (figuratively)
Nissan will lead planning, execution, and vehicle operations, while Boldly provides the remote monitoring system that underpins the autonomous service. Premier Aid manages onboard safety and emergency support, and Keikyu Corporation lends its public transport expertise to refine day-to-day operations.
The pilot aims to design an ecosystem where autonomous mobility is accessible to everyone. If the plan holds, Japan’s second-largest city could soon offer a glimpse of what urban movement might look like, when “hands-free” finally means no one at the wheel at all.