Nissan Motor announced plans on Wednesday to launch a small-scale driverless ride service in Japan in approximately three years, aiming to offset the declining number of taxi drivers with autonomous technology.
The automaker intends to introduce Level 4 autonomous driving services in three or four municipalities in Japan, including rural areas, by the financial year starting April 2027.
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To prepare for this initiative, Nissan will conduct a trial in Yokohama, Japan’s second-largest city, using up to 20 remodelled Serena minivans over the next few years.
Other manufacturers, such as Honda Motor, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone, and Toyota Motor, are also increasing their involvement in driverless services, developing technology to address Japan’s rapidly aging population.
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In October, Honda announced plans to establish a joint venture with General Motors and its robotaxi unit Cruise in the first half of this year, aiming to launch a driverless ride service in Japan by early 2026.
Nissan’s initial trial in Yokohama will operate at Level 2 autonomy, with vehicles equipped with a safety driver on board, according to Kazuhiro Doi, corporate vice president of Nissan Research and Advanced Engineering.
