Nissan Silent & Measured Path Toward Autonomous Public Transportation in Japan - CleanTechnica

Nissan is quietly positioning itself as a leading force in autonomous public transportation in Japan by focusing on practical service implementation rather than just technological innovation. Since 2017, Nissan has approached autonomy as a transport service challenge, emphasizing passenger behavior, municipal coordination, and operational experience through pilot programs in Yokohama’s Minato Mirai district and Fukushima’s Namie Smart Mobility initiative. Their commercialization roadmap, published in early 2024, outlines a clear strategy to launch autonomous mobility services—not autonomous cars—starting in fiscal year 2027, with incremental capability rollouts tied to public acceptance and regulatory readiness. The transition from planning to real-world testing began in mid-2024 with Level 2 autonomous driving demonstrations on public roads, focusing on pedestrian interaction and urban traffic scenarios. By March 2025, Nissan achieved a significant milestone with a Serena-based vehicle completing driverless navigation on complex public roads in Minatomirai, incorporating advanced AI perception, redundancy, and remote oversight systems. Subsequent pilots in Yok