Nissan and a bunch of other companies will launch an Autonomous mobility service pilot program later this month in Japan.
The pilot program will run from November 27, 2025 through to January 30, 2026, in urban areas of Yokohama including Minato Mirai, Sakuragi-cho and Kannai.
In collaboration with the City of Yokohama, the four companies will operate a fleet of five autonomous vehicles based on the Nissan Serena minivan.
A dedicated remote monitoring control center named PLOT48 will be established in the nearby Minato Mirai district.
The pilot program aims to identify operational challenges and develop an ecosystem that supports the launch of commercial services starting from FY27.
In conjunction with the launch of the pilot program, recruitment of up to 300 members of the public, who can act as ‘general monitors,’ during the trial also begins today.
Those that sign up as monitors will receive free transport within 26 locations along the route, in return for providing feedback that will be used to enhance operations.
Based on the results of this pilot program, the four participating companies aim to launch commercial services starting from the beginning of the 2027 financial year.
These services will use driverless autonomous vehicles equipped with remote monitoring systems, contributing to solutions for local transportation challenges and promoting a new mobility service that enables easy and accessible movement for all.
CHECKOUT: Benz showcases the future with Vision Iconic
CHECKOUT: Driverless bus hits the road