Sunita Somvanshi
Nissan is testing a new driver-assistance system on Tokyo’s crowded streets. The Japanese automaker hopes this technology will make city driving safer and less stressful.
The system uses software from British startup Wayve. In a recent demonstration, Nissan’s electric Ariya vehicles navigated downtown Tokyo traffic, automatically stopping for red lights, pedestrians, and other cars at intersections.
“The next-generation ProPILOT aims to feel like a skilled human driver, adapting to complex conditions for greater confidence and safety,” said Nissan CTO Eiichi Akashi.
City streets are much harder for automated driving systems than highways. Pedestrians cross unexpectedly, delivery workers dart between cars, and parked vehicles create tight spaces to maneuver. To handle these challenges, Nissan’s test vehicles use 11 cameras, 5 radars, and a roof-mounted LiDAR sensor that helps spot objects far away, even in poor lighting.
The system is classified as SAE Level 2, meaning drivers must stay alert with hands on the wheel. This isn’t a fully self-driving car – the driver remains responsible for safety at all times.
What sets this technology apart is its use of “embodied AI.” Instead of following strict programming rules, the system learns by vast amounts of real-world driving data.. This helps the car understand entire traffic scenes and predict how situations might unfold, similar to how experienced drivers anticipate problems.
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Wayve, backed by SoftBank and Nvidia, opened a testing center in Japan earlier this year. The partnership comes at a critical time for both companies as more automakers race to develop similar technology.
Nissan plans to launch the system in select vehicles in Japan during fiscal year 2027. This timeline reflects both technical challenges and strict safety regulations for automated driving features.
The stakes are high for Nissan after several difficult financial years. Industry experts predict the autonomous vehicle market could reach $2 trillion by 2030, making this technology potentially vital for the company’s future.
Nissan faces stiff competition. Toyota is working with Google’s Waymo, while Honda, General Motors, Mercedes-Benz, and Amazon’s Zoox are developing their own systems.
This new technology builds on Nissan’s current ProPILOT system, launched in 2016 with an update in 2019, which mainly helps with highway driving. The next version aims to tackle the much harder task of city driving.
For regular drivers, this technology could eventually reduce the stress of navigating busy city streets while improving safety. However, with launch still years away, drivers will need to keep hands on the wheel and eyes on the road for some time to come.
The demonstration shows how artificial intelligence, sensors, and computing power are transforming cars from simple machines into smart devices that can see and respond to their surroundings – bringing us closer to safer, more convenient transportation.
