Nissan to trial autonomous shuttles in Yokohama

Nissan is part of an autonomous mobility pilot programme in Yokohama set to kick off next month with further plans to launch a commercial service from FY27.

The trial, run with the City of Yokohama, will operate five Serena-based autonomous vehicles across Minato Mirai, Sakuragi-cho, Kannai and Chinatown, supported by a new remote monitoring control centre, “PLOT48,” in Minato Mirai from from November 27 to January 30.

The aim is to test operations, surface challenges and build the ecosystem needed for rollout.

Up to 300 members of the public are being recruited as “general monitors” for free rides between 26 boarding and drop-off points in exchange for feedback.

Services will run Tuesday to Friday, 8.30am–4.00pm, with a pause from December 20 to January 6 for the year-end and New Year holidays. Each vehicle will carry three passengers.

Nissan will lead planning and execution and supply/operate the vehicles; BOLDLY will provide the remote monitoring system; Premier Aid will run on-board monitoring and passenger support in incidents; and Keikyu Corporation will help design operating and management frameworks from a transport-operator perspective.

The pilot vehicles operate at SAE Level 2 with a safety driver on board. Based on the results, the partners plan to deploy driverless (SAE Level 4) vehicles with remote monitoring for commercial services from FY27, aiming to improve local transport access and provide easy, accessible mobility for all.