Nissan expands autonomous mobility testing in Kobe, Japan

Nissan is expanding its experimental autonomous mobility program in Kobe, Japan, moving toward a commercial service intended for launch in the coming years. The pilot program is scheduled to run on weekdays from December 8 to December 18, 2026, focusing on the Nada Gogo area and its surroundings.

The initiative will utilize vehicles based on the Nissan Serena model. While classified as SAE Level 2, meaning the technology supports the driver rather than replacing them entirely, the project aims to test how autonomous features can improve visitor travel and local mobility integration.

A key component of this phase is the introduction of a smartphone-based booking system, allowing users to request and reserve rides directly via their devices. Additionally, Nissan plans to test centralized remote monitoring, where vehicles operating in Kobe can be managed in real-time from an operations center located in Yokohama.