Nissan expands autonomous mobility pilot to Kobe sake district, adds booking and remote monitoring

Nissan announced details of its fiscal year 2026 autonomous mobility service pilot program in Kobe City's Nada Gogo area and opened applications for participants who want to experience the service. The program is the next phase of Nissan's autonomous mobility service effort, building on successful fiscal year 2025 field tests. The service area is being expanded, and a new on-demand ride-booking and vehicle dispatch feature will be accessible via smartphone. The pilot uses Nissan Serena-based Level 2 autonomous-drive vehicles with a safety driver onboard. Nissan says the program is designed to confirm how autonomous transportation can improve mobility for tourists, gain social acceptance and lead to regional revitalization.

Operations of the Level 2 autonomous-drive vehicles in both Yokohama and Kobe will be monitored in real time from Nissan's Remote Operations Center in Yokohama. By validating a system that remotely monitors multiple operational areas from a single location, Nissan aims to improve the efficiency of future mobility service operations and reduce the burden on local communities that introduce such services. The two areas involved are the Yokohama Minato Mirai/Kannai area and the Kobe Nada Gogo area and surrounding districts. Nissan says it will continue conducting pilot programs in various regions and contribute to solving local transportation challenges with solutions customized for the needs of each community.