Nissan unveils hands-free driving tech for urban areas

The demonstration was held ahead of the planned fiscal 2027 release of vehicles with the advanced ProPilot system featuring Level 2 autonomous driving technology, which requires drivers to constantly monitor the road and take over manual control depending on the situation, even in urban areas.

The current ProPilot system is limited to highway driving.

Facing persistently sluggish sales, Nissan aims to build momentum for its turnaround by promoting vehicles with advanced driver assistance technology.

The prototype car was developed based on the Japanese automaker's Ariya electric vehicle, with high-precision sensors mounted on the front roof, along with 11 cameras and five other sensors used to recognize the surroundings.

The prototype drives to a set destination by processing information using artificial intelligence technology developed by British startup Wayve Technologies.

In the demonstration, it drove for about 40 minutes in central Tokyo, including in front of Shinbashi Station and through the capital's upscale Ginza district.

During the drive, when another car suddenly pulled in front, the prototype slowed down to avoid a collision.

It also successfully responded to a pedestrian running across the crosswalk as the signal was about to change.

Despite unfavorable conditions, as it began raining midway through the ride, the driver did not have to touch the steering wheel until the end.

"The introduction of AI has drastically changed driver assistance technology, enabling safe driving as if an experienced driver were fully focused on the road," Tetsuya Iijima, who is in charge of development, said.