Nissan plans to set up a robotaxi service in Japan

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Japanese carmaker Nissan has announced plans to create an unmanned taxi service in Japan based on its minivans by fiscal year 2027.

Here's What We Know

According to Nissan, trials of the commercial robotaxi service will begin as early as this fiscal year, starting on 1 April, in the Yokohama area, south of Tokyo. The carmaker intends to work with local authorities and operators to create new transport solutions.

"Local residents face a number of mobility challenges, such as a shortage of drivers, which is a consequence of an ageing population", Nissan said in a statement.

Nissan has been testing unmanned vehicles in Japan and other countries since 2017. The company's rivals Toyota and Honda have also announced the launch of robotaxi pilot projects in Tokyo between 2025 and 2026, following the legalisation of "Level 4 autonomy level" unmanned cars in Japan.

The autonomy of the cars is categorised on a scale of 0 to 5, with 5 meaning almost complete autonomy.

Source: TechXplore