The fiscal 2026 programme adds a larger service area and smartphone ride booking, with paid service planned for 2027.
Nissan announced on 14 October the details of its fiscal 2026 autonomous mobility pilot in Kobe's Nada Gogo area, and opened applications for members of the public. The pilot runs on weekdays from December 8 to December 18, 2026, using Nissan Serena-based Level 2 vehicles with a safety driver. Nissan aims to start paid service in 2027.
Nissan has set out the fiscal 2026 phase of its autonomous mobility service in the Nada Gogo area of Kobe City, a district known for sake brewing, and opened applications for people who want to try the service. The phase builds on field tests carried out in fiscal 2025. It widens the service area and adds ride booking from a smartphone, along with dispatch of the vehicles.
Pilot overview
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Operation area | Kobe City's Nada Gogo district and its immediate surroundings |
| Period | December 8 (Tue.) to December 18 (Fri.), 2026 |
| Operating days | Weekdays only, Tuesday to Friday, within the pilot dates |
| Vehicle | Serena-based Level 2 development vehicle with a safety driver on board |
| Monitoring | Real-time oversight from Nissan's Remote Operations Centre in Yokohama, covering both cities |
Nissan wants to learn how autonomous transport can improve travel for visitors, earn public acceptance and support regional revival. The Serena-based vehicles are Level 2 equivalent under the SAE scale, which means a safety driver rides on board throughout.
Remote monitoring
A key aspect of the pilot is validating centralised monitoring. Vehicles in Yokohama and Kobe will be watched live from a Remote Operations Centre that Nissan runs in Yokohama. Nissan says a system that oversees several operating areas from one location could make future services more efficient and reduce the burden on local communities.
Partners
Kobe City handles overall project administration. The Nada Gogo Sake Brewers Association will provide pickup and drop-off locations and explore linking the autonomous service with sake breweries. Moplus supports service operations and the operating framework, while Nissan plans and runs the pilot and provides the vehicles.
The pilot is part of a Digital Agency programme on early commercialisation of autonomous driving, and it also draws on a transport ministry subsidy for fiscal 2026. Nissan says it will keep running pilots in other regions, with solutions tailored to the needs of each community.
Nissan's timeline has three markers. The December pilot comes first, paid service is targeted for 2027, and full commercial operations are planned for the Nada Gogo area by 2030. Applications from people who want to experience the service are open now, and the pilot runs only on weekdays during the December dates.
