Yokohama, Japan, will soon see self-driving taxis on its streets as a pilot project launches using Nissan Serena minivans. The trial is scheduled to begin in November 2025 and will run through the end of January 2026, according to the automaker’s website.
Five autonomous vehicles will operate across three districts of the city, supported by a remote monitoring center called PLOT48.
Pilot program participants
Four companies are involved in the project:
- Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. — responsible for planning and conducting the tests, as well as supplying and operating the vehicles.
- BOLDLY Inc. — providing a remote monitoring system to support autonomous operations.
- Premier Aid Inc. — monitoring conditions inside the vehicles and assisting passengers in case of an incident.
- Keikyu Corp. — developing operational and management functions as the transport operator.
Approximately 300 people will be selected to ride the self-driving Nissan taxis for free during the trial, providing feedback on their experience as the vehicles run between 26 stations along a predetermined route.
Commercial service is planned for Japan’s fiscal year 2027.
