AI Meets Urban Traffic: Nissan Tests Next-Gen ProPILOT in Tokyo

• Nissan’s next-gen ProPILOT uses AI and LiDAR for complex urban driving support.

• Wayve’s embodied AI interprets full traffic scenes to enable real-time adaptive vehicle control.

• System launches on select Japanese market vehicles starting in Nissan’s fiscal year 2027.

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Nissan has begun real-world demonstrations of its next-generation ProPILOT advanced driver-assist system, with plans to launch the technology in Japan by fiscal year 2027. For those thinking that Tesla’s got the lead here, apparently, Nissan’s tech is more advanced.

Demonstrations conducted in central Tokyo used prototype versions of the all-electric Nissan Ariya. The vehicles integrate artificial intelligence software from UK-based Wayve with Nissan’s proprietary Ground Truth Perception technology, which is enabled by an array of sensors, including next-generation LiDAR.

The upcoming ProPILOT system is designed to support complex urban driving environments. The test vehicles are equipped with 11 cameras, five radar units, and a high-resolution LiDAR sensor mounted on the roof to deliver a comprehensive understanding of the surroundings, especially in high-speed or low-light conditions.

Wayve’s AI Driver software uses embodied AI to interpret camera data and predict how traffic scenes will evolve. The system is trained to drive in a manner that resembles experienced human behaviour, including the ability to respond rapidly to changes in road or traffic conditions. Unlike conventional systems that react to individual objects, Wayve’s software evaluates entire driving scenarios, enabling smoother navigation in dynamic environments.

The next-generation ProPILOT 2.0 is a step toward enhanced automation; however, it retains SAE Level 2 classification, which requires driver supervision and immediate manual control if necessary.

Eiichi Akashi, Nissan’s Chief Technology Officer, stated that the system is designed to enhance safety by adapting to increasingly complex traffic conditions and simulating the skills of a skilled human driver. The system will be rolled out on select mass-production models in the Japanese market starting in FY27.