Nissan is signalling a bold new direction under Chief Executive Officer Ivan Espinosa, focusing not only on refreshing its vehicle lineup but also on regaining customers who demand cutting-edge technology. At the heart of this push is the next generation of Nissan ProPilot, the Japanese automaker’s advanced driver-assistance system that first debuted in 2016.
Raising the Stakes in Driver-Assist Technology
Working closely with UK-based artificial intelligence startup Wayve Technologies, Nissan is preparing to launch its most advanced ProPilot system during the fiscal year ending March 2028. Wayve — backed by SoftBank and already operating in the UK, US and Germany — will open a new test centre in Yokohama as part of its partnership with Nissan. This marks the first time a major automaker will integrate Wayve’s AI technology into production cars.
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According to Nissan engineers, the newest Nissan ProPilot will be on par with Tesla’s Full Self-Driving software, which, despite its name, still requires human supervision. While both systems fall under Level 2 autonomy, the upcoming ProPilot represents Nissan’s most ambitious step toward a truly intelligent driving experience.
From Highways to City Streets
Earlier versions of Nissan ProPilot handled lane centering and maintaining safe distances on highways, with a hands-off freeway version arriving in 2019. The next generation will extend its capabilities to complex city streets using fewer cameras and sensors, relying on advanced AI software to interpret traffic conditions. “We think ours is smarter than Tesla FSD, just not as polished as a product,” says Tetsuya Iijima, general manager in Nissan’s assisted-driving technology division.
Nissan also plans to roll out an autonomous ride-share service in 2027, addressing Japan’s shortage of taxi drivers and the mobility needs of its aging population. Although regulatory hurdles remain — especially in Japan’s strict legal environment — Nissan believes its technology’s situational awareness is “close to human,” signalling that assisted driving could soon become a transformative part of everyday life.
By leveraging Wayve’s cutting-edge AI and its own decades of automotive experience, Nissan is positioning Nissan ProPilot as a credible rival to Tesla Autopilot and a major step forward in the global race for safer, smarter and more autonomous vehicles.
