Nissan will test Level 2 autonomous vehicles in the Nada Gogo area from 19–23 January with plans for commercial operation by 2030
Nissan will begin a field test of an autonomous mobility service in collaboration with Kobe City in the Nada Gogo area from 19–23 January 2026, addressing local transportation challenges and providing new mobility solutions for visitors touring sake breweries in the historic district. The automaker plans to introduce paid operation in 2027 and aims for commercial operation in the Nada Gogo area by 2030, with potential expansion to community public transportation in Kobe City.
Nissan will test autonomous mobility services in Kobe City’s Nada Gogo area from 19 January 2026 using LEAF vehicles with Level 2 autonomous driving technology
The pilot programme will use Nissan LEAF vehicles with Level 2 autonomous driving technology and two-passenger capacity on a 20-minute loop route covering Kobe Shu-Shin-Kan, Hakutsuru Sake Brewery Museum, Kiku-Masamune Sake Brewery Museum and Hamafukutsuru Ginjo Kobo. Fifty participants will test the service during operating hours from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, with registration open to Kobe City residents aged elementary school or above and height of 150 centimetres or above.
In fiscal year 2026, Nissan plans to expand the service area and boarding points and introduce on-demand operations using Serena-based Level 2 autonomous vehicles. The Nada Gogo area is a tourist destination known for traditional sake brewing and history.
Nissan has conducted autonomous driving demonstrations since launching the EasyRide project in 2018 with trials in Yokohama. The expansion to Kobe represents a model for addressing regional challenges while promoting tourism and revitalisation.
Source: Nissan
