Nissan Launches Robo-Taxi Test Using Modified Leafs

Nissan is getting into the autonomous ride-hailing game as the company has teamed up with DeNA to begin a field test of its Easy Ride service in Japan.

Set to kick off on March 5th, the Easy Ride service will be launched in the Minatomirai district of Yokohama and allow passengers to travel on a 4.5 km (2.7 mile) long route that spans from Nissan’s headquarters to the Yokohama World Porters shopping center.

In order to navigate the busy streets of Yokohama, the autonomous Nissan Leaf has been equipped with six laser scanners, 14 cameras and a radar system. All of the information collected from the sensors will be processed by a high-tech computer which enables the car to drive itself while avoiding obstacles such as pedestrians and other motorists.

While most autonomous vehicles are simply concerned with transporting passengers, the Easy Ride vehicles are unique as they have an in-car tablet that enables riders to look for recommended places of interest and nearby events. The system can even provide coupons to nearby restaurants and retailers.

Nissan and DeNA will be using the trail run to learn how riders like the experience and how often they use the provided coupons. The company will also be asking them how much they would be willing to pay for the using the Easy Ride service as the companies plan to launch a full robo-taxi service in the early 2020s.

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