Nissan is looking to carve out a place in the growing autonomous vehicle market as part of its broader comeback strategy.
The details: The Japanese automaker—partnering with British startup Wayve to develop its self-driving tech—recently showcased the system in Tokyo using a Nissan Ariya.
The Ariya test vehicle was outfitted with 11 cameras, five radars, and a next-generation LiDar sensor.
Nissan expects to launch its autonomous system in 2027 but has not disclosed which model will debut the technology.
Why it matters: Nissan is betting that self-driving technology can help revive its brand, lift margins, and re-establish its role as an innovator—at a time when rivals are rapidly advancing their own autonomous strategies.
Between the lines: The automaker—which is in the midst of a major turnaround plan— joins a crowded field of companies aiming to capture a share of the self-driving vehicle market, projected to hit $2 trillion by 2030 through advances in AI, sensors, and data processing.
Toyota announced in April a deal with Waymo to speed the development and rollout of autonomous vehicles.
Honda has teamed up with Helm.ai to advance its next-gen self-driving systems.
Hyundai partnered with startup Avride to support AV development and expand Avride’s fleet of IONIQ 5 vehicles.
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Worth noting: Automakers and tech firms alike have urged the Trump administration to resolve regulatory hurdles that slow AV deployment—an issue that could particularly impact growth in the U.S. robotaxi sector.
What they’re saying: “True AVs are expensive. If you really want a safe AV, you’re getting into expensive sensors and lidar,” said tech investor Laurie Yoler, in a McKinsey & Company report.
“The bill of materials makes it difficult to justify costs for vehicles sold to individual drivers. It’s great when they’re used all day long, and the robo-taxi use case ensures higher utilization.”
Laurie Yoler
Bottom line: Autonomous vehicles are set to become one of mobility’s largest market segments, and Nissan’s push into self-driving tech could help stabilize earnings and strengthen global competitiveness after years of underperformance.
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