Japanese automaker Nissan is developing vehicles with self-driving technology

Key Points

• Nissan is developing new self-driving technology to rejuvenate its struggling auto business, aiming for availability in 2027.
• The technology features advanced equipment, including 11 cameras and LiDAR, designed for navigating complex urban environments.
• The self-driving car market is projected to reach $2 trillion by 2030, indicating strong competition among major automakers and tech companies.
• Nissan is facing significant challenges, such as job cuts and executive changes, in light of financial losses and tariffs affecting the broader Japanese auto market.

TOKYO (AP) — Japanese automaker Nissan is developing vehicles with self-driving technology as it works to turn around its struggling auto business.

In a recent demonstration of the technology developed by British company Wayve, a Nissan Ariya sedan outfitted with 11 cameras, five radars and a next-generation sensor called LiDAR maneuvered its way through downtown Tokyo, braking for red lights as well as pedestrians and other cars at intersections.

It's set to be available in 2027, although Nissan did not give the models or other details.

It's an already-crowded field. The self-driving car market is estimated to reach $2 trillion by 2030, according to market researcher IndustryARC, riding on the back of advances in AI, sensor technologies and data processing capabilities.

Japan’s top automaker, Toyota Motor Corp., has a partnership deal with Waymo, another self-driving technology developed by Google. Waymo has also arrived in Japan, in partnership with a cab company, but it’s still in the testing stage.

Other automakers are also working on autonomous driving technology, including Honda Motor Co., General Motors and Mercedes-Benz, as well as companies outside the auto industry like Amazon and its subsidiary Zoox.

Nissan's push comes at a time when the overall Japanese auto market is facing serious challenges because of President Donald Trump's tariffs. Nissan especially is struggling. It has slashed jobs and appointed a new chief executive, Ivan Espinosa, to attempt a turnaround. The maker of the March subcompact, Leaf electric cars and Infiniti luxury brand posted losses for the April-June period, following a fiscal year of red ink.

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Yuri Kageyama is on Threads: https://www.threads.com/@yurikageyama