Kobe, Japan – Nissan today announced that, in collaboration with Kobe City, it will begin a field test of an autonomous mobility service in the Nada Gogo area starting January 19, 2026. This initiative aims to address local transportation challenges and provide new mobility solutions that enable everyone to travel freely.
The Nada Gogo area in Kobe is a renowned tourist destination, celebrated worldwide for its traditional sake brewing and rich history. Through this test, Nissan will leverage its autonomous driving technology to offer a new travel experience for visitors touring sake breweries, enhancing convenience for tourists and exploring opportunities for regional revitalization. The autonomous mobility service seeks to create new experiential value for visitors and contribute to the promotion of tourism in Kobe.
Through this pilot, Nissan will incorporate feedback from local residents and visitors to refine the service design. In fiscal year 2026, Nissan plans to expand the service area and boarding points, introduce on-demand operations using Serena-based Level 2 autonomous vehicles and start paid operation in 2027. The company aims for commercial operation in the Nada Gogo area by 2030. Furthermore, Nissan also envisions deploying autonomous vehicles in community public transportation, such as in new towns within Kobe City.
Pilot Program Overview
- Organizers: Kobe City, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
- Partners: Nada Gogo Sake Brewers Association, Moplus (planned)
- Period: January 19 (Mon) – January 23 (Fri), 2026
- Route: Kobe Shu-Shin-Kan, Hakutsuru Sake Brewery Museum, Kiku-Masamune Sake Brewery Museum, Hamafukutsuru Ginjo Kobo (approx. 20-minute loop, no stops)
- Operating Hours: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Vehicle: Nissan LEAF (capacity: 2 passengers – one in the front seat, one in the rear)
- Passenger Limit: 2 per trip
Test Ride Details
- Registration Period: November 28, 2025 (Fri) 4:00 PM – December 19, 2025 (Fri) 5:00 PM
- Eligibility: Kobe City residents, elementary school age or older, height of 150 cm or above
- Slots: 50 participants (40 general, 10 in “Children’s Future” category)
- Application: https://event.city.kobe.lg.jp/event/Zga5Rf86orikHcmZWcrP
If applications exceed capacity, participants will be selected by lottery. Results will be announced in late December.
Nissan is committed to “innovating mobility for cleaner, safer, and freer movement” and continues to advance real-world demonstrations of autonomous driving technology in Japan and abroad. Since launching the EasyRide project in 2018 and conducting trials in Yokohama, this expansion to Kobe represents a new model for addressing regional challenges while promoting tourism and revitalization. Nissan will continue to scale its technology and services to more regions worldwide, contributing to a sustainable society.
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