Nissan Tests Next Gen ProPilot in Busy Tokyo Streets With Near Level 4 Capability
The Next Phase of Self-Driving
There has been a lot of discussion about the advancement of autonomous driving, especially now that it no longer feels as foreign as it did a few years ago. Some of the most common hurdles are cost, due to the added components such as sensors and cameras, and the legal framework, which is still trying to determine who is at fault when a fully autonomous vehicle hits a pedestrian.
Still, that has not stopped automakers from continuing to develop their autonomous systems, and Nissan's next-generation ProPilot system could mark progress toward wider adoption. The Drive was in Japan to test the system, which is being labeled L2++ for legal reasons, despite being considered Level 4-capable in self-driving technology. Initial impressions were highly positive after a roughly 40-minute drive around Tokyo.
Built to See Everything
The ProPilot system was fitted to a Nissan Ariya, a more premium electric vehicle positioned above the Leaf, which was discontinued in the U.S. after the 2025 model year. The test vehicle is said to be equipped with 11 cameras, five radar units, and LiDAR.
According to the publication, the ProPilot-equipped Ariya performed well even in complex situations, including a construction zone that reduced traffic to a controlled one-lane, two-way flow. The test vehicle also managed to navigate the area without issue, even with a cement truck backing up nearby.
One observation, however, is that the EV prioritized safety during the drive. In one instance, the EV yielded to a pedestrian even in the absence of any immediate danger. Whether that is a good or bad thing is ultimately up to interpretation.
Tetsuya Iijima, Nissan's Executive Chief Engineer for adaptive safety systems and software-defined vehicles, said that only Tesla and Wayve are at the level ProPilot is aiming to compete at.
Making It Make Sense
Nissan is reportedly set to launch the ProPilot system in 2027, initially in Japan with the new Elgrand van. The automaker noted that other markets will follow "as soon as possible."
It will be interesting to see how Nissan approaches the market with this system, especially given that pushing Level 2 driver assistance to this level remains challenging. BMW even dropped its Personal Pilot L3 system on the 7 Series because demand was too low to make it profitable. One reassuring note, however, is that Iijima said the automaker plans to offer it at a "reasonable price" to support mass adoption.
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This story was originally published April 21, 2026 at 7:30 AM.