Nissan ProPilot Assist Aims to Take On Tesla’s Autopilot
Nissan is stepping up its autonomous driving game with a new generation of its ProPilot Assist system. The new technology, which is currently being tested in Nissan Ariya prototypes in Tokyo, is set to launch in Japan in fiscal year 2027. This advanced system will use a sophisticated combination of hardware and AI software to handle more complex driving situations, from highways to city streets, and Nissan believes it may be “even a little more clever” than Tesla’s Full Self-Driving.
A Smarter, Multi-Sensor Approach
Unlike Tesla’s camera-reliant system, Nissan’s next-generation ProPilot Assist uses a more robust three-pronged sensor approach. The system is equipped with 11 cameras, five radar sensors, and a crucial lidar unit mounted at the top of the windshield. The extra clarity provided by the lidar is considered essential for autonomous driving tech. Nissan is also using AI software from a British startup, Wayve, that processes images from the cameras in a way similar to human perception, allowing the system to make better decisions in real-world scenarios.
Here is a look at the sensor setup:
| Sensor Type | Quantity |
| Cameras | 11 |
| Radar Sensors | 5 |
| Lidar Unit | 1 |
A More Sensible Approach to Self-Driving
The article notes that while Nissan’s system is being benchmarked against Tesla’s, the value of that claim is debatable. Tesla’s Autopilot has been at the center of a series of fatal crashes and legal battles, with a federal jury recently finding the company partly liable for a crash and ordering it to pay $329 million in damages. Nissan, on the other hand, is taking a more sensible approach by keeping its ProPilot Assist branding and emphasizing that the new system is still a Level 2 system that requires an attentive driver behind the wheel.
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