TOKYO - As competition intensifies over AI-powered autonomous driving technology, Nissan unveiled a new premium minivan equipped with its latest systems, highlighting the automaker’s push to regain momentum in Japan’s struggling domestic market.
"I’ve just pressed the accelerator, and the acceleration feels almost like an electric vehicle," a reporter said during a test drive of Nissan’s newly unveiled large minivan, the Elgrand.
The new Elgrand adopts Nissan’s proprietary hybrid system, significantly improving cabin quietness and fuel efficiency.
The Elgrand was once considered a pioneer in Japan’s minivan market, which at the time was largely viewed as a category for business-use vehicles. While the model introduced advanced technologies when it first launched, Nissan had not carried out a full redesign since 2010.
Tomoyuki Nakamura, chief planner for the new Elgrand, said the redesigned vehicle focuses on premium comfort and practicality.
"It offers a refined interior, excellent ride comfort, and a space that can be fully utilized even in business settings," Nakamura said.
Executives from Uber Japan, which operates ride-hailing services, also attended the test drive event.
"You can even fit suitcases in here," said Duncan Wright, head of business development at Uber Japan.
Uber Japan said growing inbound tourism and rising business demand have increased the need for premium vehicles.
"In Uber Premium, the vision is not simply transportation, but providing valuable time and a premium experience," Wright said. "It creates a relaxing space and will be a very attractive vehicle for both domestic and overseas users."
Uber Japan announced on May 18th that it will support taxi operators seeking to introduce the new Elgrand into their fleets.
Nissan is placing significant emphasis on launching new models as the company faces mounting pressure amid ongoing financial struggles.
"Business conditions for fiscal 2025 remain severe, but we have steadily implemented countermeasures," Nissan President Ivan Espinosa said.
With Nissan posting major losses for a second consecutive year, AI-powered autonomous driving technology has become a key pillar of its restructuring strategy.
During a demonstration last September, the system was shown making driving decisions based on surrounding traffic flow, including determining where to wait and judging when gaps between vehicles were sufficient.
Nissan plans to introduce AI-assisted autonomous driving technology capable of operating on ordinary roads by the end of next fiscal year, positioning it as a potential key to the company’s recovery.
Rival automakers are also accelerating development efforts. U.S. electric vehicle maker Tesla is aiming to introduce similar technology in Japan during the next fiscal year, drawing attention to which company will achieve the country’s first large-scale rollout of advanced autonomous driving systems.
"The Elgrand is an extremely important model within our lineup," Espinosa said. "Through this beautifully realized technology, we hope customers will once again highly value Nissan."
Whether the latest autonomous driving technology can help Nissan engineer a comeback remains uncertain as the automaker continues its struggle to return to profitability.
Source: TBS
