Robotaxis roaming around Yokohama are winning over unlikely fans

A safety driver behind the wheel of a Nissan Motor Co e-NV200 electric van during a demonstration of the ‘Easy Ride’ on-demand automated vehicle dispatch service in Yokohama, Japan, on Nov 30, 2021. Nissan is carrying out Japan’s largest demonstration to date of autonomous vehicles in an area to the south of Tokyo, as the automaker moves toward rolling out a commercial robotaxi service. — Bloomberg

Nissan Motor Co is carrying out Japan’s largest demonstration to date of autonomous vehicles in an area to the south of Tokyo, as the automaker moves toward rolling out a commercial robotaxi service.

Although regulations and the need for further technology improvements mean a full-scale launch is still some years away, Nissan has been testing the self-driving taxi service in Yokohama, near its corporate headquarters. Passengers can book rides via a smartphone app that covers some 650 routes and embark and disembark from 23 points around the city.