Nissan’s Next-Gen ProPILOT 2.0 Driver-Assist Technology with Wayve AI Makes Quiet Leap Into City Streets

Nissan has just released a preview of ProPILOT 2.0, its most advanced driving aid ever, and the timing was deliberate. With robotaxis already cruising the streets in a few US cities, the Japanese automaker is getting attention by showing a system designed for the crazy, unpredictable streets of Japan. This month they demoed it in downtown Tokyo, where prototype versions handled the chaos of one-way streets and crosswalks with ease.

Ariya prototypes were the test beds, their sleek bodies labeled with what was inside. Eleven cameras captured every angle, sending live feeds to the control center. Five radar units checked speed and distance, one LiDAR unit sat on the roof like an eye in the sky. LiDAR can see objects farther away than any camera, which is super helpful when speeds increase or it gets dark. These all come together to form Nissan’s Ground Truth Perception, the foundation of the whole system by providing the data.

Wayve’s AI software turns the raw data into decisions that mimic a driver’s instincts. Cameras see traffic flow and the algorithm learns from them, not individual bumps or corners. Sudden changes, such as a bike darting into a lane, need immediate adjustments. When people emerge at a crosswalk, the car slows down gradually and then continues until the road is clear. During the Tokyo runs these prototypes drove hands-free, swinging into side streets and slipping through traffic lights.


Back in 2016 the first ProPILOT stuck to the highway, held lanes and maintained distance in straight shots. Three years later Version 2.0 was released which added lane changes and route guidance for longer trips. This latest improvement extends into city centers where the rules bend and surprises await around every corner. Nissan’s chief technology officer, Eiichi Akashi, calls it “like a human driver is behind the wheel”. He’s right, the demos prove it – cars navigated Tokyo’s grid without a hitch.


Tetsuya Iijima, who works on driver-assist development, watched the same runs and noted the strengths were suited to the home ground. He said narrow streets with pedestrians require a different approach, one that detects trouble early and flows with the crowd. Hands-free was evident in the footage: a left turn onto a busy street, a quick lane change to avoid a slowdown, all while the system was awake. Level 2 rules apply throughout—drivers must keep an eye on the road and have their hands ready. Rain, fog or heavy traffic can still mess it up but in clear weather it promises fewer uncomfortable moments for everyone on the road.