(Posted on Feb 26, 2018 at 09:28PM by Michelle Bogle)
At the end of 2017, we shared news about one of Nissan's latest concepts called Easy Ride. Together with their partner, DeNA Company, Ltd., the innovators have been working tirelessly to launch a new robo-vehicle mobility service that uses autonomous driving technologies.
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Well, it appears that Nissan and DeNA are getting closer to having their dream become a reality. Just last week, it was announced that field testing of the Easy Ride concept is set to begin on March 5, 2018, in Japan's Minatomirai district of Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture.
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During the trial, participants will be able to travel in vehicles equipped with autonomous driving technologies along a set route, which runs 4.5 kilometers between Nissan's Global Headquarters and the Yokohama World Porters Shopping Center. Using a dedicated mobile app, participants will be able to input their desired activity using text or voice and choose from a list of recommended destinations. An in-car tablet will show selections of nearly 500 recommended places of interest and events within the vicinity, and provide exclusive money-saving coupons.Â
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In return, participants must complete a survey about their overall user experience, thoughts about the content and coupon offerings, as well as preferred pricing for the Easy Ride service. Nissan and DeNA will then use these results to further develop the concept for additional field tests or launch time.
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There's still no set date as to when Easy Ride will hit the global stage, but as news is released, we'll be sure to share more on our blog. In the meantime, should you have questions about Nissan's autonomous driving technologies, contact our dealership in Seattle, Washington to speak with a member of our sales team.Â