Nissan Provides a Glimpse of its Semi-Autonomous Leaf

author: Vineeth Joel Patel   

Nissan has been working studiously to release a rival Tesla. Earlier this year, the Japanese automaker announced that it would start testing its next-gen Leaf, which would be equipped with driverless tech in London. The testing, as Reuters reported earlier this year, went well with the autonomous Leaf being able to hit speeds of up to 50 mph and travel on both large and small roads.  

Now, with its initial testing being complete, Nissan is giving the world a closer look at the next-gen Leaf. The electric hatchback will come with the Japanese automaker's self-driving program called ProPilot, which was unveiled at this year's Consumer Electronics Show (CES). 

Nissan's ProPilot Is The Future

At the moment, Nissan's ProPilot are similar to Tesla's Autopilot system, but has a few differences. The system in the Leaf is capable of controlling the car's braking, acceleration, and steering during single-lane driving on well-marked highways. The system, though, will improve over time to eventually be able to drive itself through city streets in the near future. 

The ProPilot system sounds like a true rival to Tesla, and the video below gives us a clear view of how the system works and what it can do. The 40-second video below provides a brief glimpse at the Leaf's steering wheel, which will have easy-to-use buttons capable of controlling the car's autonomous features. With a push of a button, the Leaf can "control acceleration, braking, and steering during single-lane driving on the highway," says Nissan. 

The video shows a group of animated vehicles following one another, while explaining how the system works. Nissan still hasn't released a date for when the technology will hit the road, but if it's soon, Nissan will be one of the few with a Level 2 self-driving car on the road. 

The Leaf Will Be A Strong Competitor

With the release of the Leaf, the Japanese automaker would compete directly with the Tesla Model 3 and Chevrolet Bolt as vehicles under $40,000 that has autonomous capabilities. The Verge claims that production is expected to begin later this September, with deliveries to drivers set to occur before the end of the year. 

While we patiently wait for the next-gen Leaf to come out, Nissan is working together with Mobileye to create the next generation of maps to ensure that autonomous cars are safe on all types of roads. And the automaker also has plans to launch connected cars in India next month that will have diagnostics capabilities, GPS tracking, and service reminders. 

According to a report by The New York Times, Nissan, with some help from its partner Renault, has plans to launch both self-driving ride-sharing and ride-hailing services in the near future. And that's not all, as the Japanese automaker believes that electric cars will reign supreme. Ogi Redzic, head of Nissan-Renault's Connected Vehicles and Mobility Services division, stated that the collaboration would have some tangible items that are based on its EVs "certainly within 10 years," but not before 2020. 

As long as the system works properly, and Nissan releases the Leaf in a timely manner, the automaker can enter a highly-anticipated segment with a strong offering. 

via: The Verge

Vineeth Joel Patel

Joel Patel has been covering all aspects of the automotive industry for four years as an editor and freelance writer for various websites. When it comes to cars, he enjoys covering the merger between technology and cars. In his spare time, Joel likes to watch baseball, work on his car, and try new foods