Pop Japan

Meet Serena, Japan's very own self-driving car.

Nissan has recently unveiled the 2017 Serena minivan equipped with ProPILOT technology, making it the first Japanese vehicle equipped with autonomous driving capabilities. The ProPILOT system enables the car to steer, accelerate, and brake in full automatic mode. ProPILOT is optimized for single-lane highway driving. The system operates at speeds between 19 to 62 mph which is perfect for Japan's highways that move at a slower pace than Western freeways.

The ProPILOT system instantly reacts to cars that cut you off. It can also follow curves and bring the car to a stop. There are limitations to its abilities, however, in that it cannot execute lane changes since it lacks a side or blind-spot monitor.

Photo by Tokumeigakarinoaoshima. Licensed under Creative Commons. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en)

Tags: Automobile, Nissan, Serena, 2017 Serena minivan, ProPILOT, technology, autonomous driving, japan, car, self driving, western freeways