Nissan, alongside four industry partners, has successfully completed evolvAD, the UK’s most rigorous autonomous driving (AD) research project, marking a major step in preparing the country for self-driving technology.Funded jointly by the UK Government and the consortium partners, evolvAD builds on Nissan-backed HumanDrive and ServCity projects, further refining AD capabilities. Over an intensive eight-year period, more than 16,000 autonomous miles were driven across motorways, urban streets, and rural roads—without a single accident. David Moss, Senior VP of Nissan AMIEO, highlighted the project’s impact: “These research initiatives have significantly enhanced our understanding of AD technology. Beyond improving safety and efficiency, this innovation will expand mobility access for people limited by age, disability, or location.”
Nissan Technical Centre Europe led the initiative, with Connected Places Catapult, Humanising Autonomy, SBD Automotive, and TRL providing critical expertise. The project also tested vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) technology, using CCTV data to enhance situational awareness for connected autonomous vehicles (CAVs). As global automotive giants like Nissan push the boundaries of self-driving technology, markets such as Guwahati are observing these advancements with interest. While fully autonomous vehicles remain distant for Indian roads due to infrastructural challenges, increasing investment in AD research could influence future urban mobility in cities like Guwahati, where traffic congestion and road safety remain key concerns.
With evolvAD now shifting focus to assessing UK cities’ AD readiness, Nissan continues to test autonomous mobility services worldwide, including Japan’s Easy Ride Serena AD trials. The findings from these initiatives will help shape future regulations and infrastructure planning, ensuring a smoother transition towards self-driving transportation.