---
title: "2018 Nissan Leaf Will Be Able to Drive Itself in Stop-and-Go Traffic"
description: "The next-generation Leaf will be one of the first models to get Nissan's ProPilot driver-assist tech."
date: "2017-06-23"
modified: "2017-06-23"
authors:
  - name: "Stephen Edelstein"
    job_title: "Weekend Editor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/stephen-edelstein"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/tech/11796/2018-nissan-leaf-will-be-able-to-drive-itself-in-stop-and-go-traffic"
categories:
  - "Car Tech"
  - "Electric Vehicles"
  - "News"
  - "News by Brand"
  - "Nissan News"
  - "Self-Driving Tech"
tags:
  - "compact"
  - "Electric Cars"
  - "Electric Vehicle"
  - "Hatchback"
  - "Nissan"
  - "Nissan LEAF"
  - "ProPilot"
  - "self-driving cars"
  - "Tech"
---

# 2018 Nissan Leaf Will Be Able to Drive Itself in Stop-and-Go Traffic

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2017/06/nissan_leaf_propilot_assist.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

Earlier this year, Nissan announced that the next-generation Leaf will be its first U.S. model [to get ProPilot driver-assist tech](<https://www.thedrive.com/article/6898/new-nissan-leaf-will-feature-propilot-autonomous-equipment>), which the automaker views as a stepping stone to full autonomy. While the new Leaf [won't appear until later this year](<https://www.thedrive.com/article/8254/next-generation-nissan-leaf-will-go-on-sale-this-year>), we now have a better idea of ProPilot's capabilities.

In a teaser for its redesigned electric car, Nissan said the Leaf's ProPilot system will be able to help "control acceleration, braking, and steering during single-lane driving on the highway." That seems to put this version of ProPilot in the same category as highly-automated driver-assist systems like [Tesla's Autopilot](<https://www.thedrive.com/tech/8780/tesla-rolls-out-autopilot-upgrade-for-newer-vehicles>), [Cadillac's Super Cruise](<https://www.thedrive.com/tech/9162/super-cruise-will-finally-arrive-on-2018-cadillac-ct6>), and the traffic-jam assist feature in [the next-gen Audi A8](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/11425/heres-our-best-look-yet-at-the-2018-audi-a8>).

The limited autonomy offered by these systems shouldn't be confused with fully-autonomous driving, but automakers believe this tech can help them to develop self-driving cars. Much of the hardware can be applied to fully autonomous cars, and data collected from onboard sensors can be used to improve the software controlling those cars. [Nissan has entered into a partnership with Mobileye](<https://www.thedrive.com/article/9680/nissan-mobileye-team-up-on-maps-for-self-driving-cars>) to do just that.

ProPilot is just one component of a major overhaul for the Nissan Leaf, which hasn't been redesigned since it went on sale in 2010. That makes the current car fairly old by industry standards, and its 107-mile range may soon prove inadequate in the face of affordable long-range electric cars like the Chevrolet Bolt EV and Tesla Model 3. The 2018 Nissan Leaf is expected to [offer a range of at least 200 miles](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/9871/nissan-exec-hints-at-200-mile-leaf-longer-range-electric-car-for-2020>).

Nissan unveiled its first self-driving car prototypes in 2013, based on the current-generation Leaf. The automaker plans to deploy autonomous driving tech in stages, achieving fully autonomy by 2023. While Ford plans to launch a self-driving car for ride-sharing services in 2021, it's unclear whether Nissan will also limit its autonomous cars to sharing services, or sell them directly to customers instead.

## Author
Stephen has always been passionate about cars, and managed to turn that passion into a career as a freelance automotive journalist. When he's not handling weekend coverage for The Drive, you can find him looking for a new book to read.

### Author social links  
[Twitter](<https://twitter.com/SAEdelstein>)