Nissan Motor says it will begin an autonomous-vehicle ride service in fiscal 2027. The program will use cars it developed itself.

The automaker aims to operate the service in several municipalities in Japan. Paying customers will use an app to choose their pick-up and drop-off locations.

Nissan has yet to determine the degree of self-driving when the program kicks off. But it says the vehicles will eventually be at "level four," or fully autonomous with certain conditions.

Trials are slated for fiscal 2024 in Yokohama City, near Tokyo.

Nissan's Corporate Vice President Doi Kazuhiro said the firm aims to "provide a solution in areas where maintaining public transportation is difficult due to driver shortages."

Honda has already unveiled a plan to launch driverless taxi services with General Motors. The program is slated to start in some areas of Tokyo in 2026.