Japan aims to win a 30% share of the global market for software-defined vehicles designed to improve performance by upgrading software rather than hardware, the industry and transport ministries said Monday.

The target was included in a new strategy released by the ministries for software development for next-generation vehicles with advanced digital technologies.

The strategy calls on the public and private sectors to work together on research and development of in-vehicle semiconductors and the standardization of SDV systems to better compete against leading U.S. and Chinese makers of self-driving and so-called connected vehicles.

Estimating that global SDV sales will reach 41 million units in 2030 and 64 million units in 2035, the strategy sets sales goals for Japanese makers at 12 million units in 2030 and 19 million units five years later.

Besides software development, it urges all Japanese companies across industries to cooperate in capitalizing on data on new services including smart transportation and offering such services.

When it comes to services with self-driving vehicles, an experiment project for full autonomous traveling via large truck will be conducted on the Shin-Tomei Expressway linking Ebina in Kanagawa Prefecture and Toyota in Aichi Prefecture by the end of March next year.

Japan will also consider establishing a company to jointly operate self-driving trucks and starting testing driverless taxis by that time.

A system to share vehicle data ranging from those on production to disposal is also projected to be created in the year through March 2026 as part of efforts to protect the environment.

In addition, the industry ministry plans to launch a new framework to develop cutting-edge human resources and share information with businesses.