Japan is strengthening its efforts to get automakers to develop smart cars whose safety and entertainment systems can be managed by cloud technology, an area where they are falling behind Chinese and U.S. rivals.
The government has set a goal of Japanese companies accounting for 30% of the market for what are known as "software defined vehicles," or SDVs, in 2030 — when it estimates global sales will reach 35 million to 41 million units.
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry will provide financial support and help nurture workers such as information technology engineers by partnering with universities and launching reskilling courses, it said.