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.

Nissan looks to be taking on Tesla in the race to self-driving cars, with the introduction of a new feature in its next-generation Leaf electric vehicle. The cars will feature a new technology called ProPILOT Assist that supports drivers by helping control acceleration, braking and steering. While Nissan has not said when the next-generation Leaf will be revealed or its cost, rumours suggest it could be as early as September, with shipping starting by the end of 2018. Nissan's next-generation Leaf will feature a new technology called ProPILOT Assist that supports drivers by helping control acceleration, braking and steering The ProPILOT Assist feature is designed to give drivers a helping hand as they drive in traffic. When the ProPILOT Assist button on the steering wheel is pressed, the car takes over the acceleration, braking and steering, keeping the car safely in its lane.

Recent innovations around the autonomous car have shaken up the automotive industry. Manufacturers and their suppliers are all accelerating their work on the cars of the future, both regular human-operated cars as well as driverless or semi-autonomous vehicles. But beyond just issues of autonomy, these cars of the future are undergoing a fundamental shift in human-machine interaction. Consumers today crave more relational and conversational interactions with devices, as evidenced by the popularity of chatbots and virtual assistants like Siri and Alexa – and the automotive industry has taken notice. As such, next-generation cars are emerging as advanced artificial intelligence (AI) systems that will power an entirely new automotive experience in which cars will become conversational interfaces between the driver, passengers, the vehicle itself and its controls -- all connected to the IoT and mobile devices we use.