Japan Targets 25 Pct Share of Global Autonomous Car Market

Tokyo, April 16 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government on Thursday released a draft road map on public-private investment that features a goal of acquiring some 25 pct share of the global market in self-driving vehicle sales in the 2030s. The draft was shown at a subcommittee meeting of the Council for Japan’s Growth Strategy, chaired by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. At the council’s previous meeting in March, the government designated a total of 61 goods and technologies for priority investment by the public and private sectors and presented a draft investment road map for 27 of them. At Thursday’s meeting, the government discussed actual support programs and goals for the remaining 34 goods and technologies. Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Masanao Ozaki, who heads the subcommittee, instructed senior officials of relevant ministries and agencies to work out truly effective and necessary policies with urgency. The government also set a goal of capturing 5 trillion yen in 2030 in the global market for vertical artificial intelligence, tailored for specific industries and estimated at 33 trillion yen. In advanced metals, the government’s target is to acquire a global market share of 50 pct for aircraft engines and 80 pct for semiconductor circuits. The government has selected 17 areas for intensive support to strengthen the country’s economic security, citing products and technologies such as AI robots and next-generation ships as examples. After including specific investment amounts and expected economic benefits, the government plans to compile a new growth strategy this summer. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]