Japan automakers make joint chip push to rival China’s smart cars

Japan automakers make joint chip push to rival China's smart cars Japan automakers make joint chip push to rival China's smart cars

TOKYO — Japan’s automakers and suppliers are undertaking a rare industrywide effort to boost their competitiveness against Chinese rivals that have pulled ahead in the smart vehicle race.

ASRA, a consortium that includes Toyota Motor, Nissan Motor and Honda Motor, is leading discussions to create a standardized design for next-generation automotive chips that it hopes to have ready by March 2029. Standardizing chip development would help car companies reduce costs and accelerate development schedules — potentially making up for lost time.