Toyota Motor and Nippon Telegraph and Telephone (NTT) are set to invest 500 billion yen ($3.26 billion) in artificial intelligence research and development aimed at enhancing autonomous driving technology, according to a report by Nikkei on Tuesday.
The Japanese automaker and telecommunications giant plan to develop AI-driven automotive software designed to anticipate accidents and, if needed, assume control of the vehicle.
The companies target 2028 to debut a working system, which they aim to license to other automakers. This partnership marks a strategic step by Japanese automakers to expand their footprint in the advanced autonomous driving sector, which has been largely dominated by Tesla and several Chinese companies.
Toyota’s Mirai fuel-cell vehicle has included a hands-free driving function since 2021, demonstrating its commitment to advanced automotive technology.
Toyota and NTT previously collaborated in 2017 on 5G technology for connected vehicles, later expanding their partnership with a capital tie-up as part of a smart city initiative in 2020.
