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.