China Targets “Smart Car” Tech

China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) has announced plans for a “smart car” strategy that would include an aggressive rollout of artificial intelligence (AI) and vehicle communication systems, Reuters reports.

Under the proposal, AI-based technology would be implemented in more than half of all new vehicles sold in the country by 2020. At the same time, wireless networks enabling vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communications would cover as much as 90% of China’s major cities and highways, according to the report.

NDRC predicts China’s AI industry will soar to more than 150 billion yuan ($22 billion) by 2020 from virtually zero today. Smart car systems are expected to play a large role in the growth.

The NDRC scheme calls for China to create a national team with officials from the State Council to guide smart car innovation. The agency, which currently is seeking public feedback on the plan, also is lobbying for tax incentives and other preferential policies to help spur the development and implementation of AI technologies.