Toyota to convert all models to software-defined vehicles by 2030

Toyota Motor Corp. plans to install its proprietary software "Arene" across all of its vehicle models by 2030.

At an investor technology briefing held earlier this month, Toyota announced it would equip all roughly 50 of its models with Arene, converting the entire lineup into software-defined vehicles, or SDVs, the Nikkei reported. SDVs are cars that can receive functional upgrades through software updates, much like a smartphone.

The company envisions installing Arene in about 10 million new vehicles shipped annually, allowing owners to continue improving their cars' capabilities through software updates after purchase.

Arene was first introduced in the RAV4 sport utility vehicle, which launched last year. Toyota plans to extend the software to all of its models by 2030 and to offer it to affiliated automakers by 2035.

Beyond vehicles, Toyota intends to deploy Arene in communication devices embedded in infrastructure such as robots, housing and utility poles. The vision is to connect cars and infrastructure through wireless communication — so that a home's lights turn on as a car approaches, or a utility pole's communication device alerts drivers to the presence of pedestrians.

Toyota said it will focus on what it calls "value-chain business" after new-car sales, including systems that support safe driving via wireless communication, software feature updates and the sale of maintenance parts.

The automaker has also set a target to grow operating profit from non-vehicle-sales business segments by 40 percent from current levels to 3 trillion yen ($19 billion) by fiscal 2030.