Subaru plans to launch software-defined vehicles in the second half of this decade, the Japanese automaker said at a development strategy briefing at its research center in Sano, north of Tokyo, Reuters reported.

The vehicles will get over-the-air updates for driver-assistance, automated-driving and vehicle performance functions. To support them, Subaru will gradually roll out a newly developed integrated electronic control unit across its lineup.

Subaru Plans Software-Defined Vehicles for Second Half of Decade With AMD Chip and OTA Updates

At the core of that ECU is a chip Subaru co-developed with Advanced Micro Devices. The company plans to standardize the electronic platform across its electric, hybrid and gasoline-powered models. According to Nikkei, the unit combines Subaru's EyeSight driver-assistance system with the controls that manage vehicle movement.

Managing executive officer Eiji Shibata said the goal is ease of use, not a showcase of features. "We want to make SDVs convenient to use, rather than pack them with extremely advanced features," he said, according to Jiji Press via Nippon.com. Shibata said Subaru wants to offer the vehicle at an affordable price to drive wider adoption, and the company aims to hold down costs by optimizing the system's functions.