BMW’s iX electric SUV in China was the initial world wide car or truck model to incorporate the car edition of Tencent’s WeChat messaging app, according to the Chinese tech corporation.
Tencent
BEIJING — Chinese online large Tencent needs to promote technology which the firm suggests will assist foreign automakers that want to sell cars in China’s substantial electric powered motor vehicle sector.
BMW and some U.S. automakers are presently working with Tencent, mentioned Liu Shuquan, vice president of Tencent Smart Mobility, which is part of Tencent’s cloud business. Talking to CNBC on Friday, he declined to specify which American carmakers it is performing with.
In a transfer aimed at serving to strengthen its international approach, Liu’s group launched a new cloud computing product for automakers termed the “Tencent Smart Automobile Cloud” on Friday.
The all-in-one particular cloud product or service — also offered for domestic automakers — can cover all technological facets of an electric auto, the corporation claimed. All those capabilities array from storing information in a way optimized for teaching autonomous driving systems, to offering drivers accessibility to Tencent’s social media and map apps.
The person interface could be a selling issue for China’s motorists contemplating how Tencent dominates an array of the top rated on line enjoyment applications in China.
The business has played the part of Fb in China with its ubiquitous WeChat messaging, payments and social media application — anything tech rivals Baidu and Alibaba have nevertheless to arrive close to.
In amusement, Tencent has other applications as perfectly: QQ New music, one of the two key Spotify-like applications in China Tencent Video clip, which delivers on-need streaming written content together with fact exhibits and animated series as well as common cell game titles like Honor of Kings.
Tencent Maps is the third most-well-known navigation application in Apple’s App store in China — the best two belong to its key rivals Alibaba and Baidu.
All cars and trucks permitting travellers or motorists entry Tencent apps from the vehicle’s platforms need to have to have an arrangement with Tencent, Liu claimed.
Those people application-amount partnerships commenced in 2018, all-around the similar time Tencent Cloud commenced performing with automakers for autonomous driving products and services, the firm mentioned.
Introducing more self-driving tech
Gamers in China’s vehicle field are significantly betting that regional motorists will want far more autonomous driving functions, which are fundamentally assisted-driving capabilities because of to regulation of existing technology.
By now in the to start with quarter, 23% of new vehicles offered in China arrived with a limited level of assisted driving, referred to as “Level 2” in a classification technique for autonomous driving, in accordance to Tencent.
With the new cloud computing item introduced final week, Liu mentioned abroad motor vehicle companies could build vehicles with navigation and assisted-driving features personalized for China’s roadways and terrain.
“The knowledge is owned by [the] OEM, the consumer,” Liu claimed, referring to original machines companies which offer factors and elements for an additional firm’s solution.
“We just give cloud provider to retail store that info. The 2nd thing is we give a complete ecosystem. That ecosystem not only consist of[s] our personal services and articles but also our partners’.”
Liu said his organization by now partners with almost 40 automobile makes, such as BMW, SAIC and Nio, covering 120 vehicle types. He also noted partnership talks with German and Japanese organizations.
SAIC and Nio associates spoke at Friday’s launch occasion for the “Tencent Smart Vehicle Cloud” merchandise.
BMW said in a statement it introduced a partnership with Tencent in July 2020 to “velocity up the integration of electronic experience inside BMW motor vehicles.”
Right after Tencent’s WeChat in-car edition went reside on the very first at any time electrical BMW iX vehicle past 12 months, the organization plans adding Tencent Movie and other items this yr, the automaker mentioned.
“The BMW Group treats data stability and privateness as the prime priority. Our operations in China follow pertinent guidelines and rules on the issue,” the statement explained.