Tencent wants to be foreign automakers’ go-to company for EVs in China

BEIJING — Chinese world-wide-web huge Tencent desires to sell technological know-how which the corporation states will aid foreign automakers that want to sell cars in China’s huge electrical automobile market.

BMW and some U.S. automakers are currently operating with Tencent, stated Liu Shuquan, vice president of Tencent Clever Mobility, which is element of Tencent’s cloud organization. Talking to CNBC on Friday, he declined to specify which American carmakers it’s operating with.

In a transfer aimed at assisting improve its intercontinental strategy, Liu’s team introduced a new cloud computing merchandise for automakers referred to as the “Tencent Intelligent Auto Cloud” on Friday.

The all-in-1 cloud product or service — also readily available for domestic automakers — can go over all technological elements of an electric vehicle, the enterprise claimed. These options array from storing information in a way optimized for teaching autonomous driving devices, to supplying motorists obtain to Tencent’s social media and map applications.

The person interface may be a marketing position for China’s motorists looking at how Tencent dominates an array of the prime on the internet enjoyment apps in China.

The company has performed the purpose of Fb in China with its ubiquitous WeChat messaging, payments and social media application — a little something tech rivals Baidu and Alibaba have nevertheless to come shut to.

In amusement, Tencent has other applications as effectively: QQ Tunes, one of the two major Spotify-like apps in China Tencent Movie, which delivers on-desire streaming written content together with truth demonstrates and animated sequence as effectively as preferred cell game titles like Honor of Kings.

Tencent Maps is the third most-well-liked navigation app in Apple’s Application retail store in China — the top rated two belong to its crucial rivals Alibaba and Baidu.

All cars permitting travellers or drivers entry Tencent apps from the vehicle’s platforms need to have to have an agreement with Tencent, Liu reported.

Those people application-amount partnerships begun in 2018, around the similar time Tencent Cloud commenced functioning with automakers for autonomous driving products and services, the firm mentioned.

Players in China’s auto market are significantly betting that local drivers will want much more autonomous driving capabilities, which are essentially assisted-driving capabilities owing to regulation of latest technologies.

Previously in the very first quarter, 23% of new cars bought in China came with a limited amount of assisted driving, referred to as “Degree 2” in a classification procedure for autonomous driving, according to Tencent.

With the new cloud computing solution announced last week, Liu stated abroad car companies could establish motor vehicles with navigation and assisted-driving attributes customized for China’s streets and terrain.

“The details is owned by [the] OEM, the client,” Liu explained, referring to first equipment makers which deliver elements and sections for yet another company’s products.

“We just deliver cloud services to retailer that details. The next detail is we deliver a total ecosystem. That ecosystem not only contain[s] our very own services and information but also our partners’.”

Liu stated his company previously partners with almost 40 car manufacturers, like BMW, SAIC and Nio, masking 120 vehicle products. He also observed partnership talks with German and Japanese firms.

SAIC and Nio representatives spoke at Friday’s launch occasion for the “Tencent Smart Auto Cloud” product or service.

BMW said in a statement it announced a partnership with Tencent in July 2020 to “velocity up the integration of digital experience inside of BMW motor vehicles.”

Right after Tencent’s WeChat in-car variation went are living on the very first at any time electric BMW iX automobile very last calendar year, the enterprise designs incorporating Tencent Movie and other products this 12 months, the automaker explained.

“The BMW Team treats knowledge stability and privacy as the leading priority. Our operations in China observe related laws and laws on the make any difference,” the assertion claimed.