Tencent, GAC to collaborate on Internet-connected cars
Tencent Holdings and Guangzhou Automobile Group agreed to collaborate on Internet-connected cars.
Tencent and GAC will jointly develop Internet-connected cars and artificial intelligence-aided driving. They also will explore investments in automotive e-commerce, electric vehicles and auto insurance, the automaker said.
Guangzhou Auto said it aims to tap Tencent’s expertise in mobile payments, social networking, big data and artificial intelligence. Tencent also will provide cloud services and other technical support.
The development of self-driving vehicles has triggered a flurry of alliances between internet giants and automakers.
E-commerce giant Alibaba Holdings has a joint venture with Shanghai-based automaker SAIC Motor Corp., while Baidu Inc. has attracted 70 companies that want to use its Apollo software platform for self-driving vehicles.
Tencent has been a relative latecomer to the auto sector. Earlier this year, Tencent bought 5 percent of U.S. electric carmaker Tesla Inc. for $1.78 billion.
State-owned GAC, based in the southeast city of Guangzhou, operates joint ventures with Honda, Toyota, Fiat Chrysler and Mitsubishi.
Sales of GAC’s Trumpchi brand have surged 50 percent to 330,035 vehicles this year.
Tencent and GAC will jointly develop Internet-connected cars and artificial intelligence-aided driving. They also will explore investments in automotive e-commerce, electric vehicles and auto insurance, the automaker said.
Guangzhou Auto said it aims to tap Tencent’s expertise in mobile payments, social networking, big data and artificial intelligence. Tencent also will provide cloud services and other technical support.
The development of self-driving vehicles has triggered a flurry of alliances between internet giants and automakers.
E-commerce giant Alibaba Holdings has a joint venture with Shanghai-based automaker SAIC Motor Corp., while Baidu Inc. has attracted 70 companies that want to use its Apollo software platform for self-driving vehicles.
Tencent has been a relative latecomer to the auto sector. Earlier this year, Tencent bought 5 percent of U.S. electric carmaker Tesla Inc. for $1.78 billion.
State-owned GAC, based in the southeast city of Guangzhou, operates joint ventures with Honda, Toyota, Fiat Chrysler and Mitsubishi.
Sales of GAC’s Trumpchi brand have surged 50 percent to 330,035 vehicles this year.
