Audi works with Chinese technology companies to develop intelligent cars

German carmaker Audi has signed agreements with Chinese technology companies Alibaba, Baidu and Tencent to work on data analysis, internet connected vehicles and intelligent public transport.

Audi China and FAW-Volkswagen – a joint venture between state-owned car manufacturer FAW Group and Volkswagen that makes Audi and Volkswagen cars in China – will work with the three technology companies on features for "the connected car of the future", Audi said.

Audi has already been working with all three companies on separate projects.

It has worked with Alibaba to integrate real-time traffic data into cars and has become the first premium manufacturer in China to offer high-resolution 3D maps, it said.

In 2017, Audi will launch Baidu CarLife in its local model line-up, allowing the transfer of Baidu app services between customers’ digital devices and their cars.

With Tencent, Audi is working on integrating WeChat MyCar services into its cars. The first features to be implemented will be location sharing and music sharing, it said.

Audi's largest research and development centre outside Germany is in Beijing, where the company focuses on future technologies including connected car, services, new energy vehicles and digital services, the company said.

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