BMW announced this week it has strengthened its partnership with China’s Alibaba group after it signed an agreement to integrate the tech giant’s artificial intelligence (AI)-powered digital cockpit platform into its forthcoming models to be sold in China.
The German automaker has been working with Alibaba’s eBanma subsidiary to integrate its AI large language model into its Neue Klasse models, as it looks to strengthen its product range and make up lost ground in the world’s largest vehicle market. The company reported a 13% drop in BMW and Mini sales in China last year to 714,500 units, amid fast-rising competition from domestic automakers.
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BMW plans to unveil its newly-developed BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant intelligent cockpit, based on Alibaba’s Tongyi large model, and jointly developed smart mobility interaction scenarios at the Shanghai Auto Show in April, according to local reports
The automaker plans to make available its BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant in a new generation of models from 2026, which are expected to offer a more intelligent, natural and intuitive interactive experience to its users.
BMW confirmed it will continue to collaborate with Alibaba to explore new cross-domain integration in infrastructure, platforms, and services.
