Official Announcement: BMW Partners with Alibaba!

On March 26, BMW Group announced a deepened strategic collaboration with Alibaba Group, leveraging Alibaba's Tongyi AI large model to jointly develop an AI engine for BMW's new generation series vehicles in the Chinese market.

The enhanced partnership primarily focuses on cutting-edge technology areas such as AI large models and intelligent voice interaction. Based on the Tongyi model and Banma Yuan Shen AI, the new BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant will utilize an AI engine co-developed by BMW and Alibaba, and is planned to be integrated into BMW's new generation series vehicles produced in China, with deliveries expected to commence in 2026 in the Chinese market. The AI engine-powered intelligent cockpit and smart mobility interaction scenarios will debut at the Shanghai Auto Show in April this year.

Notably, on March 25, BMW Group announced the launch of its 360-degree full-chain AI strategy in China. This strategy is centered on empowering digital production and operations, enhancing user experiences across all scenarios, and fostering open innovation in R&D, aiming to accelerate the integration of 360-degree full-chain AI in China and establish a long-term competitive advantage in the era of artificial intelligence.

To date, intelligent cockpits from automakers such as XPeng, Zeekr, Leapmotor, and IM Motors have already incorporated the Tongyi series models. Industry analysts believe that the automotive sector is rapidly embracing AI.

Lin Shi, Secretary-General of the Intelligent Connected Vehicle Branch of the China-Europe Association, previously stated in a media interview that in the current automotive industry, leading automakers' experiences in the field of intelligence have become relatively similar, making it difficult to showcase unique differentiation and leading advantages in the market. Faced with this situation, the entire industry is eagerly anticipating the emergence of more advanced intelligent technologies to bring more significant and substantial changes to the automotive sector. In this context, AI technology is gradually becoming the "darling" of automakers.
Zhang Yongwei, Vice Chairman and Secretary-General of the China EV100, believes: "The technological high ground of the automotive industry and the strategic competitive pivot of automakers are rapidly shifting towards AI-driven intelligence. Past competitiveness can hardly support the next stage of development for automakers. Future development must be based on high ground and pivot points, establishing AI-driven intelligent development to achieve strategic migration."