Starting in 2026, all new BMW cars in China will be equipped with artificial intelligence from Chinese internet giant Alibaba. The German automaker hopes to use it to bridge the gap with local automakers and “open a new era of mobility.”
The new system will include two digital assistants: Car Genius, a technical expert on the car, and Travel Companion, a companion for navigation and entertainment. It is based on Alibaba’s Qwen language model and will enable a better understanding of speech, recommendations for restaurants, planning routes, and adapting to the habits of a specific driver.
“Our partnership with Alibaba is an example of growing together. The main goal is to create a smarter, safer, and more personalized travel experience for Chinese drivers,” said Sean Green, president of BMW China.
BMW and Alibaba began their partnership in 2015. Since then, they have been working together on digital solutions and the integration of technologies into cars.
