SAIC signs deal on Internet technologies with Alibaba

Shanghai-based automaker SAIC Motor Corp Wednesday signed an agreement with Internet giant Alibaba Group on applying more Internet technologies to SAIC's future products, news portal tech.sina.com.cn reported.

The cooperation will enable SAIC to use Alibaba's "YunOS" operating system as well as its mapping and music services in the automaker's future products, according to the report.

Prior to the Wednesday deal, SAIC has already made efforts to bring the Internet to its vehicles.

SAIC in 2010 developed a vehicle system called inkaNet that enables car owners to get access to vehicle information on both personal computers and smartphones.

The system has reportedly been applied to most models of the company's self-developed Roewe brand.

Major carmakers and Internet companies have all been trying to tap into the opportunities in the development of "Internet of Vehicles," a concept that generally means making driving more intelligent using Internet technology.

Leading wireless operator China Unicom has cooperated with major domestic carmakers such as Zhejiang Geely Holding Group to provide 3G telecommunication services to their products.

China Unicom also signed a similar agreement with US premium carmaker Tesla in April.

"There will be more cooperation between Internet companies and automakers in the future as 'Internet of Vehicles' represents the future trend," independent auto analyst Zhang Zhiyong told the Global Times Wednesday.

Zhang also noted that "Internet of vehicles" means great opportunities for domestic carmakers and Internet firms.