Slowing demand for electric vehicles, rising trade tensions and questions about the ability of traditional Western automakers to attract Chinese consumers will be the talking points in Beijing as executives from the world’s top auto brands gather for the Beijing auto show.
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Japan’s Toyota Automotive will be paired with china Tencent although Nissan Will BaiduThe cross-border collaboration underscores the importance of artificial intelligence to automakers, the companies said Thursday.
Separate announcements from Japan’s two largest automakers at the Beijing auto show also highlight Japanese manufacturers’ attempts to grapple with massive technological changes that have disrupted their once-enviable positions in the Chinese market.
Just a few years ago, Japanese car companies were among the best-known foreign brands in China. Lately, they have been caught off guard by local manufacturers. BYD It has seized market share with software-laden electric vehicles aimed at young drivers.
Gaming and social media giant Tencent and China’s leading search engine Baidu have been leaders in the race for generative artificial intelligence in China.
Xu Yiming, Toyota Motor China’s brand and communications director, said Toyota, the world’s largest automaker by sales, will use technology from technology giant Tencent Technology in a Chinese-made passenger car that will be launched this year.
Xu said the companies will leverage Tencent’s strengths in big data, artificial intelligence and cloud computing to provide services.
Nissan said it signed a memorandum of understanding with Baidu to conduct research on artificial intelligence and so-called “smart cars.” Nissan said it will use Baidu’s generative artificial intelligence on its platform to study the feasibility of future technology development.
The company will also reportedly equip its Chinese cars with Baidu’s artificial intelligence products.
The partnerships also show how competitive China has become for automakers, even global giants like Toyota.
Foreign automakers are trying to prove they can maintain influence in China under pressure from a shift to electric vehicles, the rise of domestic brands and a price war.
Toyota’s sales have shrunk despite avoiding a major hit to its sales. honda cars And Nissan has taken it.
The company’s sales in China fell 1.7% to 1.9 million vehicles in 2023, the second consecutive year of decline.
Toyota also displayed two new pure electric vehicle models for the Chinese market at the Beijing Auto Show.
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