Tencent said to be approached by OEMs for promoting in-car WeChat

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- With more than 1.1 billion regular active users on a monthly basis, WeChat has become an indispensable feature in day-to-day life for many Chinese, who use it to do everything from paying bills to ordering takeaway. Automakers are also eager to implant the application in their vehicles spurred by a widespread use of intelligent technologies in cars.

(Photo source: WeChat)

Several mainstream OEMs are in talks with Tencent to introduce WeChat app into their vehicles, according to a local media outlet, citing people from Tencent's smart mobility unit. “We have agreed the cooperation about putting the in-car WeChat into such models as the Trumpchi GS4, the Changan CS75 PLUS and the Haval F5. Besides, we are also exploring the collaboration with Geely in applying WeChat in its GKUI (Geek User Interaction) smart ecosystem,” said the people.

At the 2019 Tencent Global Digital Ecosystem Summit, Tencent Auto Intelligence launched the solution “ecosystem Internet of Vehicles”, which is designed to integrate the content services of Tencent and cooperative third parties into auto intelligent systems. The in-car WeChat is an important part of the solution.

To ensure driving safety, the in-car WeChat only retains the basic communications function that allows users to receive and send messages using voice, and activate WeChat by pressing the button on the steering wheel. Some functions available to mobile phone, such as texting, sending digital red envelopes and using the “Moments”, have been removed before going to cars.

(Photo source: GAC Trumpchi)

GAC Motor's second-generation Trumpchi GS4, the world's first mass-produced model that carries the WeChat, hit the market in late November. A car owner can login the application by merely scanning as code and logout only if he leaves the car.