Evergrande Auto, Tencent-backed TINNOVE to build joint venture for smart in-car OS

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- China Evergrande New Energy Vehicle Group Limited (Evergrande Auto) announced it signed on March 15 an agreement with TINNOVE, a Tencent-backed IoV (Internet of Vehicles) technology developer, to build a joint venture dedicated to the development of in-car smart OS (operating system) with independent intellectual property rights.

Hengchi 1; photo credit: Hengchi

The joint venture will be 60/40 controlled by Evergrande Auto and TINNOVE, according to the announcement. Both parties are expected to make full use of their respective capabilities in new energy vehicle (NEV) R&D, manufacturing, artificial intelligence, big data, cloud computation, commuting and other fields, aiming to jointly create a world-leading smart vehicle ecosystem.

Founded in 2018, TINNOVE is an IoV solution provider jointly owned by Tencent and Changan Automobile. According to the company’s official website, TINNOVE renders industry-wide IoV-based OS solutions with open, adaptive and custom-made characteristics based on Tencent’s professional capabilities in AI, big data, cloud computing and mobility ecosystem.

Evergrande revealed last month three new full-electric vehicle models dubbed the Hengchi 7, Hengchi 8 and Hengchi 9. According to the company’s statement, the Hengchi 7 is a sedan; the Hengchi 8 is a vehicle designed as a cross between a sport wagon and a sedan; the Hengchi 9 is a mid-sized SUV. All three types are branded as luxury cars.

The company took the wraps off its first six planned production vehicles in December 2020, named the Hengchi 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, including body styles from sedans to SUVs and a MPV.