Chinese car company Hongqi is preparing to enter the smartphone market in cooperation with Geely-backed parts supplier Ecarx. The move follows in the footsteps of other auto giants such as Nio and Polestar, which are also eyeing a stake in the smartphone and car industry.
As with the other two companies, the goal here is an easy connection between Hongqi smartphones and Hongqi cars. The official statement emphasizes phrases such as "the ultimate connected experience in intelligent interaction" to emphasize the intended synergy between the two areas.
The partnership between Ecarx and FAW was formalized with the signing of an agreement to develop smartphones at FAW's headquarters in Changchun, Jilin, located in Northeast China. The cooperation will cover various aspects, including the development of the "intelligent cockpit", the Hongqi operating system and the smartphones themselves.