The BMW Group and Alibaba Group today announced an expanded strategic partnership in China, accelerating the integration of Alibaba’s Qwen large language model (LLM) into BMW’s next-generation intelligent vehicles- the Neue Klasse models. This collaboration marks a significant step forward in AI-driven mobility, combining BMW’s automotive excellence with Alibaba’s AI prowess to deliver an unparalleled in-car intelligence experience in China.
Under the partnership, the new BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant (IPA) will integrate a bespoke AI engine co-developed by BMW and Alibaba. The AI engine will be based on the Yan AI, a Qwen-empowered smart cockpit AI solution developed by Banma, Alibaba’s intelligent cockpit solution provider. The AI-enhanced IPA will debut in BMW Neue Klasse models produced in China starting from 2026, setting a new benchmark for intelligent, intuitive and engaging human-vehicle interaction.
AI as the Catalyst for Next-Gen Mobility
For Alibaba, the partnership exemplifies its mission to drive industrial transformation through AI, empowering global leaders like BMW with Qwen’s advanced capabilities. This initiative also underscores BMW’s commitment to embedding AI across its R&D and product development, following its recent comprehensive AI strategy launch in China.
“Our long-term partnership with Alibaba Group is exemplary of common growth achieved with co-creation. BMW will work closer with Chinese tech partners on electric mobility and intelligent technologies to write our renewed win-win story,” said Sean Green, President and CEO of BMW Group Region China.
“Our partnership with BMW Group marks a pivotal leap in deploying AI-powered large language models at the forefront of advanced manufacturing, and Qwen’s integration into BMW’s in-car systems showcases how AI can revolutionize mobility.” said Eddie Wu, CEO of Alibaba Group. “AI is a driving force to advance productivity across industries. We look forward to working closely with BMW to pioneer AI applications in the mobility sector that drive innovation and truly elevate user experience.”
A Partnership Forging the Future of Smart Mobility
Since 2015, BMW and Alibaba have collaborated across cloud computing, smart manufacturing, intelligent networking, intelligent logistics and voice interaction. The expansion into AI LLM integration signals a new milestone in the partnership, while both companies are set to further explore cross-sector opportunities in infrastructure, platform development, and intelligent services.
Leveraging Qwen’s AI capability, BMW and Alibaba Group will for the first time embed AI LLM into BMW’s IPA system and integrate AI agents to the cabin. This means the Neue Klasse models will come with an empathetic AI companion with three core capabilities: human-like interaction, multi-agent coordination, and digital ecosystem integration to enhance both travel and in-car infotainment experience. These capabilities lead to more accurate intent recognition, complex command processing, nuanced semantic understanding, and enhanced logical reasoning.
The Neue Klasse models will initially introduce two new AI Agents for Chinese car users– the Car Genius, an onboard expert for vehicle functions and real-time assistance, and the Travel Companion, a personalized guide for navigation, entertainment, and lifestyle services. With capabilities of intelligent interaction, the two agents can facilitate users requests on mobility functions, in-car experience and digital services.
For example, when a user makes a complex multi-command request such as “I’m hosting a dinner for my parents and relatives tonight. Please recommend a restaurant which is near the west gate of Beijing Chaoyang Park with ground-level parking, offers light food, costs around 200 CNY per person, and has good customer reviews,” the IPA system synthesizes real-time traffic data, charging station availability, venue ratings, and user preferences to generate tailored recommendations, ensuring stress-free travel planning.
Since its debut in April 2023, Alibaba’s Qwen has been adopted by over 290,000 enterprises across industries, from automotive, manufacturing, and finance to gaming, healthcare, and robotics. Accessible via Alibaba Cloud’s generative AI development platform Model Studio, Qwen has been embraced by global businesses and developers for AI innovation.
