Alibaba Group on Wednesday unveiled a new internet car for the China market aimed at expanding the internet-of-things (IoT) to the automotive sector.
The company’s new OS’Car RX5 sport utility vehicle was built in partnership with SAIC Motor Corp., China’s largest automaker, and is part of Alibaba’s efforts expand the Internet of things to automobiles.
According to Alibaba, this will be made possible by an operating system built especially for the automotive industry by the company’s YunOS division. YunOs, in addition to making operating systems for mobile phones and tablets, has also developed one for smart home appliances including refrigerators, air conditioners and even robotic vacuum cleaners.
In a demo video, Alibaba explained that, like a personal mobile phone, each car is a unique device in an individual’s array of gadgets. For instance, the car can pay for gas without the driver getting out and going through a payment app on the phone or taking out a physical credit card.
As such, a web-connected car can send a signal to the air conditioning unit back home when you’re nearly there to switch on before you arrive.
Since the RX5 is cloud-connected, users will have an “internet ID” that allows them to personalize settings like temperature, music playlists and even have the car suggest places of interest, such as restaurants, based on past trips.
The RX5 also comes with three integrated screens for the dashboard and rearview mirror, and four action cameras to shoot 360-degree selfies inside the vehicle and to capture footage of your journeys.
The RX5 is available for pre-order now, it’s priced upwards of $22,300 with deliveries scheduled to start in August.