BMW Group announced on October 22 that it will renew a cooperation memorandum with the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT), deepening collaboration on intelligent connected vehicle technologies and industry standards. The announcement was made at the 2026 World Intelligent Connected Vehicles Conference, according to PCauto.
Expanding cooperation scope
The renewed agreement, first signed in 2019, will now cover next-generation communications, artificial intelligence, industry trend research, policy and standards development, joint technology research, and building an industry ecosystem. BMW and CAICT have been exploring the integration of communication technology and the automotive industry for several years.
BMW Group Chairman Oliver Zipse said in a video address that intelligent connected new energy vehicles are a key driver of China's high-quality development, and that the release of the country's 15th Five-Year Plan for the industry sets an ambitious vision for intelligent and electric mobility. He expressed confidence in China's long-term market potential and said BMW will continue to act as a bridge between China, Germany and Europe.
Jochen Goller, President and CEO of BMW Group Region China, said AI is reshaping the automotive industry, but the value technology creates for users is more important than the speed of iteration. Safety and quality remain the foundation of innovation, he added.
Local R&D deepening
BMW is expanding the responsibilities of its local R&D teams in China, with Chinese teams now deeply involved in model definition, software development and testing. The next-generation BMW iX3 and i3 for the Chinese market combine BMW's global engineering experience with local supply chain innovations.
Wang Zhiqin, Vice President of CAICT, said the renewed cooperation will continue to promote cross-industry collaboration. BMW China Chief Technology Officer Frank Weber noted that overseas engineering experience combined with local innovation capabilities can create synergies, and that quality and safety must remain the bottom line amid rapid technological change.
The two parties will work to link automotive and communication industry resources, bridge technology development and practical industry needs, and explore implementable solutions to build an open industry ecosystem.
