BMW will begin integrating artificial intelligence technology from Chinese startup DeepSeek into its new vehicle models in China later this year, the German automaker announced.
The move reflects BMW’s ongoing commitment to local innovation and deeper collaboration with Chinese tech firms.
BMW CEO Oliver Zipse emphasized the strategic importance of AI development in China, noting that the partnership aligns with the company’s broader approach to building region-specific technological solutions.
DeepSeek’s AI technology, already gaining traction among major Chinese automakers like BYD, Geely, and Great Wall, will now be used to power intelligent systems in BMW vehicles.
The AI model is known for its efficiency, having been developed at significantly lower costs than Western counterparts while delivering comparable performance.
This marks the latest milestone in BMW’s China tech strategy, which began in earnest with the establishment of its largest R&D network outside Germany across Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenyang.
In 2019, BMW became the first premium automaker to integrate Alibaba’s Tmall Genie voice assistant, and also partnered with Tencent to develop the D³ platform tailored for China’s unique traffic conditions.
The DeepSeek collaboration signals a shift from voice assistants to more sophisticated AI integration, including enhanced autonomous driving capabilities and smart cockpit functions.
Experts say the global automotive AI market is projected to grow by 55% annually through 2032, with China emerging as a key innovation hub.
DeepSeek’s scalable, open-source approach offers cost-effective solutions, making it increasingly attractive to both domestic and international carmakers.
With this latest partnership, BMW is positioning itself at the forefront of AI-driven automotive transformation in China, as the industry shifts toward software-defined vehicles and digitally optimized user experiences.
