(Yicai) April 19 -- State-owned car manufacturer China FAW Group is linking arms with auto technology supplier ECarx Holding and drone maker DJI Technology's intelligent driving business on smart cockpits and intelligent driving.

ECarx and FAW will build smart cockpits and operating systems for FAW’s flagship Hongqi marque, the Changchun-based firm said yesterday. They will also develop a Hongqi-branded smartphone for better car-phone connectivity.

DJI Automobile and FAW will leverage their respective strengths in the research and development of Hongqi vehicles, enhancing innovations in automated driving platforms, end-to-end smart mobility and high-performance sensors, it said.

Despite online rumors circulating that tech giant Huawei Technologies will work with FAW, there was no mention of such a tie-up at yesterday’s event.

Dongfeng Motor is teaming up with FAW to advance the matter of buying into Huawei's smart auto solution business, You Zheng, deputy general manager of Dongfeng, said last month. There should be an initial outcome by June, he added.

Huawei hopes FAW will join the joint venture between Huawei's auto business unit and another state-owned carmaker, Changan Automobile, Richard Yu, chairman of the Shenzhen-based company’s Intelligent Automotive Solution business unit, said at an event in November last year.

ECarx, which was co-founded by Geely Holding Group’s chairman Li Shufu in 2017, develops hardware and software solutions essential for the development of connected, automated and electrified mobility, including smart cockpits, cellphones and wearable devices.

The Hangzhou-based firm recently merged with mobile phone maker Meizu Technology and linked arms with Smart Automobile, the German operator of the Smart electric auto brand, on intelligent vehicle products. It is also working together with a Chinese electric car startup and Japanese automaker, a company insider told Yicai.

DJI Automotive, which has provided solutions to auto giants such as SAIC-GM-Wuling Automobile, FAW-Volkswagen and Chery Automobile, has received clear investment intentions from FAW and NEV manufacturer BYD, 36Kr reported earlier this year.

Editor: Kim Taylor