BEIJING – Struggling foreign automakers in China are looking for help from local tech giants to try to stay competitive in the world's biggest electric car market, where shiny smart screens, assisted driving and sophisticated map technology are in high demand.At the recent Beijing Auto Show, China's biggest car expo, a number of foreign firms announced tech partnerships from Nissan joining forces with Baidu to Toyota signing a cooperation agreement with Tencent.
One major reason foreign automakers are seeking partnerships with local tech firms is to benefit from their innovation, which Chinese auto-making executives have attributed to the cutthroat competition in the industry.But another is access to data.'There is a bit of a walled garden scenario going on here,' Daniel Kollar, head of automotive and mobility at the consultancy Intralink, told AFP.