Alibaba Unveils Its RX5 Smart Car

Chinese online marketplace Alibaba has officially announced its venture into the automotive market with the unveiling of the RX5. The car, a collaborative project with Chinese state-owned automakers SAIC, utilizes Alibaba’s Yun operating system to connect the vehicle with the Internet of Things; practically speaking, this means that the car could offer custom, personalized greetings, routes, preferred destinations and music playlists based on user settings. Integration with Alipay, meanwhile, would allow drivers to pay for parking, gas, or coffee with minimal hassle.

As far as entertainment goes, the RX5 includes three LED screens and the capacity for four, 360-degree cameras that can record video, as well as take in-vehicle selfies. The company also promises an intelligent mapping system that won’t rely on GPS or WiFi connectivity.

Dr. Wang Jian, chairman of Alibaba’s Technology Steering Committee, had this to say about the project: “What we are creating is not ‘internet in the car’, but a ‘car on the internet’. This is a significant milestone in the automobile industry. Smart operating systems become the second engine of cars, while data is the new fuel.” Wang also promised a more interconnected driving experience as a whole moving forward.

The car is available to pre-order now for $22,300 USD. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in August.