Southwest China's Chongqing is embracing exciting new changes to its automobile industry.

Beijing Uton IoV Technology Co (Uton), a joint venture between Changan Auto and Tencent, is spending 200 million yuan ($28.81 million) to work on comprehensive IoV (Internet of Vehicles) solutions in Liangjiang New Area, local media reported on Oct 24.

As the first model jointly developed by Changan and Tencent, the CS23 PLUS is an internet-connected SUV equipped with Tencent's IoV system, AI in Car.

The models have already been put into mass production in Liangjiang and are expected to hit the market by the end of October.

Changan CS35 PLUS [Photo/liangjiang.gov.cn]

AI in Car is Tencent's latest IoV system, which integrates many of the tech giant's resources and services, including QQ, WeChat and Tencent Maps.

With AI in Car, drivers can share their journeys with colleagues and families, and even check their WeChat or QQ friends' real-time locations.

Convenient parking services will also be available on the IoV system.

As a leading force behind Liangjiang's automobile industry, Chongqing Changan Auto has developed over 100 smart technologies related to facial recognition, big data analysis and driver drowsiness detection.

The signing ceremony between Changan Auto and Tencent. [Photo/liangjiang.gov.cn]

The cooperation between Changan Auto and Tencent is a milestone event in Liangjiang's automobile industry, which is undergoing upgrades with the introduction of new energy and internet-connected vehicles.

Earlier this year, the Liangjiang-based companies Pand Auto and Lifan Motor launched the country's first demonstration program of driverless shared cars in Beijing, cooperating with Baidu for the project.

Baidu, Alibaba and Tencent are all seeking to explore new automobile industry models in Liangjiang New Area.