Latest news and trends about tech in China

Drone maker DJI is about to see its in-car system used on a mass-produced electric vehicle for the first time through a partnership with SAIC-GM-Wuling (SGMW), General Motors’ China joint venture with SAIC Motor and Liuzhou Wuling Automobile, a small Chinese automobile company. On Thursday, the automaker announced that it will launch an EV using DJI’s automated driving technology, making it the drone maker’s first major project in the competitive sector.  

Why it matters: The launch marks a first milestone for the world’s largest maker of consumer drones in its push into the Chinese EV space and reflects the growing trend of traditional automakers partnering with tech companies to bring self-driving cars to market.

Details: The automaker said that it has worked hand-in-hand with DJI in developing intelligent vehicles since 2019,  investing “several billions of RMB” in the project and having undergone 1 million kilometers (631,371 miles) of vehicle testing, in a statement (in Chinese) published Thursday on SGMW’s WeChat account.

Context: DJI first launched its auto unit in 2016 and operated with nearly 1,000 employees as of last year, as the Shenzhen drone unicorn steps up its efforts to enter China’s booming EV market.

Jill Shen is Shanghai-based technology reporter. She covers Chinese mobility, autonomous vehicles, and electric cars. Connect with her via e-mail: jill.shen@technode.com or Twitter: @yushan_shen More by Jill Shen

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