BYD-owned smartphone maker Meizu launches its car system - PingWest

BYD-owned smartphone maker Meizu launches its car system

BYD-owned smartphone maker Meizu launches its car system

9 hours ago

On October 27, Meizu, a chinese smartphone maker who was acquired by BYD in July this year, launched its car system, dubbed Flyme Auto. The system is an extension of Meizu’s Android-based Flyme OS, and promises “multi-terminal, all-scenario, immersive experiences” in smart cockpits.

According to Flyme’s post on Chinese social media Weibo, Flyme Auto will extend the Alive Design concept and will detect and comprehend users’ needs. The Weibo posts included two pictures of Meizu’s headquarters, and a giant slogan with the words “All in Auto” can be spotted. Meizu has been teasing around the project since last year, which was referred to as Flyme for Car back then.

Earlier this month, Chinese local news media the Paper reported Meizu posted job openings for car making positions, including engineers and sales consultants, pointing at the carmaker’s potential ambition to pivot towards the auto industry. However, Geely denied the claim, and called it a misunderstanding. “Meizu is not a carmaker and only provides its services to other car companies,” said Geely Senior Vice President Yang Xueliang on Weibo.

Founded in 2003, Meizu is considered one of China’s smartphone veterans. At its peak, the phone maker ships around 20 million units a year between 2015 and 2017. In recent years, as the likes of Xiaomi and Huawei emerges as dominant players, Meizu has been gradually marginalized.

In July this year, Hubei Xingji Shidai Technology, founded by Eric Li, chairman of carmaker Geely Holding, announced that it has acquired 79 percent controlling stake in Meizu and gained sole control of the company. Flyme Auto is expected to be implemented on BYD cars models, though details have not been released by either companies.

BYD is not the only Chinese carmaker joining hands with the smartphone sector. NIO is planning on making its own phones, according to NIO founder Li Bin in an interview. The company’s phone making is still in research phase, according to Li Bin in March this year. In August, NIO established the NIO Mobile Technology Limited, which is believed to be the EV company’s phone making arm.  

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