DRIVE I/O | The battle for leadership in car software

From social media to online shopping, China’s biggest tech companies have gone head-to-head for the attention of the country’s internet users. Now, they’re also fighting for dominance in a new area: car software.

A battle between automakers and tech giants is emerging for control of car software—the foundation for self-driving vehicles and in-car infotainment. Whoever gains the upper hand could see their profits skyrocket, as vehicles become more software-heavy in the leadup to a connected, driverless future. 

China's biggest automaker SAIC, as well as Volvo’s parent Geely, are attempting to reinvent themselves as tech-savvy, next-generation car manufacturers. They select some parts of what the tech companies offer, while ramping up efforts to develop their own in-car software, attempting to elbow tech companies out of the equation.

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