As we exclusively reported on December 27th, General Motors brand Baojun is launching the world’s first mass-produced vehicle with HiCar – an intelligent connectivity solution developed by Huawei. Although we expected the technology to be introduced in the upcoming RS-7 crossover, it’s actually the all-new Baojun RC-6 that will be the first car equipped with HiCar.
With this new platform, Baojun and Huawei intend to usher in a new era of vehicle connectivity that will completely change the in-car experience, by using 5G network technology in addition to anticipating the next level of autonomous driving.
First presented last August, Huawei HiCar is a full-featured, intelligent connectivity solution that will allow cars, homes and smart devices to interconnect. Huawei Director for Smart Travel, Xu Jingjin, explained that HiCar uses a distributed network architecture, creating seamless connectivity inside and outside the vehicle.
Xu Jingjin, Director of Smart Travel for Huawei Consumer BG
Huawei’s director also said that HiCar seeks to establish better interaction between smartphones and vehicles by sharing the same applications and software as well as running through the same network. The goal is for cars, smartphones and other devices such as watches, speakers, PCs and TVs to be fully interconnected.
Overall, Huawei HiCar connectivity offers a total of seven main technologies, including:
- Instant connectivity: when entering the car, a smartphone connects automatically without requiring activation.
- One-click navigation: like a smartphone toolbar, the interface is simpler and faster to use than with previous navigation systems.
- Home control: users can remotely control their home from the car’s screen, syncing several smart devices in one application.
- Fatigue monitoring: using artificial intelligence, abnormal driver behavior can be detected with the help of an instrument panel-mounted camera and a heart rate sensor on a watch or wrist band.
- Gesture recognition: specific hand gestures can be used to adjust volume, change songs or manage phone calls.
- Video calls: manage video calls using the vehicle’s screen, microphone and speakers along with a smartphone’s 5G network connection.
- Application sharing: share a smartphone’s feature-rich Android application ecosystem with the vehicle’s infotainment system, creating seamless user experience and connectivity inside and outside the car.
With the launch of HiCar in the RC-6, Baojun is also the first to enter a strategic collaboration with Huawei in bringing this new technology into the automotive market. GM’s Chinese-market brand beat luxury automakers such as Audi and Jaguar Land Rover to the punch, who have also signed agreements with the technology giant to implement similar systems in their vehicles.
The brand also announced that the Baojun RC-6 equipped with HiCar is already in production and will arrive in dealerships shortly. In addition, the company mentioned that as of March 2020, all “new” Baojun products will feature the Huawei HiCar connectivity solution. This range is currently made up of four models: the RS-5 compact SUV, the RC-6 midsize liftback, the RM-5 compact MPV and the RS-3 small crossover.
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Comments
That gauge cluster puts Chevrolet gmc Buick to shame haha well I guess Cadillac also excluding the new Escalade that has large digital screen
Whatever happened to just driving? Does anyone really care about driving or do they only care about being “connected” and knowing exactly what everyone else is doing within seconds of them doing it?
I’m sure I’ll get some blowback on this, but give me a round volume and tuning knob, 4 good speakers, A/C, a real automatic transmission, power windows and locks and I’m good to go. Then just give me an open road without all the morons playing on their devices and clogging up the road.
But understand the Chinese government needs to monitor the populus and smart home speakers already have houses covered, and they need solution for cars.
And US government will do the same via Apple or allied S Korea Samsung or LG. New technology is being introduced too fast at a pace where it can not be regulated in the “free world” much less China.
Beautiful car, beautiful line up. Boajun should be sold state side as they look better than Chevrolet. Love how they are rebadged for Columbia.
God GM NA is such a Joke that it makes me sick to my stomach.
I am starting to feel like GM thinks that we Americans will just purchase any cheap A** interior they provide us. What a joke.
This car is like three Generations ahead of any Chevrolet and or Buick in the States.
@Momolos:
You are basing this opinion off what? Have you been in one of these cars? I’m being serious when I ask this, because you seem quite sure about this and thus I must assume you have been inside one. If not, then what are you basing this on?
On a similar note, I can tell you that my 2018 Buick has an excellent interior that has been holding up very well, zero rattles or trim pieces falling off (of which I can’t say about the Mazda’s I sell). In fact, I feel the GM interiors are quite good for the most part. But then again, I’m basing this off the fact that I spend a lot of time in newer Honda’s, Toyota’s, Hyundai’s, Kia and Nissan’s via Lyft/Uber. I also spend a lot of time in our Mazda’s, and although much better than many of the other cars I’ve mentioned, the Mazda interiors seem to be cheap and fall apart or things break easily after only a couple years.
I am basing it on my eyes. I can see the Screens that make US Chevys a borderline joke.
Have you ever seen any Chevrolet interior in the United States? I am seriously asking.
Chevrolet’s have by far the most horrific plastics and Gauge Clusters in the entire Automotive World.
I used to always take family and friends to GM Dealerships that span all kinds of wallets. I stopped about a little over a year ago. And I am talking about a lot of people per year. Other than GM fans, most literally laughed out loud with GM interiors. And I do not blame them. They are a joke.
I mean my one Family member literally thought the Salesperson was showing her an unfinished Chevy Bolt. She (who knows absolutely nothing about cars) knew just how awful that interior was.
GM desperately needs to start spending some serious money on interiors or they will die a very slow death like when they had to get bailed out. They need a new younger Lutz type to keep harping about interiors.
How GM has not learned this yet is simply insane.
Now as far as Buick is concerned, they use higher quality materials but their Infotainment screens are just Tiny for modern Near Luxury Vehicles. They also DO NOT offer rotary Dials or touch-pads (which they do in China) Their Tech is not up to Par for the price as well. The biggest issue I have always had while trying to talk a friend or family member into a Buick is that they used the same powertrains as Chevy cars and I would never lie to them about it. Once they learned that they moved on due to the Price hike GM was asking for compared to Chevy.
Cadillac was pure comedy. I would try because I love GM and have a special place in my heart for Cadillac. And no, I am not older but quite the age Group Cadillac clamors for. But people with those kind of wallets thought I was playing a joke on them. I got one to get a Super Cruise once because he thought Tesla Auto Pilot was amazing but wouldn’t buy a Tesla. He thought Elon was a liar due to the certain place he chose to get his news from. So he got a CT6 with Super Cruise. Lasted 6 months and then got a Tesla Model S with Auto Pilot. He now will only buy a Tesla going forward.
I talked a few into GMC Acadias though. And two Enclaves.
I only assist someone looking for a Pickup Trucks if it will be a GM. But it got much harder last year with those awful interiors GM came out with.
Everyday cars are a bunch of Honda, and Mazda but mostly a bunch of VW’s. Some Jeep vehicles too.
But one Brand I refused to go and check out was Lexus. Nobody that I have assisted has ever gotten a Lexus.
One Infinity, three Acuras, a bunch of Teslas. Maybe like 10 and the rest are Euro Cars. Mostly BMW’s for the so called Drivers and some Mercedes (Not my cup of tea) for the showoffs. A bunch of Audi’s (Mostly Audis) for the well rounded buyers and two Alfa’s because they loved them as I do. Even though they are not the greatest cars in the World.
I am a Huge GM fan hence why I am here. GM just needs to do better and yes when a Chinese car from GM gets something better than we get, that does upset me. Sorry I guess.
This Limo was built to be a showpiece. It is a part of our history. Once restored, it should be donated to Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C.!