The carmaker has partnered with Baidu to integrate CarLife, a smartphone integration tool similar to Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

Audi is also developing a China-specific LTE module to deliver fast data transmission under a joint venture with Huawei.

“The aim of our partnership with Baidu – a company that is number one on the Chinese search engine market – is to drive advances in the online networking of our cars in China,” said Ricky Hudi, head of development electrics/electronics at Audi AG.

Along with integration of Baidu CarLife, other components of the partnership include joint development of map data, positioning algorithms and point-of-interest functions.

In addition, the agreement with Huawei Technologies Co., one of the world’s largest network providers, enables the development and utilisation of an Asia-specific LTE module. Audi will use the module in China, Japan and Korea. It supports the TDD-LTE (Time Division Duplexing) wireless standard by China Mobile, which was redefined in 2013, and the FDD-LTE (Frequency Division Duplexing) standard.