Major Announcement! BMW + Huawei! BMW to Deeply Integrate with the Harmony Ecosystem in China
On March 17, BMW China announced that it has reached a cooperation agreement with Huawei terminals.
According to the agreement, BMW will deeply integrate with the Harmony ecosystem in China, launching digital services that include the BMW Digital Key, HUAWEI HiCar, and MyBMW App. Additionally, both parties will develop a variety of smart applications and features based on HarmonyOS NEXT.
“In China, nearly a quarter of MyBMW App users utilize Huawei devices. Through deep integration with the Harmony ecosystem, BMW will provide Harmony OS users with an upgraded in-car application and smart connectivity experience, enhancing the joy of intelligent driving in high-frequency usage scenarios,” said Gao Xiang, President and CEO of BMW Group Greater China. He added that China is becoming a global innovation engine, and through collaboration with more Chinese technology companies, BMW aims to integrate cutting-edge innovative technologies, marking the beginning of a new era of local cooperation.
Specifically, this partnership will bring a comprehensive upgrade in smart experiences for BMW users using Huawei devices. The BMW Digital Key, developed based on HarmonyOS NEXT, is set to launch within this year, allowing users to unlock, lock, or start their vehicles using Huawei smartphones.
The deeply integrated HUAWEI HiCar is expected to be first adopted in locally produced new-generation BMW models by 2026. The Huawei Harmony ecosystem will seamlessly merge into BMW’s smart cockpit, achieving an ecological integration of “people-vehicle-home” across various scenarios.
As of now, BMW has approximately 460 local suppliers in China. It is reported that, in preparation for the smart era, BMW is closely collaborating with Chinese tech partners on advanced technologies including large language models, generative artificial intelligence, and intelligent voice interaction, aiming to create a smarter, more powerful, and efficient travel experience for Chinese users.
BMW has revealed that it is increasingly collaborating with supplier partners across cycles to promote the deep integration of local strengths into BMW’s global innovation system, initiating the era of local cooperation 2.0.
Recently, BMW announced its financial report for 2024, which revealed total revenue of €142.38 billion for the year. The company’s research and development investment reached a historic high of €9.1 billion, a year-on-year increase of 17.1%, accounting for approximately 6.4% of the group’s revenue.
“The year 2025 will be a significant milestone for the BMW Group, laying a solid foundation for sustained success over the next decade,” stated Oliver Zipse, Chairman of the BMW Group. He noted that in 2025, the company will focus on two aspects: ensuring stable performance while strategically planning for the future, and leveraging new-generation models to spearhead the largest strategic deployment in the company’s history while maintaining strong free cash flow.
It is reported that in 2025, the BMW Group plans to achieve cumulative global sales of over 3 million electric vehicles, with more than 1.5 million pure electric vehicles delivered.
