DeepSeek is being built into Chinese cars en masse, which attracts buyers

The software capabilities of modern vehicles excite potential buyers no less than technical characteristics and design, so Chinese automakers have begun to actively implement support for chatbots based on DeepSeek developments into their software infrastructure. Dongfeng, GAC and BYD have already done the same.

Image source: BYD

Dongfeng Motor, as specified by Nikkei Asian Review, offers support for the large language model DeepSeek R1 in the multimedia system of Zhiyin crossovers of the Voyah brand, and this functionality was added via an over-the-air update. From April, the large SUV M-Hero 917 and other vehicles of the concern will begin to acquire similar capabilities.

Artificial intelligence in the car’s on-board electronics is used not only to build a dialogue with the driver and passengers using a voice assistant, but also to assess the surrounding environment in order to predict the driver’s further intentions. The leading company in the Chinese hybrid and electric vehicle market, BYD, has also announced its intention to implement DeepSeek’s developments in its products.

Some automakers are ready to “make friends” with their own software platforms and DeepSeek language models. For example, the Chinese company GAC Group intends to do so. The Adigo Sense language assistant in cars of this brand will take into account the history of past requests and driver actions to predict their immediate intentions. The digital assistant will be able to optimize travel routes and offer passengers movies to watch based on their preferences. GAC will begin implementing such functions in the on-board software of its cars in the current half of the year.

Leapmotor hopes to combine DeepSeek’s language models with Alibaba’s Qwen. At the very least, this combination will enable Leapmotor’s onboard systems to learn how to generate images. SAIC plans to implement DeepSeek support in IM Motors vehicles in conjunction with Alibaba and ByteDance’s solutions.

In China, even imported brands are not shy about implementing DeepSeek support for their locally assembled vehicles. For example, the Nissan N7 electric car, assembled at a joint venture with Dongfeng, will get this function. Thanks to the efforts of SAIC, Buick and Cadillac models produced in China will get DeepSeek support. The language models of this company will coexist with the Baidu Ernie chatbot.

There are also car manufacturers in China that are not yet following the DeepSeek trend. Among them, Xiaomi and XPeng Motors can be noted.