Source: Getty/metamorworks

Tencent's automotive strategy focuses on digital infrastructure, cloud services, and collaboration with automakers to provide connected services.

Mainland China's complex road systems, megacities, dense populations, and unique traffic behaviors present challenges for autonomous driving technology development. However, the country also offers rich scenarios, abundant data, and numerous rare and unexpected corner cases that are crucial for the safe and effective evolution of autonomous driving. The Gen-X demographic in mainland China, a significant portion of whom plan to purchase cars with Level 2+ driver assistance functions, provides ideal training conditions for autonomous driving. Leading global original equipment manufacturers could then establish research and development teams in mainland China and promote autonomous driving solutions worldwide.

To address the autonomous driving and cloud needs of international companies, internet tech innovator Tencent has launched the Intelligent Vehicle Cloud platform. Built on Tencent's security and compliance capabilities, the platform provides advanced cloud data storage solutions to overcome the challenges of handling large volumes of data and high storage costs in autonomous driving development. It also supports the company’s international strategy by offering technology solutions to foreign automakers entering mainland China's electric vehicle market. To learn more about this business and how it is strengthening its foothold in the automotive industry, we spoke to Dr. Pei Shen, general manager of strategy, Tencent Intelligent Mobility.

Key takeaways:

The following is an edited transcript of the conversation.

S&P Global Mobility: Could you share an overview of Tencent’s strategy, involvement and motivation in the automotive industry, particularly around the areas of the cloud, vehicle experience and autonomous driving?

Dr. Pei Shen: Tencent, a 26-year old company, started as a social media and instant messaging service before expanding into gaming and the WeChat business. In 2015, Tencent began serving B2B [business-to-business] companies with its cloud and AI technologies. Tencent focuses on providing basic tech infrastructure like payment, cloud, and security services, without interfering too much in the business of the invested company. Tencent invests in various ecosystems and aims for synergy with its own capabilities.

In 2018, Tencent formed the Cloud and Smart Industries Group (CSIG) to better serve industrial companies, with intelligent mobility being one of the verticals alongside intelligent healthcare and retail, etc. Today, our strategy prioritizes cloud and AI technology, targeting industries eager to embrace digitalization and connected vehicles. We offer cloud and data services with a margin, collaborate with partners to develop cloud infrastructure and data platforms and provide services like QQ Music [owned by Tencent Music], in-car gaming and in-car meeting apps. Tencent positions itself as a digital assistant and welcomes white-label solutions, such as NIO map powered by Tencent.

How does the nature of collaboration between Tencent and your automotive customers differ from other industries? 

I believe there are both similarities and differences between Tencent's offerings in the automotive industry and other industries. The core similarity is that Tencent provides cross-industry standard products such as cloud and security services. However, what sets us apart in the automotive industry is our ability to offer vertical-specific products like in-cabin services, such as music in car rides. This is because cars are becoming the new smart devices, creating a unique opportunity for Tencent to leverage its digital content in this space.

Another difference is the extensive value chain in the automotive industry. We serve both upstream and downstream customers, which allows us to develop new services. For example, through our B2C [business-to-consumer] in WeChat, we help OEMs connect with their downstream services. One example is the use of WeChat as a digital key platform, where users can share their keys via instant messengers like WhatsApp. This provides real business value by enabling access to services for drivers who may not have access to the brand's application. This aspect of our business is unique to the automotive industry.

Considering the gradual progression towards fully autonomous driving, how do you anticipate the dynamics of car ownership, car-sharing, and in-car entertainment to change, especially with the emergence of streaming and gaming services in electric vehicles?

The ownership structure in the automotive industry is expected to change gradually in China. There has been an increase in the number of people who own cars, and car sales are surging. The rise of e-hailing services has not stopped the growth of private car ownership. It is important to note that e-hailing services are not replacing car sales; this is what we have observed in the market. However, car sharing services have not been successful in China, as people prefer to have their own car rather than sharing or relying on someone else's car.

What are your long-term objectives in securing a significant market share in the automotive industry, particularly with the advent of autonomous driving and software-defined vehicles?

Tencent has gained market share by understanding the digitalization needs of the automotive industry and developing a complementary strategy with OEMs. They work closely with OEMs on digital sales, marketing, and in-cabin services, integrating their cloud services.

There has been a shift in focus in terms of in-car digitalization. Initially, there was an attempt to integrate smartphone ecosystems and applications into cars, but usage was low as people still preferred using their phones for navigation and music. However, the focus has now shifted to connecting with mobility services to make software and related services more convenient. Tencent aims to enhance the overall mobility experience by bringing destination services, such as meetings, into the car. In the next few years, Tencent's strength will lie in connecting with external services and providing digital content and services within the car.

As vehicles evolve to become software-defined, there is a potential for recurring software revenue. How do you plan to leverage this opportunity, and what monetization strategies are you considering in the automotive software market?

Traditionally, Tencent's main source of revenue comes from licensing, including license fees and potentially some revenue from subscriptions. While music and video subscriptions may be offered in cars, they are not expected to contribute significantly to revenue as most people prefer to use their smartphones while driving. However, as cars become more autonomous and screens receive more attention, there may be potential for increased subscriptions in the future.

In addition to licensing, we also see revenue potential from mobility services. By leveraging our digital key, users can access valet parking or charging services, providing an opportunity for charging revenue based on a percentage of the gross value. However, it will take some time to effectively organize these services.

We also generate revenue from integrated hardware, such as karaoke functions with built-in microphones. They receive a portion of the revenue from microphone sales, which is also a revenue stream for OEMs.

Looking ahead, we see potential for gaming-related revenue as Chinese and European OEMs explore gaming capabilities in cars. This may involve hardware integration and provide additional revenue opportunities.

With the emergence of Chinese suppliers and increased collaboration between tech companies and automakers, how do you anticipate the collaboration landscape to evolve in the future, and what opportunities could this create for further partnerships and innovations?

The automotive industry is adopting various collaboration models, including joint ventures, strategic partnerships and joint labs. OEMs are establishing in-house capabilities, while the traditional OEM-supplier relationship involves buying and supplying components.

The industry is also moving towards enhanced relationships within ecosystems and strategic partnerships to co-create solutions, even though there is currently no legal framework for such collaborations. Joint venture is a solution as well; for example, Volkswagen’s software unit Cariad and Horizon Robotics are forming a new joint venture to develop autonomous driving system in China.

The industry is now in a consolidation phase, and we are well-prepared to provide thin-layer services for the automotive industry, including cloud, security and consumer-centric services, leveraging our expertise in these areas.

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