Alibaba Group has begun integrating its Qwen artificial intelligence model into vehicles from multiple automotive manufacturers, enabling drivers to perform tasks such as ordering food and managing package deliveries through voice commands while the vehicle is in motion.
The rollout, announced by Alibaba Cloud in early 2025, leverages the Qwen series of large language models to power in-car AI assistants. These systems are designed to understand natural language queries and execute actions via partnerships with service providers for food delivery and logistics platforms.
Several Chinese electric vehicle makers, including brands under Geely Auto and BYD, have confirmed pilot integrations of Qwen-powered features in select 2025 model vehicles. The functionality allows drivers to say commands like “Order lunch from a nearby restaurant” or “Schedule a package pickup for this afternoon,” with the AI interfacing directly with Alibaba’s ecosystem of services such as Ele.me and Cainiao.
Alibaba states that the AI processes requests locally on the vehicle’s edge computing unit when possible, reducing latency and enhancing privacy by minimizing data transmission to external servers. For complex tasks requiring real-time updates, the system connects to Alibaba Cloud’s backend infrastructure.
The company emphasizes that the Qwen model used in automotive applications has been fine-tuned for multi-modal understanding, incorporating inputs from cabin cameras, vehicle sensors, and navigation data to contextualize user requests—such as suggesting meal options based on time of day or rerouting delivery stops according to traffic conditions.
Industry analysts note that this move positions Alibaba to deepen its integration within the smart vehicle value chain, competing with other tech firms offering AI-driven cockpit experiences. However, specific metrics on user adoption rates or the number of vehicles equipped with the technology have not been disclosed by Alibaba or its automotive partners.
As of the latest update, Alibaba has not released a public timeline for when the Qwen AI features will become standard across all partnered vehicle models, nor has it detailed plans for expansion to international markets outside China.
