Alibaba is in talks with several automakers about forming alliances to use YunOS, according to Wang Jian, chairman of Alibaba’s technology steering committee. The company also is working on certifying the system for vehicles in the U.S., he said.

“This is a car run on the Internet; it’s not a car that has some Internet capabilities,” he said in an interview. “iPhone made the first generation of phone that was part of the Internet, just like the PC. This car is the first generation of cars that are becoming a new member of the Internet.”

Researcher IHS Automotive has forecast Apple’s CarPlay and Google’s Android Auto will become leading platforms for car connectivity, with the exception of China. Regulatory barriers including Internet censorship regulations likely will fend off competition for Alibaba and Baidu Inc.’s CarLife.

Representatives for Apple in Beijing and Google in Singapore didn’t immediately return calls and e-mails seeking comment.

CarPlay, Android

Apple’s CarPlay will be used by more than 40 auto brands to integrate the iPhone into the car’s telematics system for navigation, music playback and phone calls. Google’s Android Auto is available in models from at least 17 car brands, including Chevrolet, Honda, Hyundai and Mercedes-Benz, and is adding the traffic program Waze to its navigation offerings.

Ma, dressed in a gray tee-shirt and chinos, hopped into a white SAIC Roewe RX5 with his counterpart at SAIC Motor. Earlier, he thanked SAIC Chairman Chen Hong for offering the SUV at a cheap price.

“The pricing is shockingly low,” he said to the audience. “SAIC faces a lot of pressure to roll out the car at such prices.”

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