China must develop unified, open-source smart car OS, says ex-minister

SHANGHAI: China, the world's biggest auto market, should develop its own unified, open-source operating system (OS) for smart vehicles, as well as auto chips, to maintain its advantage in the electric vehicle (EV) industry, an ex-industry minister said today.

Miao Wei, formerly of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, made the remarks at an industry conference in Shanghai held by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM).

China should learn from the United States' curbs on Chinese technology companies and boost its independence in vehicle-related technology, Miao also said.

US president Joe Biden in April said the United States must ramp up production of electric vehicles to catch and surpass China.

The Harmony operating system of Chinese telecommunications firm Huawei Technologies Co Ltd can be used in vehicles as well as smartphones.