(Yicai Global) April 4 -- Ford Motor will join hands with Baidu-backed video platform iQiyi to offer the latter's content on its in-vehicle entertainment system in China.  

A range of China-made Fords and Lincoln vehicles will be installed with SYNC+ in-vehicle infotainment system, containing access to iQiyi's content library, the Michigan-headquartered firm posted on its Chinese website yesterday. 

SYNC+, jointly developed by Ford China and tech giant Baidu, will be synchronized with the FordPass app, and it will take voice commands, and connect to smart home appliances.

Ford Motor will set up research and development centers in China to boost innovation, it added. The firm plans to introduce over 30 new Ford and Lincoln models to the Chinese market in three years and more than 10 of them are new energy vehicles.

iQiyi will constantly strengthen cooperation with vehicle makers to offer brand new experiences to users, the Shanghai-based video firm said in a statement yesterday. 

Chinese carmakers have launched their own in-vehicle infotainment systems, such as Chang'an Automobile's InCall and Chery Automobile's CloudDrive. SAIC Motor has teamed with Alibaba Group Holding to use the latter's homegrown operating system YunOS in the former's connected cars.

Editor: Emmi Laine