Three groups combine to establish auto innovation center

Z-One – the subsidiary of auto manufacturing giant SAIC Motors, based in East China's Shanghai city – has joined forces with Nanchang-based Lianchuang Electronic Technology Co Ltd and Chinese telecom equipment maker ZTE Corp.

They recently signed a cooperative agreement to establish an innovative center, designed to promote research and development in automotive operating systems and regulation-grade auto computer chips. 

ZTE is said to have great competitive advantages in the fields of operating systems, basic software, computer chips, software architecture, algorithm capabilities and intelligent platforms. In the new venture, it will make full use of its own technical expertise to enable intelligent connected travel. 

Z-One has established a software talent team of more than 1,100 people and has a self-developed technology R&D system. 

Meanwhile, Lianchuang is understood to be committed to becoming the leader of intelligent networked control systems for automobiles. 

It is said to be the "little giants of science and innovation" – leading SMEs that specialize in niche sectors, incubated by SAIC. It has independent R&D and has achieved mass production of its products. 

Under the agreement, SAIC and ZTE will jointly promote the construction of independent core capabilities for automotive operating systems. 

They will actively explore joint R&D in the fields of microkernel real time operating systems and hypervisors and work to create an embedded operating system oriented to domestic microprogrammed control unit chips.