Alibaba has announced it has teamed up with BMW to develop a range of ‘digitalised experiences for the car and home’ for all new BMW models sold in China from the first half of 2018.

As part of the collaboration, Alibaba will help the German automaker giant integrate smart speakers with BMW’s cloud-based infotainment platform and the sound-recognition and processing technology developed by Alibaba Cloud, the Chinese ecommerce giant’s cloud computing unit.

This will allow BMW car owners in China to remotely access information about their cars via smart speakers, such as how far they can still drive with what’s left in the gas tank and whether doors and windows have been left open or closed.

“We have strived to use IoT and machine intelligence technology to create a future where everything is connected. With our new collaboration with BMW, we want to provide users with new experiences where people, their vehicles and their homes are seamlessly connected,” Sean Ding, said chief scientist for the IoT division at Alibaba Cloud.

Earlier this month, Alibaba formed a strategic alliance with Ford Motors to enhance consumer retail experiences and explore solutions for sustainable mobility.