(2020.04.02)Beijing/Ningbo Ningbo Joyson Electronics Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “Joyson Electronics”) and Microsoft China today signed a strategic cooperation memorandum. Combining Microsoft’s cloud leadership, brand recognition, and global ecosystem with Joyson Electronics’ product strengths, in-depth industry experience, and global market influence, both parties have agreed to engage in a bilateral cooperation covering cloud applications, intelligent speech technology, modern workplace, and R&D enhancement in the automobile industry, to advance digital transformation of Joyson Electronics.

Horace Chow, Chief Operating Officer of Microsoft China said, “It is a great pleasure to be able to hold such a meaningful strategic partnership signing ceremony together with Joyson Electronics today. When I first visited Joyson in Ningbo last April, we shared our development directions and solutions in automotive industry and found that both parties had a high degree of fit and shared goals in the areas of digitization of products and services, and globalization of business, as well as shared customers around the world.

“As a result, we have developed and implemented a series of plans, including a joint demo showcase of in-car intelligent speech assistants at international motor show Internationale Automobil-Ausstellung (IAA) in Germany, more discussions on IoV solutions (Internet of Vehicles) and the integration of global business. After a year of efforts, we have a better understanding of each other, which leads to the strategic cooperation. We hope that in the coming new year, we can launch more solutions transforming the industry, expand the domestic and overseas automobile market together, and make more achievements in the integration of global business and digital transformation.”

Kevin Liu, VP of Joyson Electronics and CEO of JOYNEXT said, “Joyson Electronics and Microsoft had a strong track record of collaboration. Today, both sides together make a solid step forward towards the future of intelligent mobility. Joyson Electronics had just completed the restructuring and upgrading of its connected car business and formed an individual business unit with the company name JOYNEXT.

“The new company will focus on innovative technologies that can enhance the connectivity experience in daily mobility, including Connected Infotainment, Smart Connectivity Gateway, Cloud Services, ADAS and Navigation, SaaS and SaaP. JOYNEXT will be a pioneer team from Joyson Electronics to start the cooperation with Microsoft on intelligent driving. Facing the current new market opportunities of “new infrastructure”, “5G+” and “IoT”, Joyson and Microsoft will carry out closer cooperation addressing various scenarios of our daily life, like autonomous driving, shared travel and intelligent transportation.

“To seize the new opportunities and to accelerate digital transformation, Joyson Electronics and Microsoft will jointly explore and develop the possibilities of cloud computing in the automobile industry, leveraging Microsoft’s cutting-edge technologies and Joyson Electronics’ rich industry experience.”

According to the strategic cooperation memorandum signed by both parties, Microsoft and Joyson Electronics will primarily cooperate on the following:

Create innovative solutions for the automobile industry: To capture the opportunities of digital transformation, the cooperation will build on Joyson Electronics’ software, digitalization, and intelligence strategy and combine these strengths with Microsoft’s advantages in cloud computing, AI, distributed computing, and IoT. Moreover, with the Internet of Vehicles (IoV), intelligent cockpits, AI, and digital twins as core areas of focus, the two parties will jointly plan and deploy practical innovative solutions, such as cloud technology applications for IoV, virtual voice assistants, machine vision, intelligent perception and decision, and vehicle connection data mining and analysis, to provide users with a complete, intelligent driving solution.

Establish a strategic partnership: Joyson Electronics will become an official partner of the Microsoft intelligent cloud and engage in in-depth cooperation on product development, joint innovation, technical support, and marketing. Both parties are committed to creating a new model in the global automobile industry and will explore potential domestic and foreign customers for both Microsoft Azure and Joyson Electronics.

Deepen the cooperation on cloud technology: Joyson Electronics will leverage the Microsoft intelligent cloud Azure for its IoV solutions and enterprise infrastructure. In addition, Microsoft 365, the world’s productivity cloud, will be deployed to empower seamless communication and collaboration between employees, realizing modern and efficient work.

Founded in 2004, Joyson Electronics is a leading component supplier for global automobile manufacturers. It focuses on the R&D and manufacture of auto safety systems, intelligent auto electronics, E-Mobility, Car Connectivity, and high-end auto components. Currently, there are four business divisions: Auto Safety Products, Auto Electronics, Auto Component, and Car Connect.

Through leading innovative design, stable manufacturing, quality management and excellent service, Joyson Electronics is a long-term partner of global automobile manufacturers such as BMW, Mercedes Benz, Audi, Volkswagen, General Motors, and Ford. Beginning in 2018, the cooperation between Joyson Electronics and Microsoft has steadily grown; and Joyson Electronics is leveraging Microsoft Azure, Microsoft 365, and Dynamics 365 to realize platform integration and the digital deployment of its global business, as well as develop a complete driving solution based on the cloud.

As the world’s leading productivity and platform company, Microsoft aims to empower enterprises around the world through innovative technologies such as cloud computing, big data, the Internet of Things, AI, and mixed reality. Currently, Microsoft’s cloud services cover 58 regions worldwide and can be used in 140 countries and regions. It also adheres by the requirements of the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), ensuring a worry-free experience for users.

This strategic cooperation will provide Microsoft and Joyson Electronics with greater space to deepen their partnership and expand prospects worldwide. By leveraging the unique advantages of both parties, Joyson Electronics will be fully equipped to harness the possibilities of digital transformation and set a new benchmark for the technological development of the automobile industry.