Key facts
- Tesla and Alipay signed an in-car assistant cooperation agreement on October 20.
- The integration will allow Tesla owners to pay parking fees via the car's touchscreen.
- More features for in-car convenience are under development.
Tesla has agreed to integrate Chinese fintech giant Ant Group’s Alipay digital payment software into its vehicles in China. The move aims to offer more localized smart features amid intense competition in the Chinese market. The agreement, signed on Tuesday, will see Tesla roll out an Alipay-powered smart parking service across its Chinese fleet. Tesla owners will be able to pay parking fees directly from their car's touchscreen. The companies are also developing additional features to make everyday tasks in the car more convenient. This follows Tesla's previous integrations with Chinese apps like WeChat and Baidu Maps, bringing its vehicles closer to the everyday apps Chinese consumers rely on.