Shanghai (ZXZC)- ByteDance, a Beijing-headquartered technology company operating many popular content applications, is building a team that focuses on IoV (Internet of Vehicles) business and plans to roll out its own automotive infotainment solutions, according to Chinese tech news site 36kr, citing people with direct knowledge of the plan.

The tech company confirmed the rumor afterwards to the local media outlet, saying it is exploring the development of user experience under in-car scenarios.

(Photo source: ByteDance)

It seems that ByteDance is recruiting talents specializing in IoV-related works, according to the job listings posted on the company’s official website, which have already been removed now.

According to the screenshots deliberately saved by the local media, ByteDance intends to enlist senior product managers that are in charge of designing and mapping out integral IVI (in-vehicle infotainment) solutions. Besides, it is also in want of the business managers who will be responsible for the commercial expansion of ByteDance-owned mobile Internet applications and leading technology solutions in such fields as IoV and intelligent hardware, and the implementation and management of pertinent cooperative programs.

The R&D staff members for the IoV group are former employees of smartphone maker Smartisan, who joined the company after ByteDance acquired the latter in early 2019, according to a person closed to ByteDance's senior management.

(Photo source: ByteDance)

ByteDance is operating a range of machine learning-enabled content platforms such as Douyin (aka TikTok), Toutiao and Xigua Video, etc., which are expected to serve automobile users in the future.

Aside from the advantages in online contents, the company has also tapped areas like cloud computing, AI and big data. Its $30 million worth of investment in the EV startup Leading Ideal's Series C funding round is deemed part of efforts to deploy the IoV business.