(Yicai Global) April 16 -- Chinese car giant SAIC Motor has leveled up its smart car stratagem with a host of plans including rolling out the global first connected vehicle with fifth-generation mobile network next year.

"We plan to mass-produce the world's first intelligent connected vehicle based on 5G network in 2020," Chen Zhixin, president of the Shanghai-based automaker, told news application Kankanews at a corporate event yesterday. Kankanews and Yicai Global are both part of Shanghai Media Group's news network. 

The firm released two new models at the event, including Roewe Marvel X Pro, the first vehicle reaching L3 autopilot worldwide, as well as Roewe Vision-i, the world's first car with a screenless cockpit. The company is stepping up efforts to use 5G to make customized cars and smart plants for auto parts.

With Roewe Vision-i, SAIC aims to create a smart interactive system that makes the car into an entry point for future travel services, Vice President Wang Xiaoqiu said.

SAIC Motor will explore the application of 5G network to achieve autonomous driving on congested and urban highways, Chen said, adding that the firm expects to pilot smart heavy trucks via 5G technologies in the journey between the Yangshan Deep-Water Port in Hangzhou Bay and Shanghai's Pudong New Area via 32-kilometer Donghai Bridge.

The carmaker has started the construction of China's first 5G smart traffic demonstration area, joining hands with telecom operator China Mobile, smartphone giant Huawei Technologies and the car manufacturing base of the Shanghai International Automobile City, and the area will be ready to be opened to the public next year, the firm added. 

Editor: Emmi Laine