(Yicai Global) Dec. 8 -- Ford Motor Co. [NYSE:F] has struck a deal with Chinese e-tail behemoth Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. [NYSE:BABA], which will see the pair attempt to redefine the consumer car-buying experience and deliver intelligent mobile travel solutions.

The companies hope the three-year deal will reshape the automotive industry in China and even worldwide by teaming up to work on operating system AliOS, Alibaba Cloud Computing, Big Data platform Alimama and e-commerce site Tmall. They will explore various fields together, including smart mobility, the Internet of Vehicles, digital marketing and artificial intelligence.

Jim Hackett, president of Ford, and Daniel Zhang, chief executive of Alibaba, met in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province to witness, Luo Guanhong, chairman of Ford Motor China Co., and Hu Xiaoming, senior vice president of the Chinese e-commerce firm, sign the agreement, online media outlet Jiemian News reported.

Ford and Alibaba will initially research digital solutions for new stages at all stages of the car-buying process, such as pre-sales, test driving and financial leasing. They will leverage their unique strengths to examine ways in which mobile travel technology can be used to redefine the Internet of Vehicles, AI, online retailing and distribution.

"Alibaba is pleased to work with Ford to redefine the travel experience," said Zhang. "We will transform the automobile from a travel tool into a living Internet of Beings platform by using data-driven technologies and expanding the definition of cars."