(Yicai Global) Oct. 26 -- GAC New Energy Automobile's next Aion models may feature Baidu's high-definition maps run on BlackBerry's real-time operating system due to a deal between the Chinese and the Canadian firm.

Chinese tech giant Baidu and Blackberry have joined hands to deepen cooperation, the Waterloo-based security software supplier said in a statement on Jan. 25. That means that the upcoming Aion cars can be equipped with Baidu navigation systems that run on the QNX Neutrino RTOS.

The latest agreement builds on the pair's 2018 deal that set QNX as the foundation for the Chinese search engine company's autonomous driving platform Apollo.

"The BlackBerry QNX software performs well in functional safety, network security and reliability, while Baidu has achieved long-term development in artificial intelligence and deep learning," said Wang Yunpeng, senior director at the technology department of Baidu's intelligent driving group.

“With BlackBerry QNX's embedded software as its foundation, Baidu has made significant progress as part of its Apollo platform in establishing a commercial ecosystem for innovative technologies that OEMs can leverage for their next generation vehicles,” said Dhiraj Handa, head of BlackBerry Technology Solutions in the Asia Pacific region.

Editor: Emmi Laine