(Yicai Global) Sept. 28 -- TikTok operator ByteDance Technology refused to comment on a media report claiming that it has started its own automotive cloud business, noting that there is no relevant information that can be shared on the matter.

ByteDance’s automotive cloud business includes public cloud, autonomous driving cloud services, and management-related Software-as-a-Service services, technology news outlet 36Kr reported yesterday, citing people familiar with the matter.

The Beijing-based firm has recruited personnel from JD Cloud and Amazon Cloud to promote the new business, 36Kr added. It has also been in talks with car-making startups and freight self-driving companies to cooperate on the “Smart Driving Cloud” project.

ByteDance announced in June that its in-vehicle infotainment system, which integrated Douyin and news aggregator Toutiao, has been equipped on Changan Automobile’s cars.

In April, its wholly-owned unit Beijing Nebula Tradition Technology established Chongqing Wanxiang Youche Technology, with its main business focusing on internet and automobile.

Since last May, several pieces of news reported that ByteDance had entered the Internet of Vehicles and cloud computing fields. The company had admitted that it was exploring the IoT, but denied that it had launched public clouds products.

Editor: Futura Costaglione