The virtual assistant in this SUV is a holographic anime girl
FAW, which makes official limousines for Chinese leaders, shows off a car with a Japanese holographic assistant
FAW subsidiary Bestune (formerly called Besturn) is teasing a new SUV with a “Japanese anime” girl virtual assistant. She comes with several outfit options, including what looks like a police uniform.
What’s more, she lives inside a pop-up holographic display that sits right above the dashboard.
Here’s a gif showing her in action:
So what does she do? The assistant responds to voice commands. Besides strutting her stuff, you can also ask her to play music, turn air conditioning on and off, bring up GPS navigation, give restaurant recommendations, and more.
If an anime girl isn’t your thing, you can also choose between a cartoon boy or a robot.
The adoption of a Japanese character by an iconic Chinese carmaker, largely regarded as a patriotic symbol, is an interesting choice given China’s complicated relationship with Japan.
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For more insights into China tech, sign up for our tech newsletters, subscribe to our Inside China Tech podcast, and download the comprehensive 2019 China Internet Report. Also roam China Tech City, an award-winning interactive digital map at our sister site Abacus.