In January 2025, BMW started the brand new 5 Series on the Chinese market (G60 LWB) with integrated vehicle-to-all-all technology (V2X), which was developed in cooperation with Joynext. This is the first time that a BMW model includes V2X functions built in, which represents a remarkable step in the efforts of the brand to expand associated vehicle technologies in China.
What is V2X – and why is it important?
V2X technology (vehicle-to-all technology) represents one of the core columns to realize the future of autonomous driving and the advanced intelligent transport system. V2X enables a real-time network in which the information flows freely and quickly through the enabling seamless communication between vehicles, infrastructure, pedestrians and cloud-based systems. In practical terms, this means that the brand new BMW 5 series can receive and process data on potential dangers, road conditions, traffic jams and other critical security information, long before the driver may notice it. The technology enables proactive collision warnings, optimized route planning and real-time warnings via road construction or emergency vehicles-to improve safety and efficiency.
BMW’s cooperation with Joynext reflects a broader trend by global car manufacturers to deepen technical partnerships in China as part of their digitization and localization strategies. Joynext, a provider of networked driving technologies, enters its development and provision of specialist knowledge about the project and contributes to aligning BMW’s offers with the fast -developing smart mobility ecosystem in China.
The rollout also signals the interest of BMW to contribute to long -term intelligent initiatives of China. By equipping vehicles with advanced communication systems, car manufacturers and suppliers want to build foundations for improved traffic flow, lower accident rates and higher efficiency in densely populated urban areas.
Other V2X projects
BMW was actively involved in V2X research and pilot programs in Europe and the USA. No other market currently offers a production BMW model with active V2X technology by default. In Germany and all over Europe, BMW has participated in several EU-financed initiatives such as C-Roads and Scoop to test both C-V2X (cellular-based) and ITS-G5 (DSRC-like short-distance communication) on public roads. In 2019, BMW worked with Daimler and Volkswagen to test short-distance communication technologies such as ITS-G5, although the company has shifted its focus on C-V2X due to its greater potential for future scalability.
In the United States, BMW took part in pilot programs in Michigan and New York and tested V2X applications such as Smart -Stampel systems and emergency vehicle warnings. However, progress in the United States was limited, mainly to the ongoing regulatory uncertainty between C-V2X and DSRC standards, which slowed down broader provision.
The company has not yet confirmed when V2X will appear in European or US production models, but it is expected that future versions of the new class electric vehicles offer V2X-capable hardware, especially in regions with supportive infrastructure.
