Chinese podcast giant Lizhi brings Clubhouse-like interactive audio to Tesla rival Xpeng
- Lizhi, China’s second-largest podcast app operator, is partnering with Xpeng to install a live social audio feature called live-stream podcast in its electric cars
- The podcast company already has a similar app called Tiya, which currently operates overseas owing to China’s strict content regulations
Lizhi, which runs China’s second-largest podcast app, is bringing Clubhouse-like interactive audio to electric vehicles (EVs) manufactured by Xpeng, as the industry continues to explore new entertainment systems to lure buyers in the world’s largest car market.
The Guangzhou-based audio tech firm, which listed on the Nasdaq last year, announced on Tuesday that it is launching a feature called “live-stream podcast” on its signature app, and it will also be implemented on Xpeng’s intelligent in-car operating system.
“This fresh new mode of interactive audio entertainment will allow participants to have organic conversations across a wide range of audiences and networks on both the mobile application and in the in-car scenario,” Lizhi said in a statement.
The feature will also leverage its access to top content creators, who will be able to interact with podcast listeners in real time, Lizhi added.
The partnership with Xpeng, another Guangzhou-based company that went public last year, reflects a broader trend in the EV market, where carmakers are racing to enrich the entertainment options available in their vehicles. Tesla has been especially aggressive in this area, rolling out both Tesla Theatre and Tesla Arcade, features that allow owners to stream films and play video games with the steering wheel and digital display, respectively.