Cerence has partnered with Indonesia’s Wuling Motors to develop the first Indonesian-language smart car voice assistant. The Wuling Indonesian Command (WIND) platform has already been placed in the Wulin Almaz, and was selected as the winner in the technology category at the 2019 Apresiasi Inovasi Awards.

Like other voice assistants, WIND allows drivers to use simple voice commands to control various automotive features, including the sun roof and entertainment system. WIND is activated with the “Halo Wuling” command, and was developed in the Bahasa Indonesia language.

“WIND is the first of its kind in Indonesia,” said Wuling Brand and Marketing Director Yin Yi. “As our cars become more advanced, easy and natural voice-powered interaction is critical to enhance the in-car experience and ensure the safety of our customers.”

“Indonesia is one of the fastest growing automotive markets in the world, creating a bigger need and consumer desire for connected technologies in the car,” added Cerence CEO Sanjay Dhawan. “We are proud to partner with Wuling as it becomes the first automaker to bring a conversational mobility experience to this region.”

The Wuling deal is the first major automotive partnership to be announced in the wake of Cerence’s spinoff from Nuance Communications, although the Cerence portfolio now includes many relationships that were forged while the company was still under the Nuance umbrella. Cerence’s current APAC clients include MG Motor in India and Geely and Banma in China.