With top tech companies like Google, Apple and Tesla struggling to develop their own driverless car, Chinese tech giant Alibaba took a different route and instead launched what it claims is the first Internet connected car, the RX5 sports utility vehicle.

Alibaba said that the RX5 was developed in partnership with SAIC Motor Corporation, widely held as one of the top car manufacturers in China. The development of the RX5 took two years to complete and cost $160 million.

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Alibaba said that the car is already available for pre-order and has a price tag of RM148, 800 (around $22,300). Alibaba added that pre-order delivers will start by August.

The Alibaba RX5 does not have autopilot or self-driving features. However, the car does sport a variety of Internet-based features. The car runs on the latest version of Alibaba's own Yun operating system which makes it easier to connect the car to the Internet and access a host of Internet-based services.

In a statement acquired by Motor Authority, Alibaba founder and chairman Jack Ma said, "What we hope to achieve in the coming decades is to inject machines with human wisdom. Just as software programs have made the phone smarter today, YunOS will make cars an even more indispensable part of human life in the future society."

The Alibaba CEO added that through YunOS, owners of the RX5 can automatically pay for items such as toll fees, as well as parking and fuel costs. The operating system also allows users to access online services line navigation, booking, and entertainment.

As a smart car, each RX5 has a unique ID which allows the operating system to provide recommendation based on the user's online habits. Alibaba is also encouraging third party developers to help the company develop contents and apps for the Yun operating system.

TagsAlibaba, smart car, Alibaba smart car, RX5, Alibaba RX5, saic, Alibaba SAIC