ACO Tech, Deutsche Telekom IoT Team on Connected Cars
The memorandum of collaboration aims to explore connectivity opportunities for automotive customers across Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Automotive — General
ACO Tech and Deutsche Telekom IoT GmbH have signed a memorandum of collaboration to explore connected vehicle opportunities. The potential cooperation may include connectivity opportunities involving Geely and other automotive customers in Europe and Asia-Pacific.
Why it matters
The collaboration combines ACO Tech's automotive technology expertise with Deutsche Telekom IoT's international IoT connectivity capabilities. It could help automotive manufacturers simplify cross-border connectivity planning for their vehicles.
ACO Tech reports oversight of more than 500,000 active connected vehicles, while Deutsche Telekom IoT cites roaming coverage of 600-plus partners across 188 destinations. Terms, timelines and the final scope of any Geely-related connectivity work remain undisclosed.
The players
ACO Tech
A Southeast Asian smart mobility provider formed as a joint venture among Proton, Ecarx and Altel Communications, overseeing a large network of connected vehicles.
Deutsche Telekom IoT GmbH
The Internet of Things arm of Deutsche Telekom Group, offering international IoT connectivity and a broad roaming partner network.
Geely
A major Chinese automaker named as a potential beneficiary of the connectivity cooperation.
The details
ACO Tech, a joint venture established in 2019 by Proton, Ecarx and Altel Communications, and Deutsche Telekom IoT GmbH, part of Deutsche Telekom Group, signed the memorandum. Benjamin Bastians, chief commercial officer of Deutsche Telekom IoT, and Dr Li Pu, CEO of ACO Tech, signed for their respective companies.
Timeline
2019: ACO Tech Sdn Bhd was established as a joint venture between Proton, Ecarx and Altel Communications.
November 4, 2026: The article on the memorandum of collaboration was published.
Roadmap
The memorandum extends the trend of automakers relying on specialized IoT carriers for cross-border vehicle connectivity, a model that has grown as connected-car services expand beyond single national markets. It positions ACO Tech and Deutsche Telekom IoT to compete with other providers seeking to standardize vehicle connectivity across Europe and Asia-Pacific.
Drivers of connected vehicles may eventually see more consistent digital services across borders if the cooperation produces commercial offerings. Automakers could find cross-border connectivity planning simpler, though no timeline for such changes has been announced.
The takeaway
Connectivity partnerships between automotive technology firms and telecom IoT providers are becoming a key part of how cars stay online across markets. Readers tracking connected vehicles should watch whether this memorandum leads to concrete commercial agreements.
Further reading
Explore more Automotive — General coverage for context on connected-vehicle developments.
Source note: This article includes information reported by CarSifu.
