SHANGHAI -- Electric-vehicle startup Nio and fellow Chinese automaker Zhejiang Geely Holding Group are betting on smartphones that integrate closely with their cars as a way to stand out in a highly competitive market.
Automakers aim to burnish their appeal in a crowded market

The Nio Phone at an event in Shanghai on Sept. 21. (Photo by Tomoko Wakabayashi)
SHANGHAI -- Electric-vehicle startup Nio and fellow Chinese automaker Zhejiang Geely Holding Group are betting on smartphones that integrate closely with their cars as a way to stand out in a highly competitive market.