Chinese automakers redefine the car as a living space at Beijing Auto Show [Video]

BEIJING – How about turning a car’s front bucket seats 180 degrees so they face the rear seats and extending out a table so the occupants can play cards or eat a meal? Or a 43-inch (109 centimeter) screen for the passengers in the back seat?

The seemingly never-ending efforts of China’s electric car makers to redefine the automobile went on display Thursday at the opening of the nation’s largest annual auto show. They are forcing established makers such as Volkswagen and Nissan to change the way they develop cars to remain players in what is the world’s largest auto market.

Nissan joined Toyota in announcing a tie-up at the Beijing Auto Show with a major Chinese technology company as the Japanese makers strive to meet customer demand in China for AI-enabled online connectivity in cars.

The car with a large flat screen was launched last week at a price of 789,000 yuan …