Ford wants to add a popular chat app to its cars sold in China.

The automaker told Reuters it wants Tencent Holdings to provide its popular chatting app as companies consider ways to give drivers safe, hands-free access to mobile apps in China, home to the world’s largest number of smartphone users.

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WeChat is China’s most prevalent chatting app, with about half a billion active monthly users, Reuters noted.

“There’s a demand from our customers,” David Huang, a senior engineer who heads Ford’s Asia Pacific connected services unit, told the news agency. “People want to stay connected, stay informed and stay entertained all the time, even when they’re driving.”

Ford is in talks with Tencent over the business aspects of putting the app in its cars, Huang said. Tencent declined to comment.

Huang said Ford envisages drivers syncing their phone to the car’s software system and controlling specific WeChat functions, chosen by Tencent and then certified by Ford as safe, through voice commands or limited use of buttons.

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Yale Zhang, managing director of Shanghai-based consultancy Automotive Foresight, told Reuters connectivity was a key deciding factor for Chinese customers buying a car.

“Those kind of things are the fundamental things people will consider,” he added.

Many Chinese use WeChat’s free voice messaging feature instead of phone calls, holding up their smartphones like a walkie-talkie as they speak, tap and listen to replies.

They often do that while they are driving, breaking a 2004 traffic law that bans any behaviour that hinders safe driving.

The news agency spoke to Chinese drivers who indicated they’d like the hands free option.

Other automakers are also finding new ways to use apps in China.