And BlackBerry may be just getting started. In an interview with CNNMoney on Wednesday morning, Chen said he wants the company to partner with even more auto companies, particularly the suppliers.

The goal? "We want to make BlackBerry ubiquitous in the auto sector," Chen said. To that end, Chen is even going to the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January for the first time and will deliver a keynote address there.

Chen said the company will also keep focusing on cybersecurity products for big businesses and governments too. The stock enjoyed a pop earlier this year after the WannaCry ransomware attack as investors realized BlackBerry's security biz could benefit.

Eoin Treacy's view

Regardless of what one’s view is on the potential growth of autonomous vehicles or electric vehicles the easy conclusion is that our cars are going to have more of a tech focus. Everything from navigation to entertainments systems to sensors require an onboard computer, operating system and, increasingly, a router.

Blackberry has been in a base formation since 2012 but today’s rally takes it up to test the upper boundary and a sustained move above C$16 would signal a return to demand dominance beyond the short term.

Elsewhere among technology companies in base formations:

Twitter broke out of its two-year base formation this week amid continued speculation about the chances for a takeover offer. A clear countermanding downward dynamic would be required to check potential for additional upside.

Meanwhile the Holiday Season has done little to boost the fortunes of Fitbit of GoPro, both of which are falling back from the upper side of their respective year and two-year ranges.