3 h. ago Chinese EV maker Li Auto unveils industry’s cheapest AI glasses at US$282

Chinese electric vehicle maker Li Auto has launched its first wearable product, the Livis artificial intelligence glasses, marking a bold foray into the rapidly expanding market already crowded by tech giants like Alibaba Group Holding, Huawei Technologies and Xiaomi. The device is priced at 1,999 yuan (US$282), but buyers who place an order before December 31 qualify for a 15 per cent rebate via the government-backed subsidy programme, bringing down the price to 1,699 yuan. That effectively...

Politics

13 h. ago BYD founder bets on new tech to win back customers as sales decelerate

BYD, China’s electric vehicle (EV) king, is pinning its hopes on next-generation technology to engineer a turnaround in sales amid fierce competition in the world’s largest automotive market, according to its founder and chairman Wang Chuanfu. Speaking at a shareholders’ meeting in Shenzhen on Friday, the billionaire said the company’s 12,000 engineers – the backbone of the carmaker – would help it regain a technological edge over rivals. “We have heavyweight new technology in the pipeline,” he...

Economics

3 d. ago From chips to noodles: the newcomers testing Hong Kong’s buoyant IPO market

Hong Kong’s booming fundraising market is set for another busy week, with four companies scheduled to debut this week and a string of billion-dollar listings – including Chinese luxury electric vehicle maker Avatr Technology – lining up behind them. Among this week’s newcomers, chip materials supplier Guangdong Tianyu Semiconductor plans to raise the highest sum, seeking up to HK$1.74 billion (US$223.42 million) from the sale of 30.07 million shares. The shares have been priced at HK$58 each....

Economics

3 d. ago Germany’s China playbook: if you can’t beat them, partner up

German companies are accelerating efforts to partner with Chinese rivals, conceding in fresh survey results that the local competitors appear poised to seize the lead in global innovation. While business sentiment among surveyed German firms in China has seen a slight uptick, optimism has been tempered by fierce price competition and a nationalist “Buy China” push, according to findings from the German Chamber of Commerce’s 2025/26 Business Confidence Survey. About 56 per cent of surveyed firms...

Politics

3 d. ago Hong Kong insurers face profit pressure in aftermath of deadly Tai Po fire

The devastating fire in Tai Po is likely to hurt profitability at Hong Kong’s property insurers and could prompt them to review pricing strategies that have led to lower premiums amid fierce competition, according to S&P Global Ratings. “Claim losses from last week’s fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po will further erode the sector’s underwriting margins,” said Emily Yi Chang Yoon, credit analyst at S&P, in a report. The city’s property and casualty insurance companies already faced thinner...

Events

3 d. ago China’s 3SBio seeks US$400 million in Hong Kong to boost drug pipeline

Chinese drug maker 3SBio plans to raise HK$3.12 billion (US$401 million) by selling a 4.14 per cent stake in the company to fund clinical research in China and the US and expand the global reach of its drug portfolio. The Shenyang-based biopharmaceutical firm has agreed to sell 105.1 million new shares at HK$29.62 each. The placing price represents a 6.5 per cent discount compared with Monday’s closing price of HK$31.68, according to its filing with the Hong Kong stock exchange on Tuesday. The...

Economics

4 d. ago Chinese EV maker Zeekr launches in Germany with three models

Chinese EV maker Zeekr launches in Germany with three models  Reuters

Politics

7 d. ago 3 overlooked economic strengths that will serve Hong Kong well

Even in these turbulent times, Hong Kong has reasons to count its blessings. I refer to the fundamentals of our global competitiveness, which will protect us from the fiercest storms of the current cycle of economic and geopolitical turmoil. We cannot be immune, given that many economies worldwide face challenges more severe than at any time in the past four decades, but we should be grateful. Critics have in the past predicted the death of Hong Kong. Our government officials often rebut them by...

Economics

9 d. ago Alibaba to lead AI capital spending among Chinese firms amid strong demand

E-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding expects to stay ahead of its Chinese Big Tech peers in artificial intelligence-related capital expenditure, as the firm’s AI and cloud computing unit posted its fourth consecutive quarter of double-digit revenue growth. Alibaba Cloud on Tuesday reported a 34 per cent year-on-year revenue growth to 39.8 billion yuan (US$5.6 billion) in the three months ended September 30, as the Hangzhou-based parent’s overall revenue in its financial second quarter reached...

Economics

9 d. ago Chinese carmakers boost robotics efforts, Xpeng posts record revenue: 7 EV reads

We have put together stories from our coverage on electric and new energy vehicles from the past two weeks to help you stay informed. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. China’s Xpeng posts record revenue as robotaxi and humanoid ambitions take shape Leading Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker Xpeng reported record quarterly revenue and sharply narrowed losses in the third quarter, even as its Hong Kong-listed shares fell on Monday after investors...

Politics

1 week ago Alibaba posts 5% rise in quarterly revenue on AI, cloud momentum

Alibaba Group Holding, China’s e-commerce and cloud computing giant, on Tuesday reported a better-than-expected 5 per cent increase in revenue for the September quarter, as its cloud and artificial intelligence businesses continued to gain momentum. Total revenue for the Hangzhou-based company reached 247.8 billion yuan (US$34.8 billion) for its financial second quarter ended September 30, beating the consensus estimate of 245.2 billion yuan by Bloomberg-polled analysts. That was more than the 2...

Politics

1 week ago China strengthens global drone dominance with record orders at Dubai Airshow

A Chinese drone maker has secured 1,600 orders for industrial models at the recently concluded Dubai Airshow – marking the largest ever single-order deal for the country’s manufacturers at the biennial event, as its companies target emerging markets. The deal, secured by Shenzhen-based United Aircraft, covered industrial drones used for low-altitude logistics, medical deliveries and agricultural applications in the United Arab Emirates and other markets, local outlet SZnews.com reported. The...

Events

2 w. ago Nvidia revenue soars despite ‘disappointment’ in China market

US chipmaker Nvidia said it is “disappointed” about current restrictions locking it out of China’s artificial intelligence market, but the company reported record revenues for the third quarter despite shrinking sales in the world’s second-largest economy. Nvidia reported a 62 per cent surge in total revenue to a record US$57 billion, even as its sales in China, including Hong Kong, plunged 63 per cent to US$3 billion in the three months ended October 26, according to the company’s financial...

Politics

2 w. ago Netherlands Hands Back Control of Chip Maker Nexperia to Chinese Owner

Netherlands Hands Back Control of Chip Maker Nexperia to Chinese Owner  The Wall Street Journal

Politics

2 w. ago China’s urban youth jobless rate falls slightly in tough market for graduates

China’s urban youth unemployment rate continued to ease last month, though fierce labour market competition remains a challenge for many jobseekers. The jobless rate for those aged 16 to 24, excluding students, slightly decreased to 17.3 per cent in October from 17.7 per cent in September, according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics on Tuesday. Following a record 12.2 million graduates entering the job market over the summer, the youth unemployment rate rose in August to its...

Politics

2 w. ago China’s Xpeng posts record revenue as robotaxi and humanoid ambitions take shape

Leading Chinese electric-vehicle (EV) maker Xpeng reported record quarterly revenue and sharply narrowed losses in the third quarter, even as its Hong Kong-listed shares fell on Monday after investors shrugged off a bullish call from JPMorgan. The Guangzhou-based firm’s net loss narrowed by nearly 80 per cent to 380.9 million yuan (US$53.6 million) in the third quarter from 1.81 billion yuan a year earlier, according to a filing to the Hong Kong stock exchange. Revenue surged 101.8 per cent year...

Politics

2 w. ago Chinese EV maker XPeng forecasts weak fourth quarter revenue amid fierce competition

Chinese EV maker XPeng forecasts weak fourth quarter revenue amid fierce competition  Reuters

Politics

3 w. ago Singapore Airlines profit nosedives amid Air India losses and fierce competition

Singapore Airlines on Thursday reported a sharp fall in first-half profit, hit by losses at its Indian associate Air India, higher costs and intensifying competition. The airline’s profit slid steeply in the second quarter to S$52 million (US$40.18 million) from S$186 million in the first quarter, highlighting Air India’s drag on performance. Singapore Airlines began accounting for Air India’s earnings in December 2024 after the integration of joint venture Vistara into Air India. The Singapore...

Economics

3 w. ago China’s US$8 billion power bank giant Anker seeks Hong Kong listing

Chinese maker of portable charging devices Anker Innovations, which went viral last year as the preferred power bank of US President Donald Trump, plans to list in Hong Kong amid US scrutiny and recent product recalls. Based in Changsha, the capital of central China’s Hunan province, Shenzhen-listed Anker will apply to offer its shares on the main board of the Hong Kong stock exchange, it said in a filing with the Shenzhen bourse, on Wednesday. The move aimed to “further advance the company’s...

Economics

3 w. ago Xpeng touts driverless cars, Volkswagen eyes making chips in China: 7 EV reads

We have put together stories from our coverage on electric and new energy vehicles from the past two weeks to help you stay informed. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Chinese EV maker BYD’s sales surge in Europe, narrowing gap with Tesla Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker BYD recorded surging sales in Europe last month after it launched more models and expanded its sales network, narrowing its gap with market leader Tesla. 2. Nexperia saga sees...

Transport