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Chinese automakers rush to beat Brazil’s EV tariffs, but the real race is just starting

3 mins read

Pulses

Mexico rejects BYD’s EV plant plan

just now
Nikkei Asia
Mexico has rejected BYD’s plans to build an EV factory near the US border, declining to provide land or subsidies amid pressure from Washington and ongoing trade talks. The project was expected to rival the scale of BYD’s Brazil plant and could have employed up to 10,000 people. The move stalls the Chinese automaker’s LATAM strategy despite surging sales and dealer expansion in Mexico.

China targets coercive discounting online

just now
Nikkei Asia
China will bar online platforms from forcing vendors to cut prices below cost under an amended unfair competition law taking effect on October 15. The move reflects concern over deflation, shrinking margins for small businesses, and growing pressure on e-commerce platforms to reform pricing and fee structures.

Lazada to subsidize shipping in Vietnam

just now
Ebrun
Lazada’s Vietnam site will fully subsidize last-mile delivery fees for LazMall cross-border packages under 15 kilograms starting July 2. The policy applies nationwide across all categories and fulfillment types, with labels shown on eligible items.

China signals crackdown on EV price war

just now
AP News
China is signaling a crackdown on the destructive EV price war, as officials warn of long-term risks to the domestic automotive sector. BYD’s deep discounts in May drew backlash from rivals and regulators, prompting 17 automakers (including BYD) to pledge supplier payments within 60 days, a move aimed at easing supplier financial strain and curbing excessive competition.

Geely expands Europe push with Italy debut

just now
Bloomberg
Geely will debut in Italy in Q4 with the all-electric EX5 and a plug-in hybrid SUV, partnering with Jameel Motors to expand its European footprint. While pure EVs made up just 6% of Italy’s vehicle market in June, adoption is climbing, according to 2024 sales figures.  

iPhone sales in China to slow in H2 2025

just now
SCMP
Apple’s iPhone sales in China are expected to slow in the second half of 2025 amid muted iPhone 17 upgrades, weak consumer demand, and rising competition from Huawei, according to Counterpoint Research. This follows an 8% YoY rise in Q2, driven by discounts and subsidy-backed promotions.

France fines Shein for deceptive pricing

just now
Nikkei Asia
France’s antitrust agency has fined Shein EUR 40 million for misleading discount practices, finding that 57% of advertised deals on its French site between October 2022 and August 2023 misled consumers. Shein accepted the penalty and said the issues were resolved in 2023.

JD.com, Ant push for yuan-pegged stablecoins

just now
Reuters
JD.com and Ant Group are urging China’s central bank to approve stablecoins pegged to the offshore yuan, proposing a Hong Kong pilot to support yuan internationalization and counter US dollar dominance in digital trade. Both firms are already planning Hong Kong dollar-backed tokens under new local rules taking effect on August 1.

Alibaba Cloud invests in BetterYeah AI

just now
SCMP
BetterYeah AI, a Hangzhou-based startup founded by former DingTalk executives, has raised over RMB 100 million in a funding round led by Alibaba Cloud. Specializing in enterprise AI agents, the firm said it serves nearly 100,000 teams and will launch a new agent platform this quarter.

Sega targets expansion beyond Japan

just now
Bloomberg
Sega is expanding in Asia to reduce reliance on Japan, partnering with regional firms such as Longtu Game in China. Mobile games now make up more than half of its business, following its 2023 acquisition of Angry Birds maker Rovio. President Shuji Utsumi said the company aims to balance development across console, PC, and mobile.

ByteDance adds Tanfan chatbot to Douyin

just now
SCMP
ByteDance has launched Tanfan, an AI assistant on Douyin that recommends restaurants, summarizes reviews, and supports in-app bookings. Powered by the Doubao LLM, Tanfan had 35,000 users as of July 2, as Douyin deepens its push into local dining services.

New AI model simulates human decision-making

just now
Nature
Centaur, a new AI model built on Meta’s Llama, mimics human behavior across tasks such as memory, gambling, and reasoning. Fine-tuned on ten million decisions from 160 psychology experiments, it outperforms classical models and could enable researchers to study human cognition without live testing.

China bans uncertified power banks on flights

just now
SCMP
China’s aviation regulator will ban uncertified lithium power banks from domestic flights starting July 6, citing fire risks and recent product recalls. Devices without 3C safety certification or linked to overheating incidents are barred from both carry-on and checked baggage. The rule does not apply to international flights or trains.

Huawei to open-source Cangjie language

just now
SCMP
Huawei will open-source its Cangjie programming language on July 30, aiming to expand developer access and reduce dependence on foreign tech. Built for HarmonyOS Next, Cangjie supports AI, cross-platform apps, and has already been adopted by firms like Meituan and JD.com.

Shanghai launches global support alliance

just now
The Paper
Shanghai has launched a professional services alliance to support Chinese firms expanding overseas, starting with 50 member firms across 11 sectors including law, finance, and IP. Backed by city officials, the group aims to build a Shanghai-led model for outbound support with localized services via global networks, aligned with national policy goals.

Baidu plugs AgentBuilder into Xiaomi app store

just now
Caijing
Baidu has integrated its AgentBuilder platform into Xiaomi’s app store, launching a dedicated section for users to browse and access agentic AI applications. The move marks the first direct integration between an AI agent platform and a mobile app marketplace.

DeepSeek eyes overseas AI talent

just now
Bloomberg
Chinese AI firm DeepSeek has resumed hiring on LinkedIn after months of inactivity, posting ten job listings for positions in Hangzhou and Beijing. The move may indicate a bid to attract overseas talent as global competition for AI engineers intensifies.

BYD narrows gap with Honda, Mitsubishi

just now
Nikkei Asia
BYD is closing in on Honda and Mitsubishi in Southeast Asia, selling over 11,000 vehicles in April across Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines. Backed by price competitiveness, local infrastructure growth, and new factories, the Chinese EV maker has also surpassed Mazda and Nissan in regional sales.

Xiaomi rules out EV exports before 2027

just now
Reuters
Xiaomi won’t consider exporting its EVs before 2027, CEO Lei Jun said in a live stream, citing strong demand for the SU7 and YU7 in China. The YU7 SUV triggered long wait times just days after launch, prompting backlash from buyers as the company works to scale production.

Shopee, TikTok Shop face new Indonesia tax

just now
Ebrun
Indonesia plans to impose a 0.5% sales tax on e-commerce sellers with annual revenue between IDR 500 million and IDR 4.8 billion to balance competition with offline merchants. Shopee, TikTok Shop, and the local e-commerce association have called for a gradual rollout and urged the government to provide support to ease the transition.
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