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Baidu reimagines search as the race to build the first AI superapp continues

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EV maker Neta falters in Thailand

just now
Reuters
Neta Auto, one of the first Chinese EV brands in Thailand, is struggling to meet local production targets under a government subsidy scheme, with sales plunging 48.5% and dealers filing complaints over unpaid debts. Its parent company has entered bankruptcy in China, reflecting the mounting pressure on smaller EV makers amid BYD-led price competition across Asia.

Cyberport’s AI hub hits 90% utilization

just now
SCMP
Cyberport’s AI Supercomputing Centre has reached over 90% usage since launching in December 2024, backed by a HKD 3 billion subsidy program to grow Hong Kong’s AI ecosystem. Ten projects have been approved, including medical AI models and tools used by government departments. A second site is planned for the Northern Metropolis.

EU stands firm on AI law implementation

just now
Reuters
The European Commission confirmed it will follow the legal timeline for the AI Act, rejecting calls from firms like Alphabet, Meta, and ASML to delay enforcement. Obligations for general-purpose AI models begin this August, with high-risk model rules set for 2026. Brussels may still ease digital compliance rules for small companies later this year.

TSMC delays Japan plant amid US pivot

just now
WSJ
TSMC is delaying construction of its second chip plant in Japan to prioritize US expansion ahead of possible Trump-era tariffs on imported semiconductors. The move undercuts Japan’s USD 8 billion-backed Kumamoto project while accelerating Arizona output for clients like Apple and Nvidia. The Japan timeline is now uncertain.

Nissan to export China-made EVs in 2026

just now
Nikkei Asia
Nissan will begin exporting China-made EVs in 2026, starting with the N7 sedan, as part of a global turnaround plan. Produced in Guangzhou using Chinese AI software, the N7 will be modified for markets with tech restrictions. A new joint venture with Dongfeng Motor will handle exports, aiming to capitalize on low-cost EV production and Nissan’s overseas service network.

Wind and solar reshape China’s capacity mix

just now
Bloomberg
More than 500 GW of wind and solar will come online in China this year, lifting renewable energy to 48% of total capacity and overtaking coal and gas for the first time. The State Grid Energy Research Institute said the record buildout, including 380 GW of solar, should ease summer shortages and support rising demand, though weather risks persist.

TikTok Shop sees slow start in Japan

just now
Ebrun
TikTok Shop’s Japan operations posted first-month GMV of just JPY 207,000, led by beauty and personal care categories. Despite access to 33 million monthly e-commerce users, the modest launch highlights the challenge of entering Japan’s market, where high consumer expectations require sellers to test demand and tailor content for visibility.

Xpeng expands SUV lineup with the G7

just now
36Kr
Xpeng unveiled the G7 SUV on July 3, offering up to 702 kilometers of range and 800-volt fast charging across three trims. The top-tier Ultra model includes three in-house AI chips supporting Level 3 processing and future vision-language-action (VLA) capabilities. VLA features will roll out in September, with cockpit upgrades to follow. Pricing starts at RMB 195,800.

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.
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