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China’s answer to Starlink? Geespace completes first satellite constellation

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Pulses

JD enters coffee market with 7Fresh

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Dao Insights
JD.com is entering China’s crowded coffee market with 7Fresh Coffee, an offshoot of its supermarket brand. The company is adopting a low-cost model by leasing small spaces in supermarkets, hotels, and offices, backed by subsidies. Industry groups warn the move could hurt small cafes as regulators tighten scrutiny of aggressive discounting.

Yimutian inks digital asset deal in Hong Kong

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Yimutian
Yimutian, China’s leading agricultural digital platform, has partnered with Hong Kong’s BC Technology to expand into cross-border settlement, agricultural RWA products, and new digital trade models. As part of the deal, Yimutian will buy at least USD 12 million in digital assets, aiming to link agriculture with global capital markets.

Tesla Q3 deliveries rise 7% YoY

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Tesla
Tesla delivered 497,099 vehicles in Q3 2025, up 7% YoY, while production dropped to 447,450. Gains in the US ahead of a federal EV tax credit’s expiration offset a sales slump in Europe. Year-to-date deliveries reached 1.2 million, down 6% from 2024. Tesla also deployed a record 12.5 GWh of energy storage products.

Alibaba’s Amap sets DAU record

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Alibaba
Alibaba’s Amap reached a record 360 million DAUs on October 1, the start of China’s eight-day Golden Week holiday. Its AI assistant Xiaogao processed 2.6 billion requests, while its road safety system sent 290 million alerts. The milestone builds on new lifestyle features including Amap’s “Street Stars” and expanded restaurant rankings.

Faraday Future investigates prototype blaze

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Faraday Future
A September 28 fire at Faraday Future’s Los Angeles headquarters involved an FF 91 beta prototype vehicle, the company said. No injuries occurred and production cars were not affected. Initial checks cleared the battery pack, with investigators focusing on wiring or 12V system faults. The company stressed that its production vehicles meet flammability standards.

Baidu eyes Australia in robotaxi drive

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Bloomberg
Baidu is exploring robotaxi expansion into Australia and Southeast Asia as its Apollo Go unit reaches per-vehicle profitability in several Chinese cities. The fleet has trial licenses to double in Dubai and is preparing a European launch through a Lyft partnership in the UK and Germany, pending approvals.

Xiaomi opens EV R&D hub in Munich

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Xiaomi
Xiaomi has opened its first R&D and design center outside China in Munich, Germany. The hub will focus on EV technology, design innovation, and performance projects, driving forward Xiaomi's entry into the European EV market by 2027 and supporting its ecosystem strategy.

Chinese brands gain ground in EU car market

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Bloomberg
Chinese carmakers captured a record 9.8% of Europe’s hybrid car sales in August, their fourth new peak this year, according to Dataforce. They also held 9.6% of the EV market. BYD, Leapmotor, and MG are shifting strategies under EU tariffs, with hybrids surging and affordable EVs fueling demand across the region.

Chinese AI firms dominate global Q3 gains

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Nikkei Asia
Chinese AI-related firms dominated Q3 markets, taking half of the top 20 global gainers by market cap, Nikkei reported. Foxconn Industrial Internet, Eoptolink, and Zhongji Innolight nearly tripled in value, while chipmaker Cambricon more than doubled to USD 77.8 billion. Investors are betting on China’s AI drive, though some warn of speculative excess.

Shein faces pushback on French store plan

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Bloomberg
Shein’s plan to open shops inside French department stores carrying the Galeries Lafayette name has prompted a clash. Galeries Lafayette said the move breaches obligations and its values, while store operator Societe des Grands Magasins insists the partnership is valid. The first Shein store is set to open in Paris in November.

Huawei tops Apple in smart watch sales

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Nikkei Asia
Huawei overtook Apple in smart watch shipments for April-June, rising 53% YoY to 7.2 million units and capturing a 21% global share, according to Counterpoint Research. Apple’s shipments slipped 3% to 5.8 million, its seventh straight quarterly decline. Huawei’s lower prices and longer battery life are reportedly driving uptake in China, Japan, and other markets.

China strikes Tanzania-Zambia rail deal

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Semafor
China will invest USD 1.4 billion with Tanzania and Zambia to upgrade the Tazara railway, a 1,156-mile route vital for copper and cobalt exports. The project includes new tracks, locomotives, and coaches, and comes as the US backs the Lobito Corridor, a rival rail link across southern Africa.

BYD sees first sales drop since 2024

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Bloomberg
BYD’s sales fell 5.5% YoY in September to 396,270 units, the first decline since February 2024. The EV maker trimmed its 2025 goal to 4.6 million units. Rivals Geely, Xpeng, and Leapmotor posted strong growth, underscoring fierce competition as Beijing urges carmakers to end price wars.

Huawei tests ultra-thin phone with Kirin chip

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IT Zhijia
Huawei is reportedly testing an ultra-thin smartphone with a new Kirin chip, eSIM support, and up to two terabytes of storage, according to reports. The model connects with Huawei’s SkyTone Go eSIM service, now in beta and expected to launch in Q3 2025.

Miniso expands “Miniso Land” stores, IP plan

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Miniso
Miniso has signed nine artists and launched an in-house IP incubation plan to expand its proprietary portfolio, including the overseas rollout of its Yoyo character. The announcement follows record sales at the “Miniso Land” flagship in Shanghai, where IP products accounted for more than 80% of revenue. Miniso plans to accelerate the format’s expansion in China and overseas.

Xpeng deliveries surge 149% in Q3

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Xpeng
Xpeng delivered a record 41,581 vehicles in September, up 95% YoY, pushing Q3 deliveries to 116,007, a 149% increase. Cumulative deliveries for the first nine months of 2025 reached 313,196, up 218% from the same period in 2024.

Li Auto tops 33,000 deliveries in September

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Li Auto
Li Auto delivered 33,951 vehicles in September, bringing Q3 2025 deliveries to 93,211. Cumulative deliveries reached 1.43 million as of September 30.

Leapmotor sales top 60,000 for first time

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Leapmotor
Leapmotor delivered 66,657 vehicles in September, up more than 97% YoY and setting a company record. Monthly sales also surpassed 60,000 units for the first time, according to its official WeChat account.

Beijing rolls out new visa for tech experts

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Nikkei Asia
China has reportedly introduced a new “K visa” to attract foreign science and technology professionals, removing the need for employer sponsorship. While eligibility details remain limited, the program highlights Beijing’s effort to bolster its tech workforce as the US tightens immigration rules.

Biomap claims edge over AlphaFold

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SCMP
Biomap, a biotech startup co-founded by Baidu’s Robin Li and backed by Hong Kong’s government, said it has surpassed AlphaFold in commercializing AI models for drug discovery. CEO Wei Liu cited rising pharma adoption as Biomap expands through BioGend Science, a Hong Kong-based venture aiming to bring drugs to clinical trials within two years.
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