Japanese startups are increasingly building on Alibaba Cloud’s Qwen open-source models, with Abeja’s...

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Japanese startups are increasingly building on Alibaba Cloud’s Qwen open-source models, with Abeja’s QwQ-32B and other Qwen-based systems ranking among the top performers in Japanese AI benchmarks. <a href="/company/alibaba-cloud">Alibaba Cloud</a> plans to localize Qwen deployment, citing data sovereignty concerns, and aims to expand to over 1,000 Japanese corporate users within three years.

Guangzhou Sunhongs, a data center service provider backed by <a href="/company/xiaomi">Xiaomi</a> founder Lei Jun, is pursuing a listing on the Beijing Stock Exchange after pulling its Shenzhen IPO bid in 2023. The firm is shifting to self-built infrastructure to raise margins, despite modest growth and a market share of just 0.6%.

Uber users in a key Middle East market will be able to book and ride robotaxis later this year through a new partnership with Pony.ai. Safety drivers will be onboard during initial trials. The deal combines Uber’s global reach with Pony.ai’s autonomous tech, with plans to expand robotaxi services to more international markets.

Low-altitude sightseeing flights under 1,000 meters proved popular across China during the Labor Day break, with cities offering tours via helicopters and unmanned aircraft from eVTOL providers like EHang. Despite strong demand, the industry faces regulatory bottlenecks, with over 800 UAVs awaiting certification amid limited staffing and safety oversight.

Hong Kong leader John Lee will lead a delegation to Qatar and Kuwait on May 10 to explore business ties, marking his second trip to the Middle East since 2023. The visit aims to promote Hong Kong’s role as a “superconnector” and strengthen cooperation with Gulf economies, alongside plans to open a new trade office in Saudi Arabia.

Zeekr appointed Lynk &amp; Co veteran Lin Jie to lead domestic marketing as the EV brand falls behind its 2025 sales target. He is supported by vice president Lin Jinwen, who now oversees service, network, and digital operations. The move follows an April sales decline and aligns with <a href="https://kr-asia.com/geely-brings-battery-operations-under-jiyao-tongxing-to-streamline-and-scale">Geely's broader restructuring</a>, including Jiyao Tongxing’s “golden battery” debut at Auto Shanghai.

<a href="/company/shein">Shein</a> and <a href="/company/temu">Temu</a> ramped up digital ad spending in Europe in April, with double-digit gains in France and the UK, as looming US tariffs undercut growth in their core market. Both fast fashion platforms cut US ad budgets and are also investing in Brazil, where Temu recently entered and Shein expanded local manufacturing.

<a href="/company/luckin-coffee">Luckin Coffee</a> posted Q1 2025 revenue of RMB 8.87 billion, up 41% YoY, with GAAP net income reaching RMB 525 million. Same-store sales growth turned positive at 8.1%, while store-level margins improved to 17.1%. The chain added 1,757 net new stores, ending the quarter with over 24,000 locations.

Uber and Momenta have signed a deal to launch autonomous vehicles outside the US and China, starting in Europe in 2026 with safety drivers onboard. The partnership aims to combine Uber’s global reach with Momenta’s technology to scale robotaxi services in international markets.

DailyCo has acquired Waku, an institutional catering firm serving clients in 20 cities across Indonesia, to expand its footprint in the country’s B2B food services market. Waku CEO Anthony Gunawan will join DailyCo as chief human resources officer, with Waku continuing to operate as a wholly owned subsidiary.

<a href="/company/openai">OpenAI</a> will convert its for-profit arm into a <a href="https://www.britannica.com/money/what-is-a-public-benefit-corporation">public benefit corporation</a> (PBC), while remaining under nonprofit control. The shift follows discussions with state regulators and is aimed at better support its mission of "ensuring AGI benefits all of humanity." The nonprofit will retain oversight and become a major shareholder in the new entity.

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Xiaomi says there’s no formal sales network in place, but the new facility appears to be part of a long-term Europe strategy.

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