Alibaba

Baidu

ByteDance

Meituan

Pinduoduo

Tencent

Most Followed

KrASIA Connection

China's Auto Sector

Earnings Reports

Inside China's Startups

Venture Roundup

Our Events

View All

Collections

News

Features

Insights

Ecosystem

DeepSeek

Kuaishou

Li Auto

Xiaohongshu

Xiaomi

Xpeng

On the Radar

EV battery giant CATL is incentivizing suppliers to cut emissions as it targets carbon neutrality in core operations this year and across its supply c…

Events

Latest

About

36Kr (EN)

Consumer

Robotics

Fintech

What lies beyond familiar frontiers? Investigate emerging tech—like quantum computing and AI—transforming traditional sectors.

Deep Tech

How does automation advance industry? Analyze robotic arms, drones, and AI-driven tools reshaping manufacturing and services.

China

Seauto’s robots are affordable, durable, and built to undercut the industry’s biggest names.

At USD 90 per unit, Seauto is quietly sweeping the pool robot market

Decoding China&#039;s tech and business pulse

KrASIA

36Kr is China's most influential business and technology network, delivering high-quality content focused on China’s innovation and new economy trends since 2010. With its extensive traffic and network, 36Kr has built a comprehensive database and strong data analytics capabilities to provide insights into China’s technology landscape.

36Kr English

How do markets shape wealth creation? Study portfolio diversification, asset classes, and strategies balancing growth and risk.

Investment

How does information move at light speed? Review 5G rollouts, fiber networks, and connectivity standards advancing global communication.

Telecommunications

What fuels startup ecosystems? Review funding rounds, investor strategies, and market insights guiding entrepreneurial growth.

Venture Capital

Singapore

Southeast Asia

Armed with new funding and a GlobalTix tie-up, Firsty is pushing a future where mobile connectivity comes pre-installed.

Can Firsty kill the SIM card? A fresh fundraise and travel tech deal give it a shot

T. K. Lin

When do companies invite public investment? Understand listing criteria, underwriter roles, and regulatory steps defining initial offerings.

Why do firms join forces? Investigate synergy goals, valuation methods, and negotiations driving corporate consolidation.

Merger &amp; Acquisition

What happens after acquisitions close? Examine deal structures, operational improvements, and exit strategies molding corporate outcomes.

Private Equity

Indonesia

Vietnam

Bringing you the latest updates on funding deals and activities in the Asia Pacific.

Deals in brief: CrediLinq secures Series A funding, Vertex Ventures backs Quantified Energy, Ringkas raises 5.1 million, and more

An alias used when humans and machines team up in our newsroom. Articles under this byline may be shaped with the help of AI, but are always vetted by a human before publication.

Sudo Lim

KrASIA tracks China’s tech and business stories—alongside key developments across the broader Asia Pacific region.

Header Section | KrASIA

Home

Sections

Header Section

EV battery giant <a href="/company/catl">CATL</a> is incentivizing suppliers to cut emissions as it targets carbon neutrality in core operations this year and across its supply chain by 2035. Scope 3 emissions made up 95% of CATL’s 2024 carbon footprint, driven by raw materials and energy-intensive production. The firm is offering technical support and prioritizing ESG-compliant partners.

Qatar Investment Authority is actively exploring China investments while seeking to avoid friction with the US, a senior executive said at the Qatar Economic Forum. The comments follow scrutiny of recent AI-related Gulf deals and come as the USD 524 billion sovereign fund plans to double US outlays, pledging USD 500 billion over the next decade amid rising geopolitical tensions.

Lenovo reported FY25 revenue of USD 69.1 billion, up 21% YoY, with net income rising 36% to USD 1.4 billion. Growth was driven by AI PCs, smartphones, infrastructure, and enterprise solutions. The company now leads the Windows AI PC category and introduced new AI “super agents” under its hybrid AI strategy, achieving double-digit growth across all regions.

<a href="/company/xpeng">Xpeng</a> expects Q2 2025 deliveries of up to 108,000 units, a 257.5% YoY increase, and aims to turn profitable by Q4. The EV maker will roll out its self-developed Turing chip in Q3 and debut a humanoid robot in 2026. These are part of Xpeng's broader strategy to build a full-stack AI platform spanning autonomous driving, intelligent cockpits, and robotics.

Shouguang, China’s “vegetable capital,” will co-invest USD 33 million with UAE firm Silal to build a 100,000-square-meter smart agriculture center in Abu Dhabi. Tied to the Belt and Road Initiative, the project will deploy AI, robotics, and solar greenhouses to grow crops like tomatoes and melons in desert conditions, expanding China’s agritech footprint in the Middle East.

<a href="/company/openai">OpenAI</a> will acquire io, an AI hardware startup co-founded by Apple veteran Jony Ive, in a USD 6.5 billion all-stock deal. The move brings in a team of Apple alumni and positions OpenAI to launch AI-native consumer devices starting in 2026. Ive’s design firm LoveFrom will lead hardware and software design as OpenAI expands beyond apps.

Airwallex has raised USD 300 million in Series F funding at a USD 6.2 billion valuation to fuel global expansion and reach USD 1 billion in annualized revenue this year. Investors include Square Peg, DST Global, Lone Pine Capital, Blackbird, Airtree, Salesforce Ventures, Visa Ventures, and Australian pension funds. USD 150 million came from secondary share transfers.

The US Department of Commerce plans to impose up to 721% in tariffs on Chinese graphite used in lithium-ion battery anodes, citing unfair subsidies. The move follows a trade case led by US producers and aims to boost domestic supply chains. Final rulings, including potential anti-dumping duties, are expected by December and could escalate trade tensions.

EHang expects to launch flying taxi services in Guangzhou and Hefei this year and sees China enabling fixed-route air shuttles by 2030. Certified by China’s aviation regulator for autonomous eVTOL aircraft, the firm is running city trials, scaling production, and plans to unveil upgraded aircraft and new battery technology later this year amid rising global interest.

<a href="/company/nvidia">Nvidia</a> CEO Jensen Huang warned that US chip export controls are a “failure” that undermine national tech competitiveness. He said the restrictions have halved Nvidia’s China market share and spurred Beijing to accelerate AI chip development. Speaking at Computex, Huang said the curbs may hurt US firms more than China and risk ceding leadership in the AI race.

<p data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><a href="/company/tiktok">TikTok</a> warned US <a href="/industry/e-commerce">e-commerce</a> staff of imminent job cuts in a memo from new division head Mu Qing, who cited plans to streamline operations. Employees were told to work from home and expect personnel changes starting May 23. The move comes amid mounting political pressure, leadership shifts, and uncertainty over TikTok’s future in the US market.</p>

How does finance become frictionless? Examine digital banking, payment innovation, and lending platforms redefining financial access.

What streamlines global commerce? Examine digital wallets, cross-border remittances, and instant settlement technologies.

Payments

The fintech firm is betting on global expansion and AI-driven financial infrastructure to anchor its next phase of growth.

Airwallex raises USD 300 million, eyes IPO readiness and AI-led finance

https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/a6b9ace74da9df391d5f7ba1892f4393?s=96&d=blank&r=g

How do we store tomorrow’s power? Evaluate battery R&amp;D, manufacturing progress, and recycling strategies fueling energy independence.

Batteries

How is power evolving? Review renewable sources, grid innovations, and efficiency measures driving cleaner, more resilient energy systems.

Energy

As China grapples with a surge in retired EV batteries, Eagoal is leaning on predictive tools and clean chemistry to lead the way.

As EV batteries retire, recyclers like Eagoal race to scale and standardize

The tariff rollback shows Washington's constraints and offers exporters reprieve.

US-China trade war truce: 5 things to know

As part of 36Kr’s ongoing partnership with Nikkei, you can read selected content from Nikkei Asia on KrASIA.

https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/aec5e55596415464d13490d0e0caa9a2?s=96&d=blank&r=g

CATL rewards low-emission battery suppliers

Latest Pulses

Most Recent

Airwallex raises USD 300 million, eyes IPO readiness and AI-led finance

As EV batteries retire, recyclers like Eagoal race to scale and standardize

US-China trade war truce: 5 things to know