China backs Shenzhen to lead AI, aviation

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 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 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.

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.

TikTok has initiated a third round of layoffs at the US unit of TikTok Shop as it restructures following missed sales targets. The company is also shifting management roles to ByteDance-linked staff in China while facing a looming US divestment deadline.

WeRide has secured a permit to test its autonomous Robovan W5 in Huangpu, Guangzhou, marking its second approval in the city and making it the first company authorized for such trials in the district. The Level 4 delivery vehicle is designed for urban logistics, featuring modular cargo space and full-sensor safety systems.

Honor has launched the Magic V5, a foldable phone measuring 8.8 millimeters when folded, making it one of the slimmest models to date. Debuting just ahead of Samsung’s Z Fold 7, the device features a 7.95-inch display, Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, and up to one terabyte of storage, with sales starting in China at RMB 8,999.

China’s Skyworth Group will acquire part of Funai Electric’s TV business, including its North American operations under the Philips brand, as Funai undergoes bankruptcy proceedings. Skyworth also plans to absorb Funai’s repair staff in Japan to support local expansion.

JD Logistics has unveiled an autonomous electric van it says is designed to support Level 4 self-driving and offers 24 cubic meters of cargo space. Introduced at a transport expo on July 2, the new vehicle, along with expanded robot and drone fleets, marks JD’s latest push to scale smart logistics across China.

Pop Mart’s Labubu IP has sparked resale hype in China, with reports of prices reaching RMB 7,800. A media probe found actual secondhand prices to be far lower. As demand surges, regulators in Hebei and Yiwu are cracking down on counterfeits, underscoring the risks of IP-driven retail.