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Foreign direct investment into China fell 29% in 2024, contributing significantly to the 11% global FDI decline, according to UNCTAD’s latest investme…

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Foreign direct investment into China fell 29% in 2024, contributing significantly to the 11% global FDI decline, according to UNCTAD’s latest investment report. The drop, driven by investor caution amid geopolitical and regulatory uncertainty, weighed on Asia’s average despite stable inflows to other major economies in the region.

Wang Puzhong, head of <a href="/company/meituan">Meituan’s</a> core local commerce unit, said China’s service retail sector reached RMB 7 trillion in 2024, but only 9% is online. He pledged to help merchants digitalize with <a href="/industry/ai">AI</a>, targeting 25% online penetration and at least 300 brands with 1,000 stores by 2030.

Southeast Asia’s <a href="/industry/e-commerce">e-commerce</a> market grew 12% to USD 145.2 billion in 2024, including USD 16.8 billion in non-platform sales. <a href="/company/shopee">Shopee</a> led platform-based GMV with a 52% share, followed by <a href="/company/tiktok-shop">TikTok Shop</a> and <a href="/company/lazada">Lazada</a>. Together, the three platforms accounted for 84% of the market. Thailand and Malaysia posted the fastest growth.

Unitree Robotics founder Wang Xingxing said the firm’s annual revenue has surpassed RMB 1 billion and that it has remained profitable since 2020. The company employs about 1,000 people and currently leads global shipments of quadruped and humanoid robots.

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A US judge ruled that Meta’s use of books to train its Llama <a href="/industry/ai">AI</a> model qualifies as “fair use” under copyright law, dismissing a lawsuit from 13 authors including Sarah Silverman. The court found the plaintiffs failed to show market harm but stressed the ruling is limited to this case and does not validate broader AI training practices. A similar decision was recently issued in a <a href="https://kr-asia.com/pulses/155031">case involving Anthropic</a>.

MegaRobo Technologies, a life sciences automation and robotics company, has filed for a potential listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, appointing Morgan Stanley, Huatai Financial, Deutsche Bank, and CCB International as overall coordinators. No public offering is currently underway, and the listing remains subject to regulatory approval.

Casbot, a Chinese startup focused on <a href="/industry/robotics">humanoid robots</a>, has raised nearly RMB 100 million in an angel plus funding round. Backers include Lens Technology, Tianjin Jiayi, and existing investors SDIC Unity Capital and Henan Asset Management. The funds will support mass production and R&amp;D as Casbot expands in industrial and mining applications.

FWD Group, backed by billionaire Richard Li, is seeking HKD 3.5 billion in a Hong Kong IPO by offering 91.3 million shares at HKD 38 each. Trading is set to begin on July 7, marking a long-awaited debut after a scrapped US listing in 2021 and multiple postponements. The deal is backed by Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs.

<a href="/company/nvidia">Nvidia</a> CEO Jensen Huang said <a href="/industry/robotics">robotics</a> is the company’s next priority after chips. Speaking to shareholders, he outlined plans to power billions of autonomous systems, including self-driving cars and robotic factories, expanding Nvidia’s focus to cover virtual simulation, motion training, and real-world deployment, among other areas.

<a href="/company/tesla">Tesla's</a> robotaxi pilot in Austin, Texas has revealed multiple issues, including erratic lane changes, abrupt stops, and unsafe alighting points, according to videos from riders. Despite the presence of safety monitors, the footage has drawn scrutiny from road safety experts and local officials. Tesla has not publicly addressed the incidents.

Koitake, a designer toy unit under Damai Entertainment (formerly Alibaba Pictures), has been shut down due to low revenue and limited market traction. The brand contributed just 2% of fiscal 2025 revenue for Hujing, <a href="/company/alibaba">Alibaba’s</a> rebranded digital media and entertainment division. The move aligns with a broader pivot toward live events and IP merchandising.

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From underground mining to quality inspection, Casbot’s machines target environments where traditional automation falls short.

China’s Casbot bags funding to build humanoid bots for tough industrial work

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Koitake, the IP-driven toy unit under Alibaba’s Hujing business, has been phased out as the tech giant shifts its attention to higher-margin verticals.

FDI to China drops 29% in 2024

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China’s Casbot bags funding to build humanoid bots for tough industrial work

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