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

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 …

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

IPO filings, shutdowns, and a deepening price war signal the start of a high-stakes consolidation phase in outdoor robotics.

Boom, bust, and breakout: China’s lawn robot race hits a tipping point

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

Australia

Central Asia

Hong Kong

India

Japan

New Zealand

Oceania

South Korea

Southeast Asia

Investor diversification away from greenback assets is a fresh factor behind the strength.

Asia's dollar hedging seen boosting regional currencies

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

Nikkei Asia

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

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

Venture Capital

Malaysia

Singapore

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

Deals in brief: Shiok Burger and 3cat raise funding, Timah Partners gets USD 50 million to tackle SME succession, latest China deals 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

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.

Thailand has warned Neta Auto it may need to repay more than THB 2 billion in subsidies if it fails to meet local <a href="/industry/ev">EV</a> production targets under a national incentive program. With only 4,000 of the required 19,000 vehicles produced this year, authorities are tightening oversight and proposing stricter reporting requirements.

Chinese <a href="/industry/ev">EV</a> brand Luxeed, backed by <a href="/company/huawei">Huawei</a> and operated by <a href="/company/chery">Chery</a>, is launching a promotion from June 27, offering RMB 20,000 off all models and up to RMB 60,000 in total incentives. The campaign highlights Huawei’s assisted driving system, the Turing chassis for improved ride stability, and enhanced interior comfort as key selling points.

Meta has hired <a href="/company/openai">OpenAI</a> researchers Lucas Beyer, Alexander Kolesnikov, and Xiaohua Zhai from its Zurich lab to join its superintelligence team, part of Mark Zuckerberg’s push to reset the company’s <a href="/industry/ai">AI</a> strategy. The trio previously worked at Google DeepMind.

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.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

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.

<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.

https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/6ff53490f679f358bf543998d228fb32?s=96&d=blank&r=g

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

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

Alibaba, China’s e-commerce giant, operates online retail marketplaces, cloud computing services, and digital payment networks across Asia and beyond.

China’s tech ecosystem serves as a driving force behind the world’s second largest economy, influencing global digital markets.

Explore East Asia’s thriving tech hubs, global electronics producers, and fast-evolving digital platforms shaping cross-border innovation.

East Asia

What sets the bar for convenience? Examine on-demand platforms, subscription models, and personalization transforming consumer expectations.

Consumer Economy

How do ideas shape industries? Learn how content, design, and digital artistry influence branding, marketing, and cultural impact.

Creative

What entertains a connected world? Track shifts in film, music, and media consumption, as platforms and audiences redefine cultural experiences.

Entertainment

How do stores adapt to digital shifts? Explore e-commerce integration, inventory analytics, and omnichannel strategies for modern shoppers.

Retail

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.

FWD revives IPO plan in Hong Kong

Latest Pulses

Most Recent

Deals in brief: Shiok Burger and 3cat raise funding, Timah Partners gets USD 50 million to tackle SME succession, latest China deals and more

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

Alibaba dials back designer toy ambitions, shuts Koitake to sharpen focus