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Popokii, a South Korean brand distributor on Line Gift in Japan, has secured an investment from Z Venture Capital amid a surge in South Korean consume…

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Popokii, a South Korean brand distributor on Line Gift in Japan, has secured an investment from Z Venture Capital amid a surge in South Korean consumer goods exports to Japan. The amount raised was not disclosed.

China’s factory output rose 5.2% YoY in August, the weakest in a year, while retail sales grew 3.4%, a nine-month low, both missing forecasts. The slowdown highlights persistent drag from the property slump and weak demand, adding pressure on Beijing to roll out further stimulus.

Midea denied claims that an employee at its Hefei Hualing subsidiary worked 14-hour days without pay, saying the worker resigned voluntarily and later received wages after a bank transfer issue. Police reportedly said the worker’s daughter admitted her social media post was inaccurate, deleted it, and apologized.

<a href="/company/jd">JD.com</a> is reportedly in talks with Sainsbury’s about acquiring Argos, the UK’s second largest general merchandise retailer, which Sainsbury’s bought for GBP 1.1 billion in 2016. The Chinese <a href="/industry/e-commerce">e-commerce</a> group said a deal could accelerate Argos’ growth, though no agreement has been reached and a deal is not certain.

China has issued a two-year plan to stabilize its <a href="/collections/china-automobile">automotive sector</a>, targeting 2025 sales of 32.3 million vehicles, up 3% YoY, and 15.5 million NEVs, up 20% YoY. The plan, backed by eight ministries, details over 60 measures to boost demand, strengthen supply chains, and support overseas expansion.

China’s Ministry of Commerce has launched anti-dumping and anti-discrimination investigations into the US semiconductor sector, focusing on analog chips from firms such as Texas Instruments and Analog Devices. The probes precede trade talks in Madrid between US treasury secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese vice premier He Lifeng.

<a href="/company/geely">Geely</a>-owned Lynk &amp; Co is shifting from its rental and club model to a retail strategy in Europe, leveraging Volvo’s dealer and service network. CEO Nicolas Lopez Appelgren said the company plans to grow German dealerships from nine to 25 by year's end as it seeks greater traction in Europe’s <a href="/industry/ev">EV</a> market.

Disney said its Asia-Pacific cross-border consumer products business grew about 45% YoY, led by China, one of its strongest markets. Lin Jiawen, newly promoted to senior vice president for the region, credited Chinese partners including <a href="/company/miniso">Miniso</a> and <a href="/company/pop-mart">Pop Mart</a> with taking Disney products global.

<a href="/company/tencent">Tencent</a> has hired Yao Shunyu, a researcher who recently left <a href="/company/openai">OpenAI</a>, to help integrate <a href="/industry/ai">AI</a> into its services, according to people familiar with the matter. Yao specializes in agentic AI and previously worked at Google. OpenAI confirmed his departure but declined to say his next destination.

<a href="/company/byd">BYD</a> has issued a statement disputing Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa’s claim that <a href="/company/leapmotor">Leapmotor</a> outsold it in Germany, citing 8,610 registrations from January to August 2025, more than double Leapmotor’s 3,536. BYD also said it led in BEV and PHEV sales, overtook Alfa Romeo, and narrowed its sales gap with Jeep.

<a href="/company/xpeng">Xpeng</a> is recalling 47,490 P7+ sedans in China after regulators flagged a wiring flaw that could cause steering failure. The recall affects over two-thirds of buyers of the model, which launched late last year. Xpeng said it will replace the faulty parts at no cost to customers.

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

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Pop Mart, a Chinese company, designs and sells toys, figurines, and collectibles, primarily in a blind box format.

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

Consumer Economy

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

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Scalpers are hurting, but the move could bring stability and extend the life of the company’s flagship IP.

Pop Mart pricks Labubu’s resale bubble in bid to outlast the hype

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After its showcase at the World Humanoid Robot Games, Unix AI has been fielding calls from customers eager to adopt its Wanda robots.

Hotels may be the first stop for humanoid robots, says Unix AI founder

New breakthroughs buttress the view that China is drawing closer to US capabilities.

China Recap | AI and robots take center stage

Vicky is a senior reporter based in Hangzhou, covering news about Chinese companies expanding their footprints abroad.

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Popokii secures funding to expand in Japan

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Pop Mart pricks Labubu’s resale bubble in bid to outlast the hype

Hotels may be the first stop for humanoid robots, says Unix AI founder

China Recap | AI and robots take center stage