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… href="https://xtractify.ai/">Xtractify</a>, a developer of AI engines for business process automation and BI analytics, streamlining operations, compliance, and decision-making.</li>
</ul>
<h3>The award winners</h3>
After an exciting showcase by the startup finalists, Paix was crowned the winner, while Shieldbase and Vstream were named runner-ups.
<figure id="attachment_152201" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-152201" style="width: 1024px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-152201" src="https://console.kr-asia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Alibaba-Cloud-Malaysia-Demo-Day-2025-1337-Ventures-Soalen-Sittampalam-1024x683.jpg" alt="Photo of Soalen Sittampalam, lead venture architect at 1337 Ventures, speaking at the Alibaba Cloud Malaysia Demo Day held on February 27." width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://console.kr-asia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Alibaba-Cloud-Malaysia-Demo-Day-2025-1337-Ventures-Soalen-Sittampalam-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://console.kr-asia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Alibaba-Cloud-Malaysia-Demo-Day-2025-1337-Ventures-Soalen-Sittampalam-300x200.jpg 300w, https://console.kr-asia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Alibaba-Cloud-Malaysia-Demo-Day-2025-1337-Ventures-Soalen-Sittampalam-768x512.jpg 768w, https://console.kr-asia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Alibaba-Cloud-Malaysia-Demo-Day-2025-1337-Ventures-Soalen-Sittampalam-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://console.kr-asia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Alibaba-Cloud-Malaysia-Demo-Day-2025-1337-Ventures-Soalen-Sittampalam.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-152201" class="wp-caption-text">Photo of Soalen Sittampalam, lead venture architect at 1337 Ventures, speaking at the Alibaba Cloud Malaysia Demo Day held on February 27. Photo courtesy of Alibaba Cloud.</figcaption></figure>
"What stood out to me about Paix is that [the presenter] has clearly defined the boundary of the problem or process he is solving for, and he has done it effectively and achieved solid traction,” said Sittampalam of 1337 Ventures.
“Shieldbase is an ambitious application, and my primary concern would be data privacy within organizations. However, [it has] addressed this by assigning permissions and rights based on roles, which makes it a compelling enterprise solution,” Sittampalam added. “As for Vstream, [it is] dominating a real and growing niche of drone insurance, with an impressive traction strategy targeting the recreational market,” he continued.
<figure id="attachment_152202" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-152202" style="width: 1024px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-152202" src="https://console.kr-asia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Alibaba-Cloud-Malaysia-Demo-Day-2025-Paix-Tech-Kayel-Lee-1024x683.jpg" alt="Photo of Kayel Lee (center), founder of Paix Tech, being awarded the demo day’s top prize during the February 27 event." width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://console.kr-asia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Alibaba-Cloud-Malaysia-Demo-Day-2025-Paix-Tech-Kayel-Lee-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://console.kr-asia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Alibaba-Cloud-Malaysia-Demo-Day-2025-Paix-Tech-Kayel-Lee-300x200.jpg 300w, https://console.kr-asia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Alibaba-Cloud-Malaysia-Demo-Day-2025-Paix-Tech-Kayel-Lee-768x512.jpg 768w, https://console.kr-asia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Alibaba-Cloud-Malaysia-Demo-Day-2025-Paix-Tech-Kayel-Lee-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://console.kr-asia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Alibaba-Cloud-Malaysia-Demo-Day-2025-Paix-Tech-Kayel-Lee.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-152202" class="wp-caption-text">Photo of Kayel Lee (center), founder of Paix Tech, being awarded the demo day’s top prize during the February 27 event. Photo courtesy of Alibaba Cloud.</figcaption></figure>
For Paix’s founder, Kayel Lee, the recognition marks a “monumental achievement.”
“This win gives us tremendous validation of our vision to transform complex financial operations through AI and hyperautomation. Being recognized by one of the most respected names in the tech industry is a testament to the hard work and innovation we’ve poured into this venture,” Lee told KrASIA.
For Shieldbase, being among the top three reinforces its potential for global expansion. “The opportunity to collaborate with Alibaba Cloud, leveraging its infrastructure and expertise at scale, can be a game changer for Shieldbase’s journey—accelerating our global expansion and enterprise adoption,” said Diego Rojas, CEO of Shieldbase.
Meanwhile, Vstream’s CEO, Saravanan Letchumenan, praised the event’s structure and diverse panel of judges, noting that the program was well-organized with the right tools for participants.
<h3>Alibaba Cloud’s commitment to startups</h3>
The Malaysia demo day was organized as part of Alibaba Cloud’s ongoing commitment to supporting emerging businesses in Southeast Asia. Through initiatives like the <a href="https://www.alibabacloud.com/en/startup">Startup Catalyst Program</a>, participating startups gain cloud credits, mentorship, and investor access.
More broadly, the program helps startups in the region scale and innovate by providing essential cloud resources and tools. Those focused on AI receive additional support through Alibaba Cloud’s large language model services and other AI-driven offerings, equipping them with tools to develop and deploy cutting-edge solutions.
This article was written in partnership with Alibaba Cloud.

Paix Tech wins top prize at Alibaba Cloud’s Malaysia demo day

Alibaba Cloud

East Asia

Malaysia

… governments, including those of Chongqing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Qingdao, and Ningbo. These governments are strong backers of little-known chipmakers such as XLMEC, Shanghai Dingtai Jiangxin Technology, Runpeng Semiconductor Shenzhen, and WY Semi, which are working on mature chips for connected devices, cars and other applications.
Automaker BYD has been building its own plants for chips used in vehicles and consumer electronics, and also took over plants of companies that had gone out of business. Huawei Technologies, with strong support from the Shenzhen local government and others, is behind chipmakers such as PengXinWei, Swaysure Technology, and SiEn (QingDao) Integrated Circuits, Nikkei Asia <a title="" href="https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/The-Big-Story/China-s-chip-industry-fights-to-survive-US-tech-crackdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener">earlier reported</a>.
Zhao, SMIC's co-CEO, said he expects stronger competition from the second half of this year as more capacity from these new players comes online despite an uncertain demand outlook. "The trend for the price is unclear for the second half, but it will not go up," Zhao said.
Mature chips have also become a political issue. In the waning days of the Joe Biden administration, the US initiated an unprecedented probe into China's less advanced chips and compound semiconductors. Washington acknowledged, however, that it has little insight into the flow of such chips and how many devices sold in the US use China-made mature chips. Nevertheless, it aims to phase out all Chinese semiconductors from government projects by 2027.
While US export controls have curbed China's advances in cutting-edge chips, they have at the same time accelerated the country's development of less advanced but still vital components and chips.
China launched the third phase of its China Integrated Circuit Industry Investment Fund—known as the Big Fund—in 2024 to further boost its chip industry, including the materials and equipment segments, in the face of a tightening US clampdown. Combined with the first two phases, introduced in 2014 and 2019, this brings the total amount of the fund's support to about RMB 688 billion.
The nation's 14th five-year plan unveiled in 2021, in addition to promoting SiC and gallium nitride (GaN), included moves to upgrade China's mature chip and memory technologies, sparking concerns about global oversupply in all of these segments.
Support for 28-nm chip production and its related ecosystem increased particularly after SMIC was placed on a trade blacklist in late 2020. Measures included a ten-year corporate income tax exemption for eligible chipmakers and tax deductions for R&amp;D expenses. Beijing also outlined plans to build <a href="https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Technology/Tech-Asia/China-s-state-backed-labs-provide-a-lifeline-for-US-blacklisted-chip-suppliers">national laboratories,</a> science projects, and educational programs in the fields of artificial intelligence, quantum computing, semiconductors, and critical components.
"When the governments start getting involved, then the criteria of success also changes," said Andy Tsay, business and analytics professor at the Leavey School of Business at Santa Clara University. "The money that's going into it is more than just the business expense, and China is doing it, too. They are trying to strengthen their domestic industry."
Such efforts are paying off, though not as quickly as Beijing might hope. China's share of locally produced chips rose from around 15% before the Covid-19 pandemic to more than 20% by 2024, according to data from TechInsights, leaving the country a long way from true self-reliance. Even at the projected annual growth rate of 12.3% from 2023 to 2028, locally made chips would only account for about 26% of its overall market.
"It is essentially impossible for China to make significant strides to become self-sufficient for its IC (integrated circuit) needs—both memory and non-memory—within the next five years and probably not even within the next ten years," said Brian Matas, a market research analyst with TechInsights.
But the market is already being impacted by China's localization push.
Doris Hsu, chairperson of GlobalWafers, the world's third largest supplier of base material for computer chips, said the slowdown of electric vehicle demand and intensified Chinese competition has made the SiC market very challenging.
"The internal competition in China is too intense. There are too many [Chinese] companies swiftly expanding their capacity … and as a result you can buy silicon carbide so easily everywhere," Hsu told Nikkei Asia.
With falling prices, growing supply and soft demand, "in the end, it's very difficult for everyone to have a proper profitability," she added.
Marco, the chip equipment executive, said China's initial strategy is to use extremely low prices to grab market share.
More extreme measures include purchasing production machines capable of making relatively advanced 8-inch SiC wafers, even if the company is not yet able to make these wafers at an acceptable quality. The company then cuts the wafers down to 6 inches, keeping the best part of the materials, two industry executives told Nikkei Asia.
Because defects in an SiC wafer tend to diffuse toward its edges, the central area of an eight-inch wafer can sometimes provide a six-inch section of usable substrate that is of higher quality than can be produced directly on six-inch equipment.
While this approach may not be the most economical, it does help Chinese makers bridge the gap in quality until they are able to get their production capabilities up to global standards.
"Sometimes I wonder how that could be sustainable, but it seems it's a very cruel knockout match," Marco said. "We expect many Chinese players as well as foreign players will get hurt. Many of them already have, and eventually many will have to exit these bloody games."
This article first appeared on <a href="https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Technology/Tech-Asia/Global-tech-industry-braces-for-China-shock-in-mature-chips">Nikkei Asia</a>. It has been republished here as part of 36Kr’s ongoing partnership with <a href="https://www.kr-asia.com/nikkei-teams-up-with-36kr-in-asia-tech-news-coverage/">Nikkei</a>.

Global tech industry braces for "China shock" in mature chips

SMIC

Deep Tech

Semiconductors

At the start of the year, BYD launched a campaign to push smart driving features into the mainstream. In response, both electric vehicle startups and legacy automakers—including joint ventures (JV)—have begun positioning smart driving as a key selling point.
On March 6, GAC Toyota introduced its first smart EV, the bZ3X, unveiling seven variants priced from RMB 109,800–159,800 (USD 15,372–22,372). This marks the company’s entry into a new price range for smart electric SUVs, significantly lowering the barrier to ownership.
Notably, the bZ3X is also GAC Toyota’s first model equipped with light detection and ranging (LiDAR) technology, reducing the cost of LiDAR-assisted advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) to RMB 140,000 (USD 19,600).
<figure id="attachment_152152" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-152152" style="width: 1024px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-152152" src="https://console.kr-asia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/GAC-Toyota-bZ3X-Exterior-1024x576.jpg" alt="Image highlights the bZ3X, GAC Toyota’s first smart electric vehicle model." width="1024" height="576" srcset="https://console.kr-asia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/GAC-Toyota-bZ3X-Exterior-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://console.kr-asia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/GAC-Toyota-bZ3X-Exterior-300x169.jpg 300w, https://console.kr-asia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/GAC-Toyota-bZ3X-Exterior-768x432.jpg 768w, https://console.kr-asia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/GAC-Toyota-bZ3X-Exterior-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://console.kr-asia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/GAC-Toyota-bZ3X-Exterior-480x270.jpg 480w, https://console.kr-asia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/GAC-Toyota-bZ3X-Exterior.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-152152" class="wp-caption-text">Image highlights the bZ3X, GAC Toyota’s first smart electric vehicle model. Image and header image source: GAC Toyota.</figcaption></figure>
In recent years, BYD’s aggressive pricing strategy—combined with the rise of Xiaomi, Nio, Xpeng, Li Auto, and Huawei-affiliated brands—has accelerated EV adoption, forcing JV automakers to cut prices to retain market share. Many have struggled to keep up.
But 2025 could mark a turning point. The biggest shift? JV automakers are now embracing intelligent technologies, moving beyond pricing battles to compete on innovation.
GAC Toyota’s decision to integrate LiDAR and high-level ADAS into the bZ3X underscores this shift.
On the hardware front, the bZ3X’s ADAS variant features Nvidia’s Orin X chip, a single LiDAR unit, and 27 onboard sensors—meeting industry benchmarks for advanced ADAS systems.
On the software side, GAC Toyota has partnered with leading Chinese autonomous driving firm Momenta, integrating its latest end-to-end AI model to enhance the bZ3X’s smart driving capabilities.
According to GAC Toyota, the system operates on a “data flywheel” mechanism, continuously improving by leveraging short- and long-term memory to recognize rare, long-tail driving scenarios. Unlike traditional systems that rely on high-definition maps, the bZ3X’s ADAS is designed to navigate like a human, anticipating hazards in complex conditions—such as pedestrians emerging from urban alleys or driving in heavy rain at night.
Inside, the bZ3X features an intelligent cockpit with a 14.6-inch multifunctional touchscreen, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 automotive-grade chip, and four-zone voice interaction. Additional highlights include a panoramic sunroof and 50-watt ultrafast wireless charging. In terms of in-cabin experience, the bZ3X appears on par with offerings from China’s leading EV startups.
<figure id="attachment_152150" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-152150" style="width: 1024px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-152150" src="https://console.kr-asia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/GAC-Toyota-bZ3X-Interior-1024x576.jpg" alt="Image depicts the interior of GAC Toyota’s bZ3X EV model." width="1024" height="576" srcset="https://console.kr-asia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/GAC-Toyota-bZ3X-Interior-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://console.kr-asia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/GAC-Toyota-bZ3X-Interior-300x169.jpg 300w, https://console.kr-asia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/GAC-Toyota-bZ3X-Interior-768x432.jpg 768w, https://console.kr-asia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/GAC-Toyota-bZ3X-Interior-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://console.kr-asia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/GAC-Toyota-bZ3X-Interior-480x270.jpg 480w, https://console.kr-asia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/GAC-Toyota-bZ3X-Interior.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-152150" class="wp-caption-text">Image depicts the interior of GAC Toyota’s bZ3X EV model. Image source: GAC Toyota.</figcaption></figure>
Beyond intelligence and affordability, GAC Toyota continues to emphasize safety, drawing on decades of automotive manufacturing expertise.
According to official specifications, more than 70% of the passive safety body structure is made from high-strength steel, with 30% composed of 1,500-megapascal thermoformed materials. The central body structure incorporates a full thermoformed “cross-brace structure” and a “five-floor beam design” for enhanced rigidity.
For battery safety, the bZ3X exceeds China’s national protection standards. It is engineered to prevent fires or explosions even in the event of a single battery cell thermal runaway, ensuring that thermal transmission won’t trigger failures in adjacent cells.
GAC Toyota said the bZ3X adheres to Toyota’s philosophy of safety redundancy, featuring a multi-layered safety architecture that includes dual brake assist systems, dual power brake assist sources, a cross-control electric parking brake ECU, and an emergency power-off button.
The cabin is also designed with comfort in mind. The front seats can recline fully to create a flat resting area, while the rear seatbacks offer a 20-degree adjustable recline for added flexibility.
The bZ3X is GAC Toyota’s first independently developed model in China, signaling a strategic pivot toward competing on ADAS, smart cockpits, and spacious design. By combining Toyota’s legacy of safety and quality with intelligent features, GAC Toyota aims to reignite consumer interest in JV-manufactured EVs.
KrASIA Connection features translated and adapted content that was originally published by 36Kr. This <a href="https://36kr.com/p/3195605568929156">article</a> was written by Li Anqi for 36Kr.

GAC Toyota enters smart EV race with LiDAR-equipped bZ3X

Toyota

Transportation

Electric Vehicles

Mobility

… infrastructure</h3>
Sogni AI, a decentralized image generation platform, has reportedly received USD 2 million in a funding round co-led by Comma3 Ventures and Republic Ventures, according to <a href="https://www.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/exclusive-ai-image-generator-app-sogni-ai-secures-2-mn-at-25-mn-valuation-3920309">Investing.com</a>. Other investors include Contango Digital, Oyster Ventures, ARC, DEXT Force Ventures, Nosana, Formless Capital, Gecko Ventures, and industry veterans.
The funding will accelerate the development of Supernet, a decentralized physical infrastructure network designed to optimize AI-driven content creation. Sogni AI claims Supernet offers rendering speeds significantly faster than traditional cloud services by distributing AI workloads across a decentralized network.
The company is valued at USD 25 million following the latest round and aims to democratize AI-driven content creation by reducing reliance on centralized AI models, potentially lowering costs and improving accessibility for creative professionals.
<h3>Choco Up and Wonder Capital partner launch private credit fund for APAC SMEs</h3>
Choco Up, a Hong Kong-based growth financing platform, has partnered with Wonder Capital Group, an independent investment management firm, to launch a USD 50 million private credit fund targeting asset-light small and medium enterprises in the Asia Pacific region.
The initiative has completed its first close at USD 10 million, backed by the CMAG Private Credit Fund led by Wonder Capital. The fund will provide non-dilutive, revenue-based financing solutions for e-commerce, software-as-a-service, and technology companies.
<figure id="attachment_152167" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-152167" style="width: 1024px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-152167" src="https://console.kr-asia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Choco-Up-Wonder-Capital-MOU-Signing-Ceremony-1024x683.jpg" alt="Photo from the ceremony where Choco Up and Wonder Capital Group signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly launch the private credit fund." width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://console.kr-asia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Choco-Up-Wonder-Capital-MOU-Signing-Ceremony-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://console.kr-asia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Choco-Up-Wonder-Capital-MOU-Signing-Ceremony-300x200.jpg 300w, https://console.kr-asia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Choco-Up-Wonder-Capital-MOU-Signing-Ceremony-768x512.jpg 768w, https://console.kr-asia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Choco-Up-Wonder-Capital-MOU-Signing-Ceremony-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://console.kr-asia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Choco-Up-Wonder-Capital-MOU-Signing-Ceremony.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-152167" class="wp-caption-text">Photo from the ceremony where Choco Up and Wonder Capital Group signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly launch the private credit fund. Photo courtesy of Choco Up.</figcaption></figure>
<h3>Flagright secures seed funding, Y Combinator among investors</h3>
Flagright, an anti-money laundering (AML) and risk management platform, has secured USD 4.3 million in a seed funding round led by Frontline Ventures, with participation from Y Combinator, Pioneer Fund, Moonfire Ventures, and other fintech investors.
The company provides real-time transaction monitoring, automated case management, and AI-powered risk scoring to help financial institutions reduce false positives and improve alert investigation times. Flagright said it currently serves customers across six continents with its banking-grade compliance platform.
The new funding will support Flagright’s expansion into North America, with new offices in New York and San Francisco, and the launch of its “AI forensics” solutions.
whereRelatedArticle
<h3>Airwallex, Finory, StarFive, and more made recent headlines:</h3>
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Airwallex, a cross-border payments and financial platform, agreed to acquire CTIN Pay, a licensed intermediary payment service (IPS) provider in Vietnam. The acquisition is pending customary closing conditions.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Finory, a Malaysian personal finance management app, raised an undisclosed sum of investment from 1337 Ventures.</li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.starfivetech.com/en">StarFive Technology</a>, a Chinese chip design company backed by Baidu, raised an undisclosed sum from Hong Kong Investment Corporation Limited (HKIC).</li>
</ul>
If there are any news or updates you'd like us to feature, get in touch with us at: <a href="mailto:hello@kr-asia.com">hello@kr-asia.com</a>.
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Deals in brief: Agros and Phnxx raise funding, GlobalData acquires Ai Palette, Malaysia’s Khazanah backs chargEV, and more

Venture Capital

Private Equity

Investment

Merger &amp; Acquisition

Singapore

Australia

Hong Kong

Oceania

On March 1 and 2, discussions surrounding Youku’s alleged new policy—limiting television series to a maximum of 12 episodes or requiring them to air in full within a year—went viral on Chinese social media platforms like Weibo and Zhihu.
However, a source familiar with the matter at Youku dismissed these claims as rumors, clarifying that the platform is not enforcing a strict 12-episode cap on its self-produced or commissioned dramas. “There are just too many watered-down dramas, so we’re cutting back on excessive content,” the source said. The person also noted that iQiyi and Tencent Video have been making similar moves. iQiyi’s Light On series, for instance, is known for its shorter episode counts and more condensed storytelling.
While Youku has not officially confirmed a sweeping change in policy, industry insiders have been discussing its shift toward shorter dramas since the second half of 2024. According to The Paper, several ongoing projects have reportedly been asked to reduce their episode counts to align with this trend.
For years, bloated dramas have been a fixture across both streaming platforms and traditional TV networks in China. The reason? Business incentives.
Historically, drama licensing fees were calculated on a per-episode basis. To maximize profits, production companies frequently padded their scripts with unnecessary content, stretching a 30-episode story into 50 episodes or more. Longer dramas also meant more advertising slots, helping offset high licensing fees and gargantuan actor salaries.
But this practice has sparked growing backlash from audiences frustrated with filler content, dragging storylines, and redundant flashbacks. The National Radio and Television Administration (NRTA) has also been tightening regulations, making it clear that overinflated dramas are no longer viable.
Now, with streaming platforms shifting toward revenue-sharing models instead of per-episode licensing, the incentive to artificially extend shows is disappearing.
Beyond regulatory pressure, another major factor driving shorter dramas is the explosive rise of short-form content.
For years, high production costs and long payback periods kept major streaming platforms in the red. It wasn’t until around 2022 that many finally started turning a profit. But just as they began recovering, a new competitor emerged: short dramas.
With their bitesized episodes and fast-paced storytelling, short dramas are quickly capturing audiences’ attention, particularly among younger viewers. This shift is forcing traditional long-form content providers to adapt, making their narratives tighter and more engaging to compete.
In response, major platforms have taken defensive measures. One clear sign of this shift is the dedicated short drama sections now appearing on homepages, featuring high-quality content to differentiate themselves from competitors. Another strategy? Reducing episode counts for long dramas.
According to 36Kr, all major platforms have been working to shorten their series. In 2023, Tencent Video introduced its “X Theater” series, with most shows capped at under 20 episodes.
At the Weibo Vision Conference in November 2024, Youku vice president Xie Ying revealed that over 50% of users stop watching a drama within the first five episodes, and the completion rate for most series hovers around just 20–30%. This data further reinforces the need for a shift toward tighter storytelling.
As viewing preferences evolve, long-form dramas are incorporating the fast-paced storytelling techniques commonly found in short dramas. Some of these experiments have already seen remarkable success.
For instance, the director of the hit drama The Double previously worked on short dramas and brought the genre’s condensed storytelling style into the longer format, resulting in strong market reception. Other standout examples include iQiyi’s Light On, the 12-episode thriller The Bad Kids, and Tencent Video’s To The Wonder, which was just eight episodes long. All were praised for their gripping narratives and commercial success.
Industry data reflects this shift. According to Enlightent, the total number of newly released Chinese dramas in 2024 amounted to 7,610 episodes, marking a 14% year-on-year decline. The average drama length dropped slightly to 28.1 episodes, down by 0.8 episodes from the previous year. Additionally, the proportion of dramas falling within the 21–28 episode range grew to 37%, an eight percentage point increase from 2023.
This suggests a clear trend: while ultra-long dramas are fading in popularity, mid-length series (21–28 episodes) are emerging as the new industry standard.
For years, Youku’s most iconic long-form drama has been Empresses in the Palace, a sprawling 76-episode epic released in 2011. But the platform is now officially embracing the industry’s shift toward shorter content.
As audience tastes evolve and streaming platforms refine their strategies, the future of long-form content in China will likely be defined by a balance between immersive storytelling and the efficiency demanded by modern viewers.
Whether this trend signals the end of multi-season sagas or simply a new phase in content evolution remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: in an era where attention spans are shrinking, the days of needlessly stretched-out dramas are numbered.
KrASIA Connection features translated and adapted content that was originally published by 36Kr. This <a href="https://36kr.com/p/3193104528859525">article</a> was written by Lan Jie for 36Kr.

Youku trims drama episode counts as shorter formats take hold

Entertainment

Short Video

Video

Creative

Content

… temper expectations before exceeding them.
Still, the competition isn’t standing still. Since Tesla’s FSD launch, media and users have run various tests. Li Auto CEO Li Xiang even claimed that his company’s AD Max system required fewer interventions than Tesla’s FSD.
whereRelatedArticle
<h3>Can the Cybertruck reignite Tesla’s momentum?</h3>
Tesla has one more big move planned for China in 2025: the <a href="https://kr-asia.com/the-cybertruck-took-four-years-to-deliver-but-it-could-mark-teslas-leap-into-a-new-technological-era">Cybertruck</a>.
A Tesla insider told 36Kr that bringing the Cybertruck to China is a key objective this year.
The all-electric pickup has been a hot topic for years. Elon Musk once claimed Cybertruck reservations had surpassed one million, and third-party estimates suggest that figure has now exceeded two million.
But actual deliveries tell a different story. According to international media and research firms, Tesla only delivered around 35,000–50,000 Cybertrucks in 2024—far from the hype.
<figure id="attachment_146921" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-146921" style="width: 1024px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-146921" src="https://console.kr-asia.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Tesla-Cybertruck-3-1024x683.jpg" alt="Image of the Cybertruck." width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://console.kr-asia.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Tesla-Cybertruck-3-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://console.kr-asia.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Tesla-Cybertruck-3-300x200.jpg 300w, https://console.kr-asia.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Tesla-Cybertruck-3-768x512.jpg 768w, https://console.kr-asia.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Tesla-Cybertruck-3-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://console.kr-asia.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Tesla-Cybertruck-3.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-146921" class="wp-caption-text">Image of the Cybertruck. Image source: Tesla.</figcaption></figure>
Pickup trucks have never been a mainstream choice in China, but the Cybertruck’s futuristic design and bold innovation could reignite excitement for Tesla among younger consumers.
Tesla originally built its brand as an industry disruptor. But as China’s homegrown automakers continue to push boundaries, Tesla is starting to look more like the conservative option.
With pricing, features, and overall experience, Chinese EVs have caught up with—and in some cases, surpassed—Tesla. While the company welcomes competition, both the Model Y and the Tesla brand now face their toughest challenge yet.
KrASIA Connection features translated and adapted content that was originally published by 36Kr. This <a href="https://36kr.com/p/3194198941613700">article</a> was written by Xu Caiyu for 36Kr.

Tesla’s refreshed Model Y lands in China as rivals close in

Tesla

… adoption, however, may take longer. “If breakthroughs occur in 2025, we could see AI glasses and in-car assistants gain significant traction,” he said.
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<h3>Is the market overreacting?</h3>
Compared to the slower-moving A-share market, Hong Kong’s tech stocks have been on a tear. In February alone, the Hang Seng Index surged 13.4%, the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index gained 14.02%, and the Hang Seng Tech Index soared 17.88%.
This outperformance stands in stark contrast to global markets. Over the same period, the Dow Jones fell 1.6%, the Nasdaq declined 4%, and the S&amp;P 500 dropped 1.4%. The FTSE 100 rose slightly by 1.88%, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 slid 5.97%.
So, is Hong Kong’s rally a rational response to DeepSeek’s impact, or is it just speculative hype?
According to Luo Jiaming, a fund manager at Zhong Ou Asset Management, the surge is primarily driven by tech stocks. “DeepSeek represents a major breakthrough in AI, fundamentally reshaping how investors view China’s technological capabilities,” he said.
Despite the rally, valuations remain reasonable. Data from Wind shows that as of March 5, the Shanghai Composite Index had a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.37, while the CSI A500 Index’s ratio stood at 14.54—both still near historical lows.
With earnings season approaching, investors will soon see whether DeepSeek’s impact is reflected in corporate fundamentals.
KrASIA Connection features translated and adapted content that was originally published by 36Kr. This <a href="https://36kr.com/p/3194379899092361">article</a> was written by Wang Hanyu for 36Kr.

China’s AI moment? DeepSeek rally lifts markets, but doubts persist

Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence

Japanese companies are pouring money into the US not only in the traditionally big-spending manufacturing sector, but also in such growth industries as artificial intelligence, giving Tokyo more economic contributions to highlight to Washington.
Japan ranked as the largest foreign direct investor in the US for a fifth straight year in 2023, according to data from the US Department of Commerce—a point that Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba emphasized on February 7 in a news conference with US President Donald Trump.
"Japan is the closest economic partner of the United States," Ishiba said. Japan will work to boost foreign direct investment in the US to USD 1 trillion, he said—up from nearly USD 800 billion at the end of 2023.
The automotive industry has remained a core driver of this spending. Toyota Motor and trading arm Toyota Tsusho have built a nearly USD 14 billion automotive battery factory in North Carolina that is slated to begin shipping out cells this April. Honda Motor, which plans to start manufacturing electric vehicles in the US this year, is spending USD 1 billion on to upgrade production facilities in Ohio.
Other investment has been spurred by the growing US appetite for Japanese food. Nissin Foods Holdings will in August start up its first new instant ramen production facility in the US in 47 years, and Kikkoman is building a soy sauce plant in Wisconsin scheduled to start shipments in the autumn of 2026.
The AI and semiconductor fields are expected to see particularly strong activity. SoftBank Group reportedly plans to contribute JPY 3 trillion (USD 20 billion) to the Stargate project, a joint AI infrastructure development project with ChatGPT developer OpenAI and Oracle. Investments will total USD 500 billion, according to SoftBank chairman and CEO Masayoshi Son.
The drive to develop AI will also be a tailwind for chips. Sumitomo Chemical expects to begin mass production of cleaning fluids used in chipmaking at a new factory in Texas in fiscal 2025.
Materials maker Resonac Holdings is opening a Silicon Valley facility to develop and evaluate cutting-edge chip assembly processes.
The weak yen and labor shortages could be negative factors when companies decide whether to invest in the US. Using funds earned in yen to invest would incur higher costs.
"The US unemployment rate is at a historic low," said Kazuma Kishikawa of the Daiwa Institute of Research. "The challenge is whether companies can secure labor and increase production."
Trump's use of tariffs to gain leverage in trade negotiations is increasing uncertainty for Japanese companies and their supply chains. "Hasty investment decisions are generally risky," said Keisuke Hanyuda, managing director and CEO of Owls Consulting Group.
This article first appeared on <a href="https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Business-trends/From-Toyota-to-Nissin-Japan-companies-open-spigot-on-U.S.-investment">Nikkei Asia</a>. It has been republished here as part of 36Kr’s ongoing partnership with <a href="https://www.kr-asia.com/nikkei-teams-up-with-36kr-in-asia-tech-news-coverage/">Nikkei</a>.

From Toyota to Nissin, Japan companies open spigot on US investment

… protecting South Korea.
The claims resonated in Daegu, a city of 2.3 million that is a bastion of conservatism and Yoon's ruling People Power Party. During South Korea's economic boom years of the 1970s and 1980s, the city received generous government investments that created the regional manufacturing base of giants like Hyundai, Samsung, and POSCO that fueled the country's economic rise.
What drew Yoon supporters' ire to the Homeplus outlet where Shin works was a decision by her and some other workers to wear buttons supporting impeachment, as well as their union activities. Shin said the city's conservative political character and innate distrust of labor unions make it harder to recruit members to negotiate with management.
In early February, a union representing mart workers filed a complaint with police over harassment they say workers have faced from Yoon supporters.
The union told police that members of far-right groups had converged on marts to threaten and verbally abuse workers, and had taken photos of them that they circulated in far-right online forums, leading to online harassment.
Changes in the retail sector away from brick-and-mortar stores and toward online platforms have worsened conditions at outlets big and small.
"Jobs in retail are under threat now because of the rapid growth in the volume of online shopping," said Chung-Ang University's Lee.
The Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry said late last year that sales at big-box retailers had grown only 1.2% per year in the decade from 2014 to 2024, trailing far behind the 13% growth seen by online shopping platforms and 10% at convenience stores.
The chamber said the fast-growing platforms had benefited from changes in consumer habits spurred by the coronavirus pandemic and the overall advancement of digitization. "Large marts have become less competitive due to the rise in one- and two-person households and long-standing restrictions on their operations," the chamber concluded.
In an effort to boost mart sales, Daegu in early 2023 became the first municipality nationwide to repeal a legal order requiring marts to close on two Sundays a month. The law had been put in place to guarantee workers time off with their families, and to attempt to steer customers toward smaller retailers, like neighborhood grocery stores.
Daegu's city government argued that changing the regulation to require marts to close on two weekdays a month, while remaining open every Sunday, would benefit consumers by making it easier to shop on weekends and lead to increased sales.
But for workers in the sector, never having a guaranteed Sunday off is another thorn in their sides as they attempt to balance work and family.
"My daughter works during the week and only has weekends off. When I have to work weekends, it means I don't see her for weeks at a time," said Yang Eun-young, a worker with 20 years of experience at an Emart in Daegu.
"This kind of work, the long hours standing, the repetitive manual tasks, is hard on our shoulders, our knees, and for women our age who are going through menopause, the irregular schedule makes it hard to establish a rhythm and get decent sleep," Yang, 56, said.
Still, for Shin, labor rights in South Korea have markedly improved since she entered the workforce.
She recalled how years ago workers in her store dared not push back against directives—however rude or pedantic—from their supervisors. Back then she even had to ask permission to go to the restroom during work hours.
How would she react if a supervisor forced her to do that nowadays? "I'd punch him," she said with a chuckle.
This article first appeared on <a href="https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Big-in-Asia/South-Korea-s-gender-chasm-Women-still-consigned-to-dim-job-and-life-prospects">Nikkei Asia</a>. It has been republished here as part of 36Kr’s ongoing partnership with <a href="https://www.kr-asia.com/nikkei-teams-up-with-36kr-in-asia-tech-news-coverage/">Nikkei</a>.

South Korea's gender chasm: Women still consigned to dim job and life prospects