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… feeding polluted answers could erode trust in AI models themselves.
<h3>A game of trust</h3>
<blockquote>“Is GEO just a scam? Does it really have technical value?”</blockquote>
That is the question Lao Mo, founder of EchoSurge, often hears. In 2024, he and several veterans from Google and ByteDance started the company to build GEO tools.
SEO’s reputation for spam has spilled into GEO, which is often associated with questionable practices. Yet in Silicon Valley, interest is growing. Profound, a GEO startup, raised USD 35 million in a Series B funding round in August, reaching a nine-figure valuation in under a year. Sequoia Capital led that investment. Others, such as Scrunch, are also attracting attention.
Profound emphasizes tools over content mills. It scrapes user-AI chat logs, analyzes high-frequency prompts, and reverse-engineers the content models favor.
For companies, this reframes visibility in AI. The task is less about “buying traffic” and more about treating AI as a savvy assistant.
“In the past, posting your message was like putting it on the village noticeboard. Now the internet has given you a secretary,” Lao said. “You need to know how to talk to the secretary.”
That demands higher standards. “Old tricks like content stuffing are basically cheating,” he added. “Once models get serious about commercialization, spammers will be wiped out.”
Research already shows that AI-generated text performs worse than human-written content in both Google search and ChatGPT citations. The more AI-generated material a page contains, the lower it tends to rank.
Dayu’s Yuan has noticed the shift. While SEO once required little specialization, GEO now demands analysts who can study model behavior. His firm has begun hiring college graduates with stronger technical skills instead of generalists.
For brands, building visibility starts with basics: maintaining a professional website, publishing manuals and updates, and engaging with credible media.
If you don’t tell your story, someone else might, and that could be a competitor.
For now, GEO offers a window of opportunity, particularly for niche businesses that previously ignored online presence. Yuan cited one offline restaurant that quickly improved visibility after creating a website and posting quality content.
But the window is narrowing. Perplexity has announced that sponsored content will be clearly labeled, while ChatGPT and Doubao are testing product links. The gray zone is shrinking.
For everyday users, the safest approach is caution. Treat AI as an informed but imperfect guide: useful for reference, but not the final word. Choose reliable sources yourself, paste them into the model, and let it answer based only on that context.
Or as Lao put it:
<blockquote>“Taking the high road is actually the straightest path. Large models are double-edged swords. If your content is junk, it will eventually come back to harm you.”</blockquote>
In the end, this is not a contest of traffic. It is a contest of trust, and trust cannot be faked forever.
KrASIA Connection features translated and adapted content that was originally published by 36Kr. This <a href="https://36kr.com/p/3453363864819332">article</a> was written by Deng Yongyi for 36Kr.

GEO or gimmick? The murky business of buying visibility in AI search

Artificial Intelligence

Deep Tech

China

<blockquote>China Recap is a weekly roundup tracking Chinese companies expanding abroad, covering market entries, funding rounds, product launches, and global partnerships.</blockquote>
China’s corporate globalization strategy is evolving fast. Industry giants are rewriting the global playbook, while a new generation of companies charts fresh paths overseas.
China Recap tracks both—focusing on strategic expansion, brand building, and localized operations—to help readers make sense of shifting trends and understand how Chinese firms are reshaping their global approach.
This edition tracks how Chinese <a href="/industry/ev">electric vehicle</a> makers are balancing overseas growth with domestic partnerships, while managing risks that test the industry’s resilience.
<h3>BYD cuts Qin Plus sedan prices in China</h3>
<a href="/company/byd">BYD</a> is offering RMB 10,000 (USD 1,370) discounts on select Qin Plus sedans through December, extending earlier cuts across models such as the Tang DM-i and Seal 07 DM-i. The Qin Plus remains one of BYD’s bestselling models, but the move follows four consecutive months of weaker sales in China amid official calls to curb price wars. —<a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/chinese-carmaker-byd-cuts-prices-some-models-until-year-end-2025-09-25/">Reuters</a>
<h3>Chery soars as Hong Kong IPO launches</h3>
<a href="/company/chery">Chery</a> shares jumped 11.2% in their Hong Kong debut, raising HKD 8.8 billion (USD 1.1 billion) in the IPO. The Anhui-based automaker canceled its listing ceremony due to typhoon disruptions and said it will exit Russia, its largest overseas market, by 2027. —<a href="https://asia.nikkei.com/business/markets/equities/chinese-state-carmaker-chery-jumps-11-in-hong-kong-debut">Nikkei Asia</a>
<h3>BYD ready if Nvidia chips are banned</h3>
BYD has a backup plan if access to <a href="/company/nvidia">Nvidia’s</a> automotive chips is cut, executive vice president Stella Li said, citing the company’s in-house tech and past resilience during chip shortages. While no restrictions exist, China’s stance on Nvidia remains uncertain. BYD currently uses Nvidia’s Orin system in its EVs. —<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/09/23/chinas-byd-says-it-has-a-backup-plan-if-cut-off-from-nvidia-chips.html">CNBC</a>
<h3>Huawei, Dongfeng deepen EV alliance</h3>
<a href="/company/huawei">Huawei</a> and Dongfeng Motor are deepening their EV partnership following a leadership meeting in Shenzhen between Ren Zhengfei and Yang Qing. The firms will co-develop smart car tech, with all Voyah EVs this year to feature Huawei systems. A new joint lab aims to drive further innovation. —<a href="https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3326556/huaweis-ren-zhengfei-dongfeng-motors-yang-qing-discuss-deeper-collaboration-evs">SCMP</a>
whereRelatedArticle
<h3>Berkshire Hathaway exits BYD after 17 years</h3>
Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway sold its remaining shares in BYD, ending a 17-year investment that began with a 10% stake in 2008. Berkshire started reducing its holding in 2022 and cut it below 5% by mid-2024. BYD shares fell in Hong Kong and Shenzhen after the disclosure, as the company thanked Buffett and the late Charlie Munger. —<a href="https://asia.nikkei.com/business/markets/equities/buffett-s-berkshire-exits-chinese-ev-maker-byd">Nikkei Asia</a>
<h3>Li Auto, SEVB form EV battery JV</h3>
<a href="/company/li-auto">Li Auto</a> and Sunwoda’s SEVB arm have formed a joint venture in Shandong to produce EV batteries. The new entity will manufacture Li Auto’s self-developed battery designs. Unlike its partnership with <a href="/company/catl">Contemporary Amperex Technology</a> (CATL), Li Auto leads design, materials, and processes to retain brand control and manage costs.
<h3>Magna Steyr to build Xpeng SUVs in Austria</h3>
<a href="/company/xpeng">Xpeng Motors</a> has partnered with Austrian contract assembler Magna Steyr to produce its G6 and G9 SUVs in Graz. It is the first time Magna has produced complete vehicles for a Chinese automaker. Xpeng said the deal will create a European production base to bring its smart cars closer to local customers. —<a href="https://asia.nikkei.com/business/automobiles/electric-vehicles/china-s-xpeng-partners-with-magna-steyr-to-make-evs-in-europe2">Nikkei Asia</a>
<h3>Safety risk prompts Xiaomi SU7 recall</h3>
<a href="/company/xiaomi">Xiaomi</a> will recall about 110,000 SU7 cars built before August 30, after regulators flagged safety risks in the vehicle’s Level 2 highway navigation assist system. The recall, covering around 30% of all SU7 sales, will be addressed through over-the-air software updates. It is Xiaomi’s second recall and comes amid stricter oversight of driver assistance systems in China. —<a href="https://www.jiemian.com/article/13376114.html">Jiemian News</a>
That wraps up this edition of China Recap. If your company is expanding internationally, we’d love to hear about your latest milestones. <a href="mailto:changweiqian@global.36kr.com">Get in touch</a> to share your story.

China Recap | EV rush hour

China's Yadea Group Holdings, the world's largest manufacturer of electric two-wheelers, will enter the Japanese market in November, looking to challenge dominant brands like Honda Motor with a model around 30% cheaper.
"The Porta is compact and affordable," said Yasumasa Hasegawa, president of Hasegawa Mobility, Yadea's official Japan importer. "Its performance is suitable for everyday use."
The Yadea Porta is a low-output electric moped categorized as Class 1 in Japan, meaning it can be ridden with a standard driver's license. It can be charged using a household outlet, with a maximum range of 60 kilometers on a charge.
Its body features a retro design and color scheme to appeal to younger consumers. While some predicted a price in the JPY 100,000 (USD 680) range, it has been priced at JPY 217,800 (USD 1,480) after adjustments to comply with Japanese safety standards, including requirements for top speeds and turn signal positioning.
Yadea enters Japan while the government is tightening motorcycle exhaust regulations. The new regulations are on par with those in Europe and require future products to substantially reduce carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide emissions.
As a result of the change, vehicle manufacturers will cease production of their current two-wheelers at the end of October. Though each company plans to release gasoline-powered models that comply with the regulations, only Yamaha Motor has indicated a clear release window, in the first half of 2026.
Honda and Yamaha sell Class 1 electric scooters, but their cheapest models cost around JPY 300,000 (USD 2,040), roughly JPY 100,000 more than their gas-powered models. Yadea is offering the Porta at the same price point as established manufacturers' gas-powered models.
Japan's domestic two-wheeler sales peaked in the early 1980s, topping three million units per year. Factors like the country's declining birth rate and aging population pushed sales down to about 320,000 units in 2024, one-tenth of the peak.
Major changes to the market like stricter exhaust regulations can present emerging players with opportunities. Yadea looks to expand Japan's nascent electric two-wheeler market.
Yadea was founded in China in 2001. China's two-wheeler market was once a stronghold of Japanese companies like Honda. But since the 2000s, there has been a shift to <a href="/industry/ev">electric vehicles</a> as a means of daily transportation, giving local makers an opportunity to leverage their low prices to control the market.
Yadea says its strength is in developing and manufacturing core components like batteries and motors in-house. It is known as the <a href="/company/byd">BYD</a> of two-wheelers, referring to the Chinese electric vehicle giant, and boasts a high share of China's under-RMB 5,000 (USD 700) electric two-wheeler market.
The company also is rushing to expand overseas, with sales networks in over 100 countries and regions.
"China's domestic market is sluggish due to deflation," said Hikaru Todoroki, principal at KPMG Consulting. "Two-wheelers are also in a state of overproduction, so companies probably want to sell their excess production overseas."
Looking at the global two-wheeler market, Japanese manufacturers Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki Motor, and Kawasaki Motors hold a combined share of over 40%, an overwhelming position built on their strengths in internal combustion engines.
But factors such as the push toward decarbonization are driving electrification. New two-wheeler sales totaled 59.9 million units worldwide in 2024, according to Tokyo-based Yano Research Institute, about 8.5% of which were electrified. In Yano's optimistic scenario, the electrification rate is projected to reach 18.8% by 2035.
New challengers are emerging as well, including India's Ola Electric Mobility, VinFast in Vietnam and Taiwan's Gogoro. Some models have ranges of more than 100 km, offering greater convenience.
"Unlike for four-wheeled vehicles, the market for internal combustion two-wheelers is still expanding," said Takaki Nakanishi of Nakanishi Research Institute. "Japanese manufacturers don't need to be at the forefront of electrification."
Issues such as high costs and underdeveloped charging infrastructure mean that electrified two-wheelers have not spread significantly outside of China and a few other regions.
But Japanese makers are not sitting idle. Honda plans to invest JPY 500 billion (USD 3.4 billion) in two-wheeler electrification by 2030. The company will launch 30 new models worldwide, targeting annual sales of four million units. The company aims for about one-fifth of its global sales to be electrified vehicles.
"It will take a bit more time before we can make a profit on electrics," Minoru Kato, the head of Honda's two-wheeled vehicle division, said at a briefing in Tokyo in January. For now, Honda plans to rely on internal combustion engine units while refining its electrification technology.
Yamaha also plans electrification for about 30% of the new two-wheeled vehicles it introduces over the three years from 2025. The company will electrify its existing models or introduce models from US startups in which it has invested.
This article first appeared on <a href="https://asia.nikkei.com/business/transportation/china-s-yadea-to-take-on-honda-in-japanese-two-wheeler-market">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>.

China's Yadea to take on Honda in Japanese two-wheeler market

Transportation

Electric Vehicles

Mobility

Japan

Wondershare Technology, a leading creativity software company, has announced the launch of Recoverit V14. The latest version of its flagship data recovery solution offers broader device support, higher accuracy, and artificial intelligence-powered restoration capabilities. It provides professional-grade data recovery with a streamlined interface that requires minimal technical expertise.
Recoverit V14 marks a milestone in AI-powered data recovery and repair. It can recognize more than one million devices and covers over 10,000 recovery scenarios. Internal testing shows an industry-leading recovery success rate of 99.5%.
Key highlights of Recoverit V14 include:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Smarter recovery: AI-driven device recognition identifies hardware models and applies the most accurate recovery strategy. After retrieval, AI-powered restoration can be applied to enhance and repair corrupted images and videos for higher-quality results.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Expanded device and media support: Upgraded fragmentation restoration algorithms now support premium digital camera brands. The software is compatible with over one million devices from brands including Sony, Canon, Nikon, DJI, GoPro, Insta360, and more. It also supports encrypted portable drives from Western Digital, Seagate, and other manufacturers.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Comprehensive media and system compatibility: Camera recovery includes advanced support for professional video and image encoding and storage formats. SD card recovery offers improved compatibility across multiple speed classes, memory card specifications, and low-level file systems. Mac recovery provides dedicated support for ProRes, ProRes RAW, HEVC, HEIF, Apple ProRAW, and iCloud-native storage, with full compatibility for the upcoming macOS 26.</li>
</ul>
“Recoverit V14 sets a new benchmark for intelligent data recovery,” said Sam Zhang, vice president of Wondershare. “By combining AI-powered recognition and restoration with expanded device compatibility and system-level integration, we are enabling users to recover and enhance their most valuable files with greater ease and confidence than ever before.”
<h3>Availability</h3>
Recoverit V14 is available for Windows and macOS users, with flexible pricing options tailored to diverse needs. For more details, please visit the <a href="https://recoverit.wondershare.com/">official website</a>.
<h3>About Wondershare</h3>
Founded in 2003, Wondershare is a global software company known for its creativity and productivity tools. Driven by its mission “Creativity Simplified,” the company offers a range of products including Filmora, Virbo, and SelfyzAI for video editing; PDFelement for document management; and EdrawMax and EdrawMind for diagramming.
With a presence in more than 200 countries and regions, Wondershare provides intuitive software and creative resources to empower the next generation of creators, and broaden the possibilities of creativity worldwide.
This press release was published in partnership with <a href="http://wondershare.com/">Wondershare</a>.
Note: This press release was updated on October 20 to include revised details about Wondershare's Recoverit V14 solution.
<style>.addcaption{font-size:14px!important;line-height:20px!important;color:inherit;font-style:italic;padding-top:8px;border-top:1px solid #e8e8e8}.entry-content blockquote p{font-size:22px;line-height:33px}@media only screen and (max-width:767px){.entry-content blockquote p{font-size:20px;line-height:32px}.entry-content h3{font-size:24px;line-height:32px}}</style>

Wondershare launches Recoverit V14 with AI-powered recovery, 99.5% success rate, and support for over a million devices

Last October, the <a href="https://ksac.site/">Kansai Startup Academia Coalition</a> (KSAC) brought its vision for university-led innovation to Singapore, showing how academic research can move from the lab to ventures that address global challenges. The inaugural program, <a href="https://kr-asia.com/meet-japans-brightest-research-minds-at-ksacs-singapore-event-this-october">“Lab to Market: Exploring Kansai's Top Research with KSAC,”</a> highlighted advances in energy and healthcare and opened the door to closer collaboration between Kansai’s universities and Singapore’s startup ecosystem.
This year, the partnership is set to deepen. On October 29, KSAC will return to Singapore with its second edition, “From Lab to Global Stage: Kansai Deep Tech Showcase.” Held at Marina Bay Sands as part of TechInnovation 2025, the event will feature researchers from the Kansai region working in cutting-edge fields including regenerative medicine, diagnostics, biomaterials, and advanced engineering.
<h3>Meet Kansai’s top innovators</h3>
At the event, five researchers will present projects with direct applications to urgent global challenges:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Fumiyuki Hattori of Kansai Medical University is developing therapies that use nail stem cells to restore fingertips lost to burns, accidents, or amputations. With numerous cases reported each year in the US and Japan, and limited treatment options available, his approach could set a new standard in regenerative therapy and create opportunities in emerging medical markets.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Yoichi Kumada of Kyoto Institute of Technology is advancing recombinant antibody technologies to address the limitations of conventional, animal-derived antibodies. His engineered fragments are designed for scalability, cost efficiency, and ethical production, with immediate applications in rapid testing for healthcare, veterinary, and environmental use.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Shu Ishikawa of Kobe University is working on a polymer derived from Bacillus subtilis that can be applied in biodegradable plastics, superabsorbent materials, and medical products. His platform technology prioritizes efficiency and sustainability, offering industries a viable alternative to petroleum-based plastics.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Daiki Watanabe of the University of Osaka has designed an impeller-free mixing device that avoids contamination and shear damage, making it especially suited for sensitive processes such as stem cell culture and cultivated meat production. Combined with advanced simulations, his approach could accelerate the development of next-generation biomanufacturing systems.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Kentaro Yaji of the University of Osaka leads research in thermal-fluid topology optimization, targeting one of industry’s most persistent challenges: heat management. His platform reduces the design cycle for cooling systems from weeks to days, with potential applications in electric vehicle batteries, aerospace, data centers, and quantum devices.</li>
</ul>
The session will also feature a keynote speech by Gwendolin Mah, head of international programs at MedTech Actuator, who has global experience connecting health tech innovators with clinicians and investors.
Mah’s address will focus on the global potential of startups emerging from Kansai’s universities, where a robust IP base, strong institutional backbone, and an active industry ecosystem provide fertile ground for growth. She will also discuss how Southeast Asia, particularly Singapore, can serve as a gateway for collaboration, clinical validation, and market entry.
<h3>Why attend?</h3>
Beyond the individual breakthroughs, the showcase highlights intersecting themes that signal where deep tech is heading.
In healthcare, the lineup spans Hattori’s regenerative therapies, Kumada’s diagnostic tools, and Watanabe’s bioprocessing technologies. Together, they suggest new ways to treat patients and develop therapies.
In sustainability, Ishikawa’s biopolymers and Yaji’s energy-efficient design platforms point to pathways for industries to reduce reliance on fossil-based inputs and lower emissions.
A common thread across these projects is their platform potential. Rather than stopping at a single product, each offers a technological foundation adaptable to multiple applications and markets. For investors and industry partners, the opportunity is not just to support a promising development but to engage with innovations that could seed entirely new markets.
The timing is also strategic. Japan has set a five-year target of cultivating 100,000 startups and 100 unicorns by 2027, with deep tech at the core of that plan. KSAC, which brings together more than 90 universities, research institutions, and local governments in the Kansai region, is working to turn academic research into commercially viable ventures. By anchoring the showcase within the Singapore Week of Innovation and Technology (SWITCH), one of Asia’s leading innovation festivals, KSAC signals its intent to connect Japan’s emerging startups with global markets through Singapore.
<h3>Event details</h3>
“Lab to Global Stage” will include presentations from the researchers, followed by networking sessions where attendees can discuss potential collaborations and partnerships. Investors, industry experts, and other stakeholders will have the opportunity to explore how these innovations might scale globally.
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Date: Wednesday, October 29, 2025.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Time: 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. (Singapore time).</li>
<li aria-level="1">Venue: Sands Expo and Convention Centre, Level 3, Heliconia Ballroom and Hibiscus Ballroom, Level 3, 10 Bayfront Ave, Singapore 018956</li>
<li aria-level="1">Registration: Free. <a href="https://www.techinnovation.com.sg/event/da8a993f-9ff4-4e06-9033-b68936e5e578/regProcessStep1">Prior signup</a> for TechInnovation 2025 is required, as the session will be held within the broader event grounds.</li>
</ul>
Early registration is recommended as spaces are limited to 50–60 participants. Register or find out more about “Lab to Global Stage” by visiting <a href="https://ksac.site/tech-innovation2025/">this page</a>.
Join the event and be part of the discussion on how university-driven innovation can shape the future at this event.
About the event: “From Lab to Global Stage: Kansai Deep Tech Showcase” is organized with support from the <a href="https://www.obda.or.jp/en.html">Osaka Business Development Agency (OBDA)</a>.
This article was published in partnership with KSAC. KrASIA is an event partner for “From Lab to Global Stage: Kansai Deep Tech Showcase,” set to be held on October 29, 2025.

Kansai researchers to showcase frontier innovation in Singapore at KSAC’s October event

… infrastructure.
As blockchain and digital currencies move from speculation to real-world use cases, Yunfeng Financial is positioning itself as a bridge between traditional assets and Web3. By bringing insurance, funds, and other real-world assets on-chain, it could help create a marketplace for tokenized assets.
Still, risks remain. Crypto markets are volatile, and Yunfeng Financial has indicated plans to buy more digital assets beyond Ethereum. That could expose its balance sheet to price fluctuations, potentially affecting investor returns.
KrASIA Connection features translated and adapted content that was originally published by 36Kr. This <a href="https://36kr.com/p/3477549596580483">article</a> was written by Wang Hanyu for 36Kr.

Is Yunfeng Financial becoming Jack Ma’s next Ant Group?

Blockchain

Payments

Digital Banks

Insurance

Cryptocurrencies

<a href="/company/catl">Contemporary Amperex Technology</a> (CATL) is reportedly preparing to launch a new 8-series high-nickel battery in 2026. The packs will be installed in range-extended vehicles from leading <a href="/industry/ev">electric vehicle</a> makers.
The 8-series high-nickel battery is a type of ternary lithium battery. Its cathode materials contain about 80% nickel, with the rest split between cobalt and manganese, which gives the battery its name.
This chemistry once had its moment in the spotlight.
A few years ago, 8-series batteries powered dozens of models across more than ten brands, including Aion, <a href="/company/nio">Nio</a>, and <a href="/company/xpeng">Xpeng</a>. But the technology was still in its early stages, verification was incomplete, and thermal management solutions were underdeveloped. Reports of thermal runaway incidents were common.
For a time, the industry treated the “8-series” label with caution. Yet CATL insisted it would not abandon development, arguing that giving up on 8-series batteries would mean giving up on the premium market.
The push for larger batteries in plug-in hybrid cars, including range-extended models, has created an opening for the technology to return.
Some range-extended models launched this year already feature packs exceeding 60 kilowatt-hours. By next year, according to 36Kr, plug-in hybrid vehicles, including range-extended ones, are expected to carry packs approaching 80 kWh.
Preliminary tracking by 36Kr suggests at least four models with around 80 kWh capacity are already in the pipeline. These include <a href="/company/leapmotor">Leapmotor’s</a> upcoming D series and <a href="/company/xiaomi">Xiaomi’s</a> range-extended car scheduled for release next year.
While not all of these vehicles will adopt CATL’s 8-series batteries, the race for bigger packs and longer electric-only ranges is creating a clear opportunity for high-nickel chemistry.
Compared with lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, 8-series batteries deliver higher energy density per unit mass and better overall performance. This enables vehicles to achieve long range with smaller packs, reducing overall weight while maintaining power.
According to one industry insider, early evaluations suggest that the performance boost over mid-nickel batteries is not dramatic in system-level energy density. Still, for platforms already at the edge of their engineering limits, the technology is worth testing.
<h3>Cars are packing bigger batteries</h3>
In recent years, the drive for longer electric-only range has led automakers to install larger packs in plug-in hybrid and range-extended models.
Some vehicles launched this year already carry batteries rated above 60 kWh. For instance, IM Motors’ LS6 range-extended edition comes with CATL’s “Super Xiaoyao Max” battery, delivering 66 kWh and a CLTC-certified range of more than 450 kilometers, outpacing some fully electric models.
<blockquote>CLTC refers to the China Light-Duty Vehicle Test Cycle, a standard introduced by the Chinese government to measure energy consumption, range, and emissions.</blockquote>
Another example is Maextro’s S800 “Xinghui Executive” edition, which uses CATL’s Qilin battery and achieves a CLTC-rated range of 400 km.
Nearly half of all range-extended vehicles now on the market offer more than 200 km of electric-only range.
The trend will accelerate next year.
Leapmotor’s D platform will support 80 kWh packs across multiple vehicles, including the D19 SUV and an MPV. Both are expected to reach a pure electric range of 500 km. Xiaomi’s upcoming range-extended vehicle will also use a pack close to 80 kWh, while Great Wall Motor has confirmed plans for a plug-in hybrid model with an 80 kWh pack and a pure electric range of more than 400 km.
whereRelatedArticle
If automakers use LFP batteries to reach 500 km of range, the only option is to stack more modules, which makes vehicles significantly heavier. Industry insiders estimate that some of next year’s plug-in hybrids and range-extended cars could exceed three tons.
Beyond weight, overpacking batteries could affect crash safety and overall vehicle stability.
That means bigger packs aren’t a universal solution. Thus, for automakers seeking to balance range, weight, safety, and handling, high-nickel batteries are emerging as an alternative.
<h3>Promise and risks of high-nickel batteries</h3>
Still, 8-series batteries come with challenges.
Increasing nickel content reduces thermal stability and shortens cycle life. For this reason, most of today’s mainstream ternary batteries use mid-nickel chemistries, which include 40–50% cobalt and manganese in varying ratios.
These mid-nickel batteries already offer a reasonable balance between range, weight, crash safety, and performance, making them suitable for many plug-in and range-extended vehicles.
Even so, some automakers are betting on 8-series packs. The appeal is twofold: the potential for longer range and stronger performance in a competitive market, and the chance to use high-nickel batteries as a trope to shape consumer perception.
For CATL, the stakes are higher. Its dominance in ternary batteries is being eroded by the rise of LFP chemistry, and it needs a product that can restore both the relevance of high-nickel cells and its influence in the industry.
By relaunching 8-series batteries after years of dormancy, CATL is signaling progress in thermal management and cycle life technology that could address earlier shortcomings.
But uncertainty lingers.
Although 8-series batteries reduce cobalt content and ease raw material procurement costs, production and R&amp;D remain expensive without economies of scale. Vehicles equipped with these packs may not see significantly lower costs despite their smaller size.
Whether high-nickel prismatic batteries can reclaim a place in the mainstream remains an open question.
KrASIA Connection features translated and adapted content that was originally published by 36Kr. This <a href="https://36kr.com/p/3480804506721157">article</a> was written by Fan Shuqi for 36Kr.

CATL’s 8-series battery comeback signals push to restore edge in ternary cells

CATL

East Asia

Batteries

Energy

Battery

As global manufacturing accelerates its tech-driven evolution, Chinese factories are at a turning point, moving from scale-driven growth to efficiency-focused upgrades. Yet they remain constrained by three challenges: equipment that operates in isolation, fragmented technologies that are difficult to integrate, and rising energy costs that complicate decarbonization.
The sector’s response has been a shift from single-point automation to system-wide upgrades aimed at improving efficiency while adapting to market volatility.
In an interview with Chinese media, Inovance chairman Zhu Xingming predicted that wireless operations will become the norm on industrial floors within the next five years. Based on this trend, Inovance has outlined a strategy built on four pillars:
<ol>
<li aria-level="1">High-end manufacturing: With consumers demanding better quality of life, manufacturers must refine processes to deliver superior products and services.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Greener production: To align with global sustainability goals, factories need to cut energy use and waste while adopting more sustainable production models.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Intelligence: Smart manufacturing goes beyond task automation. It involves using <a href="/industry/ai">artificial intelligence</a> and <a href="/industry/robotics">robotics</a> to shift more work to machines that can learn and make decisions, enhancing efficiency and flexibility.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Internationalization: China’s manufacturing sector has advanced through three stages of globalization, first exporting goods made in China, then moving production capacity abroad, and now entering a “global for local” phase that integrates international R&amp;D talent, engineers, industrial workers, and supply chains to support localized operations.</li>
</ol>
<h3>Showcasing system-level solutions</h3>
At the China International Industry Fair on September 23 in Shanghai, Inovance departed from the equipment-heavy exhibits typical of industrial expos. Instead, it presented an end-to-end digital solution spanning design, manufacturing, energy, and operations.
In practice, factories face bottlenecks such as complex cabling, slow fault diagnostics, and difficult equipment maintenance. To address these, Inovance has developed four system architectures designed to drive automation upgrades toward greater flexibility and intelligence.
For decades, wired communication between machines has limited production flexibility and efficiency. Dense cabling raises installation costs and complicates maintenance. To overcome this, Inovance introduced its Ino Air wireless synchronized motion control system, which supports a one-millisecond communication cycle, microsecond-level synchronization jitter, and industrial-grade reliability. Already deployed in the world’s first wireless labeling machine, Ino Air is designed to eliminate cable constraints and shorten production line upgrade cycles.
On the energy and data side, Inovance launched an intelligent drive system that integrates flat-wire motors with wireless frequency conversion technology, linking energy and data flows. Its intelligent motion control system unifies data flow, control flow, and safety monitoring flow, enabling secure information exchange across production lines.
For maintenance, Inovance’s IPT210 valve island can reportedly compress fault detection from hours to milliseconds, reducing losses from unplanned downtime.
In precision operations, Inovance’s robots achieve a load-to-weight ratio exceeding 0.5. Its seven-axis bionic arm, built with full-joint torque sensing, delivers high-precision force control for complex remote tasks. These systems are already deployed in machine tool processing, injection molding, and new energy production lines.
<h3>Preparing for humanoid robots</h3>
As <a href="/industry/embodied-intelligence">embodied intelligence</a> moves from labs to industry, humanoid robots are emerging as a key technology to lower labor costs and handle high-risk tasks. Inovance is focusing on industrializing humanoid robotics with a full-stack solution spanning hardware and AI.
On the hardware side, it has developed integrated planetary joint actuators and high-torque-density frameless motors. These components, capable of operating continuously for tens of thousands of hours, provide compact but durable “muscles and bones” for humanoid robots. Their resilience makes them suitable for tasks such as automotive welding, chemical inspections, and machining in hazardous environments.
On the software side, Inovance has built the iFG platform, described as a “digital employee incubator.” It combines a data engine with low-code tools to transform raw data into training material and allows non-specialists to build task-specific AI agents. By coordinating large and small models, the system can interpret complex instructions while delivering millisecond-level responses, balancing intelligence with real-time performance.
“Looking ahead, the most promising application of AI will be in intelligent robots, especially humanoid robots,” Zhu said. “With sharper tactile senses, better vision systems, and the ability to perform complex tasks and make decisions, humanoid robots will increasingly take on human work. This may well become the most important direction for AI replacing human labor. In manufacturing, AI will permeate every stage—people, machines, materials, methods, and environments—but the biggest transformation will come from human-machine collaboration.”
He added, “As this shift unfolds, Chinese companies must adopt a more integrated, localized approach to internationalization. By aligning intelligent manufacturing capabilities with global industrial needs, they can help build the manufacturing ecosystems of the future.”
KrASIA Connection features translated and adapted content that was originally published by 36Kr. This <a href="https://36kr.com/p/3480608171367559">article</a> was written by Huang Nan for 36Kr.

Inovance maps four-pillar strategy as Chinese factories face upgrade era

36Kr has learned that from August 2024 to July 2025, Douyin E-commerce’s gross merchandise value (GMV) grew 34% year-on-year. The main driver was shelf-based <a href="/industry/e-commerce">e-commerce</a>, where GMV rose 49%, outpacing overall platform growth.
Earlier, the media outlet reported that <a href="/company/douyin">Douyin’s</a> GMV reached RMB 3.5 trillion (USD 490 billion) in 2024, about 30% higher than the year before. This suggests that even as China’s broader e-commerce market slowed, Douyin managed to sustain steady expansion.
Shelf-based e-commerce has grown rapidly in part due to subsidies. During this year’s 618 shopping festival, the category generated RMB 200 billion (USD 28 billion) in GMV, nearly half of total sales, per 36Kr. Douyin declined to comment on the figures.
The company has been laying the groundwork for this shift since mid-2022, when it introduced a dedicated mall tab and later a standalone app. At the time, president Wei Wenwen said Douyin would focus on search and mall functions, with the goal of having shelf-based e-commerce account for more than half of sales.
A source close to the company said Douyin had set a three-year plan for shelf-based e-commerce: 30% of GMV in the first year, 40% in the second, and 50% in the third. So far, the plan has held. Shelf e-commerce contributed 30% of GMV in 2023, 40% in 2024, and, based on results from this year’s 618 festival, appears to have reached 50% in 2025.
Douyin has also adjusted its broader strategy. It now emphasizes supporting merchants by lowering costs and improving profitability. “The platform can only grow if merchants grow,” the company said in a statement. By the end of 2024, reducing merchant operating costs had become its central goal for 2025.
This focus has driven structural changes. In March, 36Kr reported that Ocean Engine, Douyin’s advertising arm, was merged into Douyin E-commerce as a secondary division. Two separate algorithm teams, one for Ocean Engine and the other for e-commerce, were also combined.
As a result, Ocean Engine is no longer focused solely on ad revenues. It must now work alongside product and operations teams to improve GMV, merchant performance, and user experience. The challenge lies in balancing merchants’ advertising returns, user satisfaction, and platform efficiency.
By consolidating product and algorithm teams, Douyin can better align its two major traffic streams. For instance, user coupons once limited to paid ad placements can now also be distributed through organic channels, broadening their reach and extending subsidies to more merchants.
In January, Douyin rolled out nine new merchant support policies. A central priority was refining its algorithms, with more investment in technology to optimize traffic distribution, raise exposure for quality products and content, and lower return rates—all aimed at cutting merchant costs.
ByteDance later reassigned sales and industry operations teams specializing in performance ads to Douyin E-commerce, streamlining merchant engagement.
Subsidy policies have shifted as well, from consumers to merchants. By the end of August, Douyin reported disbursing more than RMB 19 billion (USD 2.7 billion) in subsidies to help merchants lower costs and improve margins. Competitors have also been offering subsidies, reduced commissions, and advertising rebates.
On September 21, at its annual creator conference, Douyin introduced new platform rules and enforcement standards. Over the past year, it reportedly removed more than 13 million pieces of noncompliant content and revoked 470,000 selling privileges. Influencers who engaged in traffic-grabbing stunts were also sanctioned, with some receiving permanent bans.
Despite the visibility of influencers with sizable followings, their contribution to sales is modest. Accounts with more than one million followers generate about 9% of GMV, while those with fewer than one million followers contribute around 21%.
At the same time, instant retail, dominated by food delivery platforms, is intensifying in China. A source told 36Kr that Douyin plans to limit its investment in this competition and instead focus on strengthening its core e-commerce services and improving user experience.
On September 16, the company launched its Mid-Autumn Festival and Singles’ Day promotions, marking its next major push for growth.
KrASIA Connection features translated and adapted content that was originally published by 36Kr. This <a href="https://36kr.com/p/3480136952077441">article</a> was written by Li Xiaoxia for 36Kr.

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