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… user experience, you end up with clunky interactions, and that makes it hard for users to build emotional bonds with your brand,” Tong said.
Whether serving pets or people, Enabot’s mission has stayed consistent: to refine and deepen value in specific scenarios. This philosophy reflects a new generation of hardware companies focused on doing one thing exceptionally well rather than attempting everything at once.
<figure id="attachment_159003" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-159003" style="width: 480px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-159003" src="https://console.kr-asia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Enabot-Production-Facility.jpg" alt="Photo shows Enabot’s production facility." width="480" height="480" srcset="https://console.kr-asia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Enabot-Production-Facility.jpg 1080w, https://console.kr-asia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Enabot-Production-Facility-720x720.jpg 720w, https://console.kr-asia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Enabot-Production-Facility-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https://console.kr-asia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Enabot-Production-Facility-360x360.jpg 360w, https://console.kr-asia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Enabot-Production-Facility-768x768.jpg 768w, https://console.kr-asia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Enabot-Production-Facility-600x600.jpg 600w, https://console.kr-asia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Enabot-Production-Facility-300x300.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-159003" class="wp-caption-text">Enabot’s production facility. Photo source: Enabot.</figcaption></figure>
<h3>Digital friends</h3>
In the post-pandemic era, the <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/asia-pacific/five-fifty-the-lonely-economy">“loneliness economy”</a> is growing faster than ever. From young professionals living alone to self-reliant seniors and overworked office employees seeking emotional relief, companion robots are emerging as a new form of connection.
As these robots reach global markets, cultural context increasingly shapes how users perceive and interact with them.
In East Asia, and particularly China, companion robots often serve as emotional bridges within families, extending beyond the role of smart devices.
This reflects regional family structures and emotional norms. Enabot’s research shows that its core users include dual-income families and those with members living apart. Their primary need is for “remote co-presence,” or a sense of emotional connection across distance.
To meet that need, Enabot added features imbued with ritual and warmth. On a family member’s birthday, users can remotely adjust the robot’s eye light to display celebratory images. Its customizable facial expressions allow playful messages or emotive animations, fitting the East Asian preference for frequent, close family interaction.
<figure id="attachment_159002" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-159002" style="width: 1920px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-159002" src="https://console.kr-asia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Enabot-Companionship.jpg" alt="" width="1920" height="1280" srcset="https://console.kr-asia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Enabot-Companionship.jpg 1920w, https://console.kr-asia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Enabot-Companionship-720x480.jpg 720w, https://console.kr-asia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Enabot-Companionship-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://console.kr-asia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Enabot-Companionship-768x512.jpg 768w, https://console.kr-asia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Enabot-Companionship-1536x1024.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-159002" class="wp-caption-text">Photo source: Enabot.</figcaption></figure>
In contrast, users in Europe and the US prefer robots with humanlike empathy but lower intrusion. “Foreign users tend to want companionship that’s less intrusive,” Tong told 36Kr. “They appreciate a robot’s presence but do not want to be constantly interrupted.”
This preference reflects the Western emphasis on personal space and the independence typical of smaller family structures.
In practice, Enabot’s robots often function as discreet yet capable assistants. For security, they serve as mobile guards that monitor environmental changes and alert users to anomalies, offering an advantage over fixed cameras.
In companionship scenarios, users expect the robots to remember preferences, adapt to personal routines, and collaborate creatively, whether brainstorming story ideas or designing simple interactive games.
Western users also place high value on autonomy. When a device malfunctions, they expect it to self-diagnose and attempt repairs before sending logs to a server, reducing human intervention and safeguarding privacy through closed-loop data handling.
Ultimately, companion robots are the physical embodiment of human relationships. Across markets, they extend family bonds in some cultures and preserve personal boundaries in others. The contrast reveals a shared truth: understanding emotional reality is the foundation of meaningful connection.
KrASIA Connection features translated and adapted content that was originally published by 36Kr. This <a href="https://36kr.com/p/3541396662431875">article</a> was written by Huang Nan for 36Kr.

Inside Enabot’s quest to build companion robots first for pets, then for people

Deep Tech

China

… humanoid robot form, according to Sharon Shih, an analyst with Morgan Stanley.
While optimism about physical AI is running high—buoyed by statements from figures such as SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son, who has called it the next big wave in tech—others are more cautious. <a title="https://asia.nikkei.com/editor-s-picks/interview/pat-gelsinger-deeper-taiwan-japan-ties-vital-for-next-gen-computing" href="https://asia.nikkei.com/editor-s-picks/interview/pat-gelsinger-deeper-taiwan-japan-ties-vital-for-next-gen-computing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Former Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger</a> said humanoid robots still have many technological challenges to overcome and that progress could go through up-and-down cycles.
"The biggest challenge for humanoid robots today is having humanoids safe in the presence of humans," Gelsinger told Nikkei Asia. "Consumer humanoid robots are not going to happen [any time soon]."
This article first appeared on <a href="https://asia.nikkei.com/business/china-tech/china-s-humanoid-robot-makers-ramp-up-production-despite-tech-hurdles">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 humanoid robot makers ramp up production despite tech hurdles

East Asia

Agibot

Embodied Intelligence

… industrial and logistics applications. —<a href="https://36kr.com/p/3585414578633604">36Kr</a></li>
</ul>
whereRelatedArticle
<h3>Airwallex, Granite Asia, RockFlow, and more made recent headlines:</h3>
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Airwallex, a global fintech company specializing in cross-border payments, raised USD 330 million in a Series G round at a valuation of USD 8 billion.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Granite Asia, a multi-asset investment firm focused on the Asia Pacific region, completed a USD 350 million first close for its Libra Hybrid Fund, which targets USD 500 million in total commitments. The fund is anchored by Temasek’s Aranda Principal Strategies, Khazanah Nasional, and the Indonesia Investment Authority.</li>
<li aria-level="1">RockFlow, a Singapore-based fintech company, raised an eight-figure USD sum in a new round led by Ant Group, with participation from Monolith Management and existing investors Lanchi Ventures, Forwest Capital, and Evergreen.</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: Pyxis hits first close of SGD 18 million round, BBVA leads Olea’s Series A funding, latest China investments, and more

Venture Capital

Private Equity

Investment

Merger &amp; Acquisition

Singapore

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… brake-by-wire technologies, including EMB.
According to 36Kr, companies at various growth stages—including Li Auto, Xpeng, GWM, and Chery—are racing to bring EMB-equipped models to market. Both Bethel and Orient Motion have secured initial customers.
Although regulatory clarity has opened the door for EMB commercialization, many technical standards remain to be finalized. The first companies to achieve mass production are expected to influence future industry benchmarks and gain a competitive edge. For startups, early mass production also validates technical capabilities and strengthens fundraising prospects.
“Orient Motion’s arrival has shaken up the market,” one industry insider told 36Kr. “It has driven EMB prices to the floor.”
EMB technology changes the structure of braking systems and raises technical requirements for certain components, making R&amp;D and testing costly in the early stages. When produced at a scale of around 100,000 vehicles, each EMB unit still costs roughly RMB 1,000–1,500 (USD 140–210) more than a traditional hydraulic system.
“From giants like ZF to local players such as Bethel, everyone takes EMB very seriously,” the insider added. “Developing this technology requires major investment, so early quotes were naturally high, but Orient Motion has pushed prices to a new low.”
An R&amp;D engineer at an OEM told 36Kr that most EMB solutions developed in China are technically comparable, with no clear leader in performance or safety.
Even as price wars appear to have cooled, OEMs continue to pressure suppliers to cut costs, and competitive pricing remains critical to winning new business.
Another source revealed that Orient Motion plans to begin mass production of its EMB systems in the first quarter of next year. Its aggressive pricing and timeline have already attracted attention from several automakers. “There’s no question that Orient Motion and Bethel are competing head-to-head for customers,” the source said.
The dispute between Bethel and Orient Motion captures the competitive dynamics shaping China’s rapidly evolving automotive technology sector. As the industry shifts from mechanical systems to software-defined vehicles, traditional supply chain boundaries are breaking down, creating new opportunities for startups to claim market share.
In this transitional moment, both established and emerging players are fighting to secure their place. Regardless of the lawsuit’s outcome, EMB’s arrival appears inevitable, and the dispute reflects the ambition and rivalry propelling China’s automotive supply chain beyond import substitution and toward setting global standards.
KrASIA Connection features translated and adapted content that was originally published by 36Kr. This <a href="https://36kr.com/p/3580832429177731">article</a> was written by Xu Caiyu for 36Kr.

China’s automakers gear up for EMB mass production, and its first major patent battle

Transportation

Mobility

… improves pest-control efficiency by 40% compared with manual operations. The G3000 can also be fitted with additional modules to perform fertilization, automated pruning, soil covering, and orchard cleaning.
Commercially, Percisphere’s robots are already operating across several provinces in eastern and western China, with contracts valued in the tens of millions of RMB. Overseas interest has also grown, particularly in Australia and Canada, where large-scale farms face chronic labor shortages. The company believes its autonomous, deformable robotic systems can meet the operational demands of these markets.
Percisphere has begun its international expansion and plans to bring both the T3000 and G3000 to global markets by next year.
KrASIA Connection features translated and adapted content that was originally published by 36Kr. This <a href="https://36kr.com/p/3585414578633604">article</a> was written by Li Xiaoxia for 36Kr.

Percisphere builds shape-shifting robots to tackle agriculture’s toughest terrains

Agriculture

… id="caption-attachment-158986" class="wp-caption-text">Zoopunk incorporates generative AI through Nvidia ACE for various applications, including the design of custom spaceship paint jobs. Image source: TiGames.</figcaption></figure>
Storywise, Zoopunk appears to tell a tale of animal heroes uniting against a common foe. When conceptualizing the story, Zhang drew inspiration from “Water Margin,” a Chinese classic about 108 outlaws banding together. Like those characters, Zoopunk’s heroes may begin in conflict but eventually find solidarity, each with a moment to shine.
Notably, concept artist Su Jian, who recently joined the team, previously created an artbook series reimagining Water Margin’s 108 heroes as animal warriors in a post-apocalyptic world, a vision that seemingly aligns with Zoopunk’s universe.
In a way, TiGames’s own story mirrors this brotherhood. A decade ago, Zhang’s phone calls gathered a small group of trusted colleagues who remain together today.
The strong reception to Zoopunk’s trailer reflects more than just hype, continuing a trend of Chinese single-player games gaining global attention. Titles like Loulan: The Cursed Sand, Phantom Blade Zero, and Black Myth: Wukong have already sparked international conversations, showing that audiences worldwide are taking notice of what Chinese studios can create.
KrASIA Connection features translated and adapted content that was originally published by 36Kr. This <a href="https://36kr.com/p/3584129909947520">article</a> was written by Beiguo Shu (alias) for 36Kr.

With Zoopunk, TiGames joins a wave of Chinese game studios going global

Gaming

Creative

… and was learning how to succeed in the US market.
In US stores, Pop Mart tailors its merchandising strategy. While IPs like Molly and Skullpanda dominate shelves in China, they often yield space in the US to collaborations with familiar franchises such as Disney. Shoppers drawn by recognizable characters are then introduced to Pop Mart’s original creations, sparking curiosity among new collectors.
“Regional differences in bestsellers aren’t that big,” one company insider told 36Kr. “Cultural backgrounds may differ, but the desire for beauty is universal.”
<h3>At the starting line</h3>
Pop Mart’s influence in the US is still growing, and its progress remains gradual but steady.
Its global success rests on four key pillars: addressing universal emotional needs, building a diverse IP portfolio, investing in storytelling, and balancing global consistency with local adaptation.
In 2025, Pop Mart restructured its global operations, establishing regional headquarters in the Americas and Europe to improve localization. It also opened a new factory in Vietnam to strengthen its supply chain and improve cost efficiency.
For Pop Mart, Western markets—and particularly the US—represent enormous potential. As the world’s largest consumer and IP market, the US remains strategically vital.
In many ways, Pop Mart’s moment echoes Japan’s in the 1960s, when Astro Boy became the first Japanese animated series exported to the US, marking the start of Japan’s global animation era. Now, after decades of urbanization and generational change, China is developing fertile ground for original IP creation. Companies like Pop Mart are leading that charge.
In its third-quarter 2025 report, Pop Mart recorded over 1,200% YoY growth in the Americas. A Morgan Stanley survey that same September found that five out of six Pop Mart stores visited in the US saw higher traffic and sales than neighboring retailers, second only to Apple.
Today, Pop Mart operates more than 60 stores across the US. The company plans to prioritize flagship locations in major cities, focusing on quality over quantity.
“Strategically,” Pop Mart said, “the US market will take up most of our focus.”
KrASIA Connection features translated and adapted content that was originally published by 36Kr. This <a href="https://36kr.com/p/3589434203602945">article</a> was written by 36Kr Caijing for 36Kr.

After appearing at Macy’s parade, how far can Pop Mart go in the US?

Retail

Consumer Economy

… Within two weeks, Haier developed a cloud ecosystem linking low-temperature freezers and biosafety cabinets for real-time sample tracking. It showed that a strong supply chain can transcend geography.
There are not many companies like Haier in China, although Huawei and JD.com are performing well. The real hope for Chinese manufacturing lies in strengthening R&amp;D.
<h3>36Kr: Many firms hesitate to invest in R&amp;D because it seems too costly.</h3>
HL: They should start from their strengths. Manufacturers understand materials and processes better than anyone. Innovation often begins there.
Esquel, for instance, has deep expertise in textile engineering and has developed functional fabrics such as water- and stain-resistant materials that repel spilled coffee. Its waterless dyeing technology, which took nearly a decade to develop, uses reactive dyes in non-aqueous media and saves about 40 liters of water per shirt, roughly the drinking water an adult consumes in 20 days. China’s manufacturers have an advantage: an intimate understanding of production processes, which is the best starting point for innovation.
<h3>36Kr: Under your idea of “multiple world systems,” Chinese companies face pressure. Is sustainability still possible?</h3>
HL: It’s not just possible, it’s inevitable. Sustainability is existential and not optional.
First, consumers are changing. Younger generations care about how products are made and their environmental impact. That’s true in China as much as in the West.
Second, regulation is tightening. The European Union’s “Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism” (CBAM) now penalizes high-emission imports.
Third, competitiveness itself is being redefined from a focus on price to a focus on sustainability.
That said, companies need external support:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Policy: Green finance, tax incentives, and better carbon markets.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Technology: Partnerships between enterprises and R&amp;D institutions to lower adoption barriers.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Standards: Clear sustainability metrics and certification systems.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Ecosystems: Industry clusters where transformation costs are shared.</li>
</ul>
No company can accomplish this alone, but ecosystems can. That’s why I keep emphasizing that the real competition ahead will be between ecosystems.
<h3>36Kr: With geopolitical tension, climate risk, and technological disruption, how should globalization be redefined?</h3>
HL: The old efficiency-first model is over. The new globalization must pursue efficiency within a foundation of security, resilience, and sustainability.
Future supply chains will undergo three transformations:
<ol>
<li aria-level="1">Regionalization and specialization. Instead of centralizing manufacturing in China, companies will use a “China plus N” layout, placing production in Vietnam, Bangladesh, or East Africa depending on tariffs, logistics, and financing conditions.</li>
<li aria-level="1">From cost-driven to value-aligned. Agility now means speed from design to retail. Adaptability means meeting diverse regulatory and technological standards. Alignment means ecological harmony: if we produce in Guilin, we must also protect Guilin’s environment and benefit its community.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Resilience through innovation. Contract manufacturers increasingly recognize that their value lies not only in production but also in contributing to R&amp;D and innovation. Competition will hinge on research capability.</li>
</ol>
<h3>36Kr: Which emerging technology is most transformative for building a demand-driven supply chain?</h3>
HL: Data and AI, without question. Supply chains are too complex to manage manually. Data must drive operations. AI can detect subtle issues, forecast disruptions, and trigger preventive responses. It is the strongest safeguard for stability and agility.
Challenges remain:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">To break down data silos, alignment is essential. Collaboration must include not only buyers and suppliers but also communities.</li>
<li aria-level="1">To manage technology investment, companies need a long-term view and must treat AI spending as an investment, not a cost.</li>
<li aria-level="1">To address talent shortages, firms should cultivate cross-disciplinary leaders who bridge technology and management.</li>
</ul>
<h3>36Kr: Performance measurement is shifting to the “triple bottom line.” How should firms track it?</h3>
HL: Companies must recognize that employee well-being, environmental care, and profitability are interconnected. When workers are healthy and supported, productivity rises.
Practically, this can be tracked across three dimensions:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Employee well-being: Turnover rates, workplace injuries, and employee satisfaction.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Environmental impact: Water and energy usage, waste recycling, and carbon reduction progress.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Community contribution: Educational opportunities and local economic development.</li>
</ul>
The goal is balance: achieving sustainable profit while producing positive outcomes for people and the planet.
<h3>36Kr: If you had to sum up your vision for the future of supply chains in one phrase?</h3>
HL: Zero carbon, zero waste, and zero inequality. Through technological innovation, institutional reform, and behavioral change, supply chains can become the bridge that brings humanity and nature into harmony.
KrASIA Connection features translated and adapted content that was originally published by 36Kr. This <a href="https://36kr.com/p/3579187657636993">article</a> was written by Ren Qian for 36Kr.

The world’s supply chains are splitting, but this expert says that may not be a bad thing

Logistics

… A flurry of seminars and conferences have been organized to promote the island.
"When you talk of China, you talk of Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou," said Rahul Batra, CEO of Hudson McKenzie, a UK-based law firm specializing in migration. "Suddenly Hainan comes out of nowhere, and now people are talking about it."
Xi first announced plans to turn Hainan into a free trade port in 2018. A "masterplan" was released in 2020, with a goal to "initially establish" policies by 2025 and make it "more mature" by 2035. Details of its operations were announced by the government in July.
The zero-tariff policy on 74% of all imports is coupled with a corporate tax rate of 15% for qualified companies, compared with 25% in other parts of China, as well as a 15% individual income tax rate for their high-skilled workers. A string of regulations to boost consumer spending on the island also took effect: Starting November, for example, Hainan eased rules on duty-free goods visitors and local residents are eligible to purchase.
Spanning about 35,100 square kilometers, Hainan dwarfs free trade zones in Shanghai, Tianjin, and elsewhere covering 120–240 square kilometers. It is also about 30 times larger than Hong Kong.
Batra said Hainan's larger size makes it more suitable for companies in industries such as manufacturing and retail. "Hong Kong is more finance- and service-oriented," he said. "Comparing Hainan to Hong Kong at this point in time is a bit premature. … It's just at an infancy stage right now."
Shenzhen, which became China's first special economic zone in 1980, may offer a more useful guide to Hainan's prospects. Low wages and tariffs transformed the fishing village into a sprawling tech hub that is now home to leading tech giants like <a href="/company/huawei">Huawei</a>, <a href="/company/byd">BYD</a>, and <a href="/company/tencent">Tencent</a>. China will showcase what it calls an economic miracle to global leaders when it hosts the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in the city next year.
While the Trump tariff policies present an opportunity for Beijing to showcase Hainan as a demonstration of its support for free trade, opening up its domestic market could also help ease trade tensions with other parts of the world. As Chinese exporters increasingly target alternative markets like Southeast Asia in the wake of US tariffs on their goods, concerns have grown over cheap goods flooding the regional market and putting local businesses out of business.
"Because of the geopolitical tensions and economic rivalries between China and the US, China needs to accelerate the pace of its liberalization reforms," said Chen at the National University of Singapore. "Hainan free trade port is one of the concrete actions that China can show."
Yuan Xiaoming, assistant minister at China's Ministry of Commerce, said at a July news conference that "unilateralism and protectionism are intensifying globally, and economic globalization is facing headwinds." He said Hainan will not only contribute to China's economic recovery but will also "inject stability and certainty into the global economy."
In one example of how Beijing hopes to position Hainan regionally, Thailand's CP Group invested in a coffee processing factory in the east of the island in 2020 and upgraded the equipment a few years later. An employee there, who requested anonymity, explained that with the new policies, the factory will be able to import beans, process them in Hainan and export them to countries like Australia for prices that are about 20% lower than shipping them from other parts of China.
Whether the policies will actually boost FDI into Hainan is still unclear. Since 2010, China has already had a free trade agreement with ASEAN, making Hainan's zero-tariff policy less appealing than it once would have been. The two sides in October also upgraded the pact to a version "3.0," expanding cooperation to areas including digital transformation, sustainable energy, and small enterprises.
While banners promoting the free trade port are visible everywhere, some local residents are skeptical the policies will improve their livelihoods.
"Wages are still low here, and a lot of young people move to other provinces for better opportunities," said Huang, who lives near Yangpu Port. Huang, who gave only his surname, said he looked for a job for six months, but the best one he could land was an inspection officer position offering a salary of RMB 7,000 (USD 980) per month. "I ended up not taking it because the working hours were too long," said Huang, who now works as a driver.
Some retailers at CDF International Duty-Free City, across the island in Haikou, which bills itself as the world's largest duty-free shopping mall, were similarly unimpressed. "Many online retailers already offer duty-free prices, so we need to make additional promotions to attract customers," said one employee at an imported powdered milk shop who declined to be identified. Elsewhere, cosmetic brands like Lancome, owned by L'Oreal of France, were offering 40% discounts on some products.
Back in the southern city of Sanya, Xi also used his visit last month to commission a new aircraft carrier, and stressed that liberalization should not compromise national security.
"The greater the opening up, the more we must coordinate development and security," said Xi during his speech. "We must plan the pace and progress of opening up scientifically and in an orderly way, … and proceed steadily, with a solid footing," Xi cautioned.
This article first appeared on <a href="https://asia.nikkei.com/spotlight/policy-asia/china-chases-economic-rally-with-giant-hainan-free-trade-port">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 chases economic rally with giant Hainan free trade port