Business News
Latest business news and updates
Total: 3017
Huawei-Backed AISTALAND Debuts GT7 Wagon as GAC Stakes Its Future on an AI-First Car Brand
GAC has launched AISTALAND, backed and deeply integrated with Huawei’s QianKun unit, debuting the GT7 wagon as a technology-forward, mid-priced model. The project combines Huawei’s AI, LiDAR and cockpit systems with GAC’s manufacturing, and aims to fast-track a new retail network and a second SUV model this year. The venture tests whether Huawei’s embedded-partner approach can convert tech credibility into market share in a crowded premium EV segment.
SAIC Volkswagen Goes Big on Range Extenders with the ID. ERA 9X — A German JV’s China-First Flagship
SAIC Volkswagen has launched the ID. ERA 9X, a China-developed flagship SUV using a range-extender architecture that pairs a 65.2 kWh battery with a Volkswagen EA211-derived 1.5T engine. The model is designed to compete in the emergent ‘9-series’ halo segment dominated by domestic EV specialists, and will test the JV’s local R&D, marketing and integration capabilities.
iFlytek Denies Massive Layoff Rumours as Strong Cash Flow and AI Demand Bolster Guidance
iFlytek has denied online rumours of a major layoff affecting around 1,500 staff and low severance terms, with its PR vice-president calling the reports false. The company reported strong 2025 guidance—projected net profit of RMB 785–950 million—and record operating cash flow above RMB 3 billion, driven by scaled AI deployments and some government project subsidies.
BMW’s Big China Price Cuts Signal a Tactical Retreat as BBA Confronts Electrification and Local Competition
BMW has instituted sweeping price cuts on 31 models in China, with steep reductions across its lineup and entry prices at historic lows. The adjustments, echoed by Mercedes and Audi, reflect immediate inventory pressures and a longer-term market shift as electric, software-centric Chinese rivals erode the premium once enjoyed by German marques.
Stop Chasing Every Tip: A Fund Manager’s Case for Fewer, Better Bets in China’s Markets
Yang Delong, a senior fund executive, warns that Chinese retail investors lose money by buying too many stocks and following fads. He recommends concentrating on a few well-understood companies and building positions over time rather than scattered, headline-driven trading.
A Retailer’s Gamble: How Yu Donglai Turned Nearly ¥4bn of Wealth into Employee Ownership
Yu Donglai has converted about ¥3.8–4.0 billion of Pang Donglai’s assets into company equity for all employees, creating a system of shared ownership, profit‑sharing and a new governance committee. The plan emphasizes stability and employee welfare over an IPO, while retaining a founder veto and raising questions about valuation, liquidity and scalability.
Li Auto’s Momentum Falters: Range-Extender Edge Erodes as AI Promises Fail to Solve Short-Term Pain
Li Auto’s sales and revenue plunged in late 2025 as discounts on legacy range-extended models and the rise of cheaper, better-equipped competitors cut into prices and margins. Management is pursuing a two-track response—commercial restructuring at retail and heavy investment in AI and self-developed chips—but these are long-term remedies that may not resolve immediate demand and margin pressures. The firm’s ample cash buffer provides breathing room, but turning AI spending into near-term competitive advantage will be critical to avoid further share loss in China’s cut‑throat NEV market.
Compute-Hardware Rally Lifts ChiNext While A‑Share Liquidity Sags
ChiNext rallied nearly 0.9% at mid‑day as compute‑hardware and storage‑chip stocks soared, even as the Shanghai Composite fell and market turnover shrank to RMB 1.24 trillion. The rally was narrow and tech‑led, highlighting a rotation into AI‑related infrastructure names amid low overall liquidity.
Yanghe Stakes a Claim on China’s Running Boom with Suqian Marathon Sponsorship
Yanghe Co. has become the honour sponsor of the 2026 Suqian Marathon, offering runners free samples, limited-edition bottles for personal-best performances and complimentary distillery tours. The sponsorship illustrates a broader trend of Chinese liquor brands using sports and experiential marketing to reach younger consumers and boost regional tourism, while also carrying reputational and regulatory sensitivities.
Bilibili’s First Profits Mask Fragile Model: Moderation Gaps, Creator Squeeze and Ad-Driven Reliance
Bilibili recorded its first annual profit in 2025 with RMB 30.35 billion in revenue, but gains were driven mainly by cost cuts and an advertising upswing. The company faces moderation shortfalls, falling mid-tier creator incomes and a reliance on a small number of hit games, raising questions about the sustainability of its business model.
China’s New Land Rule: Not a Supply Blackout for Developers, but a Shift Toward Urban Renewal
China’s recent guidance that newly converted construction land should, in principle, not be used for commercial real-estate prompted alarmist headlines. The rule clarifies an existing administrative distinction: it restricts incremental land quotas so they serve infrastructure and public needs, while prompting developers and local governments to prioritise urban renewal and activation of existing stock rather than suburban sprawl.
Middle East Shock Sends Chinese Exporters Scrambling: Orders Halted, Prices Spike and Trade Shows Move Elsewhere
An uptick in Middle East conflict has disrupted Chinese exporters through halted orders, surging raw-material prices and cancelled trade fairs. Firms are responding with stockpiling, market pivots and price renegotiations even as Beijing both cuts export rebates on some goods and rolls out trade-facilitation measures.