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☆ Elon Musk will face intense competition if he tries to bring Tesla's full self-driving technology to China
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( Tom Carter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Elon Musk has moved closer to getting full self-driving technology approved in China, reports suggest. One local EV boss welcomed the move, saying regulators should "let a hundred flowers bloom." Tesla has moved closer to securing approval to operate its full self-driving technology in China, according to multiple reports, after CEO Elon Musk made a surprise visit to the country over the weekend. Getting FSD approved for China would be a massive win for Musk, who has bet Tesla's future on self-driving cars and robotaxis. AdvertisementMany of Tesla's local rivals are rolling out their own versions of Tesla's Autopilot, which is available in China, and full self-driving technology as competition rages in the country's EV market.

Persons: Elon Musk, Tesla, —, Elon, Musk, XPeng's, William Li, Xiaopeng, EVs, Warren Organizations: EV, Service, Huawei, Xiaomi, Weibo, Bloomberg Locations: China, Guangzhou

☆ Xpeng to launch cheaper EV brand amid fierce China price competition
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-17 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Chinese electric-vehicle maker Xpeng announced plans to launch a cheaper brand, entering a highly competitive segment amid an intense price competition in the EV industry. Competition in China's EV market has intensified as companies race to cut prices, with market leader BYD spearheading a deeper round of price reductions. Xpeng said it will successively introduce models under the brand, which it did not name, each with different levels of intelligent driving capabilities. The new brand is dedicated to creating "the first AI-assisted driving car for young people," it said. Sales of battery-powered EVs in China slowed to 18.2% in the first two months of the year from 20.8% for all of 2023, according to the China Passenger Car Association.

Persons: Xiaopeng, BYD, Xpeng Organizations: Xpeng, EV, China Passenger Car Association Locations: Beijing, China

☆ Xpeng plans to hire 4,000 people, invest in AI as CEO warns intense EV rivalry may end in 'bloodbath'
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-19 | by ( Arjun Kharpal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

VCG | Visual China Group | Getty ImagesXpeng plans to hire 4,000 new people and invest in artificial intelligence technology, according to the company's CEO, who warned of intense competition in the electric vehicle space which could end in a "bloodbath." Xpeng has a driver assistance system called Xpilot which allows its cars to carry out some functions semi-autonomously. The CEO also said Xpeng intends to launch around 30 new or upgraded cars over the next three years. This year, the firm will launch its first models in the price segment of over 300,000 yuan and at 150,000 yuan. Xpeng, like other electric carmakers, has been battling in a price war in China which was sparked by Tesla.

Persons: Xpeng, Tesla, Xiaopeng Organizations: HK, Shanghai International Automobile Industry, National Exhibition, Center, Visual China, Getty, Xpeng, CNBC, carmakers Locations: Shanghai, China

☆ Ex-Apple engineer sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to stealing trade secrets about self-driving car project
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Ana Altchek | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A former Apple engineer was sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to stealing trade secrets. Apple accused him of planning to sell trade secrets from when he worked on a car project from 2015 to 2018. AdvertisementFormer Apple employee Xiaolang Zhang has been sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to all charges of stealing trade secrets in August 2022. Apple's "Project Titan" autonomous car effort is years in the making and has faced numerous delays and pivots. An Apple car was initially rumored to come out in 2021, with speculation surrounding secret labs in Berlin and California.

Persons: Apple, —, Xiaolang Zhang, Zhang, Tim Cook didn't, wouldn't Organizations: Apple, Service, Guangzhou Xiaopeng Motors Technology, US, Office, New York Times, Northern, Northern District of Locations: Guangzhou, Berlin and California, Northern District, Northern District of California

☆ China gives suspended death sentence to Tian Huiyu, former China Merchants Bank president
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

The court said he had used his privileged access to information to make more than 290 million yuan ($41 million) in illegal gains from the stock market. He also leaked inside information about stocks to other people, which yielded more than 8 million yuan ($1.1 million) in illicit profits, it said. In return, he accepted bribes worth more than 210 million yuan ($30 million), it said. In 2013, Tian was promoted to head China Merchants Bank, serving as its president and its Communist Party boss. The Communist Party has stepped up its crackdown on the country’s state-owned financial system since last year.

Persons: Tian Huiyu, Xi Jinping, Tian, Wang Qishan, ”, Li Xiaopeng, Liu Liange, Bao Fan, Bao Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, China Merchants Bank, China Construction Bank, China Cinda Asset Management, Beijing, Communist Party, Central Commission, Communist, Adobe, China Everbright Group, Bank of China, China Renaissance Locations: China, Hong Kong, Changde city, Hunan, China’s, Shanghai, Changde

☆ ICBC ex-VP being probed by China’s anti-graft body
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Manav Tanneeru | Michelle Toh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Hong Kong CNN —Zhang Hongli, a former senior executive at Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), is being probed by China’s top anti-corruption watchdog, in a sign of a continuing crackdown in the country’s financial sector. State-owned ICBC is one of China’s “Big Four” banks and the world’s largest lender by assets, according to S&P Global. Prior to joining ICBC, Zhang worked at Deutsche Bank and Goldman Sachs, where he held senior management roles. They include three top executives at the highest ranks of China’s financial world, who have either been probed or charged, according to the commission. In October, Li was expelled from the Communist Party and arrested for allegedly taking bribes, according to Xinhua.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN — Zhang Hongli, Zhang, Goldman Sachs, Bao Fan, Bao, Xi, Li Xiaopeng, —, Li, Liu Liange, Liu, “, Wang Bin, Wang Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Industrial, Commercial Bank of China, Central Commission, P, Deutsche Bank, ICBC’s Communist Party, Xinhua, CNN, China, Communist Party, of China, China Life Insurance Locations: China, Hong Kong, ICBC, Xinhua

☆ Ex-chairman of China Everbright Group Li expelled from Communist party and post
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BEIJING, Oct 9 (Reuters) - Former party chief and chairman of China Everbright Group Li Xiaopeng was expelled from the Communist Party and his post for severe violations of discipline and law including bribery, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported on Monday. Li is the latest Chinese financial executive found guilty under President Xi Jinping's anti-corruption campaign that has in recent years targeted the country's financial institutions. China's anti-graft body said in April that Li was under investigation for possible law violations. Li's punishment came days after China's ruling Communist Party expelled the former chairman of Bank of China from the party, accusing him of illegal activities and taking bribes. China Everbright Group is one of China's biggest financial conglomerate and owns listed units including China Everbright Bank Ltd (601818.SS), Everbright Securities Co (601788.SS) and China Everbright Ltd (0165.HK).

Persons: Li Xiaopeng, Li, Xi Jinping's, China's, Jacqueline Wong, Lincoln Organizations: China Everbright, Communist Party, Bank of China, China Everbright Bank, Everbright Securities, China Everbright Ltd, HK, Beijing, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, China

☆ Wang Bin: Chinese insurance boss sentenced to life in jail for corruption
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Hong Kong CNN —Wang Bin, the former chairman of one of China’s biggest life insurers, will spend the rest of his life in jail after a court found him guilty of corruption. Wang was accused of taking the bribes between 1997 and 2021, when he headed a number of state-owned financial institutions, including China Life Insurance, China’s Bank of Communications and China Taiping Insurance. “The amount of bribes Wang Bin accepted was particularly huge, the circumstances of the crime were particularly serious and the social impact was particularly bad,” the ruling said. He is the latest top executive to become ensnared in President Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption crackdown on the country’s $56 trillion financial sector. The sentence came more than a year after Wang, who was also the top Communist Party official at China Life, was investigated by the party’s top anti-graft agency.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN — Wang Bin, Wang, Wang Bin, Xi Jinping’s, Li Xiaopeng, Liu Liange, Bao Fan, Xi Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, China Life Insurance, China’s Bank of Communications, China Taiping Insurance, Communist Party, China, China Everbright, Bank of China Locations: China, Hong Kong, Jinan, China’s, Shandong, United States

☆ China's EV slowdown drags down Nvidia's 'next billion-dollar business'
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Nvidia automotive segment primarily sells chip systems for assisted driving. Colette Kress Nvidia's Chief Financial OfficerThe $253 million segment revenue was also well below the $309.3 million forecast by a FactSet analyst poll. Although still a fraction of the chipmaker's business, automotive revenue has grown rapidly from just over $100 million a quarter two years ago. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesCounterpoint's Wang pointed out that Nvidia's products are concentrated in the high-end automotive segment. Analog Devices on Wednesday reported automotive revenue of $747.6 million for the three months ended July 29, down by 5% from the prior quarter.

Persons: Jensen Huang, Alex Wong, Huang didn't, Colette Kress, Brady Wang, Xpeng, Xpeng's, Xinzhou Wu, Xiaopeng, Huang, Counterpoint's Wang, David Wong Organizations: Nvidia, Getty, Local, Counterpoint Research, Nvidia Nio, Bloomberg, NVIDIA, Robotics, Nomura, Qualcomm, China Passenger Car Association Locations: BEIJING, China, Xpeng, Santa Clara , California

☆ Xpeng's former autonomous driving head joins Nvidia
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A smartphone with a displayed NVIDIA logo is placed on a computer motherboard in this illustration taken March 6, 2023. Wu did not disclose what role he was taking up at Nvidia but Chinese media outlet Jiemian News said he would become its head of automotive products. Nvidia also did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Wu, who resigned from Xpeng this month, said on his Weibo account that he had joined Nvidia, posting a photo of himself alongside Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and Xpeng's chairman He Xiaopeng. Wu had led Xpeng's autonomous driving development efforts from 2018 with more than 1,000 engineers in China and the United States.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Wu Xinhou, Wu, Jensen Huang, Xiaopeng, Tesla, Brenda Goh, Zhang Yan, Robert Birsel Organizations: NVIDIA, REUTERS, Rights, HK, U.S, Nvidia, Jiemian, Thomson Locations: Xpeng, China, United States

☆ Chinese EV maker Xpeng expects cost cuts, Volkswagen deal to narrow losses
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( Sheila Chiang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

In this article 9868-HK Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNTA XPeng Inc. G6 electric sport utility vehicle (SUV). Qilai Shen | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesXpeng expects cost cuts and its Volkswagen partnership to narrow the firm's losses, the Chinese EV maker told CNBC in an exclusive interview on Monday. watch nowXpeng is attempting to revive its business this year, after its share price sank by more than 80% in 2022. BofA upgraded Xpeng from "neutral" to "buy" at $22 per share, up from its previous price target of $16.30 per share. BofA Securities in a May report said it expects China to hold 40%-45% market share in 2025.

Persons: Qilai Shen, Xiaopeng, Brian Gu, Xpeng, CNBC's, Gu, that's Organizations: HK, Inc, Bloomberg, Getty, Volkswagen, CNBC, U.S, Tesla, BofA Securities, Germany's Volkswagen, Global Locations: Hong Kong, China, Xpeng

☆ Shares of Chinese Tesla rival Xpeng fall 5% after head of autonomous driving resigns
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( Arjun Kharpal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Xinzhou Wu, vice president of autonomous driving at Xpeng, tendered his resignation "for personal and family reasons," Xpeng said in a statement. Liyun Li, senior director of Xpeng's autonomous driving team, will takeover Wu's role. He Xiaopeng, CEO of Xpeng, praised Wu's contribution to getting Xpeng into a "leading position in autonomous driving technology." The Guangzhou-headquartered firm has tried to position itself as more advanced on autonomous driving and other technologies than its competitors. "I will continue to personally lead our autonomous driving team and strengthen our leadership in Smart EV technologies," the CEO added.

Persons: Xpeng, Xinzhou Wu, Liyun Li, Li, Xpeng's, Xpeng's Xiaopeng, Xiaopeng Organizations: Inc, Shanghai Auto Show, Xpeng, Nio, Li Auto, Volkswagen Group, Smart Locations: Shanghai, China, Tesla, Guangzhou

☆ Volkswagen invests $700 million in Chinese EV maker Xpeng to boost sluggish sales
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The German group’s Audi subsidiary will also work more closely with its existing partner, SAIC Motor, China’s biggest car maker. Shares in Xpeng jumped more than 30% Thursday in Hong Kong, leading a broad rally in Chinese EV stocks. China is the single largest market for Volkswagen, accounting for about 40% of its global sales and half of its profits. In the first quarter of 2023, BYD, the Chinese EV maker backed by Warren Buffett, surpassed Volkswagen to become the largest brand by sales in China, according to official car insurance registration data. The German car maker said it would strengthen its strategic position in China, including beefing up its capacity for e-mobility, digitalization and autonomous driving.

Persons: ”, Ralf Brandstätter, Xpeng, Warren Buffett, It’s Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Volkswagen, VW, Audi, SAIC, China’s, “ Volkswagen Locations: Hong Kong, German, Xpeng, China, Xinjiang, Germany, BYD, Europe, Hefei, Anhui, Hefei city

☆ A Chinese EV billionaire's wealth has plummeted 75% to $1.4 billion as aggressive price wars push customers to higher-tier cars — like Tesla or BYD
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-30 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The fortune of He Xiaopeng, CEO of Chinese EV maker Xpeng, has fallen 75% from a 2021 peak. He owns 20.5% of Xpeng shares, which tanked nearly 20% this year. Despite the wealth wipeout, He is still the 2,048th richest person in the world — although his net worth is now just a quarter of his $5.5 billion wealth in 2021, per Forbes. The Alibaba-backed company's first-quarter net loss also widened to 2.34 billion yuan from 1.7 billion yuan a year ago. The EV maker launched its first mass-produced model, the G3, in 2018.

☆ Analysis: China’s Xpeng takes cues from Tesla for its new EV platform
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-18 | by ( Paul Lienert | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] He Xiaopeng, the co-founder, chairman and CEO of XPeng Motors attends a news conference ahead of the Shanghai Auto Show, in Shanghai, China April 16, 2023. "It's obvious the design of the (G6) came from the Model Y," industry analyst Sandy Munro told Reuters. Xpeng's simplified vehicle platform design - in effect, a three-piece frame that is both flexible and scalable - saves on parts, tooling, development and assembly time, and appears to have been lifted from Tesla, according to Munro. Such a platform has the potential to give Tesla, Xpeng and other automakers considering this approach a new weapon to help restore margins hit by recent price wars in China and other markets. Reporting by Paul Lienert in Detroit, Editing by Ben Klayman and Matthew LewisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ China's Xpeng aims to cut costs with new vehicle manufacturing platform
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] He Xiaopeng, the co-founder, chairman and CEO of XPeng Motors attends a news conference ahead of the Shanghai Auto Show, in Shanghai, China April 16, 2023. REUTERS/Aly SongSHANGHAI, April 16 (Reuters) - China's electric vehicle (EV) maker Xpeng (9868.HK) unveiled on Sunday a new platform it developed in-house for making vehicles, which it said will reduce the development and manufacturing costs for its company's upcoming models. He said that these cost reductions would give Xpeng an edge against its rivals in an increasingly competitive market. Xpeng will build its G6 SUV, which will debut at the Shanghai auto show starting on Tuesday, as the first model to be built on the SEPA 2.0, according to the company. Xpeng's rival Tesla (TSLA.O) uses massive casting machines, also known as gigapresses, to make large single pieces of vehicle underbodies.

☆ China probes ex-chairman of Everbright for 'disciplinary violations'
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

SINGAPORE, April 5 (Reuters) - China's anti-graft watchdog said on Wednesday it is investigating Li Xiaopeng, the ex-chairman of state-owned financial conglomerate China Everbright Group, for serious "disciplinary violations". The one-line statement was posted on the website of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) and comes less than two weeks after Everbright said Li had resigned from his post. Reuters could not reach the company for comment as it was closed for a public holiday. Reporting by Chen Aizhu and Jenny Wang; Editing by Christian SchmollingerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ China is waging a war on its financial industry. Some high-profile bankers are ensnared
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-05 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Last Friday, authorities opened a similar probe into Liu Liange, former chairman of state-owned Bank of China, the country’s fourth largest lender. And in January, Wang Bin, who headed state-owned China Life Insurance from 2018 to early 2022, was charged by national prosecutors with taking bribes and hiding overseas savings. They include financial giants such as China Investment Corp, the nation’s sovereign wealth fund, China Development Bank, which provides financing for key government projects, and Agricultural Bank of China, another large state-controlled lender. “The current financial crackdown is a new wave of Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption campaign against the financial sector for consolidation of his power,” said Chongyi Feng, an associate professor in China Studies at the University of Technology Sydney. But the deepening crackdown on the vast financial sector could rattle investors.

China's four new vice premiers:Ding Xuexiang, 60, is the first-ranked vice premier who also sits in the ruling Communist Party's Politburo Standing Committee, China's top echelon of power. Wang Zhigang, 65, remains minister of science and technology. Huai Jinpeng, 60, remains minister of educationPan Yue, 62, remains head of the National Ethnic Affairs CommissionWang Xiaohong, 65, remains minister of public securityChen Yixin, 63, remains minister of state security. Considered a Xi ally, he had worked with Xi when the latter was party chief of Zhejiang province from 2002-2007. Tang Dengjie, 63, remains minister of civil affairsHe Rong, 60, remains minister of justiceWang Xiaoping, 59, remains minister of human resources and social securityWang Guanghua, 59, remains minister of natural resourcesHuang Runqiu, 59, remains minister of ecology and environmentNi Hong, 60, remains minister of housing and urban-rural developmentLi Xiaopeng, 63, remains minister of transportLi Guoying, 63, remains minister of water resourcesTang Renjian, 60, remains minister of agriculture and rural affairsHu Heping, 60, remains minister of culture and tourismMa Xiaowei, 63, remains head of the National Health CommissionPei Jinjia, 59, remains minister of veterans affairsWang Xiangxi, 60, remains minister of emergency managementHou Kai, 60, remains auditor-general of the National Audit OfficeReporting by Yew Lun Tian, Ziyi Tang, additional reporting by Albee Zhang; Editing by Raju GopalakrishnanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ The week in Asian football
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-27 | by ( Michael Church | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

HONG KONG, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Talking points from the week in Asian football:RONALDO'S SAUDI SCORING STREAK CONTINUES WITH HAT-TRICKCristiano Ronaldo's scoring run continued on Saturday as the Portuguese attacker netted all three goals in Al Nassr's 3-0 victory over Damak. The 38-year-old capped the scoring a minute before halftime when he side-footed home after Ayman Yahya cut the ball back towards the penalty spot. The goal was Ronaldo's eighth in five league games since joining Al Nassr after the World Cup. The defeat was the second in a row for new Urawa coach Maciej Skorza and the Pole's team are bottom of the standings. JANKOVIC APPOINTED NEW CHINA COACHSerbian Aleksandar Jankovic has been named coach of the China national team for next year's Asian Cup and the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.

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