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☆ JD.com shares hit record low, banks cut Q3 growth target on retail slowdown
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The logo of JD.com is seen at the China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) in Beijing, China September 1, 2022. The brokerages and banks including Citi, Daiwa and Jefferies, which issued notes to clients on Thursday and Friday with the revised estimates. Shares in JD.com, which is also China's largest home appliance retailer, closed at their lowest level since their June 2020 debut. Citi Research lowered its revenue assumption for JD.com by 3.4% and 4.3% for the third and fourth quarter, saying that it now estimates 0.8% and 1.3% growth respectively. JD.com is China's leading online platform for sales of digital and electronics products, such as mobile phones and domestic electrical appliances.

Persons: Florence, JD.com, Nomura, Sophie Yu, Donny Kwok, Brenda Goh Organizations: Fair for Trade, Services, REUTERS, Rights, Citi, Daiwa, Jefferies, Citi Research, Alibaba, HK, PDD, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Rights BEIJING, HK, Hong Kong, United States, JD.com, BEIJING, HONG KONG

SummaryCompanies China's Vivo faces growing trouble as executive arrestedIndian agency's court filing accuses company of visa violationsChinese nationals went to "sensitive" border areas, agency saysVivo, India's No. "Many employees of Vivo group companies worked in India without appropriate visas," the agency said in the filing. "They have concealed information regarding their employer in their visa applications and cheated the Indian embassy or missions in China." China's foreign ministry, which said this week it was closely following the case, did not respond to a Reuters request for comment. In their decades-old border dispute, both India and China claim large tracts of land controlled by the other in the western Himalayas.

Persons: Guangwen Kuang, Arpan Chaturvedi, Aditya Kalra, Brenda Goh, David Kirton, Krishn Kaushik, Clarence Fernandez Organizations: Indian, Vivo, Krishn, Thomson Locations: DELHI, Jammu, Kashmir, Beijing, New Delhi, India, Ladakh, Vivo, China, Shanghai, Shenzhen

☆ China's car sales quicken in Sept; exports rise 50%
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Passenger vehicle sales totalled 2.04 million units in Sept, the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) said on Wednesday. Reuters GraphicsNew energy vehicle (NEV) sales were up 22.1% in September from a year earlier, making up 36.6% of total car sales, and helping several local brands set record high sales. Reuters GraphicsSeptember is traditionally a bumper month for car sales in China, partly because many people go on a shopping spree ahead of the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays. CPCA Secretary General Cui Dongshu said the downturn in the property market bode well for car sales, as many people were now choosing to buy cars instead of investing in housing. For the first nine months, sales in the world's largest car market rose 2.1% to 15.41 million units.

Persons: Tingshu Wang, General Cui Dongshu, bode, Tesla, Qiaoyi Li, Zhang Yan, Brenda Goh, Miral Organizations: Business, REUTERS, Rights, China Passenger Car Association, Reuters Graphics, Reuters, CPCA, Overseas, EU, Exports, EV, Li, HK, Thomson Locations: China, Rights BEIJING, U.S

☆ Exclusive: Self-driving startup Plus splits US and China operations amid tensions
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

SHANGHAI, Oct 11 (Reuters) - Self-driving truck startup Plus has split its Chinese and U.S. operations and struck a deal in which a key shareholder, China's Full Truck Alliance (FTA) (YMM.N), will focus on the China unit, Plus said on Wednesday. Plus, which had headquarters in Suzhou, China, and California, separated its operations into two independent companies. FTA increased its stake in Zhijia Technology via a stock swap arrangement that reduced its ownership in Plus, the company said. Plus declined to comment on the size of FTA's shareholding in Zhijia Technology. The stake in Zhijia Technology will help the company's work to develop autonomous trucking fleets - a potentially lucrative market amid a truck driver shortage in China.

Persons: Uber, Zhang Yan, Roxanne Liu, Brenda Goh Organizations: Alliance, Reuters, U.S, Sequoia, GGV, Zhijia Technology, Technology, New York Stock Exchange, Thomson Locations: SHANGHAI, China, Beijing, U.S, Suzhou, California, Huochebang, United States

☆ Chinese EV startup WM Motor files for bankruptcy
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

WM Motor's founder and CEO Freeman Shen and Vice President of Strategic Planning, Lobo Lu attend the WM Motor brand launch event in Shanghai, China, December 11, 2017. REUTERS/Aly Song/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsBEIJING, Oct 10 (Reuters) - Chinese electric vehicle (EV) startup WM Motor has filed for bankruptcy, according to the national enterprise bankruptcy information disclosure platform. A court in Shanghai is handling the bankruptcy case, according to the disclosure dated Monday. Reporting by Qiaoyi Li, Zhang Yan and Brenda Goh Editing by Shri NavaratnamOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Freeman Shen, Lobo Lu, Aly, Qiaoyi Li, Zhang Yan, Brenda Goh, Shri Navaratnam Organizations: WM Motor's, Strategic, WM, REUTERS, Rights, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China, Rights BEIJING

☆ Chinese EV maker Xpeng says vice president suspended for investigation related to corruption
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

A woman walks past a showroom of Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker XPeng in Beijing, China February 4, 2023. REUTERS/Florence Lo/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Xpeng Inc FollowBEIJING, Oct 10 (Reuters) - Chinese electric vehicle maker Xpeng (9868.HK) said its vice president Li Feng has been suspended for an investigation related to corruption, according to a company statement on Tuesday. "The incident affected a small area and did not affect business and production links," the statement said. Xpeng has been strengthening supply chain management this year and some supply chain staff have been investigated, the statement added. Reporting by Qiaoyi Li, Zhang Yan and Brenda Goh; Editing by Andrew HeavensOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Florence, Li Feng, Li, Xpeng, Qiaoyi Li, Zhang Yan, Brenda Goh, Andrew Heavens Organizations: REUTERS, Inc, BEIJING, HK, Media, Thomson Locations: XPeng, Beijing, China

On Sunday, U.S. air carriers United Airlines (UAL.O), Delta Air Lines (DAL.N) and American Airlines (AAL.O) suspended direct flights following the FAA's caution advisories. Britain's easyJet (EZJ.L) halted flights to Tel Aviv on Sunday and Monday, and said it would adjust the timings of flights over the next few days. Lufthansa (LHAG.DE) group, also among the airlines most exposed to Israel according to Goodbody, cancelled flights to and from Tel Aviv through Monday. Portugal's TAP suspended flights up until Monday and offered refunds or rescheduling at no additional cost. Hainan Airlines (600221.SS), the only Chinese airline to fly between China and Israel, and other airlines flying from Hong Kong and South Korea, cancelled flights between Tel Aviv and Shanghai on Monday.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Amir Cohen, Finland's, Britain's, Goodbody, Virgin Atlantic, IAG, Ben, Ben Gurion, Douglas Gillison, Sophie Yu, Farah Master, Joyce Lee, Brenda Goh, Tim Hepher, Ilona Wissenbach, Sergio Goncalves, Anna Ringstrom, Sarah Young, Joanna Plucinska, Clarence Fernandez, Bernadette Baum Organizations: Israeli, Ben Gurion International, REUTERS, El Al, Fighters, Tourism, Regulators, Federal Aviation Administration, European Union Aviation Safety Agency, Sunday, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, Delta, Air, Wizz, Lufthansa, Portugal's TAP, Virgin, East . British Airways, Ryanair, flyDubai, Hainan Airlines, Thomson Locations: Lod, Israel, Tel Aviv, Gaza, Israel's, United States, U.S, New York, Chicago, Washington, DC, Miami, United, Europe, Air France, Hungarian, East, Ben Gurion, China, Hong Kong, South Korea, Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, Lisbon, Stockholm, London

☆ Beijing Hyundai cuts asking price for Chongqing auto plant by 30%
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A Beijing Hyundai sign is seen at an entrance to the Beijing Hyundai Motor plant in Chongqing, China October 8, 2018. REUTERS/Yilei Sun/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSHANGHAI, Oct 9 (Reuters) - Beijing Hyundai Motor has cut the minimum asking price for its auto plant in the southwestern Chinese city of Chongqing by almost 30% to 2.58 billion yuan ($353.38 million) after putting it up for sale in August. The price cut for the plant, a joint venture between South Korea's Hyundai Motor (011760.KS) and Beijing Automotive Group Co, was disclosed in a filing on the China Beijing Equity Exchange late last month. Beijing Hyundai Motor is selling the land use rights, equipment and other facilities belonging to its plant as the South Korean automaker rejigs its strategy in China amid fierce price competition and slowing demand. The original asking price was 3.68 billion yuan, and the statement did not give a reason for the reduction.

Persons: Brenda Goh, Zhang Yan, Joyce Lee, Jamie Freed Organizations: Beijing Hyundai, REUTERS, Yilei, Rights, South Korea's Hyundai, Beijing Automotive Group, China Beijing Equity Exchange, South, Hyundai, U.S, Thomson Locations: Beijing, Chongqing, China, South, South Korean, Seoul

☆ Huawei-backed Aito says gets 50,000 orders for M7 car since relaunch
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SHENZHEN, China, Oct 9 (Reuters) - Huawei-backed electric vehicle (EV) brand Aito has received more than 50,000 orders for its revamped M7 model within the first 25 days since it went on sale, the company said. The orders, which required a non-refundable deposit, would put Aito among China's five top-selling new energy vehicle manufacturers, based on sales data for August. The Aito brand, which Huawei makes in partnership with Seres Group (601127.SS), launched the M7 in July last year. As of June, Aito had shipped just 27,405 of the original M7, according to data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. Huawei's intelligent automotive solution business brought in one billion yuan revenue in the first half of this year, a tiny fraction of the 310.9 billion yuan ($42.63 billion) its total business earned over that period, the company said in August.

Persons: Richard Yu, Huawei's, Aito, Yu, David Kirton, Brenda Goh, Zoey Zhang, Edmund Klamann Organizations: Huawei, Huawei's Smart, Weibo, Seres, China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, Chery, Thomson Locations: SHENZHEN, China, Shenzhen, Shanghai

☆ Tesla's China-made EV sales volume falls 10.9% year-on-year in September
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Tesla sign is seen at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai, China July 6, 2023. Sales of China-made Model 3 and Model Y cars were down 12.0% from a month earlier. The U.S. automaker, which ships more China-made cars for exports at the beginning of each quarter while focusing on domestic deliveries at the end, almost doubled its China EV share from July to August. Tesla, the largest exporter of China-made EVs, is also facing a probe by the European Commission into subsidies for battery-powered cars from China, along with Renault and other Chinese automakers. Tesla's deliveries of China-made vehicles hit a record 247,217 in the second quarter.

Persons: Aly, Tesla, BYD, Xpeng, Zhang Yan, Qiaoyi Li, Roxanne Liu, Brenda Goh, Toby Chopra Organizations: Artificial Intelligence, REUTERS, Rights, U.S, China Passenger Car Association, of, China EV, HK, European, Renault, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China, Rights BEIJING, SHANGHAI, of China

☆ Several airlines suspend Tel Aviv flights until safety conditions improve
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Amir Cohen/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 9 (Reuters) - Several international air carriers have suspended flight services with Tel Aviv in light of the Hamas militant attack on Israel, saying they were waiting for safety conditions to improve before resuming. Britain's easyjet (EZJ.L) said it had halted flights with Tel Aviv on Sunday and Monday, and would adjust the timings of flights in the next few days. Hainan Airlines (600221.SS), the only Chinese airline to fly between China and Israel, cancelled flights between Tel Aviv and Shanghai on Monday, citing the security situation in Israel. It said it would continue flights linking Beijing and the southern tech hub of Shenzhen with Tel Aviv while waiving fees for cancellations before Oct. 20. Korean Air (003490.KS) said it cancelled its Monday flight between the port city of Incheon and Tel Aviv and expects future flights to be irregular.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Amir Cohen, Finland's, United, Britain's, Douglas Gillison, Sophie Yu, Farah Master, Joyce Lee, Brenda Goh, Anna Ringstrom, Stockholm Sarah Young, Andrea Ricci, Clarence Fernandez Organizations: Israeli, Ben Gurion International, REUTERS, Fighters, Sunday, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, Air, Delta, Hainan Airlines, Cathay, HK, Korean, Thomson Locations: Lod, Israel, Tel Aviv, Gaza, U.S, New York, Chicago, Washington, DC, Miami, United States, China, Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, Hong Kong, KS, Incheon, Stockholm, London

☆ Tesla signs lease to open vast sales and service centre in Shanghai industrial park
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A Tesla logo is seen at a groundbreaking ceremony of Tesla Shanghai Gigafactory in Shanghai, China January 7, 2019. REUTERS/Aly Song/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSHANGHAI, Oct 7 (Reuters) - Tesla (TSLA.O) has signed a leasing contract with Shanghai Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone Group (600648.SS) to open a massive sales and service centre in an industrial park in the city, its biggest one in China, the government-owned company said. The company, the world's biggest electric car manufacturer, has nearly 300 stores across China. Reuters reported last year that it was considering closing some showrooms in flashy malls in cities like Beijing. Reporting by Zhang Yan and Brenda Goh; editing by Clelia OzielOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Tesla, Aly, Elon Musk's, Zhang Yan, Brenda Goh, Clelia Organizations: Tesla Shanghai, REUTERS, Rights, Shanghai Waigaoqiao, Trade Zone Group, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China, Xin Park, Shanghai's Pudong, Beijing

☆ Tesla launches updated Model Y in China, keeps starting price unchanged
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

A Tesla logo is seen outside a showroom of the carmaker in Beijing, China May 31, 2023. REUTERS/Thomas Peter/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Tesla Inc FollowSHANGHAI, Oct 1 (Reuters) - U.S. automaker Tesla (TSLA.O) on Sunday released an updated version of its Model Y in China, with minor changes to the vehicle's exterior and interior. The starting price in China for the Model Y, the company's global best-seller, was unchanged at 263,900 yuan ($36,146). Tesla unveiled a restyled Model 3 with a longer driving range, manufactured at its Shanghai factory, in China and other export markets in early September. ($1 = 7.3010 Chinese yuan renminbi)Reporting by Brenda Goh; Editing by Edmund KlamannOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Thomas Peter, Tesla, Brenda Goh, Edmund Klamann Organizations: REUTERS, U.S, Sunday, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Shanghai

☆ China new home prices tick up in Sept, ending four-month decline - survey
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Prices rose 0.05% on average from the previous month after falling since May, according to a survey by China Index Academy, a real estate research firm. Confidence in the property sector, which accounts for one-fourth of economic activity, has been hit since 2021 when Beijing cracked down on debt accumulation by developers, fuelling a debt crisis. Deepening problems in the sector this year have dragged on the world's second-biggest economy and rattled global financial markets. These policies have given major cities like Beijing a tiny boost in new home sales, but some worry the improvement might be short-lived and could potentially dry up demand in smaller cities. If such policies continue to be optimised, the report said, the market in first-tier cities are likely to stabilise this quarter while recovery in smaller cities might take longer.

Persons: Brenda Goh, Liangping Gao, William Mallard Organizations: China Index Academy, China Evergrande, HK, Thomson Locations: SHANGHAI, Beijing, China

A Comac C919, China's first large passenger jet, flies away on its first commercial flight from the Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport in Shanghai, China May 28, 2023. REUTERS/Aly Song/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBEIJING, Sept 28 (Reuters) - China Eastern Airlines (600115.SS) said on Thursday it will buy another 100 C919 airplanes in a deal worth $10 billion at list prices, in what would be the largest ever order for the jet made by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC). The list price for the C919 is $99 million but aircraft can be sold at discounts of up to 50%, especially for new models. Next, the plane manufacturer will cooperate with China Eastern more closely, to show other potential users the reliability and performance of C919." China Eastern will get delivery of five aircraft in 2024, while ten are to be delivered each year from 2025 to 2027.

Persons: Aly, Li Hanming, Li, COMAC, COMAC's, Sophie Yu, Brenda Goh, Neil Fullick, Peter Graff, Miral Organizations: Shanghai Hongqiao International, REUTERS, Rights, China Eastern Airlines, Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Airbus, Boeing, China Eastern, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China, Rights BEIJING, Beijing, Washington, Brunei

☆ Exclusive: China's Nio explores investment, tech alliances with Mercedes - sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Nio, when contacted, denied it talked to Mercedes on a collaboration, calling it "untrue", without elaborating. Mercedes said in a separate response that there were no collaboration plans with Nio at the moment. Chinese EV companies may also be able to navigate potential trade barriers better by forging such tie-ups. Nio, whose investors include Chinese tech giant Tencent Holdings (0700.HK), has publicly called for more such tie-ups with established automakers. ($1 = 7.3127 Chinese yuan renminbi)Reporting by Zhang Yan and Brenda Goh; Additional reporting by Ilona Wissenbach in Frankfurt; Editing by Muralikumar AnantharamanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: William Li, Ola Kaellenius, Nio, Mercedes, Leapmotor, Elon Musk, Tesla, Nio's Li, Zhang Yan, Brenda Goh, Ilona Wissenbach, Muralikumar Organizations: HK, Mercedes, Benz, Nio, EV, Volkswagen, SAIC, Audi, VW's, Tencent Holdings, Thomson Locations: SHANGHAI, China, Tesla, Frankfurt

The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) said it was considering waiving data export security assessments for activities such as international trade, academic cooperation, cross-border manufacturing and marketing that do not contain personal information or important data. Alex Roberts, a Shanghai-based lawyer at Linklaters, said the new rules are "a great signal for foreign investment and trade into China". You Yunting, a lawyer with Shanghai-based DeBund Law Offices, said the new rules "represents a certain degree of relaxation in data export regulation" in China. He added that the new rules could keep the cross-border transfer of human resources data low for companies. The previous rules were causing consternation among international businesses in China as some fear they could be cut off from assessing their human resources data from within China.

Persons: Alex Roberts, Brenda Goh, Josh Ye, Christina Fincher, Alison Williams Organizations: Cyberspace Administration of China, European, Reuters, Thomson Locations: SHANGHAI, HONG KONG, China, Shanghai, Linklaters, Hong Kong

[1/2] People visit the booth of Alibaba's logistics unit Cainiao at the 2021 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) in Beijing, China September 3, 2021. REUTERS/Florence Lo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 26 (Reuters) - Alibaba Group (9988.HK) on Tuesday kicked off its restructuring with a plan to list its logistics arm Cainiao in Hong Kong that would make the unit the first to be separated since the Chinese e-commerce giant announced its break-up six months ago. U.S.-listed shares of Alibaba pared early premarket trading losses following Tuesday's announcement and were down 0.4% at $86.86 by 1037 GMT. Alibaba in late March announced its biggest restructuring in its 24-year history. In the months since, the company has approved a process to start external financing for its international commerce arm and was also looking to list its cloud unit.

Persons: Florence Lo, Alibaba, Cainiao, Dealmakers, Jack Ma, Daniel Zhang, Brenda Goh, Ayushman, Varun, Barbara Lewis Organizations: Fair for Trade, Services, REUTERS, Alibaba, HK, Tuesday, Smart Logistics Network, Reuters, Intime, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Hong Kong, Cainiao, Hong Kong . U.S

Some users and analysts who bought the Mate 60 Pro say it uses a Chinese-made chip and is capable of 5G speeds. We are working overtime urgently to manufacture more so that more people can buy our products," Yu said. [1/4]People check a Huawei Mate 60 smartphone displayed at a Huawei flagship store in Beijing, China September 25, 2023. Huawei updated its official website after the event to add prices for its Mate 60 Pro+, which will start from 8,999 yuan ($1,230), and the Mate 60 RS Ultimate Design version, which is priced from 12,999 yuan. One shopper in the Beijing store, 29-year-old engineer Zhang Nianrong, said he saw the Mate 60 Pro as "carrying significance far beyond its value" and planned to buy it.

Persons: Gina Raimondo's, Apple's, Yu Chengdong, Yu, Maniler, Nelson Mandela, Florence Lo, Bryan Ma, Meng Wanzhou's, Washington . Meng, Ren Zhengfei, Zhang Nianrong, Yelin Mo, Brenda Goh, Sophie Yu, Himani Sarkar Organizations: Huawei Technologies, Huawei, U.S . Commerce, Weibo, REUTERS, IDC, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, SHANGHAI, China, Hong Kong, South Africa, Beijing, Iran, U.S, Washington

BEIJING/SHANGHAI, Sept 25 (Reuters) - Huawei Technologies (HWT.UL) kicked off a product launch event on Monday by thanking China for its support amid expectations the tech giant would later reveal more details on its latest Mate 60 smartphone series. Huawei launched the Mate 60 smartphone series last month with no pre-marketing events and has stayed mostly mum on its full capabilities. Users and analysts who bought the Mate 60 Pro said it had a Chinese-made chip and was capable of 5G speeds. He also said the company was working overtime and urgently manufacturing as many Mate 60 Pro smartphones as it could. While he did not discuss the Mate 60 smartphone series in detail, he announced the roll-out of a new ultra, high-end brand called 'Ultimate Design', whose products include a Mate 60 RS smartphone and a watch.

Persons: Yu Chengdong, Meng Wanzhou's, Washington . Meng, Ren Zhengfei, Yelin Mo, Brenda Goh, Himani Sarkar Organizations: Huawei Technologies, Huawei, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, SHANGHAI, China, Iran, U.S, Beijing, Washington

Dombrovskis, who is also the bloc's trade commissioner, is on a four-day visit to China seeking more balanced economic ties with the EU. Citing the bloc's trade deficit as an example, he added "the EU also needs to protect itself in situations when its openness is abused." LITMUS TESTThe EU blames its 400 billion euro trade deficit partly on Chinese restrictions on European companies. A "thousand" barriers to market access have propelled the trade deficit to its "highest in the history of mankind", EU Ambassador to China Jorge Toledo lamented at a forum in Beijing on Thursday. One with whom the EU wishes to work towards a more balanced trade and investment relationship."

Persons: Valdis Dombrovskis, Jason Xue, Dombrovskis, China Jorge Toledo, Lifeng, Moscow, Brenda Goh, Albee Zhang, Shri Navaratnam, William Mallard Organizations: European Commission, Reuters, REUTERS, Rights, European Union, Bund Summit, EU, Global Times, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China, Moscow, Russian, Ukraine, Beijing, Dombrovskis

[1/5] People stand outside an Apple Store as Apple's new iPhone 15 officially goes on sale across China, in Shanghai, China September 22, 2023. REUTERS/Aly Song Acquire Licensing RightsSHANGHAI/BEIJING, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Over a hundred customers queued inside Apple's (AAPL.O) flagship store in the Chinese financial hub of Shanghai on Friday, waiting to pick up their iPhone 15 orders on the first day of in-store availability. But the strength of pre-orders in the world's second-largest economy, which began last Friday, has eased worries, with delivery times pushed into November and the premium iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max selling out in just one minute on Alibaba's (9988.HK) Tmall e-commerce site. Among those at the store was social media influencer Zhang Ming, 25, who said she wanted to try out the iPhone 15 after being unsuccessful in pre-ordering online. The iPhone 15 includes a new titanium shell, a faster chip and improved videogame-playing abilities.

Persons: Aly, Pro Max, Zhang Ming, Apple, Wang Puyu, Nicoco Chan, Brenda Goh, Christopher Cushing Organizations: Apple, REUTERS, Rights, Huawei, Pro, HK, Tmall, Shanghai, Thomson Locations: China, Shanghai, Rights SHANGHAI, BEIJING, Nanjing, Mo, Beijing

☆ China's AI 'war of a hundred models' heads for a shakeout
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( Josh Ye | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Additionally, companies have also announced dozens of "industry-specific LLMs" that link to their core model. However, investors and analysts say that most were yet to find viable business models, were too similar to each other and were now grappling with surging costs. Several other big name entrepreneurs and tech executives are behind new Chinese AI startups, such as Google China's former chief Kai-Fu Lee and Yan Juejie, a former vice-president of SenseTime (0020.HK). Others said that China's largest tech companies Alibaba, Tencent and Baidu ultimately had the biggest headstart and deep pockets to succeed, given their large user bases and wide range of services. For instance, they could easily offer generative AI services as an additional plug-in to their cloud users.

Persons: Baidu's, Robin Li, Ernie Bot, Tingshu Wang, OpenAI's, Esme Pau, Pau, Yuan Hongwei, Meta, Baichuan, Wang Xiaochuan, China's, Wang, Yuan, Kai, Fu Lee, Yan Juejie, SenseTime, Tony Tung, Tung, Josh Ye, Brenda Goh, Sam Holmes Organizations: Baidu, REUTERS, HK, Huawei, Nvidia, China, Macquarie Group, Y, Baichuan Intelligence, Inc, Sogou, Google, Partners, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, HONG KONG, Alibaba, United States, Washington, Shenzhen

☆ Chinese EV maker Nio launches first mobile phone
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A logo of the electric vehicle maker NIO is seen at its store in Beijing, China August 20, 2020. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang Acquire Licensing RightsSHANGHAI, Sept 21 (Reuters) - Chinese electric vehicle maker Nio Inc (9866.HK) launched its first mobile phone on Thursday, in hopes that better software and connectivity will boost the appeal of its EV cars amid a fierce price war in China. Chief Executive William Li, a big driver of the project, unveiled the Nio Phone in the commercial capital of Shanghai, highlighting features such as the ability to control multiple cars with one device, or to unlock a car even when switched off. Nio posted a net loss of 6.12 billion yuan ($839.51 million) in the second quarter, versus a loss of 2.75 billion yuan in the corresponding period a year ago. Reporting by Zhang Yan and Brenda Goh; Editing by Himani Sarkar and Clarence FernandezOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Tingshu Wang, William Li, Nio, Zhang Yan, Brenda Goh, Himani Sarkar, Clarence Fernandez Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Nio, HK, CYVN Holdings, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Shanghai

☆ China's Nio calls for 'open attitude' amid EU subsidy probe
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Chinese Nio electric car is seen at Nio's first European plant and power swap station in Biatorbagy, Hungary, September 16, 2022. "We hope that the market environment can be simpler, let the market be the market. The European Commission said China's share of EVs sold in Europe has risen to 8% and could reach 15% by 2025. Its gross margin was 1% in the second quarter, versus 13% in the same quarter last year. Reporting by Zhang Yan and Brenda Goh Editing by Bernadette Baum and Philippa FletcherOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Bernadett Szabo, William Li, Qin Lihong, EVs, Ursula von der Leyen, Li, Tesla, Nio, Zhang Yan, Brenda Goh, Bernadette Baum, Philippa Fletcher Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, HK, European Commission, Chamber of Commerce, Thomson Locations: Biatorbagy, Hungary, Europe, China

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