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Photo by FMT Summary BYD has launched an innovative drone system, Lingyuan, in collaboration with DJI to enhance its electric vehicle (EV) offering. The drone system includes a rooftop docking station for charging and AI capabilities, priced at 16,000 yuan (around $2,195). The move is part of BYD's strategy to stay competitive in China's $1.48 trillion auto market amid a fierce price war and growing rivalry from tech companies like Xiaomi and Huawei. In a bold move to differentiate itself in China’s highly competitive EV market, BYD, the world’s largest electric vehicle manufacturer, has introduced a groundbreaking drone system called Lingyuan. The new system, developed in partnership with DJI, the country’s leading drone maker, is designed to integrate drones with electric vehicles, offering enhanced features for both convenience and entertainment.

Photo by FMT Summary Kweichow Moutai, China's leading producer of baijiu, faces declining demand, impacting both its sales and the local economy. The company’s sales have slumped due to changing consumer tastes and deflationary pressures, leading to a decline in share prices. Kweichow Moutai plays a crucial role in Guizhou province's economy, helping the region manage its significant debt. Kweichow Moutai, the world’s largest liquor producer and China’s most iconic baijiu manufacturer, has seen its demand shrink in recent years. Traditionally consumed during weddings, state functions, and business dinners, Moutai has long been considered a luxury product. However, as consumer confidence falters in China, demand for Moutai has taken a hit. During the recent Lunar New Year period, fewer tourists flocked to Maotai village to purchase the renowned spirit, signaling a broader issue with the Chinese economy.

Photo by FMT Summary China’s DeepSeek AI startup claims a theoretical cost-profit ratio of 545% per day with its V3 and R1 models. The company’s cheaper chip usage raises doubts about the high spending of U.S. AI firms. Despite its cost-effective technology, investor skepticism has caused concerns in the market. China’s DeepSeek, a promising AI startup, has made waves by claiming an extraordinary theoretical cost-profit ratio of 545% per day. The company’s V3 and R1 models, which are gaining popularity for their efficiency, are at the center of the claims. However, DeepSeek has cautioned that the actual revenue might be much lower, underlining the theoretical nature of its figures.

Photo by FMT Summary Alibaba’s open-source AI video model, Wan 2.1, has topped third-party rankings for video generation, becoming the most popular model on Hugging Face. Wan 2.1 is part of Alibaba's effort to establish itself as a leader in AI, with significant investments in AI infrastructure. Alibaba has open-sourced multiple versions of the Wan model, making it freely available for global use and modification. Alibaba has made waves in the AI industry with its latest open-source video-generating AI model, Wan 2.1. Released by Alibaba Cloud, this model has quickly become the most popular video-generation model on Hugging Face, a leading open-source AI community. Wan 2.1 is the latest iteration of Alibaba's Sora-like video model, designed to generate high-quality video cont ent. With its advanced capabilities, Wan 2.1 has not only received global acclaim but has also climbed to the top spot on the VBench Leaderboard, a benchmark test for video generation models. It is the only open-source model among the top five in this competitive category, marking a major milestone for Alibaba's AI capabilities.

Photo by FMT Summary Chinese universities, including Tsinghua University, are expanding AI courses and projects to develop talent in artificial intelligence. Tsinghua University will open an academy to train 150 students, integrating AI with other disciplines to meet national needs. Zhejiang's Hangzhou Dianzi University has launched an oversubscribed AI course, expanding its reach with online offerings across 12 other universities. In a bid to strengthen China's position in the global artificial intelligence (AI) race, leading universities are expanding their offerings in AI-related courses. Among the most notable initiatives is Tsinghua University’s new academy, which plans to enroll 150 undergraduate students to focus on fields where AI intersects with other disciplines. This initiative is part of China’s broader strategy to bolster its AI industry and compete with the United States in technological innovation.

Summary China is increasing government spending to support consumption, with bond issuance expected to surpass $276.9 billion. Subsidies for replacing old consumer goods, such as automobiles and home appliances, are showing positive results and will be expanded. Policymakers are planning to raise pensions and provide additional social insurance to boost household incomes. China’s consumption sector has been struggling, and this has hindered overall economic recovery. While the government has set ambitious goals to make consumption a central driver of economic growth, it has yet to implement major reforms to make this happen. In response to ongoing challenges, policymakers are now considering a variety of measures to stimulate domestic demand. This explainer delves into how China plans to boost its weak consumption in 2025. Raising Welfare to Stimulate Spending

Photo by FMT Summary Huawei has successfully integrated WeChat into its HarmonyOS, a significant step in challenging Android and iOS dominance in China. The launch of WeChat on HarmonyOS will allow the app to support essential features like payments, mini-programs, and social media, aligning with its popular functions on Android and iOS. Huawei aims to expand HarmonyOS by adding more than 30,000 apps this year, a move to strengthen its homegrown mobile operating system. Huawei Technologies has secured a critical win for its homegrown mobile operating system, HarmonyOS, by integrating Tencent’s widely used super app, WeChat. This integration is a key strategic step for Huawei as it seeks to challenge the dominance of Google’s Android and Apple’s iOS in China, its home market.

Photo by FMT Summary Honor plans to launch over 30 products in Indonesia this year, including smartphones, wearables, laptops, and tablets. The company will focus on mid-to-high-end products, including foldable smartphones, to cater to Indonesia’s growing demand for premium handsets. Honor aims to open over 10 "experience" stores across Indonesia, marking a significant push into Southeast Asia’s largest economy. Honor, the Chinese smartphone maker, is making a bold move to capitalize on the growing demand for premium smartphones in Indonesia, Southeast Asia’s largest and most populous country. This year, Honor plans to launch over 30 new products, including mid-to-high-end smartphones, wearables, laptops, and tablets, as it aims to tap into the rising appetite for high-quality, affordable tech in Indonesia.

Photo by Brakeet Summary Miniso has raised $550 million through debt issuance to fund its global expansion and share buy-backs. The debt will be in the form of equity-linked securities, maturing in 2032, with a low interest rate of 0.5%. The funds will help Miniso reduce financing costs and strengthen its position for future international growth. Miniso Grou p Holding, a leading Chinese retailer specializing in budget lifestyle goods, has successfully raised $550 million through the issuance of equity-linked securities. The Guangzhou-based company intends to use the funds to support its ongoing global expansion efforts and for share buy-back initiatives. The debt instrument will mature on January 14, 2032, and offers a low interest rate of 0.5%, payable semiannually.

Photo archive by Wikimedia Commons Summary US added Tencent and CATL to a list of Chinese military entities, resulting in significant stock market losses for both companies. Tencent’s stock dropped by 7.3%, and CATL’s fell 2.8%, erasing a combined $38 billion in market capitalization. The move comes as Donald Trump’s second term approaches, with fears of further trade restrictions and tariffs. Tencent and CATL, two of China’s largest tech companies, suffered significant stock declines following the US Department of Defense’s decision to add them to its list of Chinese military entities. This move has ignited further tensions ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s return to the White House, raising concerns about increased trade restrictions and tariffs targeting Chinese firms.

Photo by FMT Summary China has proposed further export restrictions on technology used to process critical minerals like lithium and gallium. The export curbs aim to retain China’s dominance in the global lithium market, which is crucial for electric vehicle (EV) battery production. These measures could impact Western lithium producers and Chinese battery makers, such as CATL and Gotion, as they expand overseas. China’s Ministry of Commerce has proposed additional export restrictions on technology used to process critical minerals such as lithium and gallium. These minerals are essential for the production of electric vehicle (EV) batteries and other high-tech applications. The proposed measures are part of China’s strategy to maintain its stronghold on the global supply chain for battery components.

Photo by FMT Summary Apple is offering discounts of up to 500 yuan ($68.50) on iPhone models in China as part of a four-day promotion. The promotion is aimed at defending Apple's market share amid rising competition from domestic companies like Huawei. The discounts come as China’s economy faces challenges, including cautious consumer spending and deflationary pressures. Apple has launched a rare discount offer on its latest iPhone models in China, with discounts of up to 500 yuan ($68.50) on flagship devices. This four-day promotion, running from January 4-7, targets the latest iPhone 16 Pro, Pro Max, and other models, offering a strategic response to the intensifying competition from domestic smartphone manufacturers like Huawei.