Chinese EV maker Nio to launch its lower-priced brand Onvo on May 15

Nio holds a product event in Shanghai on Sept. 21, 2023. Evelyn Cheng | CNBC BEIJING — Chinese electric car company Nio said Thursday it will launch its lower-priced brand called Onvo on May 15. The announcement comes amid a price war in China’s highly competitive electric car market that’s forced Tesla to cut prices. … Read more

China’s imports jump 8.4% in April, exceeding expectations

Containers sit at the Yangshan Port in Shanghai, China, Aug. 6, 2019. Aly Song | Reuters BEIJING — China’s customs agency released data Thursday that showed exports rose in-line with expectations in April, while imports surged ahead of forecasts. China’s exports rose by 1.5% year-on-year in April in U.S. dollar terms, while imports climbed by … Read more

How generative, ChatGPT-like AI is accelerating humanoid robots

Shenzhen-based LimX Dynamics shows off one of its humanoid robots. Limx Dynamics BEIJING — ChatGPT-like artificial intelligence is speeding up research and bringing humanoid robots closer to reality in China, home to many of the world’s factories. AI has been around for decades. What’s changed with the emergence of OpenAI’s ChatGPT chatbot is the ability … Read more

Warren Buffett says Berkshire Hathaway is looking at an investment in Canada

OMAHA, Neb. — Warren Buffett said that Berkshire Hathaway is looking into an investment in Canada. “We do not feel uncomfortable in any shape or form putting our money into Canada,” he told an arena full of investors Saturday. “In fact, we’re actually looking at one thing now.” The billionaire investor has placed bets in … Read more

China’s automakers must adapt quickly or lose out on the EV boom

Chinese new energy vehicle giant shows off the latest version of its Han electric sedan at the Beijing auto show on April 26, 2024. CNBC | Evelyn Cheng BEIJING — Chinese automakers, including state-owned auto giant GAC Group, can’t afford to take it easy in the country’s electric car boom if they want to survive. … Read more

Musk visits Beijing as Tesla’s China-made cars pass security rules

Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and owner of social media site X, formerly known as Twitter, attends the Viva Technology conference dedicated to innovation and startups at the Porte de Versailles exhibition center in Paris, France, on June 16, 2023. Gonzalo Fuentes | Reuters BEIJING — Local Chinese authorities have removed restrictions on Tesla cars … Read more

Chinese EVs Nio, Xpeng turn to mass market for growth

Nio Founder and CEO William Li poses outside of the New York Stock Exchange to celebrate his company’s IPO. Photo: NYSE BEIJING — Chinese electric car start-ups Nio and Xpeng are turning to a lower-priced segment of the market with plans to release newly branded cars this year. Nio’s first such mass market car will … Read more

Geely-backed luxury EV brand Zeekr says it’s beating Tesla in parts of China

Pictured here is the Zeekr 001 electric car at a services trade fair in Beijing on Aug. 31, 2023. China News Service | China News Service | Getty Images BEIJING — Chinese electric car brand Zeekr is selling more vehicles than Tesla in parts of China, and plans to expand in Europe and Latin America … Read more

China may have to brace for a new wave of bond defaults, S&P says

Residential buildings under construction at the Phoenix Palace project, developed by Country Garden Holdings Co., in Heyuan, Guangdong province, China in September 2023. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images BEIJING — China’s state-directed economy may be creating the conditions for a new wave of bond defaults that could come as soon as next year, according … Read more

China’s Xiaomi is selling so many electric cars it’s closer to breaking even

The Xiaomi SU7 on display at the Mobile World Congress 2024. Arjun Kharpal | CNBC BEIJING — Chinese smartphone company Xiaomi‘s new electric vehicle is selling better than expected, putting it closer to break-even despite undercutting Tesla‘s Model 3 on price. Xiaomi has received more than 70,000 orders for its electric SU7 sedan as of … Read more