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Baidu reimagines search as the race to build the first AI superapp continues

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Pulses

TikTok Shop sees slow start in Japan

just now
Ebrun
TikTok Shop’s Japan operations posted first-month GMV of just JPY 207,000, led by beauty and personal care categories. Despite access to 33 million monthly e-commerce users, the modest launch highlights the challenge of entering Japan’s market, where high consumer expectations require sellers to test demand and tailor content for visibility.

Xpeng expands SUV lineup with the G7

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36Kr
Xpeng unveiled the G7 SUV on July 3, offering up to 702 kilometers of range and 800-volt fast charging across three trims. The top-tier Ultra model includes three in-house AI chips supporting Level 3 processing and future vision-language-action (VLA) capabilities. VLA features will roll out in September, with cockpit upgrades to follow. Pricing starts at RMB 195,800.

Mexico rejects BYD’s EV plant plan

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Nikkei Asia
Mexico has rejected BYD’s plans to build an EV factory near the US border, declining to provide land or subsidies amid pressure from Washington and ongoing trade talks. The project was expected to rival the scale of BYD’s Brazil plant and could have employed up to 10,000 people. The move stalls the Chinese automaker’s LATAM strategy despite surging sales and dealer expansion in Mexico.

China targets coercive discounting online

just now
Nikkei Asia
China will bar online platforms from forcing vendors to cut prices below cost under an amended unfair competition law taking effect on October 15. The move reflects concern over deflation, shrinking margins for small businesses, and growing pressure on e-commerce platforms to reform pricing and fee structures.

Lazada to subsidize shipping in Vietnam

just now
Ebrun
Lazada’s Vietnam site will fully subsidize last-mile delivery fees for LazMall cross-border packages under 15 kilograms starting July 2. The policy applies nationwide across all categories and fulfillment types, with labels shown on eligible items.

China signals crackdown on EV price war

just now
AP News
China is signaling a crackdown on the destructive EV price war, as officials warn of long-term risks to the domestic automotive sector. BYD’s deep discounts in May drew backlash from rivals and regulators, prompting 17 automakers (including BYD) to pledge supplier payments within 60 days, a move aimed at easing supplier financial strain and curbing excessive competition.

Geely expands Europe push with Italy debut

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Bloomberg
Geely will debut in Italy in Q4 with the all-electric EX5 and a plug-in hybrid SUV, partnering with Jameel Motors to expand its European footprint. While pure EVs made up just 6% of Italy’s vehicle market in June, adoption is climbing, according to 2024 sales figures.  

iPhone sales in China to slow in H2 2025

just now
SCMP
Apple’s iPhone sales in China are expected to slow in the second half of 2025 amid muted iPhone 17 upgrades, weak consumer demand, and rising competition from Huawei, according to Counterpoint Research. This follows an 8% YoY rise in Q2, driven by discounts and subsidy-backed promotions.

France fines Shein for deceptive pricing

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Nikkei Asia
France’s antitrust agency has fined Shein EUR 40 million for misleading discount practices, finding that 57% of advertised deals on its French site between October 2022 and August 2023 misled consumers. Shein accepted the penalty and said the issues were resolved in 2023.

JD.com, Ant push for yuan-pegged stablecoins

just now
Reuters
JD.com and Ant Group are urging China’s central bank to approve stablecoins pegged to the offshore yuan, proposing a Hong Kong pilot to support yuan internationalization and counter US dollar dominance in digital trade. Both firms are already planning Hong Kong dollar-backed tokens under new local rules taking effect on August 1.

Alibaba Cloud invests in BetterYeah AI

just now
SCMP
BetterYeah AI, a Hangzhou-based startup founded by former DingTalk executives, has raised over RMB 100 million in a funding round led by Alibaba Cloud. Specializing in enterprise AI agents, the firm said it serves nearly 100,000 teams and will launch a new agent platform this quarter.

Sega targets expansion beyond Japan

just now
Bloomberg
Sega is expanding in Asia to reduce reliance on Japan, partnering with regional firms such as Longtu Game in China. Mobile games now make up more than half of its business, following its 2023 acquisition of Angry Birds maker Rovio. President Shuji Utsumi said the company aims to balance development across console, PC, and mobile.

ByteDance adds Tanfan chatbot to Douyin

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SCMP
ByteDance has launched Tanfan, an AI assistant on Douyin that recommends restaurants, summarizes reviews, and supports in-app bookings. Powered by the Doubao LLM, Tanfan had 35,000 users as of July 2, as Douyin deepens its push into local dining services.

New AI model simulates human decision-making

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Nature
Centaur, a new AI model built on Meta’s Llama, mimics human behavior across tasks such as memory, gambling, and reasoning. Fine-tuned on ten million decisions from 160 psychology experiments, it outperforms classical models and could enable researchers to study human cognition without live testing.

China bans uncertified power banks on flights

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SCMP
China’s aviation regulator will ban uncertified lithium power banks from domestic flights starting July 6, citing fire risks and recent product recalls. Devices without 3C safety certification or linked to overheating incidents are barred from both carry-on and checked baggage. The rule does not apply to international flights or trains.

Huawei to open-source Cangjie language

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SCMP
Huawei will open-source its Cangjie programming language on July 30, aiming to expand developer access and reduce dependence on foreign tech. Built for HarmonyOS Next, Cangjie supports AI, cross-platform apps, and has already been adopted by firms like Meituan and JD.com.

Shanghai launches global support alliance

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The Paper
Shanghai has launched a professional services alliance to support Chinese firms expanding overseas, starting with 50 member firms across 11 sectors including law, finance, and IP. Backed by city officials, the group aims to build a Shanghai-led model for outbound support with localized services via global networks, aligned with national policy goals.

Baidu plugs AgentBuilder into Xiaomi app store

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Caijing
Baidu has integrated its AgentBuilder platform into Xiaomi’s app store, launching a dedicated section for users to browse and access agentic AI applications. The move marks the first direct integration between an AI agent platform and a mobile app marketplace.

DeepSeek eyes overseas AI talent

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Bloomberg
Chinese AI firm DeepSeek has resumed hiring on LinkedIn after months of inactivity, posting ten job listings for positions in Hangzhou and Beijing. The move may indicate a bid to attract overseas talent as global competition for AI engineers intensifies.

BYD narrows gap with Honda, Mitsubishi

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Nikkei Asia
BYD is closing in on Honda and Mitsubishi in Southeast Asia, selling over 11,000 vehicles in April across Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines. Backed by price competitiveness, local infrastructure growth, and new factories, the Chinese EV maker has also surpassed Mazda and Nissan in regional sales.
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