TOPIC

Future of transport

Future of transport
From electric cars to on-demand car service apps, companies like Uber, Google and Didi Dache are changing the way we get from place to place, and having a potentially irreversible effect on employment in this key sector.
China says its Jiu Tian aerial “drone carrier” has completed its maiden flight in the western province of Shaanxi, described as a “breakthrough” by state media. Photo: Weibo/人民日报
China's military weapons

China’s drone carrier Jiu Tian takes flight to signal PLA swarm capacity boost

Xinhua hails ‘breakthrough in China’s large drone technology’, says Jiu Tian could also be deployed in wide range of civilian applications.

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United States

‘Unusual activity detected’: US woman gives birth in Waymo self-driving taxi

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China-EU relations

‘A big opportunity’: why Spain’s new electric car plan hands an opening to China

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Electric & new energy vehicles

BYD founder bets on new tech to win back customers as sales decelerate

Company is pinning its hopes on a 12,000-strong R&D team to come up with technological breakthroughs.

In 2022, BYD dethroned Tesla for the first time as the world’s largest EV builder. Photo: Reuters
Electric & new energy vehicles

Tesla’s China plant sees shipment surge ahead of subsidy expiry

However, the rebound may not be sufficient to help the company reclaim lost ground in China, an analyst says.

China manufacturing

Germany’s China playbook: if you can’t beat them, partner up

More than half of surveyed German firms plan deeper ties with local partners in China to match the rapid innovation cycles of domestic competitors, the German Chamber of Commerce has found.

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Electric & new energy vehicles

Chinese EV makers step on gas abroad amid weakening mainland sales

A growing export drive by Chinese EV makers aims to soak up overcapacity and secure better profits as incentives fade.

Leapmotor announced this week that two of its models would make their debuts in Brazil and Chile. Photo: Handout
Electric & new energy vehicles

Tesla affirms confidence in Chinese partners, repudiates supplier ban

American EV maker says rigorous standards – not geographic origins – guide its vendor choices.

Electric & new energy vehicles

Volkswagen revs up designed-in-China approach to catch up in EV market

Carmaker says mainland operations can now design and validate new models without approvals from Germany, reducing development time and cost.

Science

Chinese team cuts laser weapon, EV part production time from 1 hour to 1 second

High-intensity heating and cooling method speeds up creation of sought-after electrical component.

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Employees work on an electric vehicle production line at a factory of Chinese automaker NIO in Hefei, in eastern China’s Anhui province on September 24, 2025. Photo: AFP
CATL

Co-founder of EV battery giant CATL pockets US$239 million from 1% stake sale

Huang Shilin retains more than 9 per cent of CATL, whose shares have skyrocketed in Shenzhen and Hong Kong.

CATL batteries power more than a third of electric cars around the world, according to an analyst. Photo: Getty
Made in China 2025

Chinese EV makers accelerate robotics drive for ‘game-changing’ edge over US

Xpeng, Cherry and others expand beyond cars, with humanoid robot Iron winning praise from Tesla CEO Elon Musk.

Xiaomi

China’s Xiaomi posts first profit from EV, AI units as quarterly earnings surge

Beijing-based company sells nearly 109,000 electric vehicles in three months, underscoring pivot from smartphones.

Electric & new energy vehicles

China’s car industry preps for next-level self-driving: Hesai

Use of advanced hardware will pick up next year, with some carmakers already adopting it to ‘pre-empt rivals’, CFO says.

People pass the Hesai Group booth at CES 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada, on January 9, 2025. Photo: NurPhoto via Getty Images
Electric & new energy vehicles

Tesla and global carmakers race against Chinese EV rivals at expo

At CIIE, global brands like Tesla and Volkswagen are under pressure to win back market share from local competitors.

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A Tesla Cybercab displayed at the China International Import Expo in Shanghai. Photo: EPA
IPO

China’s WeRide drives for ‘ubiquitous’ robotaxis after Hong Kong listing

Founder and CEO Tony Han says listing proceeds will help company expand globally as analysts predict robotaxi growth.

IPO

Nothing in Pony.ai’s way as firm lists in Hong Kong: CEO James Peng

Hong Kong listing broadens investor base as the autonomous-driving company expands robotaxi services in mainland and abroad, founder says.

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China travel

Editorial | Steps to make Hong Kong-mainland China travel more efficient are welcome

Recent measures underline Beijing’s awareness of the need to ease entry and exit restrictions which could hold back the pace of integration.

People arrive at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, on December 29, 2024. Photo: Edmond So
Nordic nations

Concern in Norway after test shows Chinese-made buses can be disabled remotely

Transport operator Ruter says the manufacturer has access to the vehicles’ control systems, which could in theory be used to turn them off.

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Electric & new energy vehicles

China’s Xpeng touts driverless cars with Alibaba’s Amap to take on Tesla

Company promises three robotaxi models, a humanoid robot and flying cars leveraging a new vision-based AI model.

IPO

Chinese EV maker Seres’ shares close unchanged in lacklustre Hong Kong debut

Trading under the stock code 9927, Seres’ shares fell as much as 10.3 per cent before closing flat at its IPO price of HK$131.50.

Seres’ Aito M9 has become the bestselling luxury vehicle in China. Photo: Costfoto/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Hong Kong transport

Hong Kong gives green light to test driverless cars on mega bridge, in Kai Tak

Baidu Apollo International and Airport Authority cleared to pilot autonomous vehicles on designated routes from November 7, authorities say.

Baidu Apollo International, which already obtained two licences to operate driverless vehicles, was approved to trial 10 vehicles in East Kowloon. Photo: Handout
Electric & new energy vehicles

China car sales to slump in 2026 if Beijing scraps subsidies, JPMorgan says

The bank predicts flat sales at best – and a 5 per cent decline at worst – because incentives have merely brought demand forward.

Baidu

Baidu, public transport firm PostBus to launch robotaxis in Switzerland

The two firms expect to start testing their on-demand AmiGo service in December before its full commercial launch in 2027.

China travel

‘Work from the air’: Chinese airline offers free Wi-fi to lure back travellers

China’s airlines face growing competition from the country’s high-speed rail network, which many passengers prefer for intercity travel.

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Chinese airlines have begun offering free on-board Wi-fi on domestic routes as they compete with the country’s high-speed rail network for passengers. Photo: Shutterstock
Electric & new energy vehicles

Chinese EV makers from Leapmotor to Zeekr challenge Tesla in premium segment

Leapmotor’s D19 luxury SUV, unveiled on Thursday, is likely to be priced below Tesla’s new Model Y L, which starts at US$47,580.

Leapmotor’s D19 SUV is displayed during its launch ceremony in Shanghai on Thursday. Photo: Daniel Ren
Electric & new energy vehicles

Chinese EV maker Li Auto eyes global market with Hong Kong base

The Beijing-based carmaker will oversee its R&D, intellectual property management and international supply chain functions from Hong Kong.

Science

The fast and the amphibious: China electric SUV conquers Yangtze

Chery’s all-terrain Jetour G700 masters famous river in a showcase of global tech ambitions that redefine vehicle limits.

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