BUSINESS
Autonomous Vehicles: China’s DriveGPT is here, time for Tesla and co to play catch-up
Bolstered by Beijing’s blueprint for connected and intelligent cars, companies are operating robotaxis and working on advanced autonomous driving technologies, including high-definition maps, smart cockpits and so-called V2X, or vehicle-to-everything networks
BUSINESS
Chips: Now shortages are hitting the machines that make them
Equipment companies had become immune to the ups and downs of the demand cycle. Not anymore. A primary concern in ramping up output is whether Chinese companies end up making their own chip making equipment
BUSINESS
A rising factory tide in US and China won’t lift all boats
Small manufacturers burdened by having to expand facilities to keep up supplies to large companies that are diversifying their production lines are at risk of being squeezed by tighter credit conditions and stubborn inflation
BUSINESS
The global EV transition hinges on one Chinese company
More and more automakers turning to China's CATL that has dominated the market for years raises a broader question: How did a single company manage to position itself as such a critical cog, with the world so deeply dependent on it?
BUSINESS
A $15 billion buyout? Take the money and run
A discounted Toshiba leveraged buyout is as good as it gets for the storied Japanese conglomerate after years of missteps
BUSINESS
Banking Crisis: China has its own version of problems
Xi Jinping wants small and medium enterprises to help the country meet its 5 percent growth target. This is placing a strain on lenders as many SMEs are of late having a bad time
BUSINESS
Trying to replace China’s supply chains? Look what's happened to Vietnam
Vietnamese factories were supposed to save globalisation. But a pile of niggling domestic issues are making it tougher to do business in the country
BUSINESS
Hedge funds are having a hard time running this business
Toshiba has proved difficult to govern, but even so, foreign investors have failed to do much for its operations
BUSINESS
China's robots can't do it all; workers must now be trained
China's push for more robots on factory floors are meant to plug the labour gap, they also need highly skilled personnel to reap the returns of smart manufacturing
BUSINESS
China’s old playbook is back. That’s bad news
A nod to projects fuelled by debt, at the expense of industrial technology, may not end well
BUSINESS
Toyota’s new EV plan recognises that a fundamental overhaul is needed, not incremental shifts
To deliver electric vehicles that people want to drive, Toyota's new CEO is goading the company to rethink production processes that made it the world's IC engine vehicle leader
BUSINESS
Japan's pushing its big industry to invest in startups
Instead of throwing billions of dollars of public money at companies, the country is betting on tax concessions for industrial giants to spur startup investment and innovation
BUSINESS
China Inc is going global and looking to Europe
Chinese companies are looking to expand production bases in Europe. It's an astute move
BUSINESS
India, one of top three auto markets, is short of EV buyers
Consumers are back and willing to spend on electric vehicles in India, but the infrastructure to support the sector is lagging. Hybrids could be the answer
TRENDS
Head to Tokyo or Seoul for the latest Gucci and Louis Vuitton
The luxury giants are doubling down on Japan and South Korea. That should help offset shopping malaise in China
BUSINESS
Saudi Arabia’s got the money. But can it draw foreign capital?
The oil-dependent kingdom has the chance to be a raw-materials supplier and a key player during the energy transition. Foreigners are slow to embrace the opportunity
BUSINESS
Are investors betting on the wrong EV batteries?
As industry giant CATL has discovered, it’s costly to promise too much, too soon when it comes to such complex technology
BUSINESS
US just can’t match China’s industrial heft
It doesn’t make sense to focus on disparate parts of the EV and battery value chain, yet that’s what the Biden administration is doing
BUSINESS
China is setting the rules for driverless cars
To get riders comfortable in driverless vehicles you need comprehensive regulation. China serves as an example
BUSINESS
South Korea shows what a nuclear-powered future might look like
Pressure is rising to find alternative energy sources before a looming electricity crunch hurts both consumers and manufacturers. South Korea may have the answer
BUSINESS
Why are EVs still so expensive? Blame the makers
Companies that spend crazy amounts of money on research and development while neglecting production are just frustrating consumer demand
BUSINESS
Supply chains aren’t broken, at least not in Asia
Trade is booming among major Asian nations as businesses rise above the geopolitical ebb and flow
BUSINESS
Saudi Arabia’s EV battery bets are a warning
As shortages loom and firms attempt to secure prohibitively expensive resources in a bid to scale up manufacturing, Saudi Arabia has drawn in lithium miners and battery makers to set up operations, filling a critical gap. The country wants 30% of cars on its capital city’s roads to be electric by the end of this decade.
ECONOMY
Don’t believe the grim forecast. China is just fine
Beijing’s poor headline numbers aren’t the only story — and that means investors need to use a new lens to assess the economy
