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On May 22, Xiaomi will unveil the electric YU7 SUV, aimed at competing with Tesla’s Model Y in China. The company also plans to introduce its Xring O1…

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On May 22, <a href="/company/xiaomi">Xiaomi</a> will unveil the electric YU7 SUV, aimed at competing with <a href="/company/tesla">Tesla’s</a> Model Y in China. The company also plans to introduce its Xring O1 chip and Xiaomi 15S Pro smartphone as part of a broader product push.

Honda will start selling a China-made <a href="/industry/ev">EV</a> in Japan as early as this spring, becoming the first Japanese automaker to bring a China-built electric model to its home market. The SUV-style e:N vehicle will be adapted for Japanese standards and sold under the Insight brand, offering about 500 kilometers of range per charge.

<a href="/company/iflytek">iFlytek</a> unveiled its first AI glasses at MWC, introducing a 40-gram wearable that delivers real-time voice and visual translation, with subtitles displayed directly in the user’s field of view. The device uses lip-movement recognition to identify active speakers and reduce background noise in crowded settings, supporting multilingual meetings, negotiations, and cross-border communication.

<a href="/company/alibaba">Alibaba</a> has recruited Google DeepMind scientist Zhou Hao to lead post-training research for its Qwen <a href="/industry/ai">AI</a> models, replacing Yu Bowen, sources said. The hire follows the departure of Qwen technical lead Lin Junyang and comes as Alibaba consolidates its AI units and commits RMB 380 billion over three years to AI and cloud infrastructure.

Xiaomi plans to release a new smartphone processor each year, president Lu Weibing said at MWC, following last year’s Xring O1 debut. The next chip will launch in China this year before expanding overseas. Xiaomi is also developing an <a href="/industry/ai">AI</a> assistant for international markets, potentially using Google's Gemini, ahead of its planned European <a href="/industry/ev">EV</a> rollout in 2027.

The White House is debating whether <a href="/company/tencent">Tencent</a> can retain stakes in Epic Games, Riot Games, and Supercell as President Donald Trump prepares to meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping in April. The review centers on potential data security risks tied to millions of US users, with officials divided over forcing divestitures or allowing the investments with safeguards.

Schaeffler has named Leju Robotics as its first embodied intelligence partner in China, with plans to collaborate on industrial applications, data training sites, and joint R&amp;D. The partnership integrates Schaeffler’s precision component manufacturing with Leju’s humanoid robot platform and commercialization experience to accelerate large-scale deployment in factories.

Junyang Lin, the tech lead behind <a href="/company/alibaba">Alibaba's</a> Qwen <a href="/industry/ai">AI</a> models, announced on X he is stepping down, offering no reason. The surprise exit came weeks after a major Qwen upgrade and amid Alibaba’s plan to invest more than USD 53 billion in AI infrastructure.

XtalPi said it expects to record its first full-year profit in 2025, forecasting net income of at least RMB 100 million after a RMB 1.5 billion loss in 2024. The company projected revenue of at least RMB 780 million, up nearly 193% YoY, with gains on financial assets exceeding RMB 500 million.

<a href="/company/xiaomi">Xiaomi</a> has tested self-developed humanoid robots in its <a href="/industry/ev">EV</a> plant, where they operated autonomously for three hours and completed assembly tasks with a reported 90.2% success rate within a 76-second production cycle. Founder Lei Jun said the company plans to deploy a large number of humanoid robots across its factories over the next five years.

<a href="/company/xiaomi">Xiaomi</a> will manufacture a Leica-branded smartphone for global markets, replacing Leica’s prior Japan-only production with Sharp. Priced from EUR 1,999, the model features dual 50-megapixel cameras, a 200-megapixel telephoto lens, and physical ring controls, with global orders set to open in March.

Alibaba, China’s e-commerce giant, operates online retail marketplaces, cloud computing services, and digital payment networks across Asia and beyond.

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Lin Junyang’s abrupt resignation has unsettled employees at Alibaba’s flagship AI unit.

Alibaba scrambles after sudden departure of Qwen tech lead

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Photo shows Blue Bottle Coffee's first outlet in Singapore, located in Raffles City Shopping Mall.

Luckin Coffee provides app-based ordering, convenient pickup, and a broad beverage menu, reshaping China’s coffee consumption patterns.

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Centurium Capital has reached an agreement with Nestle to acquire Blue Bottle Coffee's global retail store operations for less than USD 400 million,

Blue Bottle Coffee changes hands again as Luckin's largest shareholder makes acquisition move

Blue Bottle Coffee changes hands again as Luckin&#8217;s largest shareholder makes acquisition move

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Here's a roundup of key developments across the Middle East for the week of February 22–28.

Middle East weekly: Aito secures first UAE order, Qatar launches 36 digital services, Dubai tests autonomous taxis, and more

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Xiaomi to launch YU7 SUV on May 22

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Middle East weekly: Aito secures first UAE order, Qatar launches 36 digital services, Dubai tests autonomous taxis, and more