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<a href="/company/gac">GAC Group</a> has signed a joint venture deal with Jameel Motors, marking its official entry into the UK market. The partners plan to launch the Aion V and Aion UT <a href="/industry/ev">EV</a> models, with deliveries expected to begin in the first quarter of 2026.

<a href="/company/alibaba">Alibaba Cloud</a> has led a RMB 1 billion Series A+ funding round for Shenzhen-based X Square Robot, marking its first investment in <a href="/industry/embodied-intelligence">embodied intelligence</a>. Other investors that took part include CAS Investment, China Development Bank Capital, HongShan, <a href="/company/meituan">Meituan</a>, and Legend Capital. The funds will support training of foundation models and hardware development.

Ropet, a companion robot maker, has raised an eight-figure RMB sum in a Series A1 funding round led by the Beijing Artificial Intelligence Industry Investment Fund, with FreesFund participating. Index Capital advised the deal.

<a href="/company/xiaomi">Xiaomi</a> has updated its <a href="https://kr-asia.com/xiaomi-steps-into-smart-eyewear-with-voice-enabled-glasses-built-for-everyday-use">smart glasses</a> with Alipay’s Glance Pay, enabling hands-free payments through voice and gaze recognition. Supported by Alipay’s security system, the feature enables users to complete transactions in three steps and is also available on smart glasses from Rokid, Quark, and RayNeo.

Uniqlo has partnered with <a href="/company/jd">JD.com</a> to launch a mini program on the JD.com app, offering its full range with express delivery. The collaboration will include exclusive China releases of international designer collections and the <a href="/company/pop-mart">Pop Mart</a> line.

<a href="/company/shein">Shein</a> has rejected a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/sep/06/shein-uk-singapore-tax-fashion">report</a> by <em>The Guardian</em> alleging tax evasion in the UK, stating it complies with laws globally and undergoes regular audits. The company called the claims inaccurate and said it will take legal action against parties it accuses of spreading false information.

Anthropic has halted <a href="/industry/ai">AI</a> sales to companies with majority Chinese ownership, its first restriction tied to national security. A company executive said the move aims to prevent China from using its AI for military and intelligence purposes, with revenues expected to decline significantly.

<a href="/company/pony-ai">Pony.ai</a> has partnered with Mowasalat, Qatar’s largest transport operator, to launch robotaxi trials on Doha’s public roads. The tests, conducted with safety operators, focus on adapting its autonomous systems to Qatar’s weather, road infrastructure, and traffic conditions, marking the company’s expansion into the country’s transport sector.

<a href="/company/tiktok">TikTok’s</a> monthly user base in Europe has reportedly passed 200 million, rising from 175 million last year. The growth brings the platform close to reaching a third of the continent's population.

Lightelligence, a Chinese photonic computing startup, has raised more than RMB 1.5 billion in Series C funding from investors including China Mobile, <a href="/company/tencent">Tencent</a>, Shanghai State-owned Capital Investment, China Reform Securities Fund, and Pudong Venture Capital. The capital will be used to speed development and commercialization of its optoelectronic hybrid computing and photonic chip technologies.

<a href="/company/pop-mart">Pop Mart</a> said 7.91 million counterfeit products have been seized since it filed customs recordals in 27 countries and regions. European customs have been especially active, with the Netherlands intercepting more than 260,000 items. The company also issued multilingual guides to help identify fakes of its popular IPs.

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The startup has raised funding to expand its companion robot line after launching on Kickstarter and at CES.

Ropet secures new funding to develop robots that feel more like friends

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At IFA 2025, Chinese appliance makers bet on AI to offset slowing growth

Framed as an always-on revenue generator, the agentic platform promises small businesses the kind of advertising power that once cost thousands a month.

GAC to debut Aion EVs in UK market

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