Alibaba

ByteDance

CATL

Huawei

Meituan

Tencent

Xiaomi

Most Followed

Market News

Listings (IPO)

Earnings Reports

Venture Roundup

Big Tech

Automotives

Retail and Commerce

Collections

News

Features

Insights

Press Releases

Anta

DeepSeek

Geely

Li Auto

Mixue Bingcheng

Pop Mart

Going Global

BYD is expanding its Japan lineup with plug-in hybrid vehicles after revised clean energy subsidies eroded its price competitiveness for pure EVs. The…

Latest

Collaborate

Earnings

Auto

Retail & Commerce

ByteDance, a Chinese internet company, uses machine learning to recommend engaging videos, news, and social content (via TikTok and Douyin).

China’s tech ecosystem serves as a driving force behind the world’s second largest economy, influencing global digital markets.

China

Explore East Asia’s thriving tech hubs, global electronics producers, and fast-evolving digital platforms shaping cross-border innovation.

East Asia

What guides machine-led insights? Uncover AI applications, language models, and decision-making systems transforming sectors worldwide.

Artificial Intelligence

How do ideas shape industries? Learn how content, design, and digital artistry influence branding, marketing, and cultural impact.

Creative

What lies beyond familiar frontiers? Investigate emerging tech—like quantum computing and AI—transforming traditional sectors.

Deep Tech

What entertains a connected world? Track shifts in film, music, and media consumption, as platforms and audiences redefine cultural experiences.

Entertainment

The chatbot is providing real-time interpretation for two exhibitions featuring works from the Louvre and Picasso.

ByteDance’s Doubao turns from chatbot to docent at Shanghai art museum

Decoding China&#039;s tech and business pulse

KrASIA

Cheng Zi is based in China, covering technology- and business-related events. She works with her colleagues at 36Kr Global to provide coverage in both English and Chinese.

Cheng Zi

Photo of Yan Zhou, chairman of Hong Kong-listed bulk snack retailer Busy Ming.

What sets the bar for convenience? Examine on-demand platforms, subscription models, and personalization transforming consumer expectations.

Consumer Economy

How do stores adapt to digital shifts? Explore e-commerce integration, inventory analytics, and omnichannel strategies for modern shoppers.

Retail

The company’s rise traces back to a founder who has avoided the spotlight for years.

How Busy Ming rose behind a low-profile but resolute founder

From left to right: Joseph Lin, investment manager at Kymco Capital; Gary Ting, CEO of Kymco Capital; Kantinan Tunveenukoon, CEO of Sleek EV; and Ong Zhang Quan, COO of Sleek EV.

Sea Group operates digital entertainment (Garena), e-commerce (Shopee), and fintech (SeaMoney) platforms across Southeast Asia.

Sea Group

Southeast Asia’s tech ecosystem is a melting pot of startups and businesses of all sizes, all vying for rapid growth.

Southeast Asia

How do markets shape wealth creation? Study portfolio diversification, asset classes, and strategies balancing growth and risk.

Investment

When do companies invite public investment? Understand listing criteria, underwriter roles, and regulatory steps defining initial offerings.

Why do firms join forces? Investigate synergy goals, valuation methods, and negotiations driving corporate consolidation.

Merger &amp; Acquisition

What happens after acquisitions close? Examine deal structures, operational improvements, and exit strategies molding corporate outcomes.

Private Equity

What fuels startup ecosystems? Review funding rounds, investor strategies, and market insights guiding entrepreneurial growth.

Venture Capital

Australia

Oceania

Singapore

Thailand

Bringing you the latest updates on funding and investment activity across the Asia Pacific.

Deals in brief: Sleek EV and Polybee raise funding, Sea Limited backs Noematrix, eight other China investments, and more

An alias used when humans and machines team up in our newsroom. Articles under this byline may be shaped with the help of AI, but are always vetted by a human before publication.

Sudo Lim

KrASIA tracks China’s tech and business stories, alongside key developments across the broader Asia Pacific region.

Header Section | KrASIA

Home

Sections

Header Section

<a href="/company/byd">BYD</a> is expanding its Japan lineup with plug-in hybrid vehicles after revised clean energy subsidies eroded its price competitiveness for pure <a href="/industry/ev">EVs</a>. The move reflects the automaker’s effort to adapt its strategy as it seeks growth outside China.

<a href="/company/xpeng">Xpeng</a> launched in-app <a href="/industry/ev">EV</a> charging payments in Hong Kong on February 9 through Ant International’s Antom, its first global payment partner for vehicle charging. Drivers can start, stop, and pay for charging in the Xpeng app using AlipayHK, with cards and regional wallets to be added as the rollout expands across Southeast Asia and other markets in 2026.

Mainland China’s cloud infrastructure services market grew 24% YoY to USD 13.4 billion in Q3 2025, marking a second consecutive quarter of growth above 20% as <a href="/industry/ai">AI</a> adoption lifted demand for compute, storage, and database services. Alibaba Cloud led the market with a 36% share, followed by Huawei Cloud at 16% and Tencent Cloud at 9%.

Shares of Chinese chip designer Montage Technology surged more than 60% after its Hong Kong debut on February 9, following a USD 902 million IPO priced at the top of the range.

Carro has been appointed an authorized dealer for Dongfeng Motor, opening exclusive showrooms in Singapore and Malaysia. The partnership expands Carro’s retail strategy for new cars and brings Dongfeng <a href="/industry/ev">EV</a> models to customers with integrated sales, financing, and after-sales support.

<a href="/company/pony-ai">Pony.ai</a> said the first bZ4X robotaxi it co-developed with Toyota has rolled off the production line, marking a step toward mass commercial deployment. The companies plan to produce more than 1,000 vehicles in 2026 as Pony.ai expands robotaxi services across China’s major cities.

<a href="/company/luckin-coffee">Luckin Coffee</a> has opened its 30,000th store in Shenzhen, debuting its first “origin flagship” focused on global sourcing and premium coffee. The milestone highlights the chain’s expanding scale and ambitions, while the new format reflects a shift beyond rapid expansion toward higher-end offerings.

Innovent Biologics said it has reached an agreement with Eli Lilly to co-develop new oncology and immunology medicines. The deal includes USD 350 million upfront and up to USD 8.5 billion in milestone payments, with Innovent leading early development in China and Eli Lilly holding global rights outside Greater China.

Aito has signed a partnership agreement with Performance Plus Motors, a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi Motors, to sell its high-end vehicles in the UAE. The deal covers sales, delivery, and after-sales service, supporting Aito’s entry into the Middle East as its models complete local certification and begin test drives.

<a href="/company/xiaohongshu">Xiaohongshu</a> is testing OpenStoryline, its first <a href="/industry/ai">AI</a>-driven video editing platform. The agent-based tool lets users upload images and edit videos through conversation, with results said to be comparable to Dreamina’s Xiaoyunque and <a href="/company/sensetime">SenseTime’s</a> Seko 2.0.

China’s digital services trade surplus more than doubled to a record USD 33 billion in 2025, data from the State Administration of Foreign Exchange showed, as companies including <a href="/company/alibaba">Alibaba</a>, <a href="/company/tencent">Tencent</a>, and <a href="/company/bytedance">ByteDance</a> accelerated overseas expansion in cloud computing, <a href="/industry/e-commerce">e-commerce</a>, and <a href="/industry/ai">AI</a>.

What powers digital devices? Delve into chip design, manufacturing bottlenecks, and semiconductor breakthroughs fueling global electronics.

Semiconductors

China’s largest foundry reported higher sales and strong utilization, but depreciation from new capacity compressed profitability.

SMIC posts revenue growth in Q4 as expansion weighs on margins

https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/6ff53490f679f358bf543998d228fb32?s=96&d=blank&r=g

Baidu leads Chinese search engines, voice assistants, autonomous driving research, and AI platforms connecting users with information and services.

Baidu

Foundation and Large Models

Ernie is embedded into Baidu’s main app to leverage its search dominance.

Baidu integrates AI into search as rivals pursue superapp ambitions

https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/a1c02e0609a846ab19ab44182633a8d5?s=96&d=blank&r=g

Close-up of a 3D printer made by Chinese company Bambu Lab.

What grounds digital progress in physical form? Analyze chipsets, sensors, and advanced components driving device performance.

Hardware

Europe

Chinese players lead the desktop segment as the EU struggles to focus on deployment and demand creation.

Europe urged to follow China's industrial 3D printing strategy

Europe urged to follow China&#8217;s industrial 3D printing strategy

As part of 36Kr’s ongoing partnership with Nikkei, you can read selected content from Nikkei Asia on KrASIA.

https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/aec5e55596415464d13490d0e0caa9a2?s=96&d=blank&r=g

BYD shifts strategy in Japan

Latest Pulses

Most Recent

SMIC posts revenue growth in Q4 as expansion weighs on margins

Baidu integrates AI into search as rivals pursue superapp ambitions

Europe urged to follow China’s industrial 3D printing strategy