Daily Tech Roundup: China iPhone Sales Soar, CATL Explores Electric Ships
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Welcome to the Daily Tech Roundup — a briefing of the top technology news making headlines in China and the rest of Asia.
Alibaba releases new version of large language model Tongyi Qianwen
Alibaba Cloud released an upgraded version of its large language model (LLM) Tongyi Qianwen on Thursday. The LLM is capable of carrying out multiple rounds of dialogue, writing computer code, and solving simple mathematical problems.
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- Alibaba Cloud has enhanced its large language model, Tongyi Qianwen, improving its comprehension, logical reasoning, coding abilities, and instruction-following capabilities by significant percentages.
- Apple's iPhone shipments in China increased by 12% in March following price cuts, reversing a previous decline amid competition from local brands and unofficial bans on state usage.
- Inceptio Technology's self-driving trucks have achieved 100 million kilometers without an accident on Chinese highways, marking a milestone for autonomous long-haul logistics.
Alibaba Cloud has introduced an enhanced version of its large language model, Tongyi Qianwen, boasting improvements in comprehension, logical reasoning, coding skills, and instruction-following capabilities. The new version 2.5 shows a significant enhancement over its predecessor with increases of 9% in comprehension and 16% in logical reasoning abilities. Additionally, the model's coding capabilities and ability to follow instructions have improved by 10% and 19%, respectively [para. 2].
In other news from China's tech landscape, Apple Inc. has seen a notable rise in iPhone shipments within China during March. This increase of approximately 12% comes after a series of price cuts by Apple and its retailers aimed at reversing a sales decline that had been intensifying since early 2024. Despite challenges from local competitors like Huawei and regulatory pressures, this rebound suggests positive momentum for Apple in one of its most crucial markets [para. 3][para. 4].
Meanwhile, Inceptio Technology, a Chinese autonomous driving startup, announced that its self-driving trucks have achieved a milestone of 100 million accident-free kilometers on China’s highways. This achievement is considered a record in the long-haul logistics sector for autonomous driving. The company's system currently operates across 83% of national highways in China with the help of drivers managing level 2+ and level 3 autonomous trucks [para. 5][para. 6].
In the mining sector, Qinghai Salt Lake Industry Co., Ltd., one of China's leading potash producers, revealed plans for restructuring with state-owned metal producer China Minmetals Corp. This move is part of broader efforts to establish a dominant global player in the lithium market—a critical component in battery production. The collaboration aims to develop a world-class salt lake industry base where Minmetals will hold a controlling interest [para. 7][para. 8].
Lastly, CATL (Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Ltd.), renowned for its electric vehicle batteries, has entered into an agreement with French shipping giant CMA CGM SA to explore opportunities in electric ships among other areas such as commercial vehicles and warehouse logistics. This partnership underscores CATL’s ongoing expansion into diverse sectors involving clean energy solutions [para. 9].
- Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.
- Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.'s cloud division released an upgraded version of its large language model, Tongyi Qianwen. The new version, Tongyi Qianwen 2.5, shows improved comprehension and logical reasoning by 9% and 16% respectively, and enhanced coding and instruction-following abilities by 10% and 19%. This model is capable of engaging in multiple dialogues, writing computer code, and solving simple mathematical problems.
- Apple Inc.
- Apple Inc.'s iPhone shipments in China increased by approximately 12% in March after the company and its retailers implemented price cuts. This growth follows a significant 37% decline in shipments during the first two months of 2024. Apple has faced challenges in China due to competition from local manufacturers like Huawei and restrictions on iPhone usage in state agencies and firms.
- Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd.
- Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. is mentioned as a local rival to Apple in China. The company's competition has contributed to challenges faced by Apple in maintaining its market share, particularly since 2023 when there was an unofficial ban on using iPhones in Chinese state agencies and firms. This situation has impacted Apple's business significantly in China, which is one of its most important markets outside the U.S.
- Inceptio Technology
- Inceptio Technology, a Chinese self-driving startup, announced that its trucks have achieved 100 million kilometers without accidents, setting a record in the autonomous long-haul logistics industry. The company's system is operational on 83% of China’s national highways and involves 1,864 drivers operating level 2+ and level 3 self-driving heavy-duty trucks. These levels require some human oversight despite their autonomous capabilities.
- Qinghai Salt Lake Industry Co. Ltd.
- Qinghai Salt Lake Industry Co. Ltd., a major Chinese potash company, announced a restructuring plan with state-owned China Minmetals Corp. This partnership aims to develop a world-class salt lake industry base and may lead to an ownership change for Salt Lake, which extracts lithium from brine and owns a significant salt lake in Qinghai province.
- China Minmetals Corp.
- China Minmetals Corp., a state-owned metal producer, is involved in a restructuring plan with Qinghai Salt Lake Industry Co. Ltd. to develop a world-class salt lake industry base. This partnership aims to create a global lithium behemoth, with China Minmetals potentially taking a controlling stake in the venture. This collaboration signifies an important step towards enhancing China's capabilities and influence in the lithium market.
- Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd. (CATL)
- Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd. (CATL), a leading Chinese electric vehicle battery manufacturer, has partnered with French shipping giant CMA CGM SA to explore R&D in electric ships, commercial vehicles, and warehouse logistics. They plan to establish a joint venture, details of which were not disclosed. CATL's chairman Zeng Yuqun is accompanying President Xi Jinping on his European trip this week.
- (French) CMA CGM SA
- CMA CGM SA is a French shipping giant that has entered into a cooperation agreement with Chinese electric vehicle battery giant CATL to explore research and development opportunities in electric ships, commercial vehicles, and warehouse logistics. The companies also plan to establish a joint venture, although details were not disclosed in the article.
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