Brief

General Motors is shifting its focus towards energy technology, particularly for data centers, after scaling back its electric vehicle targets. The automaker is collaborating with Peak Energy to develop a more affordable and durable sodium-ion battery for large-scale energy storage, aiming for commercialization by 2028. This move aims to compete with China's dominance in battery technology by utilizing domestically sourced materials and reducing the need for cooling systems, making the batteries cheaper to operate. AI

The US Department of Defense has expanded its blacklist to include 188 Chinese technology firms, citing their alleged ties to the Chinese military. This move, which adds companies like Alibaba, Baidu, and BYD, raises concerns about future investment restrictions and reputational damage for these firms. The expanded list spans various sectors, including AI, electric vehicles, and biotechnology, and has already impacted investor sentiment and stock prices in Hong Kong. AI

Tencent has stated that the launch timeline for its WeChat AI agent is uncertain, as it depends on regulatory approval processes, which may be more stringent due to WeChat's large user base. In other AI news, DeepSeek is reportedly seeking approximately $7 billion in its first funding round, with Tencent and CATL expected to be major investors. Additionally, Kimi has launched Kimi Work, a desktop agent designed for knowledge workers to manage tasks and create documents. AI

Korean investors are increasing their investments in Chinese hard technology assets, with AI chip leader Cambricon seeing nearly $20 million in net purchases over the past month. This trend is driven by the perception that Chinese tech assets offer high growth potential and valuation advantages, making them a rare investment opportunity in the current global market. Several foreign institutions believe overseas capital is accelerating to capture the benefits of China's tech industry development. AI

Purdue Robotics, led by CEO Zhang Tao, is preparing for a listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Separately, AI startup DeepSeek is reportedly seeking to raise approximately $7 billion in its initial funding round, aiming for a valuation of up to $59 billion with Tencent and CATL as major investors. AI

Contemporary Amperex Technology Ltd (CATL) has unveiled a new electric vehicle battery capable of charging from 10% to 98% in under six-and-a-half minutes. This rapid-charging technology, showcased at a Super Technology Day event in Beijing, is poised to significantly boost global sales for Chinese automakers. BYD has also introduced its own advanced battery technology, signaling a competitive push in the EV market. AI

CATL is set to invest 4.1 billion yuan in Zhongheng Electric's controlling shareholder, Hangzhou Zhongheng Technology Investment Co., Ltd. This investment will result in CATL holding a 49% stake in the company. Additionally, Wanfeng Auto will sell its wholly-owned subsidiary, Shanghai Dakro, for 500 million yuan. AI

Galbot founder and CTO Wang He, speaking at ICRA 2026, stated that embodied AI is approaching its "AlphaGo" and "ChatGPT" moments. The company has achieved breakthroughs in autonomous humanoid robot tennis matches and dexterous hand manipulation, demonstrating advanced Sim2Real capabilities. Wang also introduced the World Action Model (WAM) and its latest iteration, LDA, which enables long-horizon tasks and generalization across different robot configurations, with successful deployments in real-world scenarios like convenience stores and warehouses. AI

CATL is set to invest 4.1 billion yuan in Zhongheng Electric's controlling shareholder, Zhongheng Technology Investment. This investment will increase Zhongheng Technology Investment's registered capital, with CATL acquiring a 49% stake. Following the capital increase, the ownership of Zhongheng Technology Investment will be distributed among Zhu Guoding, Bao Xiaoru, and CATL. AI

DeepSeek is reportedly seeking to raise approximately 50 billion RMB in its first funding round, with participation from major investors like Tencent and CATL, aiming for a post-investment valuation between 350-400 billion RMB. The company's founder, Liang Wenfeng, is expected to contribute 20 billion RMB personally. This funding round also involves discussions with other significant entities such as the China National Integrated Circuit Industry Investment Fund, NetEase, and JD.com. AI

ByteDance, the company behind TikTok, is partnering with Seres Group to launch a new electric vehicle brand called Saidou Technology. ByteDance will contribute its AI platform, Volcano Engine, to power the car's interactive features and digital cockpit. The venture has secured a significant investment of 6.67 billion yuan (approximately $920 million USD) from a consortium including a CATL subsidiary, with Seres retaining a 33% stake. The first model, a crossover available in BEV and EREV variants, is expected to debut this year, with potential for international distribution. AI

Ningde Times has signed separate electrolyte supply agreements with two Chinese chemical companies, Yongtai Technology and New Zealander Bond. The agreements, spanning from 2026 to 2028, outline expected procurement volumes of 470,000 tons for Yongtai Technology and 300,000 tons for New Zealander Bond. These deals are anticipated to positively impact the financial performance of both chemical suppliers during the specified period. AI