Tesla Launches Full Self-Driving (FSD) Beta in Shanghai
After securing regulatory approval, Tesla began rolling out its supervised FSD 12.5.2 software to select Shanghai customers today. The AI-powered system leverages Baidu’s HD mapping infrastructure but faces competition from domestic rivals like Xpeng’s XNGP. Analysts predict FSD adoption could boost Tesla’s China revenue by 18% this quarter. Source: Global Times
Huawei Cloud Expands AI Partnerships in Middle East
Huawei’s cloud division announced a $200M investment to develop Arabic-language AI models through Qatar partnerships, leveraging its Pangu architecture. This follows its recent contract to digitize Doha’s smart city infrastructure, signaling growing geopolitical influence in tech exports. Source: Caixin Global
Zhejiang Manufacturing Output Surges 14% YoY
New data shows Zhejiang province’s advanced manufacturing sector hit ¥2.1T ($290B) in Q1 2025, driven by EV components and AI robotics. The growth comes as Jiaxing City unveils a $700M semiconductor packaging hub, positioning the Yangtze Delta as China’s answer to Silicon Valley. Source: Zhejiang Economic Bureau
Anthropic’s MCP Protocol Gains Traction in China
Over 120 Chinese tech firms including Alibaba Cloud and Tencent have adopted Anthropic’s Model Context Protocol for AI-tool integration since its February launch. The standardization effort could reduce development costs by 40% for enterprise AI solutions, per CCID Consulting. Source: Huxiu
BYD Unveils Megawatt Charging for Heavy-Duty EVs
The Shenzhen automaker demonstrated a 1.2MW flash-charging system capable of restoring 600km range in 12 minutes. This breakthrough addresses a key barrier to electric truck adoption, with mass production slated for Q3 2025. Source: TMTPost
Sequoia China Closes $4B Growth-Stage Fund
Despite U.S. investment restrictions, the firm secured commitments from Middle Eastern sovereign wealth funds and Asian family offices. The capital will target AI infrastructure and advanced manufacturing startups, reflecting China’s pivot to hard tech ventures. Source: China Venture Capital Journal
Baidu’s 6th-Gen Robotaxi Enters Mass Production
The tech giant partnered with Jiangling Motors to deploy 1,200 autonomous vehicles in Wuhan, featuring 10-layer safety redundancy systems. This positions Baidu to challenge Didi’s dominance in robo-taxi services ahead of its anticipated Hong Kong IPO. Source: Sohu Tech
NVIDIA Announces China-Specific AI Chips
At SEMICON China 2025, NVIDIA revealed the H20 and L20 PCIe GPUs tailored for Chinese data centers to comply with U.S. export controls. Early benchmarks show 85% of H100 performance levels, easing concerns about China’s AI development capabilities. Source: SEMICON China
JD.com Invests $150M in AI-Powered Logistics
The e-commerce giant launched autonomous delivery drones capable of carrying 50kg payloads across 300km ranges. Integrated with Meituan’s last-mile networks, this could reduce delivery costs by 60% in remote areas, accelerating rural commerce growth. Source: Cnfól Economic Daily
Tencent-Backed AI Chip Startup Raises $220M
Enflame Technology secured Series D funding at a $3.8B valuation, led by China Reform Holdings. The Shanghai-based company’s CloudBlazer T2 chips now power 15% of China’s cloud AI training workloads, challenging NVIDIA’s market position. Source: Snowball Finance
