China Tech Digest
DeepSeek's price slash, BYD's new EVs and more...
In a week where tariffs are rising faster than temperatures, China’s tech and business sectors are turning up the heat with groundbreaking innovations and strategic moves. Here’s your essential roundup of China’s latest market maneuvers.
In the AI arena, DeepSeek has thrown down the gauntlet by slashing its large language model API rates by up to 75%. This aggressive pricing undercuts major players and makes AI services more accessible. However, analysts warn that this price war could squeeze smaller providers, favoring those with deeper pockets.
Alibaba International Digital Commerce Group (AIDC) is on a global talent hunt with its “Bravo 102” initiative. Over 80% of its 2026 campus hires will be AI-focused, aiming to infuse intelligence into platforms like AliExpress and Lazada. It’s a strategic pivot that says, “AI is not just the future; it’s the present.”
BYD is gearing up to launch its latest electric marvels—the Han L sedan and Tang L SUV—on April 9. These aren’t your average plug-and-play vehicles; with a 1,000 kW charging system, they promise to add 400 km of range in just five minutes.Priced to compete with the likes of Tesla, BYD is positioning itself as the hare in the EV race, leaving the tortoises behind.
Rumors are swirling that CATL is looking to acquire a controlling stake in NIO Power, NIO’s battery-swapping arm. With NIO’s network of over 3,000 swap stations and CATL’s battery prowess, this partnership could be the peanut butter and jelly of the EV infrastructure world, setting the stage for a standardized swapping ecosystem.
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