Pandaily's Digest #20220801
On July 31, Beijing-based autonomous driving unicorn Momenta abruptly eliminated its entire automative aftermarket division, involving more than 100 employees in total, sources told Pandaily.
Source: Autonomous Driving Unicorn Momenta Dissolves Aftermarket Division Due to Funding Difficulties
On July 31, Beijing-based autonomous driving unicorn Momenta abruptly eliminated its entire automotive aftermarket division, involving more than 100 employees in total, sources told Pandaily. The division, which consists mostly of research and development staff, was cut without any notice. Affected staff members have now been temporarily allocated to other departments, although sources mentioned that layoffs will “eventually” occur.
Former CEO of JD Logistics to Join Energy Firm GCL Group
Wang Zhenhui, the former CEO of JD Logistics, a business group within JD.com, will soon join Golden Concord Limited Holdings Co., Ltd. (GCL Group), an enterprise committed to the advancement of green, low-carbon and zero-carbon technology, LatePost reported on July 29. Wang will take charge of the mobile energy business and report directly to the chairman of the group.
Honor Tops China’s Smartphone Market Share for First Time
Tech market research firm IDC released a quarterly cell phone tracking report on July 29. In Q2 2022, China’s smartphone market shipped about 67.2 million units, down 14.7 percent year-on-year. The domestic smartphone market shipped about 140 million units in the first half of the year, down 14.4 percent year-on-year. Domestic shipments of folding screen products exceeded 1.1 million units in the first half of the year, an increase of about 70% year-on-year.
Virtual Currency Based on Chinese “Second Uncle” Video Crashes
A video has gone viral on Chinese social media recently, telling the inspiring story of a resilient villager who became disabled as a teenager. Meanwhile, a related virtual currency called “second uncle coin” (SUC) was released on July 28, then experienced a price crash on July 31.
Lexus LM Doors Reportedly Fail to Open After Fatal Crash in China
Many Chinese media outlets have reported on a car accident involving a Lexus LM in Guigang, Guangxi Province on July 28. The car in question reportedly crashed into a roadside guardrail, causing serious damage to the front of the car, and some passengers were trapped inside the car. When passers-by attempted to rescue them, they found that the doors could not be opened. Finally, the vehicle spontaneously ignited, leading to the death of one passenger. This incident has aroused heated discussion and concern on the Chinese internet.
Qihoo 360 Co-Founder Accuses Microsoft of Plagiarism
Zhou Hongyi, the co-founder of Chinese internet security firm Qihoo 360 Technology accused Microsoft of plagiarism at the 10th Internet Security Conference (ISC 2022) on July 30. “Now Microsoft is copying Qihoo 360, imitating the Qihoo 360 Safe Center, and creating a Microsoft computer butler,” Zhou said.
Carbon Management Firm Carbonstop Secures 100M Yuan in Round-B Financing
Beijing-based firm Carbonstop, a provider of emissions management software and consulting solutions, announced on August 1 that it had completed a round B of financing worth 100 million yuan ($14.82 million), led by Sequoia China and followed by its original shareholders GL Ventures and Matrix Partners.
NIO Builts Over 10,000 NEV Charging Piles in China
On July 29, Shanghai-based new energy vehicle company NIO announced the total number of its charging piles across China reaches over 10,000, covering 269 cities, following the commissioning of a super-charging station at the Shuguang Technology Building in Shenzhen.
BYD Recalls Over 50,000 Hot-Selling Units
According to an announcement by China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR), domestic NEV developer BYD decided on July 29 to recall some Tang DM electric vehicles produced between April 5, 2021, and April 18, 2022, totaling 52,928 units.
Tesla China Anticipates High Q3 Exports
On July 30, Youtuber Wu Wa posted a video showing that Tesla’s Gigafactory Shanghai has completed its latest round of upgrades and is now producing new vehicles in large numbers. Thousands of cars are now being shipped to Europe from the Shanghai South Port terminal.