China tablet shipments fall 4.8% as subsidy boost fades: IDC

China's tablet computer shipments fell 4.8% year on year to 8.11 million units in the first quarter of 2026, according to a new report from IDC. IDC said the market is shifting away from growth driven by device replacement demand and government subsidy policies toward a more rational phase led by product competitiveness and real consumer demand. The research firm said the transition is likely to put short-term pressure on shipments, but reflects a broader maturation of China's tablet market.

GalaxySpace unveils deployable antenna for satellite internet push

Beijing-based GalaxySpace on Monday unveiled a deployable "umbrella antenna"for low-Earth-orbit satellites, which it described as the first high-performance spaceborne antenna of its kind developed by a private Chinese aerospace company. The company said the antenna can deliver communication performance up to 10 times stronger than its earlier mechanically steerable Q/V-band antennas while taking up far less launch space inside a rocket fairing. Designed to fold before launch and automatically deploy in orbit, the antenna is intended for broadband satellite communications and future direct-to-cell connectivity services. GalaxySpace also said it had developed a new mesh-forming manufacturing process that improves production efficiency by more than 70%, reflecting China's broader push toward industrialized commercial aerospace manufacturing.

Xiaomi says YU7 GT sets Nürburgring SUV lap record

Xiaomi founder, chairman and CEO Lei Jun said on Tuesday that the Xiaomi YU7 GT had set a new Nürburgring lap record for SUVs, posting a time of 7 minutes and 34.931 seconds. Lei also said Xiaomi Auto chief test driver Ren Zhoucan had become the first Chinese driver to receive official Nürburgring lap certification. Germany's Nürburgring Nordschleife has become a key proving ground for Chinese EV makers seeking to showcase performance and raise their global profile.Xiaomi has increasingly leaned on performance branding as competition in China's EV market intensifies.

GUESS taps new China partner after Authentic acquisition

Authentic Brands Group and Guess have partnered with Hangzhou-based Ruisi Haishang to oversee the local operations and development of GUESS in mainland China, Jiemian Newshas learned exclusively. The partnership marks the first major move in the Chinese market since Authentic acquired a majority stake in GUESS'intellectual property rights earlier in 2026. Ruisi Haishang, established in March 2026, is a joint venture between Hangzhou Quanshang Technology and Yinian Huasheng. Quanshang Technology operates domestic fashion brands including Duibai and One Moment, while also introducing and managing international labels such as MMLG and Vera Wang in China. Its partner, Yinian Huasheng, is a retail operator for brands including MLB, Hunter, Salomon and Mammut, reflecting growing overlap between fashion, sportswear and outdoor retail in China's consumer market.

Cainiao opens four new warehouses in Europe, executive says

Cainiao, the logistics arm of Alibaba Group, has opened four new warehouses in Europe so far this year, a senior executive said on Thursday, as the Chinese firm steps up investment in overseas fulfillment. The facilities are located in Daventry in the United Kingdom, Paris in France, Madrid in Spain and Rokitno in Poland, SHUAI Yong, vice president of Cainiao and head of its global supply chain unit, said. They will serve several major Chinese cross-border e-commerce platforms, while also supporting European merchants selling into China via Cainiao's global supply chain network. The company plans to build additional automated warehouses in Europe, including facilities equipped with climbing robots, Shuai said.

China's March trade in goods and services hits 4.99 trillion yuan, SAFE says

China's State Administration of Foreign Exchange said total trade in goods and services reached 4.99 trillion yuan in March. Exports stood at 2.64 trillion yuan and imports at 2.34 trillion yuan, for a surplus of 299.9 billion yuan, the regulator said. In dollar terms, exports were $382.9 billion and imports $339.5 billion, resulting in a surplus of $43.4 billion. Travel services totaled 183.3 billion yuan, followed by other business services at 157.9 billion yuan and transport at 142.8 billion yuan. Telecom, computer and information services came in at 73.1 billion yuan.

CATL sets up 30 billion yuan resources unit in Xiamen

Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited has established a new subsidiary focused on upstream resources, in a move that underscores its push to secure raw materials for battery production. According to corporate registry platform Tianyancha, Time Resources Group (Xiamen) Co. was registered on April 22 with a registered capital of 30 billion yuan (US$4.1 billion). The company is wholly owned by CATL, with SHU Zhiming listed as legal representative. Its business scope includes mineral exploration, non-coal mining, geological prospecting, manufacturing of non-metallic mineral products, as well as sales of metals, chemicals and equipment. It also covers investment activities and corporate headquarters management. The broad mandate points to a potential expansion into upstream resource development and investment, as CATL seeks to strengthen control over key materials such as lithium and other battery metals.

Tesla AI voice feature cleared for filing in Shanghai, rollout expected

A new in-car AI voice service developed by Tesla has completed regulatory filing in Shanghai. The service, described as a "vehicle-mounted large-model voice system,"was included among newly registered generative AI applications on April 21, marking compliance with China's regulatory requirements for such technologies. Under current rules, generative AI services that go live must disclose model details and filing numbers in a prominent location, and label AI-generated content in accordance with national guidelines. A Tesla representative told Yicai on April 22: "Please stay tuned,"without providing further details on timing or features. The filing suggests Tesla is preparing to roll out an upgraded in-car voice assistant in China, as automakers increasingly integrate large language models into vehicle systems to enhance user interaction and smart cockpit capabilities.

Starbucks China denies reports of franchise opening

Starbucks China said on Tuesday that reports claiming it has begun opening franchise opportunities nationwide are false, in response to a query from Jiemian News. Posts circulating on social media had said the company would roll out franchising in phases from April, with per-store investment estimated at 1.1 million to 1.3 million yuan ($161,000–$190,000).

China"s March power use rises 3.5%, NEA says

China's total electricity consumption rose 3.5% year on year in March to 859.5 billion kilowatt-hours, data from the National Energy Administration showed. Power use in the primary sector grew 6.7%, while secondary industry consumption rose 2.0%, including a 2.3% increase in industrial usage. Electricity demand from high-tech and equipment manufacturing expanded 5.6%. Consumption in the services sector climbed 7.7%, with charging and battery-swapping services and internet data services posting growth of 51.3% and 40.1%, respectively. Residential electricity use rose 5.2%. In the first quarter, total power consumption reached 2.51 trillion kWh, up 5.2% from a year earlier, the data showed.