Saskia Kohlhaas’ Post

🌐 Key Insights from Nikkei Asia's TechAsia: Navigating the Shifts in Technology and Trade 🌐 As we get back into the swing of things after the labour holiday, it's fascinating to observe how China's extended "golden week" marks a time for celebration and sparks a period of intense economic and technological activities. The latest Nikkei Asia's TechAsia newsletter delves into these dynamics, highlighting key developments that are shaping the landscape of technology and business across the region. Here are some critical takeaways: Automotive Innovation: The Beijing International Automotive Exhibition marked its return with significant announcements in electric vehicles (EVs), including new models and partnerships. Notably, Chinese brands like XPeng, Geely, and BYD showcased advancements likening EVs to "AI-powered smartphones on wheels." International Collaborations and Competitions: Amidst fierce competition and market dynamics, Tesla and Baidu are strengthening their ties, aiming to introduce advanced self-driving systems in China. This mirrors broader trends where global automotive players increasingly integrate Chinese-made technology to stay competitive in the world's largest car market. Apple's Strategic Supply Chain Movements: Apple has been deepening its footprint in China, increasing its local suppliers to 52, showcasing China’s growing significance in global tech supply chains. Concurrently, Apple is diversifying its supply chains into Southeast Asia and India, a strategic move amidst the ongoing Sino-American tech conflict. Rare Earths and Geopolitics: China remains a pivotal player in the rare earth minerals sector, essential for tech manufacturing. However, financial pressures and increasing international efforts to establish independent supply chains are changing market dynamics. These insights are crucial, not just for us here in Malaysia but also for professionals worldwide. They offer a treasure trove of lessons on innovation, collaboration, and strategic adaptation in our interconnected global landscape. Understanding these trends becomes essential as Malaysia's tech and manufacturing sectors continue to grow. They can guide our strategies, helping us grow and build resilience in the face of future challenges. #TechAsia #NikkeiAsia #GlobalTrade #TechnologyTrends #AutomotiveInnovation #SupplyChainManagement #GeopoliticalEconomics

It is a heartening to read that simple straightforward report of a business visit to China. It denies several statements about the status quo of China in the media. Take e.g. the part about the concentration of German invested companies. That is quite a different story than the 'foreign investors are leaving China' parlance. The world is not in a very good shape, but within that macro-environment, China is actually doing very well. #china #economy #fdi #foreigninvestment

GAC Toyota and Tencent reached strategic cooperation #GACToyota #Tencent On July 14, GAC Toyota and Tencent solidified their partnership by signing a strategic cooperation framework agreement dedicated to accelerating digital ecology development in Shenzhen, China. Through this collaboration, both parties will engage in comprehensive cooperation, covering various areas such as automotive cloud platforms, network security, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) technology, and digital marketing. The primary goal of this partnership is to expedite GAC Toyota’s digital transformation and upgrading efforts. Leveraging Tencent’s TAI intelligent cockpit ecosystem, the collaboration will focus on the exploration of innovative cockpit application scenarios and user-operational business models, aiming to reach more users via data-driven intelligence growth. #CIMP #AutoEcosystems #China #guangzhou #shenzhen #auto #modification 

🚄 In contrast to road traffic, there have been driverless and fully automatic vehicles on the railways for a surprisingly long time – the first such trains were put into operation in 1981 in Kobe, Japan. Today, trains without drivers can be found in over 40 cities throughout the world, including Copenhagen, Paris, Singapore, Dubai and London. However, these are primarily underground trains which operate in closed environments. As a result, work is now under way to bring highly or fully automated trains to the more open environments of freight, regional and long-distance transport as well. Similar to cars, the different stages of autonomy are divided into levels, Grade of Automation (GoA) 1-4. For more facts and figures make sure to order your free copy of our magazine, 'TQ Futue Mobility': 👉 bit.ly/41DnX3g #technology #tech #electronics #innovation #futuretech #futuretechnology #futuretechnologies #techinnovation #tqmagazine

My Breathtaking Miracle Happened in China The aBB delegation trip through China's automotive landscape is ongoing. The flooding of insights, information, learnings, and stunning events is capturing full energy. Sounds like an exhausting time. But the contrary is the case. The only challenge is the digestion of all these remarkable moments and, by the way, the extraordinary, delicious food. In Taicang, I made new observations: China's so-called “German town” hosts more than 500 successful German companies. The local government supports all of them and offers unique programs for new entrepreneurs. Despite that, the mood of the German managers is less optimistic than it used to be for different reasons. Working and collaborating on eye level is smoother than it used to be. The warm welcome for investors can be felt everywhere. Moving southwards to the water city and Automotive Congress venue, Wuzhen, we stopped at the famous Tsinghua Yangzi Delta Institute. Enthusiastically, the engineers presented their latest research around mobility. Even the presentation was held with the latest entertainment equipment. From AI supporting the driver via autonomous driving to the latest developments in fuel cell technology. Observing a test vehicle equipped with a fuel cell, a kind professor moved me into a minibus to explain the technology on an open display. Talking about our career, we realized we both studied Automotive Technology. Believe it or not, We figured we were working at the same time, at the same Berlin institute at the TU-Berlin with the same famous Professor Dr. Willumeit. What a hallo. Still, I got goosebumps thinking about that magic moment. We lost contact 35 years ago. Prof. Dr.-Ing. Tong Zhang is now working as a world-class leading expert in Fuel Cell technology. What another coincidence, as I also researched the Fuel Cell at BMW in Munich for my Diploma Thesis a while back. My major learnings: In China, technology development is at a high pace. We witnessed that in several fields in the Automotive sector. The public focus on E-mobility and Fuel Cell technology is pushing heavily and granting short-term successes. Magic occurs in unexpected moments at unusual places. Which was your last magical experience?

First panel discussion of day 2 Financial Times #futureofthecar is debating how the new APAC OEMs might disrupt industry incumbents with views from Markus Collet Michael Fait Sigrid de Vries and Andrew Hill. Sigrid starts by confirming the market welcomes competition and it’s nothing new however EV is bringing new challenges to the European market as she feels the infrastructure hasn’t progressed as needed quoting that 50% of chargers are in just 2 countries. Markus references that new entrants isn’t new with the likes of Honda, Toyota and other Asian OEMs having entered the market however the green transition is changing everything. Chinese OEMs are providing a new Model T moment due to their leadership in battery, software and EV which is a market changing dynamic. Michael talks about the need for OEMs to start approaching software manufacture with the same focus they have traditionally bought to physical manufacturing of the car. How many OEMs truly understand the fast feedback and iterative release cycle of software development. New OEMs also have the benefit of starting with a software focus whereas legacy OEMs are having to learn then reengineer. There is also a wealth of software experience and talent in China which means they are able to move faster and at scale. A trend towards China being seen as a market that works in a different way which is leading to European OEMs partnering with China based firms to allow them to share in the speed of innovation. Michael references that Western OEMs are still trying to sell physical products whereas software defined vehicles means the direction of travel is providing consumers with mobility solutions for every need rather than an a single fixed solution. Panel discuss whether brand loyalty is important and continues to have a significant influence on buying behaviour or with the growth of EV are we seeing a willingness to try new brands and consider them their as part of their buying decision. Younger generations relationship to brands and car purchasing is very different so brands will need to be agile to remain relevant. When asked what does the world look like in 10 years and the view is we are likely to be discussing disruption, software defined vehicles and EV. #ev #innovation #automotive

Very interesting discussion on NewOEMS and the disruptive change of the automotive ecosystem that they stand for, arguably the most discussed topic of FT Car.

📢 Huawei's Intelligent Automotive Solution Unit Set for $34.67 Billion Valuation 🚗 Huawei is making significant moves in the automotive sector by spinning off its Intelligent Automotive Solution (IAS) business unit into a new company, aiming for a robust valuation of up to $34.67 billion. This strategic decision reflects Huawei's commitment to navigating the evolving landscape of intelligent electric vehicles. 🤝 Key investors, including Changan Auto, are set to acquire stakes in the new firm. Notably, Changan Auto and its parent, China South Industries Group, are considering substantial ownership, potentially reaching 40% of the new company's valuation. 💡 Huawei's foray into the smart car industry, marked by the creation of the IAS unit, was initially met with high expectations. However, the decision to spin it off suggests the challenges the company faced in achieving growth and the need to recoup capital amid significant research and development investments. 🌐 The new firm is poised to engage in comprehensive activities, including R&D, production, sales, and service of intelligent automotive systems and components. Additionally, the potential relocation of the headquarters to Chongqing indicates a strategic shift in Huawei's automotive focus. 📈 As Huawei plans to retain a substantial ownership stake, there's a notable dynamic at play. While this move allows the company to recalibrate its focus and potentially attract external investments, it also underscores the complex landscape of the smart car industry, where even tech giants face challenges in achieving sustained growth. 🌐 I believe this strategic shift highlights the intricacies and fierce competition within the smart car industry. Huawei's move to retain a significant ownership stake could be a calculated step to maintain influence in a sector that demands continual innovation and adaptation. #Tech #Innovation #Business #Strategy #Investment #Insights #Future #Mobility #SmartTech #Digital #Transformation #InnovationHub #GlobalMarkets #StrategicMove #Industry #Economy #Trends #Leadership #Outlook #News #Insider #Dynamics https://lnkd.in/defRJaiK

Last week I had the privilege to visit China on a week long trip to visit a number of leading tech companies and understand how they are innovating in such a competitive local market. With time in Shanghai, Dafung and Beijing, we visited a range of companies looking at driverless cars, solar power, robotics, green tech, e-commerce and LLMs to name a few. Having never visited the country before and knowing little about the region, I was astounded at the speed in which companies are innovating, diversifying their offering and using technology to tackle issues facing the economy and environment. Having visited Silicon Valley in June on a similar trip, being able to compare companies working in similar fields was also particularly interesting. P.S. excuse the shoddy camera work, I promise it wasn’t on a race track and actually going at a sensible speed 😉 #greentech #china #innovation #sustainability #ai

🤩 Here is a qualitative assessment ⭐️ of what is happening right now in the automotive 🚗 value chain in Europe 🌍. Traditional OEMs seems to face incredible competition 😱 from new challengers out of China 🇨🇳 and the U.S. 🇺🇸 - here is some context. ❗️ As always, my personal thoughts only. You are smart as well, add yours! ✍🏻 👉 It’s not as simple and binary as you might think. The value chain 🔋👾📀🪛🚙 is complex and there are areas where we could see head starts by Chinese 🇨🇳 OEMs but there are also important areas where the traditional brands are leading 💪. 👉 Let’s start with the key advantages that might be the gatekeepers to future strengths. Development speed 🚀, access to battery supply 🔋 and software development 🧑💻. 👉 It’s impressive to follow the speed of product launches 🚗🚙🚌 at Chinese companies. Companies like NIO, BYD or XPENG, ZEEKR Europe have created platforms and models in a speed that made some of the legacy 😵💫 dizzying. 👉 No question, China 🇨🇳 has a significant head start on battery technology and supply, including access to raw materials 💎. 👉 Software and the customer defined digital cockpits 📱 and assistant systems 🕹️ are one of the main battlegrounds in 🇨🇳 China. I have the impression that what we see at the moment is beyond what customers would expect 💫 and in some degree also accept in Europe. 👉 Btw., I agree with Sino Auto Insights and Hui Zhang from Nio, Software defined vehicles is a technical term ⚙️ that does not mean anything for the customers and owners. It’s important to focus on the customer centricity 🤳 that could be enabled by a software ecosystem 🔮. 👉 To believe that there is a benefit on quality is a mistake‼️: We are way beyond the Landwind era, Chinese OEMs deliver same quality 🌟 standards at way lower costs 🤑. I talked to some test drive co-pilots during the IAA MOBILITY most test drivers were either shocked 😳, speechless or impressed. 👉 Don’t underestimate the power of brands 💪 but don’t rest on it and the brand image: Strong brands like Mercedes-Benz AG or BMW Group, Volkswagen Group and Toyota Motor Corporation brands might have an advantage as of now. I personally would assume that brands at the lower end (based on market share) of the volume segment are the first bites. How fast a strong car brand is under pressure could be followed in China. 👉 An other moat of the traditional car 🚘 brands might be a strong dealer 🏪 and service infrastructure 🪛🔧. It’s often downplayed in importance but customers see it at crucial when they take possession of a >$30k device. ➡️ To summarize, Chinese brands have multiple jokers 🃏 in their decks. Traditional players need to utilize their assets like brand trust/image and dealer networks as long as possible while fixing the parts along the value chain. What are your thoughts? 💭 #china #cars #europe #automotive