From smartphones to smart mobility: Xiaomi’s bold EV transformation takes flight

Xiaomi made a strong entry into the electric vehicle (EV) market in 2024, selling 136,800 units of its debut model, the SU7. Founder Jun Lei has set an ambitious target of reaching 350,000 sales in 2025, positioning Xiaomi among China’s top EV brands. The company’s expansion into automotive manufacturing marks a significant shift from its smartphone business, differentiating it from many of its industry peers.

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South Korean semiconductor boom drives massive profit surge for SK Hynix and Samsung in 2024

A recent survey from South Korea reveals a significant boost in the country’s top 500 companies’ performance in 2024. Operating profits soared by 66% compared to 2023, reaching KRW73 trillion (approx. US$51.1 billion), with the semiconductor industry leading the charge. Major players such as SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics are driving the country’s IT and electronics sector, contributing to an astounding 854% increase in operating profits for the industry as a whole.

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Chinese AI chipmakers race to support DeepSeek, but full model adoption remains limited

Nearly 20 Chinese AI chip companies have announced compatibility with the DeepSeek distilled model, but only a handful—including Huawei, Cambricon Technologies, Moore Threads, and Baidu Kunlun—are capable of running the 671-billion parameters version. The disparity highlights the current state of China’s AI chip sector, with many firms still focusing on smaller, less computationally intensive models.

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