China Proposes First National Law on Autonomous Driving
China has submitted a draft road traffic safety law amendment that for the first time dedicates a chapter to autonomous vehicles, assigning liability to manufacturers. In other developments, Tesla's FSD entry into China looks increasingly uncertain, and Alibaba founder Jack Ma has raised his stake in the company.
Meanwhile, hopes for Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) rollout in China are fading. Kuaikeji reported that a netizen's tip claims Tesla's Shanghai data center, set up for FSD's domestic launch, is now empty and the support team has withdrawn, making a near-term launch unlikely. Tesla's North America website updated its FSD available regions list, which includes only 12 areas globally but not China. Auto blogger Chen Zhen questioned whether the 64,000 yuan FSD package purchased by Chinese owners would be wasted.
Alibaba founder Jack Ma has increased his holdings in Alibaba's Hong Kong-listed shares by more than HK$600 million over recent days, according to a person familiar with the matter reported by Sina Tech. Combined with purchases by Joe Tsai and Eddie Wu, Alibaba's management has added over HK$800 million in shares. This comes after Alibaba announced a HK$80 billion share placement to fund AI infrastructure.
Huawei's tri-fold smartphones, the Mate XT and Mate XTs, have surpassed 1 million units in global cumulative shipments, with a unit price exceeding 20,000 yuan, according to IT Home. Richard Yu, Huawei's executive director, confirmed that a new tri-fold model, the Mate XT 2, will be unveiled at a September 7 event.
XPeng released its first-half 2026 results, showing total revenue of 32.78 billion yuan, down 3.8% year-on-year, and a net loss of 3.12 billion yuan, compared with a net loss of 1.14 billion yuan a year earlier, as reported by National Business Daily. Vehicle deliveries fell 15.8% to 165,977 units, though the company's overall gross margin improved to 20.6% from 16.5%.
Roborock's semi-annual report shows total revenue of 10.084 billion yuan in the first half, up 27.6% year-on-year, and net profit attributable to shareholders of 986 million yuan, up 45.6%. The company invested 720 million yuan in R&D, a 5.11% increase, and added 1,172 patents.
ByteDance launched Doubao Work on August 25, an AI agent product for productivity scenarios that can autonomously break down tasks and execute workflows. It is deeply integrated with Feishu, ByteDance's collaboration suite. Users can download the desktop version from the official website and get a 30-day free subscription.
Game company Duoyi Network's official Weibo account has been suspended, according to Kuaikeji. The account was blocked after complaints of violating laws and Weibo's community rules. Founder Xu Bo has been in the spotlight over financial disputes with his ex-girlfriend and reports that he has over 100 children.
Tencent has denied a media report that its Interactive Entertainment Group is restructuring an AI game department. A Tencent representative told Jinghe that the report contains significant inaccuracies and that no new department has been established. The company's game AI engine department has been operating and is still recruiting AI talent.
GAC Group Chairman Feng Xingya visited Huawei's Ren Zhengfei again on August 24, discussing the development of the Qijing brand and cooperation with Huawei, according to Kuaikeji. Feng noted that the Qijing GX7, a smart SUV, is scheduled for launch in September, following the GT7 hatchback that was delivered in June.
Dreame Technology has adjusted some businesses in the exploration stage, focusing on smart home, outdoor courtyard, smart mobility, and embodied intelligence, as announced on its official Weibo and reported by Yicai. The company said related technical research will be integrated into its core business.
Nine automakers recalled over 4.27 million vehicles in China, according to Sanyan Tech. Zeng Qinglin, general manager of Yi Jing Auto, commented on social media that recalls are a sign of a mature market, not an admission of poor quality, and that user safety is protected through such proactive measures.
Zhang Zhouchuan, former president of OPPO's overseas marketing and sales, has joined DJI, according to Sanyan Tech. An insider said his role is in To B business, which differs from his previous experience and may be a transitional arrangement. DJI had not responded as of press time.
SK hynix's flagship store on Taobao and Tmall has been shut down, and all products removed, as reported by The Paper. An insider said the store was an authorized reseller whose authorization expired, leading to its closure. Customers' concerns about after-sales service remain unresolved.
Hangzhou Hongsheng Group, a key contract manufacturer for Wahaha, has removed Kou Jing from her position as human resources director, replacing her with Liu Xiaojing, according to Sina Tech. Kou will serve as section chief of employee relations. This follows previous management changes in May, reflecting continued personnel adjustments amid shareholder conflicts.