8:01 AM | Tesla's driverless taxi debuts: no pedals and no steering wheel; The researcher with "four doctoral degrees" has his employment relationship suspended; The account of the blogger "Big Blue" with tens of millions of followers has been banned.
TOP3 Big News
Tesla Unveils Driverless Taxi: Without Pedals and Steering Wheel
On October 11, Tesla held a Robotaxi (driverless taxi) launch event and introduced a driverless taxi called CyberCab. This vehicle is a two-door coupe with gull-wing door design. Musk said that the Tesla driverless taxi unveiled this time has no steering wheel and pedals. The vehicle cost is expected to be less than $30,000 (currently about 212,000 yuan) and will be put into production in 2026.
It is understood that Tesla envisions that in the future, people can own multiple Cybercabs and operate fleets through a shared mobility platform to achieve profits. In terms of technology, this vehicle will rely on AI and a vision system to operate. Tesla has abandoned radars and sensors widely used by other companies such as Waymo, which also helps them reduce manufacturing costs. Musk said that the current transportation method is "terrible", believing that vehicles are often idle, wasting resources. He pointed out that the use efficiency of autonomous vehicles will be higher. (IT House)
"Researcher with 'Four Doctoral Degrees' Has Appointment Relationship Suspended
Recently, the Inner Mongolia Institute of Ethnic Culture and Art has been releasing the resumes of its researchers. The resume of a post-95s researcher surnamed Zhao has attracted much attention. The resume shows that this researcher holds doctoral degrees in four different majors, two postdoctoral degrees, and several master's degrees. At the same time, he has also served as a social part-time job in 22 different fields including anti-cancer, aviation, translation, chemical engineering, etc. On the evening of October 10, the Inner Mongolia Institute of Ethnic Culture and Art announced that after noticing the media reports questioning Zhao Zijian's academic qualifications, the institute decided to suspend the appointment relationship with Zhao Zijian and launch an investigation into his academic degrees. At the same time, it stated that it will strengthen the qualification review and management of part-time researchers. (Xiaoxiang Morning News, The Paper)
The account of the blogger "Big Blue" with tens of millions of followers has been banned, who has repeatedly recommended stocks.
Recently, the Douyin account of the blogger Big Blue with tens of millions of followers has been banned. Previously, Big Blue continuously posted dozens of works with strongly guiding stock trading content. The titles include "Public Prediction of A-share Market", "Which Stocks Can Beginners Buy to Make Money in Stock Trading", "Did I Really Go All In", and other strongly guiding stock trading content. Big Blue, whose real name is Lan Tianhang, was a fitness coach in the early years. However, due to his good eloquence and business acumen, he entered the micro-business industry around 2015. In order to recruit agents for his company, Lan Tianhang operated a Douyin account and since then has tasted the sweetness of traffic. Data shows that there are 13 enterprises associated with Lan Tianhang's name, of which 5 are in existence. Big Blue serves as the executive partner, supervisor, executive director and general manager, etc. in them. (Jiemian News, Blue Whale News)
Big Companies/Big Events
Karl Power Establishes New Energy Autonomous Driving Fleet Transport Alliance
36Kr has learned that recently, Karl Power has established the New Energy Autonomous Driving Fleet Transport Alliance. The alliance is committed to promoting the innovative application of new energy and autonomous driving technologies in the transportation field. Under the alliance's mission, Karl Power has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Shaanxi Automobile and CIMC for 1,000 intelligent networked heavy trucks. As of the beginning of October, Karl Power's autonomous driving fleet has exceeded 8.5 million kilometers in operating mileage and 60 million ton-kilometers in freight transportation. In the future, Karl Power will work with ecological partners to explore more application scenarios and promote the expansion, scale, and sustainable development of the vehicle-road-cloud integration business closed loop.
Tencent Invests in Establishing a Technology Company in Chongqing
36Kr has learned that the Aiqicha App shows that recently, Chongqing Hengzhixin Technology Co., Ltd. was established. The legal representative is Du Xiku, with a registered capital of 10 million Chinese yuan. The business scope includes big data services, Internet data services, data processing and storage support services, etc. Shareholder information shows that the company is wholly owned by Jincheng Haorui Network Technology Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Tencent, and the beneficial owners are Ma Huateng and one of the main founders of Tencent, Xu Chenye.
Xiaoyuan KouSuan Tops the Free List of Apple Store
36Kr learned that on October 11, Xiaoyuan KouSuan reached the top of the free list of Apple App Store. Recently, Xiaoyuan KouSuan released an announcement of functional upgrade, optimizing the matching mechanism of Xiaoyuan KouSuan PK, and strengthening the verification and management of user identities. It is introduced that Xiaoyuan KouSuan is a free learning tool App that supports multiple subjects and question types of Chinese, Mathematics, and English, and provides video analysis.
Jia Yueting: Returning to China to repay debts is something I must accomplish
On October 11, Jia Yueting, the founder of Faraday Future (FF), released a video on Weibo, stating, "Returning to China to repay debts is something I must accomplish." It is understood that Jia Yueting recently established a new company, "Grow Up! Strivers," together with more than 10 partners from around the world. Jia Yueting said that supporting FF and repaying debts are the original intentions of establishing this company. Therefore, he gave 10% of his personal shares in "Grow Up! Strivers" to FF. At the same time, all the earnings that Jia Yueting will obtain in "Grow Up! Strivers" in the future, including labor service, IP-related earnings, and equity earnings, half of these earnings will be injected into FF, and the other half will be used to continue to repay domestic debts. Jia Yueting also emphasized: "My value is that I absolutely do not allow telling lies." (Jiemian News)
Former Alibaba DAMO Academy Chief Scientist Luo Si Officially Joins Automobile Technology Unicorn Zebra Intelligence
Recently, Luo Si, the former Executive Vice President of the world's largest SaaS company Salesforce, the former Vice President of Alibaba Group, the Chief Scientist of DAMO Academy, and a tenured professor at Purdue University, has officially joined Zebra Intelligence, an automobile technology unicorn under Alibaba, as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO). (Jiemian News)
TikTok Responds to Layoffs in Malaysia: Promoting Automation of Content Review, Expected to Affect Hundreds of Employees Globally
According to multiple media sources, a TikTok spokesperson confirmed that the company is carrying out layoffs globally, including in Malaysia. "Due to different employment regulations in various countries, we are currently unable to provide the exact number of layoffs, but it is expected that hundreds of people globally will be affected." Previously, some media reported that ByteDance has laid off hundreds of people in Malaysia, most of whom are from the content review department. (Jiemian News)
Wei Dong Appointed as Chairman and CEO of Nike Greater China and Global CEO of ACG Brand
36Kr learned that on October 11, Nike Group announced the latest appointment of Ms. Wei Dong. She will serve as the Chairman and CEO of Nike Greater China and the Global CEO of the ACG brand. Recently, Wei Dong has just been listed on the 2024 Fortune "Asia's Most Powerful Businesswomen" list.
The price of Feitian Moutai loose bottles has once again dropped below 2300 yuan.
36Kr has learned that the price of Feitian Moutai has dropped again recently. According to the data of today's wine prices, on October 11, the price of loose Feitian Moutai dropped below 2300 yuan.
He Xiaopeng Responds to the Progress of Robotaxi: The Technological Trend is Clear, with a Planned Official Launch in 2026
36Kr has learned that He Xiaopeng, the chairman of Xiaopeng Motors and the founder of UCWeb, posted a response regarding the progress of the Robotaxi business, stating that they are accelerating the pace of this business. In the second half of next year, they will achieve a software usage experience in mass-produced vehicles that is comparable to that of top overseas Robotaxis. The plan is to officially launch it in 2026.
Tesla Announces the Production of the 3-Millionth Vehicle at the Shanghai Gigafactory
At 6 p.m. on October 11th, as a Model Y rolled off the production line at Tesla's Shanghai Gigafactory, the 3-millionth vehicle officially came off the assembly line at the factory. According to the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA), the Shanghai Gigafactory delivered 675,000 vehicles in the first three quarters of this year, accounting for more than half of Tesla's global deliveries in the same period. In March this year, Tesla became the world's first company to surpass the 6-million-unit mark in pure electric vehicle production, with the Shanghai Gigafactory contributing nearly half of that capacity. Among the 3 million vehicles produced at the Shanghai Gigafactory, one-third have been exported to overseas markets in Europe, Asia-Pacific, and other regions. (Sina Technology)
Swedish battery manufacturer Northvolt is reportedly negotiating to obtain approximately 200 million euros in financing
According to reports, three sources familiar with the situation said that Northvolt is in negotiations to obtain approximately 200 million euros in short-term financing. The cash-strapped Swedish battery manufacturer is striving to stabilize its financial situation. (Jiemian News)
Sequoia China is reportedly going to set up an office in London, UK to seek investment opportunities in Europe
It is reported that according to the documents it submitted to the Financial Conduct Authority of the UK, Sequoia China has registered an entity named HSG Advisors UK. Insiders revealed that Sequoia China plans to seek investment opportunities in Europe through the London office and will focus on late-stage and private equity transactions in areas such as consumption, consumer Internet, healthcare, and new energy. Sequoia China responded to this in a statement, saying that the London office will enhance the company's connections in Europe, but declined to comment further. (Jiemian News)
Samsung Electronics is reportedly to exit the LED business and initiate a comprehensive organizational restructuring
It is reported that, according to industry insiders, the Device Solutions (DS) department of Samsung Electronics is conducting a comprehensive restructuring of the LED business. As part of the restructuring plan, Samsung has made a strategic decision to completely withdraw from its LED business. Previously, this team was mainly responsible for the production and sales of products such as LEDs for TVs, LEDs for smartphone flashlights, and LED modules for automotive headlights. In addition, Samsung Electronics considers breaking the traditional model of unified management by the headquarters and delegating the personnel assessment rights to the production line, aiming to further improve the operational efficiency of the organization and promote the overall business development of the company. (Jiemian News)
Porsche's China Sales Drop by 29% in the First Three Quarters
The German luxury sports car manufacturer Porsche announced on October 11 that its sales in China dropped by 29% in the first nine months of this year. Porsche stated that the weak sales in China and the ongoing model renovations have dragged down the overall performance. The global sales in the first nine months decreased by 7% to 226,026 vehicles. Among all models, the sales of its large-engine sports car Panamera and the pure electric sedan Taycan dropped the most, by 20% and 50% respectively. Detlev von Platen, a member of the Porsche board, said in a statement: "2024 is a particularly challenging year for us, and in some cases, the product supply is limited." (Sina Finance)
France plans to increase taxes on large companies and the rich to reduce high public debt
The French government has unveiled next year's budget, aiming to implement 60.6 billion euros ($66.2 billion) in remedial measures to ease the shaky public finances and rebuild investor confidence, although the plan may be rejected by a hostile parliament. Spending cuts will account for a little more than two-thirds of what Finance Minister Antoine Armand calls an unprecedented fiscal effort, with the rest coming from tax hikes on businesses, the rich, and energy. (Sina Finance)
Tesla to Offer Permanent Jobs to 500 Temporary Workers at German Gigafactory
Tesla said on October 10 that it will offer permanent jobs to 500 temporary workers at its German Gigafactory near Berlin starting from November 1. The US electric vehicle manufacturer calls this "an optimistic assessment of the further development of electric vehicle production". Gruenheide is Tesla's only European Gigafactory and has about 12,000 employees. Tesla said that at the last staff meeting, union chairperson Michaela Schmitz called on the management to reduce temporary jobs and enable more employees to be employed on a long-term basis. (Sina Finance)
Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares will step down after his contract expires in 2026
Stellantis announced on October 10 local time that CEO Carlos Tavares will leave the company after his contract expires in early 2026, and the company is currently looking for a successor. Stellantis also announced a series of senior management position changes. Antonio Filosa has been appointed as the Chief Operating Officer for the North American region and also serves as the CEO of the Jeep brand; Doug Ostermann, the former Chief Operating Officer of Stellantis China, has been appointed as the Chief Financial Officer, replacing Natalie Knight who is about to leave the company; Grégoire Olivier has been appointed as the Chief Operating Officer of Stellantis China and will continue to be responsible for the liaison work with Leapmotor. (Jiemian News)
Boeing to Lay Off 10%, First Delivery of 777X Model Delayed to 2026
Facing a prolonged strike and an increasingly severe cash flow shortage, Boeing has announced plans to lay off approximately 10% of its workforce to address the crisis. Chief Executive Officer Kelly Ortberg said in a memo to employees that the layoffs will include executives, managers, and regular employees. As of the end of 2023, Boeing had 171,000 employees. Ortberg said in the memo, "Our business is in a difficult situation, and the challenges we are facing together cannot be overemphasized." Preliminary data shows that Boeing will report third-quarter revenue of $17.8 billion and a loss of $9.97 per share. Operating cash outflow was $1.3 billion, and cash and marketable securities investments at the end of the quarter were $10.5 billion. The company will release the complete data on October 23. Ortberg also announced that the first delivery of the already delayed Boeing 777X model will be further postponed to 2026. (Cailian Press)
Toyota's Akio Toyoda Warns: The Future Shift to Pure Electric Vehicles Will Lead to Job Losses
It is reported that Akio Toyoda, Chairman of Toyota Motor, said on October 10 that the future shift to pure electric vehicles will lead to job losses for those working in engine-related technologies, including many suppliers in the industry. Akio Toyoda claimed that 5.5 million people are employed in the automotive industry in Japan, and some of them have been working in engine-related jobs for a long time. (Jiemian News)
The Cutting Edge of AI
Kimi Releases Exploration Version, with Search Volume Increased by 10 Times
36Kr learned that the Dark Side of the Moon has officially launched the Kimi Exploration Version with AI's autonomous search capability. The search volume is 10 times that of the regular version, and it can intensively read 500 pages with a single search. The new function will simulate the reasoning and thinking process of humans, decompose complex problems at multiple levels, and perform in-depth searches to help users complete analysis and research more efficiently. Through multiple steps such as independent strategy planning, automated large-scale information retrieval, and reflection and supplementation of search results, more accurate and comprehensive answers can be obtained. Currently, this function has been gradually opened to all users before October 14.
Investment and Financing
"Qianjue Robot" Completes Angel Round Financing of Several Ten Million Yuan in RMB
36Kr learned that the multimodal tactile perception sensor company "Qianjue Robot" announced on October 11 that it has completed an angel round financing of several ten million yuan in RMB. This round of financing is led by Hillhouse Ventures, with investors such as Jiaoda Hanyuan Fund participating. The funds will be used for product research and development, business expansion, and talent recruitment.
Cool Products
AMD Releases NVIDIA Competitor AI Chip, Anticipating Market Size to Reach $500 Billion in Four Years
AMD held an artificial intelligence-themed conference on October 10 and launched a series of new products, including the MI325X computing power chip. AMD CEO Lisa Su emphasized at the conference: "What you can see is that when the MI325 is running Llama 3.1, it can provide up to 40% higher performance than NVIDIA's H200." Lisa Su said that the market for data center artificial intelligence accelerators will grow to $500 billion by 2028, while this number was $45 billion in 2023. (Caixin)
Hisense Fresh Air Conditioner Releases "Mini Oxygen Bar X7" with AI Intelligent Technology
36Kr learned that recently, Hisense Fresh Air Conditioner has released a new product, "Mini Oxygen Bar X7", which has been officially launched on the market. It is introduced that Mini Oxygen Bar X7 is equipped with AI intelligent technology, which can detect the indoor air quality in real time through the TOVC sensor.
Organized by | Hao Yuqi