Krypton Evening News | Vitol Group, the world's largest oil trader, delays the expectation of peak global oil demand; Amazon reaches a cooperation with STMicroelectronics on data center construction
Large Companies:
Zhejiang Jikr Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd. Recalls Some Jikr 001 WE Edition Vehicles
36Kr learned that recently, in accordance with the requirements of the "Regulations on the Recall of Defective Automobile Products" and the "Measures for the Implementation of the Regulations on the Recall of Defective Automobile Products", Zhejiang Jikr Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd., entrusted by Zhejiang Geely Automobile Co., Ltd., filed a recall plan with the State Administration for Market Regulation. Recall number S2026M0023V: Starting from March 6, 2026, some Jikr 001 WE edition vehicles produced between July 8, 2021, and March 18, 2024, a total of 38,277 vehicles, will be recalled. For some vehicles within the scope of this recall, due to the manufacturing consistency issues of the high - voltage power battery components, the internal resistance of the power battery will increase abnormally after long - term use, which may lead to a decline in the performance of some power batteries. In extreme cases, it may cause thermal runaway of the power battery, posing a safety hazard.
Meta Warned by the EU: Must Open WhatsApp to Competitor AI Chatbots
The European Commission announced on February 9 that it has issued a statement of objections to Meta, preliminarily determining that Meta has violated EU antitrust regulations by preventing third - party artificial intelligence assistants from accessing and interacting with WhatsApp users. Meta's actions may hinder competitors from entering or expanding in the rapidly growing artificial intelligence assistant market. The European Commission intends to take temporary measures to prevent serious and irreversible damage to the market caused by this policy change, provided that Meta responds and exercises its right of defense. On October 15, 2025, Meta announced an update to the WhatsApp terms, effectively banning third - party general AI assistants from accessing the application. Since January 15, 2026, the WhatsApp platform has only retained Meta's own tool, Meta AI, as the only available AI assistant, and competitor products have all been blocked. (Jiemian)
Journalists learned from multiple sources that the total amount of year - end bonuses distributed by Shenzhen 3D printing company Tuozhu Technology in 2025 increased by more than 50% compared to 2024. Among them, in the year - end incentives for employees, the highest values of the bonus amount and the converted months exceeded 2 million yuan and 25 months respectively. It is understood that Tuozhu Technology's revenue in 2025 has exceeded 10 billion yuan. (Jiemian)
Vitol, the World's Largest Oil Trader, Delays the Forecast of Peak Global Oil Demand
Vitol, the world's largest independent oil trader, said that due to the slowdown in the popularization of electric vehicles, the time when global oil demand reaches its peak will be later than previously expected. The group pointed out in a report released on Monday that it currently expects oil demand to peak in the mid - 2030s, while the previous forecast was for the early 2030s. The report said that by 2040, the global daily oil demand will be about 5 million barrels per day higher than the current level. (Caixin)
SF Express Launches a 200 - million - yuan Spring Income - increasing Plan Covering All Couriers
36Kr learned that SF Express has officially launched a special "Spring Income - increasing" plan for front - line employees across the country, investing 200 million yuan to help all couriers increase their income, with an average income increase of about 500 yuan. It is understood that the first phase of this income - increasing plan lasts for 3 months and covers all front - line courier groups across the country. The increased income will be directly distributed in the form of a single - ticket subsidy. This is also the first time in the industry to launch a national special plan to increase the income of couriers. SF Express said that it will continue to launch income - increasing plans for front - line couriers in the future.
Investment and Financing:
On February 9, the Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Beijing Stock Exchanges announced a package of measures to optimize refinancing. In terms of further supporting the innovation and development of high - quality listed companies, the Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Beijing Stock Exchanges made it clear that for high - quality listed companies with standardized operation and governance and information disclosure, and with representativeness and market recognition, the refinancing review will be optimized to further improve the refinancing efficiency. At the same time, to better meet the refinancing needs of science and technology innovation enterprises, the Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges have revised the rules for listed companies with "light assets and high R & D investment" and clarified the identification criteria for main - board enterprises. Listed companies on the Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Beijing Stock Exchanges that have experienced a share price break can reasonably raise funds through private placements, convertible bond issuances, etc., and the raised funds need to be invested in the main business. In addition, the Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Beijing Stock Exchanges also made it clear to improve the flexibility and convenience of refinancing and strengthen the whole - process supervision of refinancing. (Xinhua News Agency)
36Kr learned that according to the Aiqicha App, recently, Tianjin Lanqin Equity Investment Partnership (Limited Partnership) was established. The general partner is Gaohe Mingde Enterprise Management Service Co., Ltd., with a capital contribution of 8.601 billion yuan. Its business scope includes equity investment, investment management, asset management and other activities through private equity funds. Information on the partners shows that this partnership is jointly funded by Taikang Life Insurance Co., Ltd., Great Wall Life Insurance Co., Ltd., AIA Life Insurance Co., Ltd., Manulife - Sinochem Life Insurance Co., Ltd., etc.
New Products:
Amazon Reaches a Cooperation with STMicroelectronics on Data Center Construction
STMicroelectronics announced on February 9 that through a multi - year, multi - product - category business cooperation worth billions of dollars, it will deepen strategic cooperation with Amazon Web Services (AWS). This cooperation establishes STMicroelectronics as a strategic supplier of advanced semiconductor technologies and products for AWS, and the technologies will be integrated into AWS's computing infrastructure. STMicroelectronics said that this cooperation covers a wide range of semiconductor solutions. STMicroelectronics will provide exclusive technical capabilities including high - bandwidth connectivity, such as high - performance mixed - signal processing, advanced microcontrollers for intelligent infrastructure management, and analog and power integrated circuits that meet the energy - efficiency requirements for hyperscale data center operations. (Caixin)
According to ETNews, since Apple plans to launch an iPhone Flip small folding phone after the iPhone Fold large folding phone, Samsung Display is currently evaluating expanding the production capacity of OLED panels for Apple's foldable products. Samsung Display is considering investing in new folding OLED production equipment at its A4 factory in Asan, Chungcheongnam - do, South Korea, with a focus on upgrading the back - plane - related processes, including the thin - film transistor (TFT) production line. The overall direction has been determined. Once the internal review of the specific investment scale is completed, the relevant capital expenditure is expected to start in the second quarter of this year. (Caixin)
Today's Views:
36Kr learned that on February 9, Hou Xiaonan, CEO and President of Yuewen Group, issued an internal letter for the Spring Festival. The internal letter showed that in terms of emerging businesses, 122 short dramas were produced annually; since the full - scale layout of manga dramas in October last year, ten works have exceeded 100 million views, and over a hundred works have exceeded 10 million views; the GMV of derivatives reached 480 million yuan in the first half of last year, approaching the full - year level of 2024.
Goldman Sachs analysts said that the IPO activity in the US stock market is expected to rebound significantly in 2026. With well - known companies such as SpaceX, OpenAI, and Anthropic approaching their listings, the total annual fundraising is expected to quadruple to a record $160 billion. Goldman Sachs also expects that the number of IPOs in the US stock market this year will double to 120. So far in 2026, 12 companies have raised about $5 billion through IPOs in the US stock market, including AI equipment manufacturer Forgent Power and biopharmaceutical company Eikon Therapeutics. Cerebras Systems, a competitor to NVIDIA that just completed a $1 billion late - stage financing at a valuation of $23 billion, is also preparing for an IPO. (Caixin)
On February 9, it was learned from Tesla China that Tao Lin, vice - president of Tesla, recently revealed that there is no specific date for Tesla's FSD (Full Self - Driving) to be launched in the Chinese mainland, but all work (including the deployment of the local training center) is progressing steadily. "We have established a local training center in China, specifically responsible for the adaptation of this part. Once it is officially launched, it will show a level no less than or even surpassing that of local drivers." she said. (The Paper)
Other Noteworthy News:
36Kr learned that according to the announcement of the Shanghai Stock Exchange, the Shanghai Stock Exchange has launched a package of measures to optimize refinancing, in which it is proposed to better meet the refinancing needs of science and technology innovation enterprises. It will research and launch the identification criteria for main - board listed companies with "light assets and high R & D investment". Optimize the requirements for the refinancing interval. For science and technology - based listed companies that are listed according to the non - profit standard and have not yet made a profit, if the previously raised funds are basically used up or the investment direction of the raised funds has not changed, the company can start the procedures such as announcing the refinancing plan 6 months after the arrival date of the previously raised funds. Listed companies that have experienced a share price break can reasonably raise funds through competitive private placements, convertible bond issuances, etc., and the raised funds need to be invested in the main business.
Data from Private Placement Network shows that as of the end of January 2026, the number of hundred - billion - yuan private equity firms reached 122, breaking the historical record of 116 in March 2022. Compared with 112 at the end of December 2025, the number of hundred - billion - yuan private equity firms increased by 10. (Securities Times)