Weekly Overview（21/12-27/12）
1. Uber partners with Baidu (百度) to launch a robotaxi ride-hailing pilot program in the UK.
2. Dreame Technology (追觅科技) unveils the world’s first AI-powered health glasses, entering the personal health management sector.
3. The Hainan Free Trade Port short-form drama overseas expansion industry base is inaugurated in Haikou.
4. SF International (顺丰国际) reaches a partnership with MSC Air Cargo, a subsidiary of global shipping giant MSC Group.
5. JD.com (京东) warehouse in Paris is looted, with electronic products worth €37 million stolen.
6. BYD (比亚迪) records a year-on-year surge of over 200% in European sales in November, leading the industry in growth.
7. The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) places foreign-made drones on its restricted list; DJI (大疆) responds expressing regret.
8. SF Middle East (顺丰中东) signs an agreement with Oman’s Asyad Group, upgrading China–Arab cross-border logistics cooperation.
9. ByteDance (字节跳动) launches an overseas AI office application, AnyGen, to enhance voice-driven workplace productivity.
10. Beijing issues its first batch of dedicated license plates for L3 highway autonomous driving vehicles, enabling operation on three designated road sections.
11. CVTE (视源股份) announced that on December 24 it updated and resubmitted its application for issuance and listing to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
12. JD Logistics (京东物流) puts its first overseas “Zhilang（智狼）” warehouse into operation in the UK, boosting picking efficiency by about four times.
Selected Developments
1. Uber and Baidu Launch Robotaxi Ride-Hailing Pilot in the UK
[Event] On December 22, Uber Technologies Inc. (Uber) announced that it will partner with Baidu (百度) to launch a robotaxi ride-hailing pilot program in the United Kingdom. According to the plan, Uber will roll out the project in London in the first half of 2026, deploying Baidu’s Apollo Go RT6 autonomous vehicles, with commercial service expected to begin by the end of next year. Earlier this month, Waymo had already initiated related testing in London.
Globally, the deployment of autonomous ride-hailing services is accelerating, with Baidu, WeRide, and Waymo emerging as frontrunners. After terminating its in-house autonomous driving R&D efforts in 2020, Uber shifted to an external partnership model and plans to launch autonomous services in more than 10 markets by the end of next year. Meanwhile, Lyft has signed an agreement with Baidu to enter the European market, while Grab has established partnerships with WeRide and Momenta. In addition to London, Baidu is currently conducting tests in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Switzerland.
Despite frequent industry initiatives, the commercial viability of autonomous ride-hailing remains uncertain. Listed companies such as Pony.ai and WeRide continue to operate at a loss, even after raising capital through financing.
2. Dreame Technology Launches Its First AI Health Glasses, Entering the Personal Health Management Sector
[Event] The global smart glasses market is expected to see a major surge in 2025, with shipments projected to reach 3.5 million units. Against intensifying competition, Dreame Technology (追觅科技) has avoided conventional feature battles such as photography and navigation, and officially launched its AI health glasses focused on precision AI-driven health monitoring.
Positioned as an all-day personal health assistant, the product is equipped with high-precision PPG optical sensors and Dreame’s proprietary AI health large model, enabling real-time recording and analysis of heart rate, blood oxygen levels, body temperature, and cardiovascular health indicators.
In addition to physiological monitoring, the glasses integrate an AI-powered ultraviolet intensity monitoring system that automatically adjusts lens color based on environmental conditions and provides protection reminders. Following its AI smart ring, Dreame aims to establish product differentiation through the health management track. Currently, Dreame’s AI smart hardware team has launched a Tmall Black Gold Gift Box, with related products officially available through the Dreame Digital flagship store on Tmall.
3. BYD’s November European Sales Surge Over 200%, Leading Industry Growth
[Event] On December 23, data released by the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) showed strong performance by BYD (比亚迪) in the European market. In November, BYD registered 16,158 new vehicles in Europe, representing a year-on-year increase of 235%. Including markets such as the UK and Nordic countries, registrations rose to 21,133 units.
From January to November this year, BYD’s cumulative European sales reached 159,869 units, marking a year-on-year growth rate of 276%, far exceeding Volkswagen’s 4.6% increase, while Tesla’s sales declined by 28% over the same period.
Data also showed that Tesla’s November registrations in the EU fell by more than 34% year-on-year, reflecting sustained growth pressure. Meanwhile, the overall European electric vehicle market showed signs of recovery, with EU battery electric vehicle sales up 44% year-on-year in November, and plug-in hybrid vehicle sales increasing by over 38%. Market penetration of battery electric vehicles reached 21% in the EU, 26% in the UK, and 98% in Norway.
Currently, Europe’s automotive industry faces multiple challenges, including competition from Chinese automakers and tariff policies. Against this backdrop, the European Commission announced last week that it plans to abandon the previously scheduled 2035 ban on internal combustion engine vehicles, a move widely seen as a major retreat in the region’s green policy agenda.
4. SF Express and Oman’s Asyad Group Sign Cooperation Agreement to Upgrade Middle East Cross-Border Logistics Network
[Event] Recently, SF Express Middle East (顺丰中东) and Oman’s Asyad Group officially signed a cooperation agreement, announcing a comprehensive upgrade of their collaboration in cross-border e-commerce logistics and integrated transportation services. This deepened partnership will focus on three core areas: regional express networks, cross-border logistics coordination, and end-to-end supply chain integration.
In terms of express network development, the two parties will enhance local delivery capabilities in Oman, expand mutual delivery routes between Oman and key Middle Eastern countries, and deepen cooperation in time-sensitive products, oversized shipments, and value-added services. In cross-border logistics, leveraging SF Express’s dedicated cargo aircraft network and Asyad’s Middle East express system, the partners aim to establish Oman as a hub for high-efficiency China–Oman cross-border e-commerce logistics solutions.
Additionally, cooperation will be expanded across supply chain segments such as warehousing management, order fulfillment, customs clearance, and data connectivity, forming an integrated supply chain service system.
This partnership represents a key step in SF Express’s expansion of its Middle East footprint, aiming to provide more reliable logistics support for global e-commerce platforms and merchants through integrated logistics resources and infrastructure development, while promoting regional trade growth.
5. ByteDance Launches AI Office Application AnyGen Overseas, Enhancing Voice-Driven Workflows
[Event] ByteDance (字节跳动) has recently launched its AI office application “AnyGen” in overseas markets, positioning it as a voice-driven AI workspace. The product emphasizes an “instant capture” feature, allowing users to long-press voice recording to quickly convert ideas, notes, and photos into documents, insights, and presentations, addressing pain points associated with cumbersome audio transcription.
AnyGen offers strong task transformation capabilities, automatically converting voice notes into structured articles, reports, or editable presentation slides, while also supporting data uploads to generate charts. Amid the AI-driven reshaping of workplace scenarios—and following the popularity of AI office tools such as Manus—ByteDance aims to fill a competitive gap in its overseas productivity tool portfolio through AnyGen.
With its launch, AnyGen is expected to become a key pillar of ByteDance’s overseas AI ecosystem, further expanding its footprint in international office application markets.
6. JD Logistics’ First Overseas “Zhilang” Warehouse Goes Live in the UK, Boosting Picking Efficiency by Around Fourfold
[Event] On December 25, JD Logistics (京东物流) officially put its first overseas Zhilang warehouse into operation in the United Kingdom. Covering an area of more than 3,000 square meters, the facility deploys nearly 200 Smart Wolf robots and adopts a “goods-to-person” model combining aerial picking via lift robots and automated transport robots, increasing picking and outbound efficiency by approximately four times.
Through high-density shelving upgrades, the warehouse has significantly improved storage capacity per unit area while substantially reducing labor intensity for outbound staff.
Leveraging the automation capabilities of the Zhilang warehouse, JD’s European online retail platform Joybuy can now achieve same-day delivery in parts of the UK. Joybuy has already launched trial operations in multiple countries, including the UK, the Netherlands, and Germany. Under its “Global Logistics Network Expansion Plan,” JD Logistics currently operates more than 130 overseas warehouses across 23 countries and regions, managing over 1.3 million square meters of warehouse space. The launch of the UK Zhilang warehouse marks a further upgrade of JD’s global smart logistics.