Maker's Mark

Chinese automakers have moved from the margins to a prominent position at the Paris Motor Show, presenting their electric vehicles to European audiences in force. The display marks a striking shift for brands that were once treated as a sideshow at the event, underlining how quickly Chinese manufacturers are pushing into the European market and intensifying competition with established Western and Japanese carmakers.

Preorders have opened for Apple's first foldable iPhone, widely referred to as the iPhone Fold or iPhone Duo, and coverage is walking prospective buyers through everything they need to know before committing. The item covers what to know about pricing, features and considerations ahead of purchase, marking Apple's entry into the foldable phone market dominated by Samsung and other Android makers.

A new report alleges Samsung is slashing Galaxy smartphone production plans by as much as 30% through the end of 2026, with claims that Galaxy phones yield no profit at all when sold. The figures would mark a major retrenchment for the world's largest Android phone maker. The claim has drawn wide attention, with commenters debating whether it reflects weak demand, rising component costs, or pressure from cheaper Chinese competitors.

Norway plans to change the rules so that its sovereign wealth fund, one of the world's largest investors, can put money into companies involved in nuclear weapons production. The fund has historically excluded arms makers under strict ethical guidelines, so the shift marks a notable reversal in the country's investment policy.

Industry analysis indicates that TOPCon technology will account for the largest share of solar cell production in India this year, overtaking older PERC-based manufacturing. The shift reflects Indian cell makers ramping up newer high-efficiency lines as domestic capacity expands under local manufacturing incentives. It marks a notable technology transition in one of the world's fastest-growing solar manufacturing markets.

Server maker Super Micro Computer has appointed Mark Long as its chief financial officer. The company announced the appointment without releasing further details in the initial announcement. Supermicro, a major supplier of AI server hardware, is a closely watched stock, so leadership changes at the CFO level are drawing attention from investors tracking the company's financials and growth outlook.

Chinese lidar maker Hesai has launched the Kosmo spatial camera, a sensor designed to capture 3D visual data for humanoid robots. The device is intended to give robots better perception of their surroundings, supporting navigation and manipulation tasks. The move marks Hesai's expansion beyond automotive lidar into the fast-growing robotics market, where demand for reliable spatial sensing is rising sharply.

Faraday Future, the electric vehicle maker best known for its troubled FF91, has announced two humanoid robots: a full-size model priced at $2,490 and a $299 mini version. The move marks an unexpected pivot into consumer robotics for the company, with the low price points drawing attention as they undercut most humanoid robots on the market. Observers are questioning the specs, production timeline and credibility of the announcement.

JPMorgan Chase has begun deploying the first $5 billion of its defense-sector investment push, with funding directed at areas including autonomous robot factories and hypersonic missile technology. The move marks one of the largest banking commitments to the defense industry in years, as Western governments raise military budgets and lenders reassess long-standing reluctance to back arms makers.

Chinese electric vehicle maker XPENG announced plans to integrate Google Play into its cars starting in 2027, bringing Android apps, entertainment and services directly to the in-car system. The move would mark a notable expansion of Google's software reach in EVs and could improve the appeal of XPENG vehicles in international markets, though details on supported apps and regions remain limited.

OpenAI is developing its own humanoid robots, with CEO Sam Altman aiming for a first demonstration by 2027. The move would mark a major expansion from software into hardware, putting the ChatGPT maker in direct competition with robotics firms such as Tesla and Figure. Details on the program remain scarce, and it is not yet clear what the robots will be designed to do or when they might reach consumers.

Leapmotor has become the first Chinese automaker to manufacture both electric vehicles and batteries in Europe, with support from its partner Stellantis. The move marks a significant step in Chinese carmakers' expansion overseas, following a model similar to Japanese automakers' earlier strategy of building factories abroad to serve local markets and sidestep tariffs.

Chinese smart glasses maker Rokid has opened a store in Hong Kong, describing the move as entering a 'no man's land' retail experience. The company is aiming to build a new kind of consumer showcase for its augmented reality wearables as it expands beyond mainland China into international markets.

Stellantis has started producing the Leapmotor B10 electric SUV at its Zaragoza plant in Spain, marking a further step in its partnership with Chinese EV maker Leapmotor. Building Leapmotor models in Europe allows Stellantis to offer competitively priced electric vehicles while avoiding import tariffs on Chinese-built cars.

Agricultural equipment maker AGCO plans to pilot the Digit humanoid robot at its Hesston, Kansas manufacturing facility in 2027. The robot, developed by Oregon-based Agility Robotics, would be tested in an industrial setting at the plant that produces hay and cutting equipment, marking a notable step in the adoption of humanoid automation in farm machinery manufacturing.

Chinese solar manufacturer JinkoSolar has announced a back-contact TOPCon solar cell achieving 28% efficiency, combining the technology with amorphous silicon heterojunction passivation. The result, reported by pv magazine, marks a notable efficiency milestone for the widely deployed TOPCon platform and signals continued competition among cell makers to push conversion efficiencies higher as the global solar market grows.

Apple has opened preorders for its first foldable iPhones, a pair of models starting at $1,999. The launch marks Apple's entry into the foldable phone market, a segment long dominated by Samsung and other Android makers. Buyers can now reserve the devices ahead of retail availability, with the premium pricing signalling Apple's positioning of the foldable as a high-end flagship product.

A Chinese electric vehicle is now being manufactured in Europe, with the company reportedly planning to build more models there. The move follows a broader trend of Chinese automakers setting up European production to serve local demand and reduce exposure to import tariffs. It marks a notable step in the growing footprint of Chinese EV brands across the continent.

Wisconsin has filed a legal action alleging that an AI chatbot posed serious safety risks. The suit, reported by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, marks another instance of a US state moving against an AI product on consumer protection or safety grounds. Details about the chatbot's maker and the specific allegations have not yet been fully disclosed, but the case adds to growing scrutiny of AI tools.

Reports say a two-trillion-dollar sovereign wealth fund is considering lifting its self-imposed ban on investing in Western defence stocks. The move would mark a major policy shift for one of the world's largest investors, which had excluded arms makers on ethical grounds. Details of the review and its timing remain limited, and no final decision has been confirmed.

Sony and Honda have announced a partnership to jointly develop and sell electric vehicles, pairing Honda's automotive manufacturing experience with Sony's electronics and entertainment technology. The move places the Japanese companies squarely in competition with Tesla and other established electric car makers, and observers are watching closely to see how a consumer electronics giant will fare in the auto industry.

Apple is preparing to roll out its first Apple Intelligence AI features in China in December, according to a report circulating online. The move would mark the company's first artificial intelligence offering in the Chinese market, where it has faced regulatory hurdles and growing competition from local smartphone makers. Observers are weighing what the launch means for Apple's prospects in one of its key markets.

Chinese electric vehicle maker XPeng has launched the G9L in Europe, a long-range electric SUV offering 591 km of range and ultra-fast charging capability. The debut marks another step in XPeng's European expansion, where it competes with established electric SUVs. The long range and rapid charging times are the headline features drawing attention from EV watchers and potential buyers.

Dutch bicycle brands Batavus, KOGA and Babboe, owned by Accell Group, have been sold to a Singaporean buyer, Dutch media report. The change of ownership marks a new chapter for some of the Netherlands' best-known bike makers, and the news is drawing attention at home over what foreign ownership will mean for the brands and jobs.

Faraday Future has established FF EAI Robotics Ecosystem Inc., a new entity signaling the EV maker's move into robotics and AI technology. The announcement extends the company's push beyond electric vehicles as it seeks new growth areas. Observers are watching whether the struggling automaker can translate its automotive AI ambitions into a viable robotics business.