
China's EV buying subsidies for 2025 end in parts of Xian, local media says
Shaanxi Daily
reported on Tuesday.
Some Chinese cities, including Zhengzhou and Luoyang, suspended trade-in subsidies for car buyers because the first round of funding allocated by
Beijing
for the scheme was running out,
Reuters
reported in June.
The state planner and finance ministry said last month that consumer trade-in subsidies for the remainder of the year would be issued in July and October respectively.

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New Indian Express
28 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
Spy in Silicon Valley: Chinese-American admits to stealing classified US military tech
A Chinese-American dual national has pleaded guilty to stealing classified US defence technology used to detect nuclear launches and track ballistic missiles, among other capabilities. According to the US Department of Justice (DOJ), 59-year-old Chenguang Gong, from San Jose, California, admitted guilt to one count of theft of trade secrets and remains free on a $1.75 million bond. The DoJ says Gong's actions caused an intended economic loss of more than $3.5 million. He faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, with sentencing set for 29 September. DOJ prosecuters say Gong had transferred over 3,600 files from a Los Angeles-area research and development firm, where he was briefly employed last year, to personal storage devices. The files included blueprints for advanced infrared sensors intended for use in space-based systems to detect nuclear missile launches, as well as to track ballistic and hypersonic missiles. Other documents stolen by Gong pertained to sensors designed to equip US military aircraft with the ability to detect incoming heat-seeking missiles and deploy countermeasures such as jamming the missiles' infrared tracking systems. Gong had been hired in January 2023 as a design manager overseeing application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) for infrared sensors. Between 30 March and 26 April 2023, the DOJ said he copied over 3,600 files from his work laptop to personal devices, including more than 1,800 after he had accepted the rival job. Many documents were labelled 'Proprietary Information' and 'Export Controlled.' The files contained proprietary information related to advanced readout integrated circuits used in missile launch detection systems and low-visibility threat tracking in military aircraft. Some files outlined blueprints for 'next-generation' sensors capable of identifying low-observable targets with enhanced survivability in space, along with engineering schematics for cryogenic sensor housing. Officials described the stolen data as some of the company's most valuable trade secrets, worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Separately, between 2014 and 2022, the accused had submitted several applications to Chinese state-run 'Talent Programmes' designed to recruit experts in sensitive fields. The DOJ said Gong sought to develop military-grade analogue-to-digital converters and low-light image sensors for night-vision systems. In one 2020 application, Gong submitted a video referencing proprietary sensor models from a defence firm he had previously worked at. Prosecutors also cited a 2019 email in which Gong said he had 'taken a risk' by participating in the programmes due to his ties to the US defence industry but believed he could contribute to China's military chip design capabilities.


Time of India
28 minutes ago
- Time of India
Calcom piloting manufacturing EV chargers in India: Executive Director Abhishek Malik
Calcom Vision has begun assembling EV chargers in India as it tests the waters of the country's fast-evolving electric mobility landscape. The company, best known for its LED lighting and BLDC fan electronics, is now working with a client exploring partnerships with electric vehicle OEMs. 'This is a pilot,' says Executive Director Abhishek Malik . 'But if the demand builds up, EV chargers could become a serious line of business for us.' While the chargers are currently being assembled at Calcom's existing facilities, the move signals a broader strategic shift. The company is now moving from high-volume consumer electronics into more specialised, automotive-linked products. It also reflects growing interest among EMS players to align with the government's EV push and the rise of domestic demand for charging infrastructure. Still, Malik tempers the optimism with realism. 'We're taking a calibrated approach. The economics have to work, and the supply chain, especially for core electronics, still leans heavily on imports.' A shift from commodity to capability Calcom's entry into EV chargers follows its relatively successful pivot into BLDC fans. This category also leans heavily on electronics but allowed the company to build on its LED lighting expertise. 'We made the BLDC shift during the COVID period,' Malik recalls. 'Lights and fans share the same distribution channel, so it was a logical extension.' But the scale-up hasn't been easy. 'Unlike LED lighting, which got a strong push from the government and big procurement volumes, BLDC fan adoption has been slower. It's still a price-sensitive category,' he adds. Even so, the company sees both BLDC and EV-related electronics as the next growth curve. These are higher-value and higher-complexity segments that are more resilient to commoditisation. 'You can't build a future on price competition alone,' Malik says. 'Eventually you have to own the product and the design.' The PCB problem: China still wins That ownership, however, remains elusive for much of India's EMS ecosystem. Malik is frank when talking about the current state of local sourcing. 'Even with 30 per cent anti-dumping duty, Chinese PCBs are cheaper. That's the kind of scale they're operating at,' he says. While Calcom has made progress in localising mechanical parts like plastic mouldings, sheet metal, and enclosures, the company still imports around 38 per cent of its bill of materials. Most of that is semiconductors and PCBs. 'The freight cost, duty, and logistics delays still don't add up to enough of a gap to justify shifting fully to Indian suppliers. Unless the ecosystem scales, it won't change,' Malik adds. Design first, assembly later Malik is also critical of the tendency to equate electronics manufacturing with mere assembly. 'If you're not designing the product, you're not in control,' he says. 'We've got used to being a low-cost labour country, with five people doing what a machine and one engineer would do in China.' He believes the bigger hurdle isn't funding or infrastructure. 'There's enough money to invest in R&D. The intent is missing. Most EMS promoters aren't thinking long-term. They're focused on quick top-line growth.' In his view, this is where India consistently falls short compared to competitors like Vietnam, Taiwan, or even Malaysia. These countries not only scaled manufacturing but also invested early in talent and design ownership. PLI push The government's PLI schemes, especially the focus on component manufacturing under PLI 2.0, are steps in the right direction, Malik says. But the real test lies in execution. 'We spent two years chasing a PLI that never materialised because of a political change. That kind of uncertainty kills business confidence.' Even now, he says, India's EMS industry remains fragile. 'There are less than 20 serious EMS players who are truly investing in capability. The rest are still doing basic assembly.' Calcom has set up a new subsidiary to push exports, with a target of getting at least 5 per cent of its revenue from overseas markets this year. Focus markets include the U.S. and Europe, both of which are increasing scrutiny on China-dependent supply chains. For all the gaps he points out, Malik remains cautiously optimistic. 'India has missed the electronics manufacturing bus many times before. This is our narrow window, maybe ten years, to get it right.' That, he believes, means investing in engineers, not just operators. In automation, not just manpower. And in design IP, not just imported PCBs. 'If we keep looking at this as a cost game, we'll lose. It's about value, control, and resilience.' The EV charger pilot, he says, is a small but symbolic step. 'We're testing if we can do it. And if we can, we'll scale. But only if the numbers and the ecosystem make sense.'


Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
'Era of development, not expansionism': From UK, PM Modi's stern message to China on Indo-Pacific tensions
Prime Minister Narendra Modi NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, in no uncertain terms, reaffirmed India's stand against expansionism, a veiled reference to Chinese aggression in the Indo-Pacific region. During the press briefing with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer after India and the UK signed the landmark free trade agreement (FTA), PM Modi said the "demand of the present era is not expansionism, but developmentalism". "We have continued to share views on peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific, the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, and the situation in West Asia. Respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations is essential," PM Modi said. China's aggression in the Indo-Pacific has become a central concern for regional and global powers alike. At the heart of the issue is Beijing's growing assertiveness, both military and strategic, across vital waterways and territories. In the South China Sea, China claims nearly the entire region through a controversial 'Nine-Dash Line,' despite a 2016 international tribunal ruling in favour of the Philippines that invalidated these claims. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Great news for Filipinos! Read More Undo China has ignored the ruling and instead built artificial islands, turned them into military outposts with airstrips and missile systems, and has routinely blocked other nations like Vietnam, Malaysia, and the Philippines from accessing their own waters. In the East China Sea, tensions persist with Japan over the Senkaku Islands (called Diaoyu by China), with frequent incursions by Chinese naval and air forces that risk sparking a direct confrontation. Similarly, across the Taiwan Strait, China continues to threaten the self-ruled island of Taiwan, viewing it as a breakaway province. Beijing regularly conducts large-scale military drills around Taiwan, sends fighter jets into its air defence zone, and attempts to isolate the island diplomatically, raising fears of a potential invasion. In the Indian Ocean, China is expanding its footprint through what many analysts call a 'String of Pearls' strategy by building or financing ports and strategic infrastructure in countries like Sri Lanka, Pakistan (Gwadar), and parts of East Africa. While these moves are presented as economic partnerships, they are viewed as attempts to encircle India and project power far beyond China's shores. Beijing has also embraced an aggressive diplomatic posture, often referred to as 'Wolf Warrior diplomacy', where it lashes out at countries that challenge its positions, including Australia, India, and the Philippines. India, in response, has taken multiple steps to counterbalance China's influence. It has deepened strategic ties with like-minded nations through the Quad alliance (India, US, Japan, and Australia), increased its participation in joint naval drills, and boosted maritime surveillance and infrastructure across the Indian Ocean Region. As the geopolitical contest heats up, the Indo-Pacific has emerged as the most critical arena in the ongoing power struggle between a rising China and countries that support a free, open, and rules-based order.