Latest news with #Guangzhou-based
Mint
a day ago
- Business
- Mint
Head of China's Top Furniture Retailer Dies Amid Property Slump
The chairman of China's biggest home furnishing retailer has died amid an investigation by authorities and as his company endures a protracted slump caused by the sluggish property market. Wang Linpeng, chairman and chief executive officer of Wuhan-based Easyhome New Retail Group Co., died at home on Sunday, the company said, without identifying the cause of his death. Wang was detained by Wuhan city authorities three months ago and was released earlier this month 'pending investigation,' the company said in a separate statement, without giving more details. A downturn in China's property market and weak consumer sentiment have squeezed furniture retailers and home furnishing companies. In recent years, even the likes of Ikea have tried to lure thrifty consumers with steeper discounts to stem declining growth, and Japanese furniture retailer Nitori Holdings Co. has paused expansion and shuttered some stores. Read: China Property Recovery Stalls, Eyes on Politburo for Support Easyhome, which operates malls offering furniture, construction and decoration materials, has seen its profit drop for three consecutive years. Net income declined 39% in the first quarter of 2025, according to the Shenzhen-listed company, in which Wang and parties acting in concert held a combined 44% stake. Dong Yi Ri Sheng Home Decoration Group Co., another Shenzhen-listed home furnishing company, expected a net loss of at least 46 million yuan in the first six months of this year, adding to a loss of 540 million yuan in 2024. The challenging environment has driven some out of business. Guangzhou-based furnishing brand Liangjiaju announced end of operations this month, while the once-popular renovation services provider Zhufaner informed clients in June that it's unable to fulfill orders as scheduled due to financial difficulties. China's furniture retail sales growth has slowed significantly from before the pandemic, with expansion at low single-digit in the past two years compared with more than 10% annual increase between 2016 and 2018, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics. Shares of Easyhome dropped as much as 3.4% Tuesday after the company confirmed the death of its chairman. The stock has slumped more than 17% so far this year.
AsiaOne
18-07-2025
- Automotive
- AsiaOne
Driverless bus in Sentosa gets green light to run without safety officer in first for Singapore
SINGAPORE - In a first for Singapore, autonomous vehicle (AV) firm WeRide has been given permission to operate a self-driving shuttle bus service in Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) without any safety personnel on board. Singapore's Land Transport Authority (LTA) gave the firm the green light after extensive testing and safety assessments of WeRide's remote operations and on-road performance here, said the Guangzhou-based company on July 17. The company said this is also the first time in South-east Asia that AVs have been given permission to operate without an onboard safety officer. Its eight-seater driverless bus, fitted with a suite of cameras and light detection and ranging sensors, has been plying a fixed 12-minute route within the RWS integrated resort since June 2024. The company said it has completed thousands of trips and ferried tens of thousands of passengers without any incident. In January, WeRide was allowed to remove the steering wheel and pedals from the vehicle, but a safety officer was still required to be on board to intervene in case of an emergency. WeRide's chief financial officer and head of international, Jennifer Li, called the removal of the onboard safety officer a "groundbreaking milestone" for the future of mobility in the region. "Deploying the region's first fully driverless robo-bus demonstrates that our vehicles are safe, reliable, and ready to transform public transportation at scale," Li added. LTA deputy chief executive for technology Lam Wee Shann said the authority has been working with WeRide to facilitate autonomous shuttle trials at RWS, pointing to an assessment framework that was revised in November 2024 to drive the safe adoption of more mature AV technologies. WeRide, which has established a dedicated research and development centre in Singapore, has also been trialling its self-driving road sweepers in Jurong Lake Gardens since March. This is after it had earlier deployed similar driverless road sweepers in Marina Coastal Drive and at the Esplanade in November 2024. WeRide's announcement on July 17 comes as Singapore prepares to make a major AV push to strengthen the public transport network. By the start of the fourth quarter of 2025, self-driving shuttles will hit the roads in Punggol as part of plans to ramp up driverless vehicle deployments in the next five years. Acting Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow told reporters during a visit to Guangzhou in late June that the deployment of the autonomous shuttles here will be done in steps. [[nid:719631]] At the start, these vehicles will not ferry any passengers until residents and road users are more comfortable with them. They will have a safety officer on board and be clearly identifiable by a bright colour. The hope is that the autonomous shuttles can start taking passengers by the end of 2025. The safety officer can then be removed eventually in the third stage of the roll-out, as is the case in places like Guangzhou, where some autonomous bus routes are already being operated remotely. The Straits Times spoke to 27 Punggol residents earlier in July and found a mix of excitement and scepticism about autonomous vehicles. Financial advisor Shariqqi Rizvi, 28, said he was open to the idea, noting that newer residential estates in Punggol East are hard to access as they are served by only one bus route currently. Carole Yeo, 36, however, does not believe that driverless vehicles are safe. She said: "I'd be scared. What if something happens suddenly? I don't quite trust them." This article was first published in The Straits Times. Permission required for reproduction.
AsiaOne
18-07-2025
- Automotive
- AsiaOne
Driverless bus in Sentosa gets green light to run without safety officer in first for Singapore, Singapore News
SINGAPORE - In a first for Singapore, autonomous vehicle (AV) firm WeRide has been given permission to operate a self-driving shuttle bus service in Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) without any safety personnel on board. Singapore's Land Transport Authority (LTA) gave the firm the green light after extensive testing and safety assessments of WeRide's remote operations and on-road performance here, said the Guangzhou-based company on July 17. The company said this is also the first time in South-east Asia that AVs have been given permission to operate without an onboard safety officer. Its eight-seater driverless bus, fitted with a suite of cameras and light detection and ranging sensors, has been plying a fixed 12-minute route within the RWS integrated resort since June 2024. The company said it has completed thousands of trips and ferried tens of thousands of passengers without any incident. In January, WeRide was allowed to remove the steering wheel and pedals from the vehicle, but a safety officer was still required to be on board to intervene in case of an emergency. WeRide's chief financial officer and head of international, Jennifer Li, called the removal of the onboard safety officer a "groundbreaking milestone" for the future of mobility in the region. "Deploying the region's first fully driverless robo-bus demonstrates that our vehicles are safe, reliable, and ready to transform public transportation at scale," Li added. LTA deputy chief executive for technology Lam Wee Shann said the authority has been working with WeRide to facilitate autonomous shuttle trials at RWS, pointing to an assessment framework that was revised in November 2024 to drive the safe adoption of more mature AV technologies. WeRide, which has established a dedicated research and development centre in Singapore, has also been trialling its self-driving road sweepers in Jurong Lake Gardens since March. This is after it had earlier deployed similar driverless road sweepers in Marina Coastal Drive and at the Esplanade in November 2024. WeRide's announcement on July 17 comes as Singapore prepares to make a major AV push to strengthen the public transport network. By the start of the fourth quarter of 2025, self-driving shuttles will hit the roads in Punggol as part of plans to ramp up driverless vehicle deployments in the next five years. Acting Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow told reporters during a visit to Guangzhou in late June that the deployment of the autonomous shuttles here will be done in steps. [[nid:719631]] At the start, these vehicles will not ferry any passengers until residents and road users are more comfortable with them. They will have a safety officer on board and be clearly identifiable by a bright colour. The hope is that the autonomous shuttles can start taking passengers by the end of 2025. The safety officer can then be removed eventually in the third stage of the roll-out, as is the case in places like Guangzhou, where some autonomous bus routes are already being operated remotely. The Straits Times spoke to 27 Punggol residents earlier in July and found a mix of excitement and scepticism about autonomous vehicles. Financial advisor Shariqqi Rizvi, 28, said he was open to the idea, noting that newer residential estates in Punggol East are hard to access as they are served by only one bus route currently. Carole Yeo, 36, however, does not believe that driverless vehicles are safe. She said: "I'd be scared. What if something happens suddenly? I don't quite trust them." This article was first published in The Straits Times . Permission required for reproduction.
Straits Times
17-07-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Driverless bus in Sentosa gets green light to run without safety officer in first for S'pore
Find out what's new on ST website and app. The eight-seater driverless bus is fitted with a suite of cameras and light detection and ranging sensors. SINGAPORE – In a first for Singapore, autonomous vehicle (AV) firm WeRide has been given permission to operate a self-driving shuttle bus service in Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) without any safety personnel on board. Singapore's Land Transport Authority (LTA) gave the firm the green light after extensive testing and safety assessments of WeRide's remote operations and on-road performance here, said the Guangzhou-based company on July 17. The company said this is also the first time in South-east Asia that AVs have been given permission to operate without an onboard safety officer. Its eight-seater driverless bus, fitted with a suite of cameras and light detection and ranging sensors, has been plying a fixed 12-minute route within the RWS integrated resort since June 2024. The company said it has completed thousands of trips and ferried tens of thousands of passengers without any incident. In January, WeRide was allowed to remove the steering wheel and pedals from the vehicle, but a safety officer was still required to be on board to intervene in case of an emergency. WeRide's chief financial officer and head of international, Ms Jennifer Li, called the removal of the onboard safety officer a 'groundbreaking milestone' for the future of mobility in the region. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Fatal abuse of Myanmar maid in Bishan: Traffic Police officer sentenced to 10 years' jail Singapore Man charged over manufacturing DIY Kpods at Yishun home; first such case in Singapore World US strikes destroyed only one of three Iranian nuclear sites, says new report Business 5 things to know about Kuok Hui Kwong, tycoon Robert Kuok's daughter and Shangri-La Asia head honcho Singapore Sex first, then you can sell my flat: Women property agents fend off indecent proposals and harassment Singapore Singapore Prison Service debunks online claims that it launched 'the world's first floating prison' Singapore Jail for elderly man for using knife to slash neighbour, who later died of heart disease Opinion Grab tried to disrupt taxis. It now wants to save them 'Deploying the region's first fully driverless robo-bus demonstrates that our vehicles are safe, reliable, and ready to transform public transportation at scale,' Ms Li added. LTA deputy chief executive for technology Lam Wee Shann said the authority has been working with WeRide to facilitate autonomous shuttle trials at RWS, pointing to an assessment framework that was revised in November 2024 to drive the safe adoption of more mature AV technologies. WeRide, which has established a dedicated research and development centre in Singapore, has also been trialling its self-driving road sweepers in Jurong Lake Gardens since March. This is after it had earlier deployed similar driverless road sweepers in Marina Coastal Drive and at the Esplanade in November 2024. WeRide's announcement on July 17 comes as Singaporeprepares to make a major AV push to strengthen the public transport network. By the start of the start of the fourth quarter of 2025, self-driving shuttles will hit the roads in Punggol as part of plans to ramp up driverless vehicle deployments in the next five years. Acting Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow told reporters during a visit to Guangzhou in late June that the deployment of the autonomous shuttles here will be done in steps. At the start, these vehicles will not ferry any passengers until residents and road users are more comfortable with them. They will have a safety officer on board and be clearly identifiable by a bright colour. The hope is that the autonomous shuttles can start taking passengers by the end of 2025. The safety officer can then be removed eventually in the third stage of the roll-out, as is the case in places like Guangzhou, where certain autonomous bus routes are already being operated remotely. Interviews by The Straits Times with 27 Punggol residents earlier this month found a mix of excitement and scepticism about autonomous vehicles. Financial advisor Shariqqi Rizvi, 28, said he was open to the idea, noting that newer residential estates in Punggol East are hard to access as they are served by only one bus route today. Ms Carole Yeo, 36, on the other hand, does not believe that driverless vehicles are safe. She said: 'I'd be scared because what if something happens suddenly? I don't quite trust it.'
Borneo Post
29-06-2025
- Automotive
- Borneo Post
China's driverless tech finds new traction on global roads
This photo taken on April 17, 2025 shows a WeRide Robobus (front) operating at an airport in Zurich, Switzerland. (Xinhua) GUANGZHOU (June 30): Driverless sedans glide smoothly to the curb, autonomous shuttles whisk travelers through airport terminals, and robotic sweepers hum along busy streets. These once-futuristic scenes are fast entering everyday life across the globe, and many of them are powered by Chinese technology. From San Jose of California to Paris and Riyadh, China's swiftly advancing autonomous driving industry is gaining ground, exporting cutting-edge solutions that are quietly transforming how people move and how cities function. 'Chinese autonomous driving firms are accelerating their global expansion, fueled by mature technologies, swift deployment cycles and rising international demand,' said Liu Jinshan, a professor at Jinan University in south China's Guangzhou. This photo taken on March 11, 2025 shows an interior view of a WeRide Robobus operating in downtown Barcelona, Spain. (Xinhua) GOING GLOBAL In late May, Chinese autonomous driving firm WeRide made headlines as its self-driving vehicles began rolling through the streets of the capital Riyadh and the historic city of AlUla in Saudi Arabia. Almost simultaneously, another major player, Guangzhou-based also shifted its global ambitions into higher gear, announcing a strategic partnership with Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) to launch autonomous transport services. These moves are among the latest examples of a broader trend — a larger push by Chinese autonomous vehicle (AV) developers to expand their global presence. Chinese-developed autonomous driving technologies have made inroads into a growing number of global markets — including the United States, France, Spain, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Singapore, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Chinese tech giant Baidu serves as a prime example of this momentum. In the first quarter of 2025, its autonomous ride-hailing arm, Apollo Go, completed over 1.4 million rides, up 75 percent year on year, bringing its global total to over 11 million rides by May. Much of this success can be attributed to China's innovation-friendly environment. By the end of 2024, the country had established 17 national-level intelligent connected vehicle testing zones, with more than 32,000 kilometers of open test roads and over 120 million kilometers of cumulative test mileage, according to official figures. As Chinese AV firms gain global traction, collaboration with global players is deepening. Uber, for instance, has teamed up with WeRide and to integrate Chinese-developed AVs into its ride-hailing platform, starting with pilot operations in the Middle East. 'It's clear that the future of mobility will be increasingly shared, electric and autonomous,' said Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi. 'We look forward to working with Chinese leading AV companies to help bring the benefits of autonomous technology to cities around the world.' This photo taken on May 25, 2025 shows a WeRide Robobus operating in the historic city of AlUla in Saudi Arabia. (Xinhua) MUTUAL BENEFITS The rise of China's autonomous driving industry is creating ripple effects across global markets, offering development opportunities far beyond transportation. Peng Jun, co-founder and CEO of said the company's overseas expansion has sparked deep collaboration across the broader mobility value chain — spanning auto manufacturing, R&D, logistics and smart mobility services. 'Deploying autonomous vehicles attracts global component suppliers to invest in local facilities, which helps form industrial clusters and boosts the competitiveness of local manufacturing,' Peng noted. The benefits go beyond factories. According to Zhang Yuxue, WeRide's director of PR and marketing, local partnerships have also led to job creation in areas such as safety operations, fleet management and technical support. Notably, as Chinese AV companies venture into regions with varied road conditions, climates and regulatory environments, their technologies are evolving in step. 'Expanding globally helps us sharpen our algorithms to adapt to complex, real-world scenarios, ranging from the narrow urban roads of Europe to the extreme heat of the Middle East,' said Zhang. Wu Qiong, an autonomous driving expert at Baidu, said Apollo Go is building a 'full-spectrum technical validation chain' as it expands overseas. 'For example, we're testing in Switzerland, a right-hand-drive country with some of the world's most stringent traffic laws, which offers one of the toughest proving grounds for autonomous vehicles,' Wu said. CHALLENGES ON ROAD AHEAD Despite impressive strides, industry insiders note that autonomous driving remains in the early stages of commercialization and global expansion. China's autonomous driving industry still faces significant headwinds on its path to global growth, said Wu Zhanchi, a professor at Jinan University. 'Challenges range from adapting to overseas regulatory frameworks and overcoming high technical localization barriers, to ensuring compliance with cross-border data regulations and fierce competition from international giants,' Wu added. 'The sector also faces significant challenges in technological innovation and the development of sustainable business models,' said Zhu Xichan, professor at Tongji University in Shanghai. Zhu emphasized that achieving scale is crucial for the long-term viability of the AV industry. 'Global expansion not only broadens the range of real-world application scenarios but also boosts deployment volumes, both of which are vital for refining technologies and developing commercially viable models,' he said. Yet, several companies have begun to tackle these hurdles head-on. Peng Jun of said the company has overcome key challenges — such as cost reduction and front-end mass production. 'Our products have reached a level of maturity, and we have achieved positive unit economics,' he noted. Looking ahead, Peng said will continue to expand in Asia, the Middle East and Europe, leveraging existing partnerships to accelerate the growth of its global footprint. Zhang Yuxue echoed this sentiment, saying that WeRide is committed to broadening its international reach by promoting a diverse fleet of autonomous solutions, ranging from robotaxis and minibuses to freight trucks, sanitation vehicles and advanced self-driving systems. General Manager of Apollo Go for Europe and the Middle East Zhang Liang said Baidu aims to build the largest driverless fleet in Abu Dhabi by partnering with local stakeholders to jointly foster a robust autonomous driving ecosystem. In addition, Baidu is exploring cooperation with local new energy firms to develop innovative services, including battery swapping, which Zhang said will help improve operational efficiency. 'Given their growing track record in both domestic and international markets, there is good reason to believe that Chinese AV firms will secure a strong foothold in this global mobility market, ultimately becoming a hallmark of 'Made-in-China' innovation,' Wu noted. – Xinhua China driverless cars smart autonomous driving technology
