Tech Roundup: Vivo, Nokia End Patent Litigation With Licensing Deal
Volkswagen and XPeng set to produce jointly developed electric car in 2026, Seres launches Chongqing super factory
On Monday, Vivo announced a global patent cross-licensing agreement with Nokia. Photo: VCG
Vivo and Nokia sign 5G patent licensing agreement
Vivo Mobile Communication Co. Ltd. announced on Feb. 5 that it has entered into a global patent cross-licensing agreement with Nokia Oyj, covering standard-essential patents in 5G and other cellular communication technologies. The agreement will conclude all pending litigation between the two companies across all jurisdictions. Nokia already has patent licensing deals with multiple major smartphone manufacturers including Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd., Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., Apple Inc., Honor Device Co. Ltd., and Oppo Co. Ltd.
Volkswagen and XPeng to produce new EV model in 2026
Volkswagen Group China announced on Feb. 5 that its new electric vehicle (EV) developed in collaboration with XPeng Inc. will hit the production line in Hefei, Anhui province in 2026. The two firms partnered in July 2023 to develop two Volkswagen-branded EVs in China, part of a broader trend of traditional and new-energy vehicle manufacturers joining hands.
Seres launches super factory, delivers first batch of Aito M9
Seres Group Ltd. held a ceremony on Feb. 5 to mark the opening of its super factory in Chongqing, coinciding with the delivery of the first batch of its Aito M9 model to customers. The Aito M9 SUV, a product of the collaboration between Seres and Huawei, has attracted substantial interest, with over 40,000 orders placed since its launch in December, according to Seres.
TrendForce reports 17% increase in server DRAM usage in 2024
Demand for artificial intelligence (AI) applications is expected to drive a 17.3% increase in DRAM usage and a 13.2% increase in NAND usage per server in 2024, according to a new report by market research firm TrendForce. The growth highlights the expanding role of memory and storage solutions in supporting the computational demands of AI technologies.
Sigmaintell predicts end to decline in TV panel prices in January
Sigmaintell Consulting has predicted that average prices for television panels of all sizes stopped declining in January, while February could see a modest increase across mainstream sizes. The price of a 55-inch panel, for example, remained stable in January, with an anticipated increase of $2 in this month, indicating a stabilization after a volatile period in the market.
China Mobile launches two experimental satellites
On Feb. 4, China Mobile Ltd. announced the successful launch of two trial satellites, the China Mobile 01 and Xinghe satellites,. These satellites are part of the world’s first integrated terrestrial and celestial signal processing system aimed at evolving 5G and paving the way for 6G technologies, marking a breakthrough in China Mobile’s integrated development strategy.
Xiaomi founder to focus more on auto venture
Xiaomi Corp.’s founder, Lei Jun, announced Feb. 3 on his Weibo account that he will dedicate more effort to the company’s automotive business. The company has appointed group president Lu Weibing as the general manager of the Xiaomi brand, which includes leading future Xiaomi smartphone launches. Lei highlighted that the Xiaomi SU7 model is undergoing comprehensive road tests nationwide, as it gears up for its market launch.
Huawei tops China’s smartphone sales in first two weeks of 2024
Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. secured the top spot in China’s smartphone market by sales in the first two weeks of 2024, according to Counterpoint Research. The success is attributed to the Mate 60 series powered by Huawei’s Kirin 9000s chip, along with high brand loyalty and the successful deployment of its HarmonyOS.
Arm processors to gain market share, analysts predict
Arm Ltd.’s CPUs are expected to gain market share in 2024, driven by the artificial intelligence PC trend, market research firm Sigmaintell Consulting said in a recent report. The report highlights the superior computing power of ARM processor-based CPUs, with Qualcomm’s X Elite and Apple’s M3 showing processing powers of 45 TOPS (trillion operations per second) and 18 TOPS, respectively, outperforming their x86 counterparts, which are based on Intel Corp. chips.
TuSimple halts operations following U.S. court order
Autonomous trucking company TuSimple Holdings Inc. has suspended operations under the weight of litigation pressures. On Feb. 4, two Chinese employees confirmed to Caixin that the company had halted all operations, including those in China and the U.S., following a temporary restraining order from a California court dated Jan. 24. The order prohibits any communication or disclosure involving TuSimple’s trade secrets.
HiPhi parent struggles without Middle East investment
Human Horizons Group Inc., the startup behind the HiPhi brand, has faced operational challenges after its plans to secure investment from the Middle East fell through. Several of HiPhi’s retail outlets in Chengdu and Guangzhou have been shut down, and the company is reportedly considering layoffs as it navigates these difficulties, Caixin has learned.
China dominates global NEV market in December
Cui Dongshu, secretary-general of the China Passenger Car Association, said on Feb. 3 that China’s new-energy passenger vehicle sales accounted for 63.5% of the global market in 2023, with the share rising to 68% in December. Global car sales reached 89.18 million units in 2023, with new-energy vehicles making up 14.28 million, highlighting the major shift underway from traditional fuel vehicles.