WAIC 2026 Opens in Shanghai as China Pushes AI From Models to Applications
Shanghai, July 17 — The 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) and the High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance opened in Shanghai on July 17, reaching a record scale with more than 1,100 companies participating and over 300 products making global debuts across areas including large models, embodied intelligence, autonomous driving, and AI chips.
During the conference, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) released the AI Cooperation Development Action Plan, outlining eight initiatives focused on data, computing power, ecosystems, industrial empowerment, talent development, standards, governance, and AI for good. The plan aims to promote international AI cooperation, narrow the digital divide, and support sustainable development through AI.
The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) also introduced the International AI Ethics Governance Action Plan, providing a framework for global AI governance.
A key theme at this year’s WAIC is the industry’s transition from a “model race” to an “application race.” The NDRC emphasized deeper AI integration with manufacturing, services, agriculture, and other real-economy sectors. This aligns with China’s latest economic data, which showed high-tech manufacturing value-added growth of 13.3% and industrial robot output growth of 28.0%.
Several new technologies attracted attention at the event. ByteDance and ZTE’s Nubia jointly unveiled the second-generation Doubao AI phone, featuring on-device AI capabilities. Unlike traditional AI features, the device functions as an intelligent agent capable of performing multi-step tasks such as price comparisons, hotel bookings, and message responses.
The conference also highlighted the growing maturity of China’s AI ecosystem, spanning computing infrastructure, open-source models, and industry applications.
China’s Auto Exports Surge as Automakers Accelerate Global Expansion
Shenzhen July 17 — China’s auto exports continued their rapid expansion in the first half of 2026, with total exports reaching 5.096 million vehicles, up 65.3% year-on-year. Monthly exports surpassed 1 million units for the first time in June. New energy vehicle (NEV) exports reached 2.35 million units, soaring 120% year-on-year.
As domestic competition intensifies and profit margins come under pressure, overseas markets are becoming a strategic necessity rather than an option for Chinese automakers. Consulting firm AlixPartners expects China’s auto exports to reach 10 million units in 2026, while domestic light-vehicle sales are projected to decline by 10% to 24.6 million units.
Leading exporters have established distinct global strategies. Chery led with 944,000 exported vehicles, followed by BYD with 790,000, Geely with 474,000 (up 158% year-on-year), and Great Wall Motor with 291,000. EV startups including XPeng, NIO, and Li Auto are also accelerating international expansion.
Among them, BYD has emerged as a benchmark for overseas growth, combining localized production with full supply-chain exports. At the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK, BYD showcased four brands—BYD, Denza, Yangwang, and Fangchengbao—with its exhibition area becoming the largest in the event’s history. The company aims to sell 1.5 million vehicles overseas in 2026, with overseas sales already exceeding 40% of total deliveries in the first half of the year.
BYD is also expanding global infrastructure. The company plans to build 6,000 overseas fast-charging stations within the next year, while its Hungary factory is expected to begin production in Q4 2026 with annual capacity of 150,000 vehicles. In Brazil, BYD’s local production capacity has expanded to 300,000 units annually.
China’s brands are also gaining momentum in Europe. In May, Chinese passenger vehicles surpassed Japanese brands in European market share for the first time, with BYD’s European sales rising sharply year-on-year.
Industry observers note that exporting vehicles is only the first stage of global expansion. The long-term goal for Chinese automakers is building localized production, supply chains, and brand ecosystems overseas—a transition that will determine the next phase of China’s automotive globalization.
Louis Vuitton Faces Trademark Battle Over Protection of Iconic Monogram Pattern
Beijing, July 16 — On July 16, the Beijing Intellectual Property Court publicly heard an administrative litigation case involving Louis Vuitton Malletier (LV) and the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) over trademark authorization and confirmation.
The case is not a direct infringement lawsuit against a merchant. Instead, it stems from a trademark registration dispute: after an individual, Huang Minyao, applied to register a trademark, LV filed an opposition/invalidation request with CNIPA. After CNIPA ruled against LV’s claim, the luxury brand brought the case to court seeking a review of the administrative decision.
At the center of the dispute is the protection scope of LV’s iconic Monogram floral pattern. For LV, the case has broader strategic implications. If the trademark ruling stands, it could influence future enforcement actions involving similar patterns used in industries such as beverages, cultural products, home goods, and food services.
The dispute has also sparked wider discussion over the boundary between brand intellectual property protection and public cultural heritage. Some observers have linked LV’s patterns to traditional Chinese decorative motifs, including the Shidi pattern and Tang Dynasty Baoxiang flower designs, raising questions over whether commonly shared cultural elements can be granted exclusive commercial rights.
The debate reflects a larger challenge facing luxury brands: their value depends heavily on the exclusivity and recognition of symbolic assets. As brand symbols become more widely used in everyday consumer products, maintaining rarity and premium positioning becomes increasingly difficult.
The final ruling could become an important reference point for balancing well-known trademark protection with the public use of traditional cultural elements, potentially influencing future intellectual property disputes in China.
Moutai Raises Feitian Price Again as It Accelerates Market-Oriented Reform
Guizhou, July 17 — On the evening of July 17, Kweichow Moutai (600519) announced that it would raise the retail and contract prices of its flagship Feitian 53% vol 500ml Moutai (2026) by CNY 100 per bottle, effective from July 18.
Under the adjustment, the retail price on the i-Moutai platform will increase from CNY 1,539 to CNY 1,639, while the sales contract price will rise from CNY 1,269 to CNY 1,369. This marks Moutai’s second price increase for the core product this year.
The move follows the company’s new market-oriented pricing strategy. In March, Moutai raised the self-operated retail price of Feitian Moutai from CNY 1,499 to CNY 1,539, marking the first increase in the channel’s official retail price since 2018. Compared with previous large-scale price adjustments, the company is now adopting a more gradual approach to balance market expectations, supply-demand dynamics, and price stability.
The price hike comes as Moutai continues efforts to strengthen direct sales channels and improve market control. The company noted that the adjustment may have an impact on operating performance and advised investors to remain cautious.
Financially, Moutai reported Q1 2026 revenue of CNY 53.9 billion, up 6.5% year-on-year, with net profit attributable to shareholders reaching CNY 27.2 billion. Its digital sales platform i-Moutai generated CNY 21.6 billion in alcohol revenue during the quarter.
Following the announcement, Moutai’s share price continued to recover, closing at CNY 1,253 per share on July 17, with a market capitalization of CNY 1.57 trillion.
The latest price adjustment reflects Moutai’s broader shift from traditional price management toward a more market-driven strategy, as the company seeks to balance brand value, consumer demand, and long-term growth.
Apple Intelligence Cleared for China as Alibaba’s Qwen Becomes Local AI Partner
Beijing, July 15 — On July 15, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) announced the filing approval for seven on-device generative AI services for smartphones, including Apple Intelligence, clearing the way for Apple’s AI platform to launch in mainland China.
Apple also confirmed that Alibaba’s Qwen large language model will power the AI capabilities of the China version of Apple Intelligence, bringing features such as text and image understanding, content generation, and AI assistance to users of iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and visionOS. Following the announcement, Alibaba’s U.S.-listed shares rose more than 6% in pre-market trading, while its Hong Kong-listed shares gained over 5% the next day.
The partnership follows a lengthy evaluation process. Apple had reportedly been assessing several leading Chinese AI model providers since 2024, seeking a partner capable of meeting its demanding requirements for on-device performance, privacy protection, engineering reliability, and regulatory compliance. Alibaba Chairman Joe Tsai previously revealed that Apple had evaluated multiple Chinese companies before selecting Qwen.
The approval marks a significant milestone for both companies. For Apple, it removes a key regulatory hurdle to bringing Apple Intelligence to mainland China. For Alibaba, securing Apple’s AI partnership reinforces Qwen’s position as one of China’s leading foundation models and expands its presence in the rapidly growing on-device AI market.
Apple has yet to announce an official launch date for Apple Intelligence in mainland China. However, with regulatory approval now in place and the local AI partnership confirmed, the rollout is widely expected to enter its final preparation phase.
The CAC’s latest filing also approved on-device AI models from Huawei, OPPO, vivo, Xiaomi, Samsung, and Nubia, signaling that competition in China’s smartphone AI ecosystem is entering a new phase.