Latest from 42HOW
iCAR V27: Can the New Chinese 'Box-Style' SUV Compete?
42HOW Auto examines whether iCAR's new box-style SUV, the V27, can succeed in China's competitive electric vehicle market.
Robotics · INDUSTRYSkild AI Raises RMB 9.8 Billion in Series C; 1X Unveils World Model Progress; LimX Dynamics Releases Embodied AI Agent System
Sklid AI completes a $1.4 billion (approx. 9.8 billion RMB) Series C round led by SoftBank, raising its valuation to over $14 billion. Meanwhile, 1X introduces its generative world model 1XWM for robotic autonomy, and LimX Dynamics launches COSA, an embodied agent OS for humanoid robots.
Auto · AUTONOMOUS DRIVINGChery Unveils AI Strategy, Robotaxi Plans and New Models at 'AI Night'
Chery announced a transformation into a technology mobility company, detailing its Falcon autonomous driving architecture with L4 ambitions by 2028, new vehicle models including the Fengyun T9L and A9, and the deployment of humanoid robots in public services.
Auto · NEW CARS & MARKET SIGNALS9:22A Gasoline Car with Two Electric Motors? The Audi Q5L Has Something to Offer
A Gasoline Car with Two Electric Motors? The Audi Q5L Has Something to Offer
Robotics · ROBOTICSCan AI Mastery of League of Legends Power Tesla’s Optimus Robot?
A mysterious player in the Korean server of League of Legends achieved a 95% win rate, sparking speculation that it is Musk's Grok 5. This raises questions about whether Optimus robots are approaching a brain capable of adapting to the real world.
Robotics · ROBOTICS1X Reveals World Model Advances: Can NEO Robots Enter Homes?
1X has released 1XWM, a generative world model pre-trained on internet videos, to enhance NEO's autonomous capabilities and accelerate its deployment in household environments.
Robotics · INDUSTRYBoston Dynamics Unveils Industrial Atlas; X Square Robot Raises RMB 1 Billion; Mobileye to Acquire Mentee Robotics for USD 900 Million
This week's tech roundup covers Boston Dynamics' new industrial Atlas robot, X Square Robot's 1 billion yuan funding round, AgiBot's SOP online post-training system, and Mobileye's $900 million acquisition of Mentee Robotics.
Auto · AUTONOMOUS DRIVINGGeely, Great Wall Flex Muscles; NVIDIA Unveils Major Tech at CES 2026
At CES 2026 in Las Vegas, Geely and Great Wall Motor presented new AI architectures and multi-powertrain platforms, while NVIDIA announced its Alpamayo autonomous driving system for Mercedes-Benz.
Auto · INTERVIEWSFrom Critic to Owner: Why the NIO ES8 Won Fans | 42Talk Vol.33 Transcript
Two NIO ES8 owners discuss how competitive pricing, battery-as-a-service options, and practical features like the frunk drove their purchase decisions.
Robotics · ROBOTICSRobots Take Center Stage at CES
CES 2026 highlights the shift toward physical AI and embodied intelligence, with robots from Boston Dynamics, Unitree, Fourier, and others showcasing advanced capabilities in industrial, home, and interactive scenarios.
Auto · VIDEO & ROAD TESTS7:07Mercedes-Benz Showcases Ice Drifting and Snow Traverse Capabilities
Mercedes-Benz demonstrates vehicle performance through ice drifting and snow traverse activities, highlighting its capabilities in winter driving conditions.
Robotics · INDUSTRY2025: The Year Robots Proved They Could Work
In 2025, robots transitioned from lab demos to real-world applications, proving their reliability in everything from Spring Festival Gala performances to factory lines and home services.
Auto · NEW CARS & MARKET SIGNALSLeapmotor’s Decade of Craftsmanship Yields Dual Flagships, Moving Beyond the 'Value' Label
At its tenth-anniversary event, Leapmotor revealed the D19 full-size SUV and the debut D99 MPV as the first models in its new D series. The company stated it aims to become a global smart EV maker with annual sales of 4 million units.
Robotics · INDUSTRYRobots Still Need Better Hands for Real-World Deployment
At the 10th Anniversary and Embodied AI Strategic Cooperation Summit held on December 27 in Shanghai, OYMotion signed a strategic partnership with Ledike Group. The company revealed that its dexterous hands currently serve around 200 clients across more than 10 SKUs spanning three product series. This collaboration aims to bridge the gap from basic components to final execution units, jointly tapping into the trillion-yuan embodied AI market.
Robotics · INDUSTRYVbot Community Surpasses 300 Members as Consumer Embodied AI Accelerates
Vbot's consumer-grade embodied AI robot dog, 'Big Head BoBo', achieved over 10 million RMB in orders on its first day and rapidly built a community of over 300 users, signaling the arrival of practical consumer robotics.
Auto · CHINA EVLeapmotor Says Goodbye to 'Mini Li Auto' Label
As Leapmotor celebrates its tenth anniversary with nearly 600,000 annual sales and a return to profitability, founder Zhu Jiangming declares the company is moving beyond its early 'imitator' phase to pursue a goal of becoming a global automaker with 4 million units in annual sales.
Robotics · ROBOTICSTARS Unveils Embroidering Robot and Full-Stack Embodied AI System After RMB 1.7 Billion Funding
Embodied AI company TARS unveiled its first full-stack technology release, featuring the TARS AWE 2.0 model and an AI-native hardware system. The company demonstrated global capabilities by showcasing the world's first robot to complete manual embroidery.
Robotics · INDUSTRYAgiBot and Others Launch 'Qingtian Rent' Platform to Democratize Robot Access
Facing user pain points like high costs and lack of trust, Embodied AI companies including AgiBot have launched 'Qingtian Rent', offering 8 robot models across 16 scenarios from 200 to 100,000 yuan. The platform aims to cover 200 cities by the 2026 Spring Festival.
Robotics · ROBOTICSMusk Praises Unitree G1 Performance; LimX Dynamics Unveils Multi-Form Robots; Daxiao Robotics Showcases Three Breakthroughs
Unitree G1 dances at Wang Leehom's concert with Musk's praise; LimX Dynamics releases TRON 2 multi-form robot starting at 49,800 RMB; Daxiao Robotics unveils ACE paradigm and A1 brain module.
Auto · NEW CARS & MARKET SIGNALS5:32Volvo XC70: What Drives Its Strong Sales Performance?
An analysis of the factors contributing to the Volvo XC70's robust market performance and its position in the new energy vehicle sector.