Category: Automotive

Softbank leads $170m funding in group messaging app IRL at $1.17b valuation …

Group messaging app IRL, short for in real life, on Tuesday said it raised $170 million in a funding round led by SoftBank Group Corp’s Vision Fund 2 that valued the company at $1.17 billion. The San Francisco-based startup’s messaging platform works like WhatsApp to create private group chats but also allows for public groups… Continue reading Softbank leads $170m funding in group messaging app IRL at $1.17b valuation …

Alibaba executive vice chairman says Jack Ma’s fine and lying low

Alibaba Group Holding founder Jack Ma is fine and “lying low right now”, the Chinese e-commerce giant’s executive vice chairman, Joe Tsai, said in an interview with CNBC on Tuesday. Following Ma‘s criticism of the Chinese regulatory system last year, the authorities have come down heavily on the company, leading to the shelving of financial affiliate Ant Group’s IPO. Ma has been largely out of public view ever… Continue reading Alibaba executive vice chairman says Jack Ma’s fine and lying low

Foxconn unit invests $36m in Gigasolar partnership to develop EV battery materials

Taiwan’s Foxconn said a subsidiary has invested T$995.2 million ($36 million) in Gigasolar Materials Corp to develop electric vehicle (EV) battery materials. Foxconn, Apple’s main iPhone maker, said the investment via a private placement through a Taiwan-based subsidiary will make it the second-largest shareholder in Gigasolar, known for manufacturing solar cell materials. The two companies will jointly… Continue reading Foxconn unit invests $36m in Gigasolar partnership to develop EV battery materials

Bank Rakyat Indonesia seeks to sell 23.25% stake in rights issue

Indonesia‘s largest lender by assets, PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia said on Tuesday it will seek shareholders approval next month to conduct a rights issue that will enable the acquisition of two state firms. BRI plans to sell a maximum 28.68 billion shares in the rights sale, or 23.25% of its total equity, the company said in a stock exchange filing. The government, the controlling shareholder of BRI, will participate in… Continue reading Bank Rakyat Indonesia seeks to sell 23.25% stake in rights issue

China tells e-commerce firms to regulate promotional phone messages

China‘s industry ministry on Tuesday said that it had told e-commerce giants Alibaba, JD.com and Pinduoduo to regulate their use of promotional phone messaging to users ahead of the annual June 18 shopping festival. The directive, delivered during what the ministry said was a meeting on June 11, is the latest move in an ongoing regulatory clampdown on China‘s booming “platform economy”.… Continue reading China tells e-commerce firms to regulate promotional phone messages

Toyoda Gosei Starts Sample Shipments of e-Rubber “Smart Insoles”

KIYOSU, Japan–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd. (TOKYO:7282) has developed “Smart Insoles” with embedded e-Rubber* sensors that can obtain foot pressure data during movement. The company began shipping samples of Smart Insoles to a golf school operated by Mizuno Corporation (Mizuno Golf Studio, Ozone Branch) in June 2021. Smart Insoles are light and durable, and can… Continue reading Toyoda Gosei Starts Sample Shipments of e-Rubber “Smart Insoles”

Ardenna Rail-Inspector Now Available in the Microsoft Azure Marketplace

Ardenna’s Rail-Inspector is a SaaS offering, only available on Azure. “Through the Microsoft Azure Marketplace, Rail-Inspector will have a broader exposure to domestic and international railroad track asset owners,” said David M. Patterson, Business Development Director for Ardenna. “Through Microsoft Azure Marketplace, customers around the world can easily find, buy, and deploy partner solutions they… Continue reading Ardenna Rail-Inspector Now Available in the Microsoft Azure Marketplace