brands

The tariff war is causing Chinese consumers to buy Chinese brands. And the first victim is Apple

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A nationalist wind travels Electronics stores in China and is affecting foreign brand mobile sales. In March, foreign mobile distributions were reduced to almost half of one year to another, according to the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT) cited by Reuters. This contraction has relegated Apple to fifth position in the Chinese market, with a 14.1 % share. Less than two years ago he was leader. Meanwhile, national manufacturers – vivo, oppo, xiaomi and, Above all, Huawei– They continue to register double digit growth, gaining ground both in the mid -range segment. Samsung’s decline, in perspective Samsung controlled almost 20% of the Chinese market in 2013a figure similar to its global participation. By 2023, that quota had fallen to 0.8%. This collapse was gradual but unstoppable: the South Korean brand went from being a dominant contender to an almost testimonial presence. Apple has resisted better than Samsung, but The decline is undeniable. Its distributions in China maintain a 14.1 % share in the first quarter of this year, which places it in fifth place behind the four large stores. To try to stop the trend He started offering discounts on the iPhone before serving one year in storesomething suspiciously unusual in its commercial policy. Little has to do with China’s ranking … … with the global: Especially in their kings. The phenomenon goes beyond technical characteristics or price. It is rooted in the change in consumption habits of Chinese citizens, increasingly inclined to support their own. Since 2022, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) proposed a subsidy program for terminals below 6,000 yuan (about 830 euros), structurally favoring local manufacturers, who handle prices just below that barrier. To this is added the impact of the commercial war with the United States. Tariffs imposed by Trump and Technological War They have reinforced nationalist bias: The consumer perceives the foreign product as less desirable. A similar case occurred with Samsung after The deployment of the Thaad antimisile system In South Korea in 2015. Then, the Anticorean feeling triggered the rejection of its products in China. Now try to return to the Chinese market with His galaxy c (The ‘C’ is for ‘China’), but it seems a complicated return. Huawei, with his turn towards self -sufficiency and not only towards competition against the rest, is a perfect example of the materialization of Xi Jinping’s technological doctrine. Huawei resurfaced from the ashes of US sanctions, not only recovering market share but Building its parallel ecosystem. Apple and Samsung, the two world leaders of mobile telephony, have a problem of difficult solution in China. It is not only to scratch market share, but to articulate a credible value proposal in an environment where the foreign brand condition is, today, competitive disadvantage. Its price strategy, alliances with operators and product adaptation will be key to a possible reconquest. In Xataka | Just when the batteries were breaking all the records came the ultra-infinity mobiles. China has a lesson for them Outstanding image | ABODI VESAKARAN in UnspashXataka

The Chinese brands promised them very happy plagiarizing the design of the Vespa. They ran into a problem: it’s “art”

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There are many copies of motorcycles. And even more with the Arrival of Chinese motorcycles to the market. In fact, there are European manufacturers allowing the Chinese to copy their design to continue earning money: It is a long history. But there is a manufacturer whose design is specially protected: we talk about Vespa. A motorcycle with copyright. Every vehicle manufactured and registered in the EU enjoys 25 years of protection for its design. If you want to go further, you have to register it as creative and artistic work. This is the case of Vespawho enjoys 70 years of author protection since the death of his creator, Corradino d’A Ascanio. This happened in 1981, so the VESPA design is protected until 2051. It is recognized as a work of art, and in case of plagiarism it can be fought before justice, as explained in Motorpasion. It is just what happened, with a bad start. In 2014, Vespa denounced before European justice a Plagiarism committed by Zhejianga Chinese manufacturer who claimed as his the design of a clonic scooter to spring 125. Four years later, in 2019, the General Court of the European Union determined that the intellectual property rights of Piaggio (brand after Vespa) had not been violated on this scooter, and dismissed the appeal. “Since the relevant public that can buy lifts has a high level of attention, it will consider that the style, lines and appearance that characterize the vespa lx sterine are different, from the visual point of view, of those of the Zhejiang lift. Due to the different impressions that the two struts produce, there is no risk of confusion by the relevant public.” According to The initial resolutionthe Intellectual Property Office of the European Union (EUIPO) failed in favor of a Chinese manufacturer who was clearly copying the design of the original VESPA. A subjective interpretation. The Vespa case is governed by European Copyright Lawwhich protects the designs during the aforementioned 25 years, and for the protection of intellectual property of up to 70 years for the creation of original work. One of the main problems of this law is that, in the case of vehicles, there is no absolute framework that supports the possible plagiarism. Everything falls to the Court’s own interpretation, which will determine or not whether there has been an infraction or not of the law. The pillars in which the Industrial Property Code They are the novelty, the creative character and artistic value, elements with an very high subjective load. But he who follows her, gets her. Vespa did not give up the evidence that a Chinese brand were plagiarizing its design. Piaggio resorted to the Court’s decision and, four years later, he got the authority determine that Vespa’s pattern is “unmistakable and cannot be replicated”revoking your previous decision. Image: Motorpasion It is not Vespa’s first legal battle. Already in 2020, in full legal battle against Zhejiang, Grupo Piaggio denounced one of the brands that presumed in the eicma of Milan of their new scooters. One among which was A practically identical model to spring 125. The bikes ended up being removed from the stands of the manufacturers, and not to say that their sale in Europe is completely prohibited. So far, anyone who has dared to copy Vespa, has ended his scooter outside the market. Not the only work of art. Piaggio is the only manufacturer that registered Vespa as the work of art, but in the automobile world there have been some cases. The Porsche 911 is one of themdefending its iconic form in multiple judgments. Other iconic models, such as Ferrari 250 Gtothey were also considered as a work of art after legally facing Ares Desingcompany that wanted to market a model replica. Despite the protection granted by the vehicle as a work of art, this is not a common practice in the automobile world, even in the luxury vehicle. Replicas are still alive. Although legally the Vespa cannot be copied, its design continues to “inspire” numerous brands. Among them, the Spanish Velca. Beyond the similarity in the name, the manufacturer is expanding in Spain with scooters that inevitably remember Vespa. It is not its own design, it comes from China, and is shared with many other brands. Another separate issue is that Piaggio did not want to face the numerous replicas that continue to exist in the market. Who wants a Land Rover … having a Land Wind. Reasonable similarities. Beyond engaging in judgments whose resolution nobody ensures (of not having claimed, Vespa would continue with their clones more alive than ever at the beginning), manufacturers can do little about copies. In the world of the car, Chinese copies are the order of the day, and In most cases nothing happens. In the most rocambolesque cases, such as MV Augusta (one of the most exclusive luxury manufacturers of motorcycles), have come to ally with Chinese giants like QJ Motors to create replicas of the original models. Reason? Al become Chinese manufacturers, let them sell a cheaper substitute and collect benefits. Image | Vespa In Xataka | We have visited the Shenzhen falsification market: China is at another level when it comes to copying other products

The more and less reliable car brands of 2025, in a graphic dominated by Japan and with a surprise: Tesla

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Buying a car is A authentic headache. It is logical if we consider that, usually, after the house, the purchase of a car is the greatest expense we make. There are many variables to take into account (motorization, securitymore or less screens …) and something that should be seen are the lists of the most reliable cars. There are several, Like those of Consumer Reports Or JD Power, who help us make the decision. And, precisely, in this graph elaborated by Visual Capitalist We have the list of the most reliable brands of 2025 according to one of these databases. JD Power. First of all, let’s see the context of this company. Founded in 1968, it has been specialized in handling big Databases that collect consumer data in various industries. One of them is that of the car, where they analyze all those data to prepare reports with achievements such as the discovery of a defect in the design of the rotary engines of Mazda in 1973, something that forced the company to remedy. In the automobile segment, they publish several lists, being one of them that includes the general degree of satisfaction of the owners of the different brands. On this occasion, it focuses on the United States, but as is the case in the Consumer Reports lists, although the US market is slightly different from the European, many of the brands and models are common in both markets. PP100. To understand the list, you have to know that the number of problems per 100 vehicles is detailed (problems per 100 or PP100) after three years of property. For example, in the Last year listJD Power collected the response of more than 30,500 people from cars bought in 2021 and, after three years, detailed the problems belonging to nine categories: Abroad Inside Seating Driving experience Air conditioning/air conditioning Controls Infoentrate system Engine Driving aids The best. Going to the list, we have a recurring company in the first position: Lexus. In different consumer surveys, Toyota’s luxury brand has been crowned as the company that has the most degree of satisfaction among its customers. In this case, although it has more errors than in the list last year, it continues in first position. The American Buick is the second and, thirdly, Mazda advances to Toyota. Nothing surprising: Japan continues to lead in the high satisfaction positions, but others like General Motors manage to sneak because they have varied the most with respect to the previous period. The biggest changes. Precisely, there are several changes in the list marked by that improvement or worsening in front of the 2024 survey. Mazda is one of the one that improves the most with respect to the last year, reducing its PP100 by 24 points. Ford reduced it at 31 points and Tesla starred in the biggest change by reducing it by 43 points. There are also changes worse, such as that of the aforementioned Toyota, Alfa Romeo, Hyundai, Acura or Jeep, something that surprises less if we see recent movements of the company in American territory, with policies that are not liking and other determining factors for this list. Worse. The really interesting, beyond the brands whose reputation improves or worsens in recent months, is the fact that, globally, the average errors per 100 vehicles has reached, according to JD Power, its highest average since 2009. This is curious because it was the year immediately later to the financial crisis of 2008 and the manufacturers may cut in components, but cars analyzed in 2024 They are built during the Covid-19 pandemic, which points to a correlation between a crisis moment and an increase in vehicle failures. More technology, more problems. The more options a device has, the more possibilities there is something fail. It is something that surely you have heard: do not buy you a washing machine because it surely fails more than a washing machine and a separate dryer (insert the example you want with a microwave-shock or whatever). Well, in the case of cars, according to JD Power reports, half of the main problems of the entire industry are related to the great novelty of recent years: integration with smartphones and systems ANdroid Auto and Apple Carplay. In fact, in surveys, 56% of users claim that they have not noticed improvements even after updates and that, the more software related to the Infoentrate It has the car, there is more likely that something fails. Obviously, Millions of cars are sold a year And many have that integration, but also owners or solutions such as Android Automotive and the units that fail represent a small percentage. But, in an industry that becomes more and more in this and Use of screens (With brands that are already reculating), It is normal for more mistakes of this type to appear. Choosing a car now does not go only motor or design, but also of stability in the software, and it is convenient that we keep it in mind when choosing. Images | Visual Capitalist In Xataka | There is a clear winner with the 25% tariffs to the car: it is called byd and represents everything that China has to win

Tariffs imposed by the US to Mexico are going to shoot many prices. Those of these car brands are going to be a problem

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The United States decision of Implement 25% tariffs On the imports of Mexico and Canada it will have many and varied consequences, but there is a sector that will be specially affected by it: the automotive industry, especially from North America. After several postponements, the measure entered into force on March 4without the possibility of a new negotiation. There are already names of affected companies and models. An interconnected industry. Throughout the last three decades in the United States, with The signature of the NAFTA (Gasoline) in 1994 and its subsequent evolution towards the T-MEC (USMCA), car manufacturers have developed supply chains highly interdependentin which engines, transmissions and other components cross the borders multiple times before assembling in a final vehicle. The premise behind this model is clear: take advantage of the economic and logistics strengths of each country to reduce costs, improve efficiency and offer more competitive prices to its consumers. However, new tariffs could break this structure, drastically more expensive and generating uncertainty about what cars will be considered imported or national. What is really an imported car. It had the New York Times. Before talking about the repercussions, it should be explained how a vehicle is “mounted”. The central problem of tariffs is that defining what an imported car is is not so simple. In legal terms (and USA key), a vehicle is classified as imported when its final assembly occurs outside the United States. However, the complexity of supply chains This definition has become obsolete. The medium exposed concrete examples of this interconnection. Namely: the Chevrolet Blazer is assembled in Mexico, but uses engines and transmissions made in the United States, the Nissan Altim He assembles in the United States but with only 25% of its American parts (the engine comes from Japan and the transmission of Mexico). Extra ball. There is another problem: that the Trump administration has not specified How will you apply tariffs To these components that cross the border several times. This, no doubt, generates a climate of uncertainty for manufacturers, who do not know how to calculate production costs and define their commercial strategy. A true chaos. Affected companies and models. What seems clearly clear is that, if tariffs are permanently implemented, a summary of Several companies that could be forced to reconsider investments or even transfer production to other regions. Who is it? The main automotive with operations in Mexico and Canada that They would be impacted For tariffs they include: BMW: Its plant in San Luis Potosí, Mexico, produces series 3, 2 Coupé and M2 models, mainly intended for the US and global market. Ford: operates three floors in Mexico and exported almost 196,000 vehicles to North America in the first half of 2024, of which 90% went to the United States. General Motors (GM): It imported around 750,000 vehicles from Mexico and Canada in 2024, including key models such as Chevy Silverado, GMC Sierra and SUV medium. In addition, its Mexican plants assemble two of its new electric vehicles (EVS). Honda: with 80% of its Mexican production for the United States, it already warned that it could rethink its manufacturing strategy if tariffs become permanent. KIA: Its factory in Mexico assembles its own models and the Santa Fe SUV for Hyundai, which are also exported to the United States. Mazda: exported 120,000 vehicles from Mexico to the United States in 2024 and evaluates to stop future investments if tariffs enter into force. Nissan: Its two plants in Mexico produce the Sentra, Versa and Kicks models for the United States, with a total of 505,000 units assembled in the first nine months of 2024. Stellantis: Assemble in Mexico the RAM, Vans and Jeep Compass trucks, in addition to manufacturing Chrysler models in Canada. In 2025, he plans to restart the production of a new Jeep model in his Canadian plant. TOYOTA: Produces Tacoma in its factories in Mexico, with more than 230,000 units sold in the United States in 2024, which represented 10% of its sales in that market. Volkswagen (VW): Its plant in Puebla, Mexico, manufactured about 350,000 vehicles in 2024, including the Jetta, Tiguan and Taos, all for export to the United States. Audi: His factory in San José Chiapa, Mexico, produces the Q5 and uses more than 5,000 people. Only in the first half of 2024, exported almost 40,000 units to the United States. Plus: In Canada, Volkswagen is building a battery gigafabrica in Ontario, which will begin production in 2027, a project that, obviously, could also be affected by commercial uncertainty. Possible consequences. The first is the most obvious and we can Explain with an example: If a car manufactured in Mexico has a base price of $ 25,000, a 25% tariff would add 6,250 to the final cost. In the market, the impact would be enormous: the car would be less competitive in front of the United States automotive industry and generate a tension in the commercial relations of both countries, since Mexico would begin to look to other sides. But there is more. First of all, Price increase For consumers in the United States. Additional costs could be transferred to customers, making cars, trucks and SUVs assembled in Mexico and Canada. The reduction of competitiveness is also pointed out, since brands such as Ford, GM, Toyota and VW could lose market participation against production manufacturers in the United States or outside North America. Plus: the Reconfiguration of the supply chainsince some companies could seek to transfer operations outside of Mexico or Canada to avoid tariffs, although this would imply high costs and prolonged deadlines. Finally, analysts also point to Impact on employment and investmentsince automotive plants in Mexico and Canada generate hundreds of thousands of jobs. Uncertainty about tariffs could cause investment reduction, mass layoffs and lower expansion of the sector in the region. How much prices will increase. It is the big question. Manufacturers have analyzed the direct impact of tariffs on production costs. According to Patrick Andersonfrom Anderson Economic Group, … Read more

Some researchers analyzed 280 samples of bottled water. Only one of the brands was microplastics free

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Better flavor and smell and health reasons. Those are the two main reasons why people drink bottled water, according to A study of the Autonomous University of Barcelona. Spain is, in fact, The third European country that consumes more bottled water (up to 107 liters per inhabitant). That clashes with one thing: that bottled water is not only Much more expensive than tap waterbut now we know that it also has micro and nanoplastic in amounts much greater than those estimated. The original study. Some researchers from Columbia University They analyzed Three popular bottled water marks in the United States (whose names names have not transcended) in search of micro and nanoplastic. To do this, they used a new technique called Raman stimulated dispersion microscopy Based on probe samples with two tuned simultaneous lasers to resonate specific molecules. Analyzing seven common plastics, the researchers developed an algorithm to interpret the results. According to Wei Min, co-inventor of the technique and co-author of the study that concerns us, “one thing is to detect and another to know what you are detecting.” The findings. On average, this study discovered that a liter of bottled water contains 240,000 detectable plastic fragments, between ten and 100 times more than previous estimates. Specifically, the researchers claim that they found between 110,000 and 370,000 plastic fragments in each liter, of which 90% were nanoplastic. In that sense, it is important to remember the difference between micro and nanoplastic: Microplastics: those whose size varies between 100 nanometers and five millimeters. Nanoplastic: those whose size is equal to or less than 100 nanometers. The most frequent plastics. To anyone’s surprise, one of the most common plastics was the Terephthalate polypropylene, better known as PET. It is the material of which many bottles are made. “It is probably introduced into the water when pieces are detached when the bottle is squeezed or exposed to heat,” says the researchers, who cite another study that suggests that they can also detach themselves when the cap repeatedly opens and closes. Usual. And although the presence of PET is common, this plastic is overcome by the polyamide, a type of nylon that “probably comes from the plastic filters used to supposedly purify the water before bottling it,” says Beizhan Yan, a researcher of the study. Other common plastics found by the researchers were polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride and methyl polymetacrylate. And the rest? The technique used contemplates the seven most common plastics, but there are many other plastics. According to exposes Columbia University, “the seven types of plastic that researchers sought only represented about 10% of all the nanoparticles found in the samples; They have no idea what the rest are. If all are nanoplastic, they could be dozens of millions per liter. ” And what about those sold in Spain? That’s what he wanted to find out A study by CSIC and the Global Health Institute of Barcelona. They have developed a technique To quantify particles of between 0.7 and 20 micrometers, as well as the chemical additives released to the water and, for this study, analyzed 280 samples of 20 trademarks of commercial water. Only one of the brands did not contain microplastics, but all, the 280 samples, contained plastic additives. More specifically. The result is that, on average, a liter of water contains 359 nanograms of micro and nanoplastic, an amount comparable to that obtained in the tap water found in a previous study made by the same group. “The main difference we find is the type of polymer: in tap water we find more polyethylene and polypropylene while in bottled water we have mostly detected polypropylene terephthalate (PET), although also polyethylene,” said Cristina Villanueva, a researcher of the Isglobal and Author of the study. Quite microplastic. Considering that we drink two liters of water a day, the authors estimate “an intake of 262 micrograms of plastic particles per year.” With regard to additives, 28 plastic additives, mostly stabilizers and plasticizers have been detected. According to the researchers, “our toxicity study showed that three types of plasticizers had a higher risk to human health and, therefore, should be considered in risk analysis for consumers.” Images | Jonathan Chng in Unspash In Xataka | The US has decided to leave paper straws because everyone hates them. The problem is the alternative: plastic In Xataka | After the failure of the yellow container, the government has reached a conclusion: it is time for the returnable bottles *An earlier version of this article was published in February 2024

photographs and first details of the brand’s finest and most innovative mobile

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Samsung’s big day is not over yet. Although the presentation of Unpacked 2025 has focused on Galaxy AI and the news of the new Galaxy S25, that is not all that has appeared throughout the event, and there are many details that we will be able to expand upon as the hours go by. For example, the biggest surprise of the event: the Galaxy S25 Edge. Of course, calling it a ‘surprise’ is perhaps exaggerating, because this is another part of the presentation that had already been leaked a few months ago; The part we didn’t expect is the name. Originally, this device was leaked as the Galaxy S25 Slim, a hint of what it was going to be like; but perhaps that is why Samsung has decided to choose the name Edge for its new model, which will complete the S25 range in the near future. The Galaxy S25 Edge is Samsung’s most innovative mobile phone in many years. To say that it is thin is simply an understatement, since reaching a lower thickness is not as easy as it seems, especially if we do not want sacrifices in the most important areas of the mobile. That is where Samsung’s innovation lies, reducing the thickness while offering an experience very similar or identical to that of the rest of the Galaxy S25 range. For example, the Galaxy S25 Edge is expected to use ALoP technologypresented last year, for the cameras; specifically, for the telephoto camera, which usually takes up a lot of space on the device due to the lenses necessary for optical zoom. Samsung’s solution places the lenses horizontally to avoid this problem without reducing the zoom level. The Galaxy Unpacked preview video showed off this new camera, confirming that it will use it. Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge Alvarez del Vayo The Free Android San Jose, California In the same way, the short video also focused for a moment on the battery of the Galaxy S25 Edge, which uses the new battery technology from Samsung. Instead of stacking the cells, this technology allows the area occupied by the battery inside the mobile to be expanded, to reduce the thickness without reducing capacity. Therefore, the Galaxy S25 Edge should last about the same as a Galaxy S25, or even a Galaxy S25 Ultra according to rumors. Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge Alvarez del Vayo The Free Android San Jose, California EL ESPAÑOL – El Androide Libre has been able to see some models of the Galaxy S25 Edge in person, and the first impressions are shocking. It is a very thin and light device, and surprisingly, it has its own design lines instead of using the same design as the rest of the Galaxy S25 range. Samsung The Free Android This original design is evident in the camera array, which has a completely new design. The big difference is the ‘island’ in which the lenses are housed, unlike the Galaxy S25, whose lenses come directly from the back of the devices. It is very possible that this island was necessary for the space occupied by the cameras, even with Samsung technology, and that makes this device easily recognizable. At the moment, Samsung has not given more details about this new device, both the ‘hardware’ used and the expected launch date; There are likely still several months of development left, considering there were no functional units in Unpacked.

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