conquer

Apple completely changes the architecture of its chips with a textbook “divide and conquer”

by

The week started with a flurry of news from Apple, something we already expected after Tim Cook’s words stating that it was going to be a “great week.” And in addition to the new iPhone 17e and iPad Airtoday it was the MacBook’s turn. In this article we wanted to focus on explaining what is special about the new M5 Pro and M5 Max processors, chips that land at the latest MacBook Pro. The company follows the same pattern as always. First comes the base chip, the M5, which we already saw in the 14-inch MacBook Prohe iPad Pro and Apple Vision Proalong with the new MacBook Air, and then, they take advantage of their most capable equipment to welcome the most powerful variants. But this year there is something different, and that is that the company uses a new manufacturing architecture internal that Apple had not used until now in its Mac chips. We will tell you all the details. Apple’s M4 Pro and M4 Max SoCs, in numbers m5 pro m5 max M5 m4 photolithography 3nm (3rd gen) 3nm (2nd generation) 3nm (2nd generation) 3nm architecture Fusion Fusion A single die A single die CPU cores Up to 18 18 Up to 10 Up to 10 Supercores 6 6 4 4 performance cores 12 12 6 6 GPU cores Up to 20 Up to 40 Up to 10 Up to 10 neural engine 16 16 16 16 maximum unified memory 64 128 32 32 bandwidth 307GB/s 614 GB/s 153GB/s 120GB/s ray tracing Yes (3rd gen.) Yes (3rd gen.) Yes (3rd gen.) Yeah neural accelerator on GPU Yes (per core) Yes (per core) Yes (per core) No connectivity Thunderbolt 5 Thunderbolt 5 Thunderbolt 4 Thunderbolt 4 / USB 4 codecs H.264, HEVC, ProRes, AV1 H.264, HEVC, ProRes, AV1 H.264, HEVC, ProRes, AV1 H.264, HEVC, ProRes, AV1 memory integrity enforcement Yeah Yeah No No The big news: the Fusion architecture Perhaps one of the most striking aspects of these new chips is the call ‘Fusion’ architecture. Apple has designed this SoC (system on a chip) by combining two other chips manufactured in TSMC’s third-generation 3-nanometer node. The signature promise that the chips communicate with each other through very high bandwidth and minimal latency. Why this approach? As chips grow in number of cores and memory needs, Putting everything on a single piece of silicon becomes increasingly complicated and expensive. The solution of dividing it into two interconnected chips allows its capabilities to be scaled without sacrificing efficiency. Each of these chips integrates CPU, GPU, neural engine, unified memory controller, Media Engine (which are the cores dedicated to processing multimedia codecs) and controllers. Thunderbolt 5. It is, in essence, the basis that makes it possible for the M5 Max to reach figures that we previously only saw in desktop chips. A new CPU from top to bottom Both the M5 Pro and M5 Max share the same CPU design: 18 cores organized into two very different types. On the one hand there are the so-called super cores: six high-performance cores which Apple also incorporated into the standard M5. The company assures which are “the world’s fastest CPU cores in single-thread performance”thanks to the fact that they handle greater bandwidth, and have a new cache hierarchy and better branch prediction. On the other hand, the chip incorporates 12 performance cores completely new, different from the efficiency cores we have seen in previous generations. They are optimized specifically for multi-threaded workloads that require sustained power without skyrocketing consumption. The combination of both groups of cores allows, according to Apple, a jump of up to 30% in performance for professional tasks regarding M4 Pro and M4 Maxand up to 2.5 times more multi-threaded performance compared to M1 Pro and M1 Max. It will be interesting to see this performance improvement in action when we test the devices in depth. What the M5 Pro promises Your GPU scales up to 20 cores next generation, each with an integrated neural accelerator. Memory bandwidth goes up to 307GB/sand the chip can manage up to 64 GB of unified memory. Apple promises up to 20% more graphics performance compared to the M4 Pro, and up to 35% improvement in applications that use ray tracing, thanks to its dedicated third-generation engine included in the chip. The shading engine is also updated, incorporating second-generation dynamic caching technology and hardware-accelerated mesh shading. What this technology basically does is simplify complex geometries into more manageable meshes for when it’s time to render. In terms of AI, Apple claims that the M5 Pro offers more than four times the GPU performance for artificial intelligence compared to the M4 Pro, and more than six times compared to the M1 Pro. M5 Max: the ceiling of Apple laptops The M5 Max shares the same 18-core CPU as the M5 Pro, but doubles the graphics and memory resources. Your GPU reaches 40 coresthe unified memory bandwidth reaches 614 GB/s (twice as much as the M5 Pro) and can hold up to 128 GB of unified memory. In graphic performance, Apple assures an improvement of up to 20% compared to the M4 Maxand up to 30% in ray tracing applications. For AI tasks, the chip promises more than four times the peak GPU performance compared to its direct predecessor and more than six times compared to the M1 Max. With these astronomical figures, Apple puts on the table a tremendously capable chip for all types of professionals, from 3D artists to app developers, AI, etc. And in the end, having such an amount of bandwidth on a laptop makes tasks with large volumes of data much easier to digest. We will see in practice how they perform. The rest of the package: Neural Engine, Thunderbolt 5 and security Beyond the CPU and GPU, both chips incorporate a 16-core Neural Engine renewed, which promises a higher bandwidth connection to memory, ideal for functions of Apple Intelligence and other local AI applications. In connectivity, the M5 Pro and … Read more

It is Samsung’s plan to conquer AI in mobile phones

by

Samsung has just unveiled its new high-end: the new Galaxy S26 family is here and arrives with a conservative proposal but at two speeds where the Ultra model is the one that comes out the best. And it also brings more artificial intelligence than ever. Leaving aside the long list of functions that were already in Galaxy AIthose that have improved and new features such as ‘Now Nudge’ or Agentic AI, the big surprise It’s a confirmation: Perplexity lands as a full-fledged assistant alongside what already existed, Bixby from home and Gemini of Android. Full integration. Perplexity comes to compete head-to-head with the home assistant and Google assistant as long as it is integrated at the operating system level. What does this mean? That you can invoke it to use it in system apps such as Notes or Reminder, but also with some third-party applications. It is not a downloaded app: it operates on the device’s framework layer. And as such, you can invoke it via ‘Hey, Plex’ (without Aitana’s boyfriend appearing) or from the side button. This point is more than a simple detail: it is using the hardware as a distribution lever: whoever controls the hardware controls how the user accesses it. A reminder: Google paid a million to Apple to be the search engine on iOS. Context: Samsung’s pending issue. Few mobile manufacturers bet as much and as well on AI as the Korean firm. Samsung It is the brand that sells the most mobile phones within the Android ecosystem, but the assistant battle has been lost with Bixby. On the other hand, he has to integrate Gemini by contract. In short, Samsung cannot control its entire artificial intelligence layer sovereignly and that is a dangerous strategic dependency if you want to be the best. Samsung’s trump card: being a Swiss army knife. According to an internal Samsung investigationabout 80% of users already use two types of AI agents in their daily lives, so they have turned flexibility into a plus. Since Samsung knows that it cannot go to war with the best language model alone and win, it has opted to become a neutral hub, which allows it to attract advanced users who want to use the best of each house without friction. As declared Won-Joon Choi, President, COO and Head of R&D Office of Mobile eXperience Business at Samsung Electronics: “We are committed to building an integrated, open and inclusive AI ecosystem that offers users more choice, flexibility and control to perform complex tasks quickly and easily. Galaxy AI acts as an orchestrator, integrating different forms of AI into a single, natural and cohesive experience.” Why is it important. Because with this movement Samsung has changed the rules: it declares itself platformnot an assistant. It is a layer that coordinates several agents, leaving behind the “one assistant to rule them all” thing. The Korean firm thus differentiates itself from Apple’s vertical control and closed integration or Google’s tactic of prioritizing Gemini above all and even putting it in the soup. The movement is most intelligent: it thus neutralizes his weakness (Bixby) to transform it into a virtue. They deliberately decide to open up and let the user choose with whom and for what. Why Perplexity and not another. Here is an elephant in the room that should be remembered first of all: because the most mainstream AI, ChatGPT, She is already married to Apple. From here, it must be clear that Samsung has chosen the best possible strategic partner for its corporate interests at this time. And there are a few reasons: Because it offers a differentiated and complementary value proposition: it is a quality conversational chatbot that cites sources, without advertising and verifiable answers. Its presence is not a redundancy of Gemini, which can be used for productivity and the Google or Bixby ecosystem, for the device. A starting point in the most favorable negotiation: Perplexity is a startup that needs alliances for massive distribution against the power of Google and OpenAI, whose valuation exceeds half a billion dollars. This puts Samsung in a position to get better conditions. He already had a relationship with the startup, whose AI It is already present on the Korean brand’s TVswhich implies that they are not starting from scratch: their teams already know the respective APIs. Its anti-ad positioning. Samsung, which is betting heavily on privacy, has a strong argument here to offer a differential experience compared to Google. Reduce the Googledependency. With Perplexity, Samsung diversifies its partners without fanfare with Google in a move of corporate geopolitics. The Korean firm has a multi-million dollar deal of distribution with Google and with this twist, their position is more advantageous when negotiating or putting pressure on the Mountain View company: they have Perplexity in the bedroom as a third agent. In Xataka | Mobile AI promises, but I only see repeated tricks. The real ace up your sleeve is called “agent” and he is on the way Cover | Eva R. de Luis

Apple Creator Studio is not just a subscription. It’s Apple looking to conquer the little tiktoker who uses CapCut and Canva

by

Just a few days ago, Apple announced the launch of a new service: Apple Creator Studio. Roughly speaking, The apple firm has updated its suite of creative tools to bring them to a more specific audience who, instead of a single payment per tool, may be more interested in an affordable subscription that allows access to all of them. Looking at it with perspective, and without losing sight of the fact that it is another recurring expense to add to the current account, perhaps it makes a lot of sense for a very particular profile: the small creator. What’s included in Apple Creator Studio. To give a quick summary, the subscription costs 12.99 euros per month (129 euros if you pay annually or 2.99 if you are a student) and allows access to the entire suite of Apple creativity apps. We are talking, of course, about Final Cut, Logic Pro, Pixelmator ProMotion, Compressor and MainStage. Additionally, some generative AI features and exclusive content are included in Freeform, Keynote, Pages and Numbers. Pixelmator Pro | Image: Apple Some quick accounts. Thinking only about the Mac versions, the cost of all the creativity apps would amount to 794.94 euros. One-time payment, yes, but close to 800 euros. Apple Creator Studio costs 12.99 euros. It would take 61 monthly payments, that is, five years, to reach the total amount of the single payment. And who is this for? Although for a professional user 800 euros may not be such a high figure, for the small creator looking to use professional tools on their Mac, 12.99 euros per month may sound more attractive than 800 euros in one fell swoop. Not to mention that the subscription includes access on all platforms, namely Mac, iPad and iPhone, whenever possible. And Apple is clear that this subscription is not for Pixar, but for the small creator who has and manages himself a TikTok account, a YouTube channel, an Instagram profile and a podcast. For those who, right now, pay for CapCut, Photoshop, Premiere or Canva. Apple wants to tempt you with a more affordable, all-inclusive subscription and integration. Pixelmator Pro | Image: Apple Why now? From Xataka we have had the opportunity to speak with Bryan O’Neil Hughes (Global Director of App Product Marketing at Apple) and John Danty (Senior Global App Product Marketing Manager at Apple). Brian explains to us that this service responds to the “change in the nature of creators.” According to the executive, creators “no longer do just one thing; they need to manage multiple creative workflows and we want to serve them with these evolved apps.” According to Brian, “today’s creators are multidisciplinary: a musician not only writes songs, he also produces, designs his art, edits videos and creates promotional material.” Final Cut Pro | Image: Apple That explains the two options.. However, one thing is worth asking. If Apple is betting so heavily on services, being an almost more important source of income than the iPhonewhy keep the single payment? Danty explains to us that they want to “preserve our relationship with the professional community. Those who already have versions of Final Cut or Logic Pro will continue to receive updates and features such as beat detection.” This makes sense from a practical point of view. The video editor that only edits video will not take advantage of an app like Logic Pro or Pixelmator Pro, in the same way that an illustrator will not take advantage of Logic Pro or MainStage. The single payment is, in that case, more attractive. But to the tiktoker, instagramer, youtuber or budding singer who does everything himself, having access to all the tools doesn’t sound bad. In Brian’s words, “There is an explosion of content, driven in large part by the iPhone. More video is being captured, edited and shared than ever before and our apps are there to participate in that user journey.” Chord ID in Logic Pro | Image: Apple The topic of AI. John Danty explains to us that Apple’s philosophy is to “amplify, not replace human dexterity.” Features like Montage Maker and Chord ID They automate tasks that previously required learning technical skills, but now AI has a role in that creative flow that, in some way, could prevent the user from learning on their own. Brian and John understand it differently. For example, Montage Maker allows you to put together a quick video with the best moments of all the b-roll. For Bryan, “it helps those who have a lot of material and want to move quickly, but the editing and final polishing still depends on the user.” chord ID uses AI to pull chords from any recording and turn it into a progression, so “it helps you understand what you’re playing, which becomes a learning tool,” according to Danty. A matter of preferences. Be that as it may, there are three undeniable realities in this new release. The first, that Apple is going to start charging for applied AI functions. The second, that Canva, CapCut and Adobe have come up with a new-rather-renewed rival. The third, which even though it has an attractive price, is one more subscription that is added to the ones we already have and to generalized satiety with this monetization. How it will gel and evolve is something we will see over time. Images | Apple In Xataka | The incredible stock market performance of Big Tech, in a graph: the magnificent seven are now the unleashed seven

Self-consumption is no longer a marginal option to conquer half of Spain

by

The spring of 2025 marked a before and after in the psyche of the Spanish consumer. The so-called “Great Blackout”which left millions of homes without power on the Peninsula, transformed the perception of solar panels. What was previously seen mainly as a way to reduce the monthly bill, is today perceived as a guarantee of resilience and energy independence. in the face of market volatility. The consolidation data. According to the “Solar Report 2025: X-ray of self-consumption in Spain”, prepared by SotySolar in collaboration with the Spanish Photovoltaic Union (UNEF)the market has entered a phase of maturity after years of accelerated expansion. Spain closed the 2024 financial year with an accumulated installed capacity of 8,137 GW. These figures closely coincide with the records of the Ministry for the Ecological Transition (MITECO), which places the power at 8,255 GW. However, Red Eléctrica raises the total estimate current at 8.7 GW, integrating data from the Electrical Measurements System (SIMEL) and estimates from the System Operator (OS). The end of “refundable” subsidies. After the closure of the European Next Generation funds, the sector has stopped depending on direct aid to embrace more structural profitability. This change is reflected on the national map: Catalonia has become the benchmark for success, with an increase of 20.6% in the volume of interested parties thanks to agile management of its local incentives. Despite the accumulated strength, the beginning of 2025 presented a slight cooling: the residential sector suffered a drop of 14% in the first quarter compared to the average for 2024. Even so, self-consumption has maintained sustained growth since 2021 and demonstrates greater stability than the large plant market (utility scale). The profile of the new consumer. The user profile has evolved towards a more informed and demanding one. Although financial savings continue to be the main driving force for 65% of users, factors such as sustainability (12%) and energy independence (8%) have gained unprecedented weight. As José Donoso, CEO of UNEF, explains, self-consumption has gone from being a minority technology to an “everyday, reliable and essential appliance.” This maturity is reflected in the choice of the installer: the price continues to matter (45%), but trust based on recommendations (25%) and support in procedures and aid (20%) are now decisive factors. The new standard. The acquisition model has undergone a radical transformation. Financing has gone from being a barrier to a driving force: between 60% and 70% of households opt for flexible payment formulas, a figure that rises to 80% in projects that exceed €10,000 or include batteries. In fact, strategic partners like Pontio They project to exceed 10,000 funded installations in 2026. This financial boost facilitates the integration of aerothermal energy, which has established itself as the ideal companion to photovoltaics. 66% of solar system owners plan to install aerothermal in the next three years. However, as experts in Xataka warn80% of Spanish houses have technical deficiencies in their electrical installation, which requires a prior evaluation of the insulation to prevent the investment from becoming an expense that is difficult to amortize. Roadmap. To prevent progress from slowing down, UNEF has proposed in its presentation urgent measures that strengthen the structural profitability of the sector: Tax incentives: Apply a reduced VAT for both installations with and without batteries. Network expansion: Extend the distance of shared self-consumption from the current 2 km to 5 km. Administrative simplification: Extend the exemption from requesting access and connection permits to all facilities that inject less than 15kW into the grid. Review of tolls: Modify the distribution between the fixed and variable part (target 25% fixed and 75% variable) to encourage savings. For its part, Red Eléctrica has reinforced the “maximum observability” of the system, publishing detailed information on self-consumption on all its platforms from the end of 2025, including a new demand curve (“Total Scheduled”) that integrates the impact of this energy on the national grid, where it already represents close to 4% of demand. An irreversible path. Self-consumption in Spain has come of age. It is no longer a specific response to a price crisis, but a strategic decision. As José Carlos Díaz Lacaci, CEO of SotySolar, points out, the path towards electrification is now “irreversible.” The challenge for 2026 will be to modernize the real estate stock and consolidate an intelligent management model that guarantees that every ray of sunlight captured becomes energy freedom for the citizen. Image | Unsplash Xataka | Landing at an airport full of solar panels had become a drama. Until Malaga had an idea

Behind police surveillance technologies there is a very lucrative business. A business that Amazon wants to conquer

by

Artificial intelligence technologies have broken in such a way that, today they can be given endless uses. According to A FORBES investigationAmazon would be deploying an aggressive commercial strategy to position themselves in the market of the Police surveillance technologya segment valued at 11,000 million dollars, according to the medium. The company would not only be offering its own artificial surveillance and intelligence tools, but also act as an intermediary for a complete ecosystem of companies that operate on their cloud infrastructure AWS. What is happening. Electronic Correos obtained by Forbes through requests from public records reveal That the Amazon police and school security team, led, according to the media, by a former Washington state police officer, is actively contacting police departments throughout the US west coast. According to the investigation, the company would be promoting from weapons detection technologies to IA to massive surveillance analysis software, through tools to write automatically police reports. A whole Surveillance Catalog. According to They report From the middle, among the technologies that Amazon has been offering, there are registration monitoring systems of FLOCK Safety, Zeroyes weapons detection software, applications for real -time surveillance centers of companies such as C3 AI, or Veritone technology capable of identifying and tracking individuals in recordings of security cameras and social networks. Leo Technologies tools also appear that monitor and transcribe calls from practically “real -time” prisoners for AI analysis. The method of sale. As They assure From Forbes, emails show a particularly insistent commercial style. In one of them, a Amazon manager writes to the department of the San Diego County Sheriff on Lucidus Tech (company now owned by Flock). “It is one of the most amazing tools that I have seen for the forces of the order (…) I think that your prison intelligence group would lose your head,” you could read in the investigation. In another message to King County Police Chiefs, in Washington, it promotes a meeting to “talk about strategy on how to introduce Zeroeyes in your schools.” The research shows how Amazon even offered help to request public grants to finance these technologies. The concerns. Activists advocating privacy, such as Jay Stanley, of ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union), express Your concern. “It is discouraging to see one of the largest and most powerful companies promoting authoritarian surveillance technology in this way,” he told Forbes. Amazon has had a long history of setbacks in terms of violating the privacy of users. From your employees listening and transcribing Echo device recordings to improve Alexa a The accusations towards Ring for not applying basic protections that enabled hackeos in their systems. Both cases recognized by the company itself. Amazon’s response. The company defend which is simply providing its public sector customers “tools to protect the rights of citizens and comply with applicable laws.” On subsidies, Amazon points out that it is not unusual to “educate” customers about the aid available for them. And now what. As assures The media, Amazon Web Services plans to attend the Conference of the International Police Chiefs Association in Denver in October, the most important police event of the year in the United States, where AI is the main theme. The lounge is a whole offer of surveillance technology, technology that is executed on Amazon servers. Cover image | Michał Jakubowski In Xataka | Amazon new do not compete against Google Home. Compete against indifference

Russia is trying to conquer the Chinese pig market. Beijing has just provided it with rates of up to 62% to the EU

by

Beijing has decided to strengthen its pressure on the European pig sector in an evening retaliation to The rates applied By Brussels to the electric cars ‘Made in China’. And plan to do it big, adding tariffs of up to 62.4% to EU meat exports. In Spain the employer already He has nuanced That their companies will pay only 20% (some less), but if there is a country that can look with satisfaction, China’s decision is not Spain, but Russia. After all, Moscow has been wanting to win Market share in Asia. What happened? That the European pig has started September with turbulence. Turbulence that also affect one of its large markets: China. On Friday the Ministry of Commerce of the Asian Giant advertisement that since Wednesday will impose provisional tariffs of up to 62.4% To a series of pig products and by -products, a whole malazo for the community sector, which every year sells in China thousands and thousands of tons of pork. According to the Pig333 specialized platform, only during the first quarter of 2025 the EU exported more than 1.1 million tons to countries located outside the community club. Among the nations that contributed the most to that figure are Spain, with 35% of exports, followed by Netherlands, Denmark and Poland. At the other end of the chain, the fate of the meat is China, which was made with 296,500 tons, almost 27% of the total. It is followed by the United Kingdom and the Philippines. What does that rate of 62.4%mean? The figure is overwhelming, but Beijing’s tariff policy will not affect all EU countries equally. In an interporp fact, the agri -food interprofessional organization of the white -layer Portio, stands out that the Spanish industry will be the best standing in Europe. Although the rate will effectively reach 62.4% for the company of other countries in the region, the employer clarifies that for local firms that penalty will be quite lower: 20%or even lower in some specific case. And what is the reason? EFE Precise That the largest tariffs, up to 62.4%, will apply to companies that do not collaborate with Chinese authorities. Those who do will see how that low rate at 20%, the percentage that the well, Noel, Campofrío, Cárnicas Five Villas, Fiselva or Sánchez Romero Cavajal must face. The general photo is however more complex: China plans to do certain exceptions with the companies that his delegation has taken by way of sample for his investigation. Among them are the Dutch Vion, which will face a tariff of 32.7%; Danish Danish Crown, who will assume a rate of 31.3%; and the Spanish Litera Meat, based in Huesca, the most favored with 15.6%. Why those rates? Largely for the automotive. Perhaps the meat and automobile industry do not have much to do, but if we talk about economic policy, commercial flow and tariffs things change. When Brussels decided Upload your rates To the electric cars ‘Made in China’, Beijing reacted pointing to one of the European sectors that depends most on the Asian giant, the pig. As? The Xi Jinping government began an investigation ‘Antidumping’ Focused on EU’s pig imports, a process with which, China alleges wants to avoid the alleged unfair competition that affects its own companies. These investigations began in 2024, but In June Beijing decided to expand the investigation until at least mid -December. Once the process ends, the government will announce the permanent tariffs, but until then it has opted for temporary rates. As remember The Ministry of Commerce, its preliminary study identified a case of dumping Related to pork from the EU, which would have caused “important damage” to Chinese companies. Is it so serious? It is no accident that Beijing has set just in that sector. China is a Important producer of pigs, but also a enormous gigantic market that matters every year hundreds of thousands of tons of meat, a flow that generates in turn thousands of millions of dollars. And that market the EU (and especially countries with broad livestock cabins, such as Spain) plays a key role. Despite having slightly reduced its purchases, in 2024 the Asian giant remained the main destination of community pork, with a flow of 1.12 million of tons. In 2020, when the sector of the country was affected by the African swine plague, that data came to 3.34 million. In the specific case of Spain, which together with Germany and France plays A fundamental role In the European pig industry, the figures are equally eloquent. “China is the main destination market for the meat and by -products of the Spanish pig. In 2024 exports to this country reached 540,000 t, with a value greater than 1,097 million euros, which represents almost 20% of the total exported volume and 12.5% ​​of the value of sales,” remember Interporc. Is it bad for everyone? No. There is a country that probably see with expectation commercial tensions between China and Europe, especially if we talk about the pig sector: Russia. Moscow was set out from the appetizing (and millionaire) Chinese market for about A decade and a half Due to the health restrictions applied by Beijing in 2008 to protect from the African pig plague. That veto was broken in March 2024, when Russia managed to send a first game of 27 tons of pig to the Asian giant. It was a modest amount, true, but a success for Russia, which had been trying to open a hole in the Chinese market for years. Last July, Russian pork exports to China already reached 12.4 million dollars, According to Echemiwhich ensures that this figure represents a 22% increase compared to June. It is not the only sign that Moscow is managing to recover land in the Asian market. Just a few days ago the Intefax agency revealed That Kremlin expects Beijing to increase the number of Russian companies authorized to export meat to China, a possibility that looks with optimism. “We are communicating … Read more

Stellantis wanted to conquer China with his combustion cars. What has happened to almost any other western company has happened

by

The Changsha court has finally declared bankruptcy The Gac-Fiat Chrysler Automobiles joint company, thus closing the final chapter of Stellantis in the Asian giant. The news was already expected since 2022 when the group came into liquidation. After debts equivalent to more than 1.1 billion dollars and five failed public auctions, the dream of conquering the largest world car market ends in failure. The end of a 15 -year adventure. The Joint Venture GAC-FCA was born in 2011 With huge ambitions: 17,000 million investment yuan, two production and capacity plants for 300,000 vehicles per year. Under the baton of Sergio Marchionne, the project intended to bring brands such as Jeep and Fiat to the Chinese market with models adapted to local needs and trends, including the Jeep Renegade, Compass and Cherokee, in addition to the Fiat Viaggio and Ottimo. Free fall after initial success. After reaching its peak in 2017 With more than 200,000 units soldGac-FCA experienced an unstoppable descent. Sales collapsed to 124,780 units in 2018, continued to fall in 2019 and reduced just 20,396 units in 2021. Insufficient numbers for a market of more than 25 million vehicles per year and a muscle like Gac-FCA. The problem of combustion engines in China. While the Chinese market turned to electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids, Gac-FCA remained faithful to combustion engines. This strategy is over resulting fatal In a country where new technologies and electrification have become the norm. And it is that Chinese consumers have been opting for the electricity in an environment of high competitiveness between automobile manufacturers. The failed attempt to save yourself. In 2022, Carlos Tavares tried to recover control increasing Stellantis’s participation From 50% to 75%, but GAC publicly rejected the maneuver. The joint company entered into a restructuring process and, subsequently, in liquidation. Five public auctions to sell land, equipment and the two factories were deserted, something common in China where it is more profitable to build from zero electric vehicles. Historical symbolism. Stellantis withdrawal marks the end of a historic era. Jeep was the first foreign brand to make cars in China when AMC invested 16 million dollars in 1983 To produce the Cherokee XJ. Peugeot contributed in the mid -80s to the creation of GAC as a car manufacturer, transforming what was a bus repair workshop into a company produced by Peugeot 505. Citroën arrived in 1992 and came to manufacture 719,000 cars in 2015. Another western company in China Fallida. Stellantis’s case is not isolated. Is Another great western company that perishes in China Given the high competition, aggressive and regulatory costs of the country. It is the example that you don’t care who you are. Even Stellantis, the world’s largest car group (in terms of volume of brands and models), which began as a Peugeot partner and now has a full range of electric vehicles of its own creation, has not even been able to adapt to the Chinese market. The new strategy: ally with China. Paradoxically, after leaving China as a manufacturer, Stellantis returned as a investor. Carlos Tavares bought in 2023 21% of Leapmotora Chinese company of electric vehicles, with the intention of sell these cars in Europe “With a great margin of benefits.” A strategy that reflects the new reality: if you cannot compete with China, join it. Cover image | Dinkun Chen In Xataka | The most ambitious shopping center in China is not formed to sell: the Wushang Dream was a mini -city with a roof

Nothing’s CEO wants to conquer the mobile market with crazy designs. He has told us his very complex plan to achieve it

by

Carl Pei is one of the CEO that gives off the most in the technology industry. You saw a cowboy and basic shirt, they warn me that it is shy and, after a few minutes of interview, we end up smiling, commenting that “the vibes” are the future, and remembering the old days of Cyanogenmod out of formalities. Those who have been in El Cotarro to know Carl from that Old OnePlus who only sold his phones by invitation. With Nothing, the approach is different. A London company with the focus on design and with a clear slogan: “Make Tech Fun Again”. Looking up Nothing began with a Phone (1) that attacked the mid -range. He continued with a Phone (2) that took a specifications and, in 2025, attacks the market with a mobile of 799 euros with a high range. I can’t help wanting to know why. Carl explains that for Nothing, both the Phone (1) like him Phone (2) They were flagships. It sounds like a statement Marketinianbut it is not: “For a company, a flagship is the best mobile you can do.” For the first time, they believe they are at an engineering point in which they can compete with the best in the market, a point where they are finally ready. Sailing a high range is risky, and throwing it being oriented to a concrete niche, it is even more. Nothing is not in volume, it is not desperate to launch product and points directly to “the most creative users.” All this sounds very good, but it is worth asking if A company can be profitable and sustainable living as “creative users”. “We are focused on new generations of consumption. We focus on people who are interested in technology, design and creativity. Our consumer is much younger than the average consumer, it is around 26 years.” Does the strategy work? Yes. Carl tells me that they have folded the volume of business, exceeding one billion dollars in the accumulated sales. He knows that they have been focusing on software for years, but they intend to double software investment to be even more attractive. They also have an important investment behind, in which investors take a direct role in the decisions made by the company. “Sometimes it is uncomfortable, because they give their opinion in front of the rest of the members of our table. But I think it is really important to find ways to keep us connected with this base, especially when the company grows. It is difficult to hear uncomfortable truths when you have that type of structure, we always know what people want us.” The present Carl Pei during the presentation of Nothing Phone (3) and the Nothing Earphone (1). Image | Xataka With Nothing Phone (3) comes the whopping seven years of security updates and five software. Maybe it’s time for Get out of stopping a mobile per year if mobiles are getting older and more. Or maybe not. “On average, people renew phone every three years. So there will always be someone thinking about the following. But we are also seeing a trend of people who want to keep their device for a longer time. That is why we want to give even longer support.” The phone also lands with an integration of quite discreet. Essential Search Essential Space Minor translation functions Is enough to compete, taking into account that There are already those who integrate the AI Even in the most basic apps of the system (telephone, keyboard, camera …)? Carl is clear that Nothing’s approach is cautious, because they see “a lot of hype” in the market. It drops that, even if they have launched these functions, “the Roadmap is long, there will be updates and updates.” But, beyond promising that in the future AI will be more complete, it is not afraid to admit that it agrees. “This is almost like a hygiene factor, right? We have to take care of that basic part, but that is not what excites us most. What really excites us is how we apply this new technology to redefine the way people use products, especially in the software part. But yes, that basic work is necessary. You have to do it. The market is doing it and I think we can do much more.” Image | Xataka To close the block, I ask Carl for something practically inevitable: How are geopolitical tensions between the United States and China livingand if your supply chain is being affected. The Nothing Phone box (3) shows a clear “Made in China”, so there is nothing to hide. Here he tells us that most of their products are manufactured in India, and some of them in China. Apart from this, he affirms that they are in the process to start producing in other parts of the world. It does not seem too worried, and the reason is simple. “Being a startup, we can be quite agile and reagents, whatever happens.” The future of smartphone Nothing Phone (3). Image | Xataka A question that I like to ask the main responsible for Tech companies is how they look in the future. And being, honest, the answers are usually little concrete. It is something completely normal: neither should get wet with compromised statements or, really, it is easy to predict with where today’s technology is going. But Carl is a Jugónand it is clear that the future of the smartphone goes through a single app capable of controlling everything. That agriculture that we have spent so much speaking throughout 2025. The key is that, When everything is … what will be the reason to decide between one device or another? It clarifies that it is still distant, and that no one would buy a phone without apps today. The key will be on the path that is to achieve it, a path to combine and melt all software and hardware. “I think Essential Search is a good example. … Read more

Xiaomi has a plan to conquer all the homes of Spain. And his first step begins today with the air conditioning

by

When Xiaomi He celebrated its fiftyth anniversary two months ago, Lei Jun, CEO of the Company, presented to the world the products with which the company I would conquer the future of consumer technology. During that event there was talk of refrigerators, washing machines, of chipsof electric cars and even smart taps. However, the most striking was what No There was talk: mobile phones. In his fifteen years of history, Xiaomi has been inserted in the popular imaginary as a company of functional mobile phones and good price. The figures are witness: Xiaomi It has grown year after year in Spain until it becomes the indisputable leader in sales, and the perspective in the medium term It remains of growth. It was the company that broke the taboo over Chinese technology and the one that opened the door so that others, later access the western market. That is the past. Xiaomi’s future does not only go through mobile phones. May events and Junewhere they also presented The glasses and The Yu7they symbolize a change that the company has been undertaking for years. The future of consumer technology no longer resides on phones (although they are still very important, such as THE MIX FLIP 2 reveals) but in everything that We can connectwhat today translates into all applications of our daily life: from The appliances even watches, through voice attendees, televisions and, of course, The electric car. Xiaomi aspires to unify all the technologies of a life and shelter them under their brand. And that aspiration is ambitious: FEVER FOR SU7 In China, it shows that there is an appetite of “Xiaomi products” beyond mobile phones even in the most unsuspected places. The one that arrives in Spain today is a wide tour in our country, every year more if we think In the demanding heat waves that all summers attain us: the air-conditioning. The model that Xiaomi launches in Spain (the MIJIA AIR CONDITIONER PRO ECO In two powers, 2.6 kW and 3.5 kW) It is the spearhead of a much more ambitious expansion. In China, Xiaomi has been selling all kinds of household appliances and domestic technologies for years. Spain is its gateway to the western market. And to understand its strategy, to decipher what is the future path of Xiaomi globally and in our country, we have sat down to talk to Borja Gómez CarrilloCountry Manager of Xiaomi Iberia. This is how Xiaomi money earns – they attract you and catch you The air conditioning and Xiaomi plans In your last events you have accent on appliances: washing machine, fridge and even an intelligent tap. What is Xiaomi’s strategy at home? We are a company that is known by smartphones. It is very recognized in that area, our flagship, but more and more the part of the ecosystem has more relevance. We call “ecosystem” to products that are neither tablets or smartphones: the scooter, the security camera, the televisions and, of course, the appliances. Now we bring the air conditioning already the end of the year the refrigerators and washing machines. Why do we do this? Because we want to offer the consumer more and more products. We know that the smartphones market is very saturated, in penetration rates of more than 110%. Competing there is complicated. And that we are growing and we will continue to do so. But we want to expand the range of options for the consumer to have more capacity to buy our products. Who can do this right now? I think we are the only manufacturer that can offer that variety. How do we want to do it? Through “Human Car Home”. That the connectivity between devices is easy, that you can leave the office, with the smartphone, reach the car and you can connect; that you can see the security cameras of your home; that you may have left something prepared in the kitchen and program. Borja Gómez, Country Manager of Xiaomi Iberia, during the interview at the Xiaomi offices in Spain. It is striking that in that proposal the first thing you bring is an air conditioning because, as a consumer, I would not associate it so intuitively to the connected home. Why have you decided to start in Spain around? We can decide because, as you know, there are a lot of products in China, more than 2,500, and depending on the needs of the final consumer and the possibilities of selling it in the market we are bringing it. With the air conditioning we had to take advantage of: if we did not sell it in summer, later we were not going to be able to sell it. So the moment was now. We also believe it is a device that can be connected very easily. And in Spain, for the temperatures and for the market we have studied, we believe that it can give us good penetration. Is the decision to bring it to Spain very specific? Yes because not all Europe will have the air conditioning, and it is not going to be sold in all areas. In northern Spain the market is smaller than in the south. In Spain and Portugal, in the Peninsula in general, it can be brought by its climatic characteristics. You have mentioned the times and the decision to bring it right now, on July 4. Are you afraid of something late to the air conditioning campaign? We arrive something fair, but we have preferred to launch it now so that consumers can see the entire ecosystem we offer them. The truth is that it is at the limit. Generally the campaigns close in advance, but we do not bring a complicated units of selling. We have the right thing to have coverage throughout this year. I said it also thinking about everything that entails an air conditioning. Maintenance, post-sale service, installation. How are you going to land all this process in Spain for the client? We bring two references … Read more

conquer the long -term car market

by

Xiaomi has presented Solid quarterly results: total revenues of 111.3 billion RMB (+47.4% year -on -year) and an adjusted net profit of 10.7 billion (+64.5%). But the key is in another fact: its electric cars already suppose 16.7% of the billing, despite continuing to generate operational losses. Why is it important. Xiaomi is not competing for immediate profitability. You are buying time, quota and position. Your strategy: lose money now to dominate later. As Amazon in electronic commerce. As Tesla in automotive. And like them, Xiaomi plays in the long term. Between the lines. Each car is still deficient. But less and less. In the first quarter it has reduced losses while increasing production: 75,869 cars delivered, 8.9% more than the previous quarter. The loss per unit is narrowed. It is a deliberate strategy. Invest now, dominate later. Just as Amazon did, which spent two decades in losses until it is left without rivals. EITHER Tesla, who did not see profitability until four years ago. The backdrop. History is not just cars: it is vision. Of model. To build fast (Xiaomi’s car It took less than three years to go to the streets), and then have pacicity. Xiaomi does not seek rapid profitability, but to consolidate as a weight actor in a key industry for the general future and for the particular Chinese. In fact, it has invested more than 100,000 million RMB in R&D from 2021 and plans to double that figure until 2030. In perspective. Where others see losses, Xiaomi sees domain construction. Unlike its predecessors, it has a distribution network, a diversified technological base and a state that supports strategic industries. He doesn’t play alone. Play with wind in favor. Main winner? Not yet. But it does seem to the player who has understood before anyone what it means to compete in the electric car in 2025: be patient. And have muscle. And in an industry in full rearrangement – with rivals such as Nio or Xpeng – that is more valuable than short -term benefits. Outstanding image | Xiaomi In Xataka | Xiaomi has managed to make a car massively in less than three years. This is how he has achieved

Log In

Forgot password?

Forgot password?

Enter your account data and we will send you a link to reset your password.

Your password reset link appears to be invalid or expired.

Log in

Privacy Policy

Add to Collection

No Collections

Here you'll find all collections you've created before.