Business

Everything We Know About Its Dimensions, Range and Powertrain Setup

Published

5 hours ago

30 July 2026

Xiaomi is preparing to unveil its Sky Nomad N70, a new mid-to-large SUV that marks the technology company’s entry into the extended-range electric vehicle segment, at a launch event scheduled for Thursday in China. Because the vehicle has not yet made its public debut, the details available so far come from Chinese regulatory filings and preliminary reporting rather than hands-on testing, meaning a full road-test review remains weeks or months away.

The N70 will be positioned as the smaller of two new models in Xiaomi’s Sky Nomad lineup, sitting below the larger, three-row N90 in the automaker’s expanding SUV portfolio. According to filings submitted to China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the N70 measures 4,960 millimeters in length, 1,998 millimeters in width and 1,785 millimeters in height, riding on a 2,950-millimeter wheelbase. In imperial terms, that translates to roughly 195.3 inches long, 78.7 inches wide and 70.3 inches tall, making the N70 nearly four inches longer than a Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV, according to comparisons drawn from the regulatory specifications.

Unlike Xiaomi’s existing SU7 sedan and YU7 crossover, which are fully electric vehicles, the Sky Nomad series will use an extended-range electric powertrain, commonly abbreviated as EREV, in which a gasoline engine functions primarily as an onboard generator to recharge the battery rather than directly powering the wheels. The N70 will be equipped with a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine built by Harbin Dongan Power, producing a maximum output of 112 kilowatts, according to the regulatory filing.

Powertrain configurations will vary by trim level. The entry-level N70 will come as a rear-wheel-drive variant equipped with a single 210-kilowatt electric motor. The higher-spec N70 Max variant will add a second 100-kilowatt motor on the front axle, bringing total system output to 310 kilowatts, or roughly 416 horsepower, and enabling all-wheel drive. Battery options for the N70 lineup include both ternary lithium-ion cells supplied by CALB, or China Aviation Lithium Battery, and lithium iron phosphate cells supplied by Sunwoda, giving buyers a choice between different battery chemistries depending on trim and configuration.

According to the most recent reporting on the vehicle’s specifications, the top battery option for the N70 Max will offer 76 kilowatt-hours of capacity, providing an electric-only driving range of up to 505 kilometers on China’s CLTC testing cycle, or approximately 380 kilometers under the stricter WLTP testing standard used in parts of Europe and elsewhere. When the gasoline generator engine is actively running to recharge the battery, fuel consumption for the N70 Max is expected to rise to approximately 6.2 liters per 100 kilometers, according to preliminary specifications.

The N70 will seat five passengers in a standard configuration, distinguishing it from the larger N90, which will be offered in both five- and seven-seat layouts and includes a more elaborate reconfigurable interior featuring front seats that can rotate 180 degrees to face rearward when the vehicle is parked. Exterior design elements shared across both Sky Nomad models include large headlights, semi-hidden door handles, a roof-mounted LiDAR sensor to support driver-assistance systems, and a ring-shaped taillight design. The N70 will also feature electrically powered side steps as standard equipment, according to the regulatory filing.

Xiaomi founder, chairman and chief executive Lei Jun has said the Sky Nomad series took roughly three and a half years to develop, describing the goal of the project as creating vehicles that function as a “living space” rather than purely as transportation. The series is built on what Xiaomi calls its Kunlun Architecture, a platform developed from the ground up beginning in early 2023 specifically to enable the flexible, reconfigurable cabin layouts featured across the lineup.

Thursday’s event is expected to function primarily as a technology showcase rather than a full commercial launch, according to preliminary reporting on the event’s scope. Pricing and specific on-sale dates for the N70 have not yet been officially announced by Xiaomi. Local Chinese media reports have previously suggested that pricing for the broader Sky Nomad series could start around 200,000 yuan, or roughly $29,000, which would position the lineup in direct competition with extended-range SUVs from Li Auto and Huawei-backed Aito, two of the dominant players in China’s current EREV segment.

The N70’s arrival comes at a challenging moment for the extended-range electric vehicle category in China more broadly. Sales of EREV models fell an estimated 25% to 28% year over year in May 2026, with the segment’s overall share of China’s new-energy-vehicle market dropping to roughly 7%, as fully electric vehicles with improving battery ranges of 600 to 700 kilometers on the CLTC cycle have narrowed the traditional range advantage that extended-range vehicles have historically offered consumers.

The Sky Nomad series represents Xiaomi Auto’s second distinct vehicle lineup, alongside its existing SU7 and YU7 electric models, as the company works toward its full-year 2026 delivery target of 550,000 vehicles, a goal that would represent growth of approximately 34% over the roughly 410,000 vehicles the company delivered in 2025. Xiaomi delivered a cumulative 185,055 vehicles during the first half of 2026, putting the company on pace to complete roughly 34% of its annual target at the midpoint of the year, according to company figures.

A hands-on assessment of how the N70 performs on the road, including its handling, ride comfort, interior build quality and real-world range, will only become possible once the vehicle becomes available for test drives following Thursday’s event and any subsequent formal sales launch.

Business

Airbus profits rise amid demand for commercial aircraft

Published

7 seconds ago

30 July 2026

NewsAdmin

The jet maker also reported a ‘strong’ half-year performance in its defence and space arm

The Airbus production site in Filton, Bristol

Airbus production site in Filton, Bristol.(Image: Rowan Griffiths)

Aerospace giant Airbus has seen orders for its commercial aircraft soar in the first half of the year against a backdrop of a “complex and fast-changing environment”, it said.

Consolidated revenues at the plane maker, which has UK bases in Filton near Bristol and Broughton in North Wales, increased 12 per cent year-on-year to €33.2bn for the six months to the end of June.

Adjusted EBIT – a measure of performance – totalled €2.7bn for the period, up from €2.2bn the year before.

A total of 351 commercial aircraft were delivered over the period, comprising 44 A220s, 271 A320 Family, 10 A330s and 26 A350s.

Revenues generated by the company’s commercial aircraft activities increased 15 per cent to € 23.9bn, mainly reflecting the higher deliveries and increased services, and were partially offset by the US dollar’s depreciation compared to H1 2025.

Meanwhile, Airbus Helicopter deliveries increased to 144 units – from 138 units in the same period in 2025.

“Our good H1 results mainly reflect the higher level of commercial aircraft deliveries and strong performance in Defence and Space, against the backdrop of a complex and fast-changing environment,” said Guillaume Faury, Airbus chief executive.

Gross commercial aircraft orders totalled 886 – up from 494 aircraft in the first half of 2025 – with net orders of 821 aircraft after cancellations.

The order backlog amounted to 9,222 commercial aircraft, while Airbus Helicopters registered net orders totalling 215 units with a backlog of 1,108 units.

Airbus Defence and Space, meanwhile, had an order intake value reaching €9.3bn, rising from €5.1bn a year earlier.

Elsewhere, the company said its A220 ramp-up was “ongoing”, with the company targeting a monthly production rate of 13 aircraft in 2028.

On the A320 family, airbus said it continued to expect to reach a rate of between 70 and 75 aircraft a month by the end of 2027. It is also targeting a rate of five for the A330 programme in 2029 and rate of 12 for the A350 programme in 2028.

“We are ramping up across all businesses to meet the growing demand for our civil and military solutions,” added Mr Faury.

“Our focus on steady execution is paying off, as demonstrated by strong deliveries in Q2. This fuels our confidence in our future performance, as reflected in the recently-communicated mid-term outlook.”

Airbus said its 2026 guidance is based on no additional disruptions to global trade or the world economy, air traffic or the supply chain. It includes the impact of currently applicable tariffs.

Business

Tencent Shares Surge 4.3% to 466.40 HKD on AI Progress Ahead of Key Earnings Report

Published

6 minutes ago

30 July 2026

NewsAdmin

HONG KONG — Shares of Tencent Holdings Ltd. rose 4.29% on Wednesday to close at 466.40 Hong Kong dollars, gaining 19.20 dollars, as investors showed renewed interest in the Chinese technology giant‘s artificial intelligence initiatives and its upcoming midyear results.

The advance lifted the stock from recent lows and marked one of its stronger sessions in recent weeks. Trading volume was solid, with the shares touching an intraday high of 469.40 dollars before settling. The move came against a backdrop of broader recovery in some Hong Kong-listed technology names after a period of volatility.

Tencent, the operator of the ubiquitous WeChat messaging platform known as Weixin in mainland China, has faced pressure on its share price over the past year. The stock remains well below its 52-week high near 683 dollars reached in late 2025 and has declined about 16% over the past 12 months. Concerns have centered on the pace of monetization for heavy AI spending and shifting investor preference toward pure-play AI developers.

The company has responded in part with consistent share buybacks. Tencent has been repurchasing shares on most trading days in recent months, providing a measure of support during the selloff that erased substantial market value since the October peak.

Attention is now turning to the second-quarter earnings report scheduled for Aug. 12. Analysts will scrutinize progress in gaming, advertising, fintech and cloud services, as well as updates on AI-related capital expenditure and product traction.

In its first-quarter results released in May, Tencent reported revenue of 196.46 billion yuan, up 9% from a year earlier. Gross profit rose 11%, and the company highlighted early gains from new AI offerings alongside steady performance in core businesses.

Chairman and Chief Executive Ma Huateng said at the time: “We started 2026 by making significant initial progress on our new AI products, as well as continuing to utilise AI to grow our existing core businesses. The Hy3 preview model, built by our revamped team of AI researchers on re-architected AI infrastructure, is a leader in its parameter size class, delivering practical utility and cost efficiency, and has been top ranked in OpenRouter token measurements since April 28. Our productivity AI agent solutions have attained early traction, and we believe that our WorkBuddy is currently the most widely used productivity AI agent service in China. Our core businesses continued to grow their engagement, revenue and profit, providing the cash flow to fund our AI investments, as well as use cases for future AI deployment.”

The comments underscored Tencent’s dual strategy of embedding AI into its vast existing ecosystem while developing standalone models and agents. WeChat’s more than 1.4 billion monthly active users provide a ready distribution channel for AI features, including assistants that can interact with mini-programs, payments and content.

Tencent has been testing AI agents within WeChat and expanding capabilities in advertising technology, game development and enterprise tools. Its cloud business has also shown improving growth as customers adopt multi-cloud strategies. Management has indicated plans to increase AI-related investment substantially in 2026, building on spending levels already elevated in the prior year.

The stock’s recent path has reflected the tension between these long-term bets and near-term profitability optics. After a sharp decline in late July triggered partly by market rotation and questions about gaming revenue trends, shares have staged a partial recovery. Analysts at major firms have generally maintained constructive ratings, citing the resilience of Tencent’s cash-generative businesses and the potential for AI to enhance advertising targeting, user engagement and new service revenue over time.

Gaming remains a cornerstone, with evergreen titles continuing to drive engagement and monetization. Marketing services benefit from AI-powered improvements in matching and content creation. Fintech and business services, including payments and cloud, provide diversification.

Market participants note that Tencent’s valuation has compressed relative to historical averages and some global peers, trading at a price-to-earnings multiple in the mid-teens on a trailing basis. Average analyst price targets imply meaningful upside from current levels, though realization depends on execution in AI and sustained growth in traditional segments.

Hong Kong’s technology sector has experienced mixed performance in 2026, influenced by domestic economic conditions, regulatory developments and global shifts in AI investment narratives. Tencent’s scale and ecosystem advantages position it differently from pure model companies, potentially allowing it to capture value through product integration rather than solely through model leadership.

Share buybacks have been a consistent feature of capital return policy. The company has also maintained a net cash position that supports both investment and shareholder returns. Upcoming results will offer a clearer view of second-quarter trends in domestic and international gaming, advertising recovery and the early commercial impact of AI tools.

For investors, Wednesday’s advance reflected a combination of technical rebound, optimism around AI product momentum and positioning ahead of the earnings release. Whether the gains can be sustained will hinge on concrete evidence that AI investments are translating into measurable user adoption and revenue contributions without excessively diluting margins.

Tencent continues to navigate a competitive landscape that includes other major Chinese technology groups accelerating their own AI efforts. Its ability to leverage the WeChat platform for rapid deployment of agentic tools remains a key differentiator. At the same time, the company must balance aggressive spending on talent, infrastructure and research with the expectations of shareholders focused on profitable growth.

As the market awaits the August results, the stock’s performance on Wednesday provided a snapshot of shifting sentiment. The 4.29% rise brought the shares higher on the day and offered a measure of relief after weeks of choppy trading. Further direction is likely to be shaped by the detailed financials and management commentary due in less than two weeks.