MG Motor Middle East has put four electric and hybrid vehicles on display at EV World Dubai 2026, highlighting its strategy of offering different powertrain options across regional markets. The exhibition, held at Dubai World Trade Centre from 10 to 12 November, features the fully electric MG Cyberster roadster, MG07 plug-in hybrid, MG HS hybrid and MG RX9 plug-in hybrid. The selection covers sports cars, passenger vehicles […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Sharjah’s Souq Al Haraj is attracting growing interest in electric and hybrid vehicles as buyers widen their search beyond conventional petrol-powered cars, according to the market’s management. The automotive trading centre said on Wednesday that changing customer preferences were bringing greater attention to vehicles offering alternative powertrains, different running costs and newer technologies. Its assessment reflects enquiries and market activity, although it did […]
Spain’s first general strike in 14 years disrupted factories, transport and businesses on Wednesday as workers protested soaring housing costs, with demonstrations ending in clashes with police in Madrid and Barcelona. The 24-hour stoppage, organised by major trade unions and supported by tenants’ groups, brought large crowds into city centres ahead of a snap general election on 29 November. Police reported at least 73 arrests nationwide by […]
By Satyaki Chakraborty Taking into account the continuing severe air pollution in Delhi and other parts of North India, China has offered India collaboration in clean technologies linked with the expansion of manufacturing base in the country. Global Times, the official organ of the Chinese Communist Party has analysed the nature of the air pollution […]
The article China Offers Clean Technologies To India To Deal With Severe Air Pollution In Delhi appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).
The proposal has gained fresh attention following an assessment published on Tuesday by Climate Policy Initiative, which identifies opportunities to upgrade older installations across major wind-producing states. The research ranks Maharashtra, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu as the strongest candidates for early repowering efforts, although commercial and regulatory obstacles remain.
Repowering involves removing smaller turbines and installing modern equipment with taller towers, wider rotor diameters and greater generating capacity. The approach can increase electricity production at established locations, where wind resources, access roads and connections to the electricity network may already be available.
The National Institute of Wind Energy estimates that turbines rated below two megawatts represent approximately 25.4 gigawatts of potential repowering capacity across eight states. That figure describes existing capacity eligible for assessment, rather than additional electricity generation already secured or projects approved for replacement.
Climate Policy Initiative said Maharashtra ranked highest in its readiness assessment, followed by Gujarat and Tamil Nadu. Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan and Karnataka occupied subsequent positions, while Madhya Pradesh ranked lowest among the states evaluated. Its methodology considered wind resources at 150 metres, the scale of existing repowering opportunities, terrain suitability and the financial health of electricity distribution companies.
The assessment comes as the government seeks to expand wind capacity substantially. Installed wind capacity reached approximately 58 gigawatts by July 2026, according to figures cited by the researchers, while planning projections envisage around 155 gigawatts by 2035. Achieving that expansion will require new projects alongside more productive use of existing sites.
Land availability has become an important constraint, particularly where promising wind locations overlap with agricultural activity, settlements or infrastructure. Developers also face delays securing access routes and transmission connections. Upgrading operational wind farms could reduce the need for entirely new sites, although larger machines may still require revised land agreements, stronger foundations and additional grid investment.
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy established a national repowering and life-extension policy in December 2023. It permits replacement of turbines below two megawatts, equipment reaching the end of its design life and machines that fail applicable quality requirements. Projects may also qualify on commercial grounds after 15 years of operation.
Under the policy, repowering should increase annual electricity generation by at least 50 per cent compared with the existing installation. Refurbishment, an alternative to replacement, allows operators to extend equipment life through component upgrades, subject to safety and performance assessments.
Renewable Energy Minister Pralhad Joshi asked industry associations in June to assess the country’s ageing turbine fleet and identify replacement opportunities. He called on the Wind Independent Power Producers Association and the Indian Wind Turbine Manufacturers Association to submit their findings within 30 days. No comprehensive results of that exercise were established in the material available publicly.
A separate assessment issued on 2 November by The Energy and Resources Institute identified repowering as one of several pathways for expanding wind generation. Its recommendations include preparing an inventory of existing turbines, identifying priority sites and developing coordinated replacement projects linked to transmission planning.
The institute estimated theoretical onshore wind resources of approximately 1,210 gigawatts at a height of 150 metres and 2,934 gigawatts at 200 metres. Those resource estimates are not forecasts of economically viable installations and depend on subsequent site assessments, infrastructure and commercial conditions.
Industry participants face practical difficulties in combining neighbouring turbine plots, negotiating with multiple owners and arranging electricity purchase contracts for upgraded projects. Existing supply agreements may offer prices that complicate investment decisions, while distribution companies must determine how additional generation will be purchased and settled. Financing must also account for dismantling costs, construction interruptions and whether older transmission equipment can accommodate substantially higher output from fewer turbines.
The Global Wind Energy Council has identified land acquisition, right-of-way permissions, grid access and power purchase agreements among barriers to development. Its market assessment also anticipates continued interest in replacing older installations in Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Gujarat.
Gujarat’s renewable energy policy already contains provisions addressing replacement of older turbines, including requirements tied to the operating life of projects. Implementation ultimately depends on site-specific approvals, ownership arrangements and the capacity of local electricity networks to absorb increased output.
Microsoft is pressing the Trump administration to abandon a proposed restriction on Chinese optical transceivers used in artificial intelligence data centres, warning that disrupted supplies could delay construction and leave expensive computing equipment idle. The Federal Communications Commission is considering limits on imports of new Chinese-made transceiver models over concerns that the devices could expose American infrastructure to espionage, malicious software or service disruption. No final restriction […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai ADNOC Gas posted third-quarter net profit of $1.34 billion, a 101 per cent increase from the preceding three months, and raised its annual earnings forecast as domestic demand and recovering exports supported its operations. The Abu Dhabi-listed company said on Tuesday that net income rose from $665 million in the second quarter, while earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation increased 70 per […]
Iran has turned its pavilion at the United Nations climate summit in Turkey into a memorial for children killed in a missile strike on a primary school, placing the disputed attack before a gathering devoted to global warming. The exhibition, unveiled as COP31 opened in Antalya on Monday, features photographs of pupils who died when the Shajareh Tayyebeh school in Minab, southern Iran, was struck on 28 […]
Greenlogue/AP Leaders opening the COP31 climate conference in Antalya have called for faster action against global warming, warning that escalating extreme weather and rising economic pressures are exposing the gap between government commitments and their implementation. UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell told delegates on Monday that the urgency of the climate crisis must translate into stronger practical measures. He said progress towards international climate goals […]
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 10 November 2026 – Residential fires in Singapore remain a pressing concern for homeowners. Recent data shows that total fires increased 3% year-on-year, rising from 1,990 in 2024 to 2,050 in 2025, with unattended cooking and electrical faults continuing to rank as the most common causes.
As these numbers climb, Allianz Insurance Singapore is encouraging homeowners to take a proactive look at their home insurance in Singapore and ensure their coverage reflects the full value of what is inside their home.
For HDB flat owners, the compulsory HDB Fire Insurance Scheme provides a strong foundation, covering the cost of reinstating internal structures, fixtures, and fittings originally provided by HDB. This is valuable protection that ensures the flat itself can be restored after a fire.
But what about the renovation that took months to plan? The furniture, the electronics, the personal belongings accumulated over the years? These sit outside the scope of the compulsory scheme, along with alternative accommodation and personal liability. In other words, HDB fire insurance protects the structure of the home. It does not cover what homeowners have invested inside it.
For homeowners looking to extend their protection beyond the compulsory scheme, there are options available. Allianz Home Protect is a comprehensive home insurance plan that picks up where the compulsory scheme leaves off. It covers loss or damage to home contents and personal belongings caused by fire, water damage, theft, and a range of other covered perils, with renovations covered up to S$150,000 and home contents up to S$100,000, with optional add-ons available to extend coverage further.
If a family needs somewhere to stay while their home is being repaired, the plan provides for that too. For added peace of mind, homeowners are also covered by worldwide personal liability of up to S$2,000,000 should damage from their property affect others. Plans start from S$8.18 per month, inclusive of 9% GST.
As residential fires continue to rise, homeowners may wish to review whether their current coverage reflects the full value of the home they have built.
For more information on Allianz Home Protect, visit: https://www.allianz.sg/individual-solutions/allianz-home-protect.html
Coverage is subject to the terms, conditions, and exclusions of the Allianz Home Protect policy. Please refer to the Policy Wording for full details. This policy is protected under the Policy Owners’ Protection Scheme which is administered by the Singapore Deposit Insurance Corporation (SDIC). This advertisement has not been reviewed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore.
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At Allianz Insurance Singapore, we aim to secure the future and create a positive impact on society and the environment by leveraging our expertise in risk management. As we work toward strengthening our position as one of Singapore’s leading risk solutions providers, we deliver innovative and customer‑focused protection solutions for individuals, SMEs, and mid‑corporate clients – spanning Motor, Home Content, Travel, Personal Accident, Cancer, Hospital Income, and a comprehensive suite of commercial insurance offerings.
Abu Dhabi Police have taken delivery of a restored Porsche 924 that escorted Queen Elizabeth II during her first visit to the United Arab Emirates in 1979, reviving one of the country’s earliest performance police vehicles. The sports car was formally handed back at Al Maqta Museum on Monday after restoration by Porsche Centre Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, part of Ali & Sons Holding. It will […]
The Nikkei 225 closed at 58,775.50, gaining 1,340.73 points, while the broader Topix advanced 2.97% to 3,818.16. The rebound followed Friday’s 6% plunge, which left the Nikkei more than 20% below its June record, the threshold commonly used to define a bear market.
Buying extended across the Tokyo market rather than remaining confined to semiconductor companies. Of the Nikkei’s 225 constituents, 208 rose and 17 fell, indicating widespread demand after several sessions of selling. The recovery nevertheless left the benchmark substantially below its level at the beginning of last week.
Investors took encouragement from Friday’s gains on Wall Street, where technology stocks recovered after sharp declines linked to concerns about potential changes in United States policy towards artificial intelligence. The Nasdaq Composite gained 1.09% and the S&P 500 rose 0.32%, providing a firmer backdrop for Asian trading.
Nvidia and Tesla had recovered in that American session after investors reassessed the implications of Democratic victories in the US midterm elections. Market participants have questioned whether tighter scrutiny of artificial intelligence could slow the construction of data centres and affect demand for the advanced chips and equipment supplying them.
Those concerns remain particularly significant for Tokyo’s equity market, where semiconductor equipment manufacturers, technology investors and industrial suppliers carry substantial weight in benchmark movements. The sell-off had spread beyond companies directly involved in artificial intelligence, reflecting broader reductions in exposure to riskier assets.
Takuma Ikemoto, a market analyst at Tokai Tokyo Intelligence Laboratory, cautioned that uncertainty surrounding American policy could limit further advances once the initial wave of buying subsided. His assessment highlighted the distinction between a recovery from heavily sold conditions and a sustained improvement in expectations for technology earnings.
Individual stock movements showed that the rally was uneven despite the strong headline index gains. Consulting services company Baycurrent climbed 8.8% to a record closing high, making it the Nikkei’s strongest percentage performer. Construction group Shimizu gained 7.7%, while industrial manufacturer Mitsubishi Electric advanced 7.3%.
SoftBank Group, a prominent investor in artificial intelligence ventures, remained under pressure during the session, illustrating continuing investor caution towards businesses closely associated with the sector’s expansion. Its weakness contrasted with gains elsewhere and suggested that buyers were distinguishing between companies rather than returning indiscriminately to all technology-related shares.
Banking stocks also attracted demand as Japanese government bond yields moved higher. Rising yields can support banks’ lending margins, although their effect depends on funding costs and broader credit conditions. Automakers, retailers and non-ferrous metal producers contributed to the market’s advance, giving the recovery a wider base than the previous technology-led fluctuations.
The Topix’s larger percentage gain reflected the strength of shares across a broader range of companies. On the Tokyo Stock Exchange’s Prime Market, 1,412 issues advanced, compared with 120 declines and 13 unchanged. Thirty-one of the exchange’s 33 industry groups finished higher, with food and shipping among the exceptions.
Developments in the Middle East also shaped investors’ assessment of market risk. US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that further American attacks on Iran were highly unlikely while diplomatic discussions continued, with Qatar involved in mediation. The comments offered some reassurance, although accounts of attacks on vessels near the Strait of Hormuz underscored the fragility of the situation.
Disruption to energy shipments through the waterway has complicated the outlook for Japan, which depends heavily on imported fuel. Changes in oil prices influence corporate costs, household spending and inflation expectations, making the security of Gulf shipping an important consideration for investors alongside movements in technology shares.
Monday’s closing figures also showed the distance still to be recovered after the previous week’s losses. The Nikkei had finished November 2 at 63,081.86, well above Monday’s level despite the sizeable daily increase. The gap illustrated how a sharp one-day advance can coexist with substantial losses over a longer trading period. Investors therefore remained sensitive to changes in overseas equity markets, policy expectations and corporate earnings forecasts.
The session’s strongest performers included businesses outside the artificial intelligence supply chain, while the weaker areas showed that the rebound was not uniform. Shipping and food shares lagged the broader market as investors repositioned portfolios following the previous week’s abrupt decline.
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Smart home buyers in 2026 face a broader selection of connected devices, as improved interoperability brings lighting, security, heating and household appliances closer to unified control. The expansion follows updates to Matter, the industry-backed connectivity standard intended to help products from different manufacturers operate together. The Connectivity Standards Alliance introduced Matter 1.5.1 in March, improving support for connected cameras and video doorbells after […]
Dr. Krithpaka Boonfueng, Executive Director of the National Innovation Agency (NIA), said that National Innovation Day remains an essential annual forum dedicated to commemorating the royal grace, genius, and enduring innovation legacy of King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great. The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation strongly believes that human capital is the cornerstone of building an innovation-driven society. Consequently, the NIA prioritizes workforce upskilling across all generations alongside deploying technology and innovation to mitigate inequality, expand economic opportunities, enhance quality of life, and sharpen national competitiveness. This mission accelerates Thailand’s transition from a mere consumer of technology into a prolific creator of high-value innovation. The event serves not only as a platform to recognize trailblazers, but also as a catalyst to foster widespread awareness, stimulate active technology adoption, showcase Thai ingenuity on the world stage, and collectively advance Thailand toward becoming a sustainable “Innovation Nation.”
“The National Innovation Awards represent the highest distinction in Thailand’s innovation landscape. They celebrate Thai innovators whose pioneering work delivers clear, measurable value to the country, sparking pride and creative momentum across all sectors while elevating our national image as an emerging Innovation Nation,” stated Dr. Krithpaka. “Now in its 22nd year, the competition reflects a rapid leap forward in domestic innovation capability, keeping pace with an evolving global landscape. Historically, more than 6,736 submissions have entered the awards, with over 370 projects recognized, collectively generating an economic, social, and environmental impact valued at over 138 billion baht.”
Dr. Krithpaka highlighted three winning innovations from the 2026 National Innovation Awards that exemplify success across economic, social, and environmental dimensions, underscoring Thai entrepreneurs’ capacity to combine deep technology with commercial viability:
1. BUZZEBEES: Elevating CRM through AI to Boost Marketing Efficiency and Business Growth Developed by Buzzebees Co., Ltd., this end-to-end customer relationship management (CRM) and online engagement platform secured first prize in the Economic category (Large and Medium Enterprise division). Powered by advanced AI algorithms, the platform streamlines customer data management, consumer behavior analytics, and precision-targeted marketing campaigns. It empowers enterprises to connect with target demographics accurately, retain customer bases, and unlock new revenue streams.
The comprehensive suite encompasses loyalty and points-redemption programs, payment and order management workflows tailored for SMEs and restaurants, and e-commerce channel operations, alongside targeted digital media and affiliate marketing powered by a vast influencer and Key Opinion Leader (KOL) network. By leveraging real-time business diagnostics and automated campaign personalization, the platform can deploy fully functional solutions within just five business days—a 20-fold reduction in turnaround time compared to traditional development cycles that often require up to 100 days.
Currently, BUZZEBEES supports over 500 enterprise platforms, more than 1,500 SME and merchant networks, and an aggregate user base exceeding 200 million consumer and distributor accounts. Notable deployments include Tops’ personalized loyalty platform, which serves over 210,000 active users and has processed more than 40 million reward redemptions. In 2025, the company generated over 2 billion baht annually in gross merchandise value (GMV) through international affiliate channels, saved domestic corporations over 600 million baht annually by replacing reliance on foreign enterprise software, posted 2.964 billion baht in total revenue, and created an average of 260 local tech jobs annually.
2. INSPECTRA MMG: Deep-Learning AI for Mammography Analysis Enhancing Breast Cancer Screening Developed by Perceptra Co., Ltd., INSPECTRA MMG captured first prize in the Social category (Large and Medium Enterprise division). The diagnostic-support AI system assists radiologists in interpreting screening mammograms, specifically targeting the diagnostic complexities posed by dense breast tissue—a characteristic prevalent among Asian women that frequently obscures underlying lesions in standard screenings.
Trained on a proprietary dataset of more than 400,000 mammographic images from Thai cohorts, INSPECTRA MMG detects subtle indicators of malignancy to assist clinical decision-making. Deployed in Thai clinical settings for over three years across more than 220,000 processed patient cases, the tool reduces radiologists’ workloads, optimizes diagnostic throughput, and democratizes access to early cancer detection in medically underserved provinces. Validation data submitted by the company demonstrates an impressive Cancer Detection Rate of 97%, validating AI’s efficacy as a clinical decision-support asset while maintaining physician oversight as the ultimate diagnostic authority. Looking ahead, Perceptra plans to expand outreach via mobile mammography screening units for remote communities, implement an annual software-as-a-service (SaaS) subscription model to fund continued R&D, and scale operations into broader Southeast Asian healthcare markets.
3. MyraShell Aroma: Upcycling Marine Shell Waste into Sustainable Luxury Bio-Materials Developed by Manee Mongkol Gems Factory Co., Ltd., “MyraShell Aroma – Sea of Love” won top honors in the Environmental category (Micro & Small Enterprise, and Social Enterprise division). The initiative upcycles discarded green mussel shells sourced from coastal fishing communities into high-value decorative bio-materials under circular economy principles, effectively curbing coastal waste while establishing sustainable secondary income streams for local artisanal fishers.
The innovation isolates nacre (mother-of-pearl) and calcium carbonate fractions from marine shells, formulating them with bio-based binding polymers and precision engineering techniques into durable, aesthetically sophisticated materials suitable for fine jewelry and luxury decor. MyraShell Aroma features a calibrated micro-porous surface that absorbs and disperses fragrances ambiently without electricity, designed for repeated aromatic refills.
The company has expanded its portfolio under the MyraShell and MyraGem brands to supply interior panels, lighting fixtures, and architectural finishes to luxury five-star hospitality brands. Manee Mongkol Gems collaborates with the Chonburi Fisheries Association and the Sawang Pratheep Community Enterprise for ethical raw material sourcing, complete with origin-traceability protocols, and partners with Kasetsart University on material validation with research grant backing from the NIA. The breakthrough gained international acclaim at Milan Design Week at Superstudio Events in Milan, Italy, where the team exhibited a 3×3-meter “Sea of Love” feature wall. Capitalizing on sustainable luxury storytelling, the company is actively expanding its direct export channels across Italy, Germany, France, and Hong Kong.
Supporting Broader Innovation Ecosystems Alongside the flagship honors, the ceremony presented accolades across complementary specialized initiatives:
Serving as the nation’s “Focal Conductor,” the NIA continues to align with domestic and international partners through its core Groom – Grant – Growth – Global framework. This integrated strategy aims to expand Thailand’s cohort of market-ready innovation-driven enterprises (IDEs), catalyze economic value creation, and fortify national competitiveness to firmly cement Thailand’s standing as an internationally recognized Innovation Nation.
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Tesla will dismantle its Cybertruck production line in Texas around the middle of 2027, shifting manufacturing capacity towards its Cybercab autonomous taxi after the electric pickup failed to meet sales expectations. Chief executive Elon Musk said the company would add another production shift to fulfil outstanding Cybertruck orders before removing the line, potentially in June or July next year. His clarification followed an announcement that Tesla would […]
Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) and Dell Technologies are exploring closer cooperation on digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity to improve the resilience of Dubai’s electricity and water services. The discussions, disclosed by DEWA in December 2025, covered technology capable of strengthening electricity networks, improving water distribution and supporting renewable energy integration. They followed separate agreements between Dell and subsidiaries of DEWA’s digital arm on cloud […]
Google announced on 4 November that it would invest the money during 2027 and 2028, developing data centre campuses alongside clean energy, water security and workforce programmes. The commitment comes as parent company Alphabet forecasts capital expenditure of $195 billion to $205 billion for 2026 and a further significant increase next year.
The scale of those commitments is central to the debate surrounding Alphabet shares. Demand for AI computing is accelerating, but building capacity requires substantial upfront expenditure on servers, specialised chips, electricity and facilities. Higher depreciation and operating costs could put pressure on profitability before the investments generate their expected returns.
Alphabet has not disclosed how the Malaysian commitment will be divided between its various projects or how much represents spending already incorporated into its group forecasts. The $15 billion therefore cannot simply be added to its published capital expenditure guidance as an entirely separate obligation.
The company’s third-quarter results nevertheless demonstrate the commercial opportunities supporting its investment programme. Revenue rose 25 per cent to $127.6 billion in the three months ended September, while Google Cloud revenue increased 103 per cent to $30.7 billion. Alphabet reported net income of $26.2 billion and an operating margin of 31.8 per cent.
Management has said cloud demand is stretching available computing capacity. It expects sales of its tensor processing unit systems to expand further in 2027, although using third-party computing resources to bridge supply shortages is expected to weigh on cloud margins in the nearer term.
Alphabet’s financial disclosures show that capital expenditure reached $132 billion during the first nine months of 2026, compared with $63.6 billion in the corresponding period of 2025. Depreciation on property and equipment increased to $22 billion from $15.1 billion over the same periods, illustrating how infrastructure investment is already affecting expenses.
The company also disclosed $130.5 billion in future payments associated with leases not yet commenced, primarily involving data centres and energy infrastructure. Those commitments extend across multiple years and are distinct from the cash capital expenditure recorded during the reporting period.
Google’s Malaysian programme includes additional campuses in Selangor and Negeri Sembilan. Its first campus at Elmina Business Park in Selangor is already operating, while computing capacity there will support a planned Google Cloud region serving enterprise customers.
Ruth Porat, president and chief investment officer of Alphabet and Google, said the expansion would provide computing capacity while adding local power and water resources as operations grow. Google said it would pay for all electricity consumed by its campuses and the direct costs of connecting them to the grid.
The company plans to enable more than one gigawatt of additional clean energy capacity on Malaysia’s national grid. Its initiatives include collaboration with Tenaga Nasional Berhad on new generation projects and exploration of electricity supplies capable of meeting demand throughout the day.
Malaysia’s government has welcomed the investment while emphasising the need for domestic economic benefits. Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo said on 5 November that he had invited Google to explore further cooperation on AI-enabled cities and AI safety, including support for the Malaysian AI Safety Institute. Details of any additional partnership remain pending.
Google estimates that construction of the new campuses during 2027 and 2028 will contribute an annual average of $1.1 billion to Malaysia’s gross domestic product and support more than 37,000 jobs each year. These are company projections rather than employment or economic outcomes already achieved.
Once operational, the facilities are projected to support more than 9,000 jobs annually, including employment connected to local suppliers and services. Google is working with more than 80 Malaysian entities across construction, engineering, logistics and other activities.
Water management is another element of the expansion. Google has announced river basin restoration initiatives and rainwater harvesting systems for four schools in Selangor. It says independent specialists will audit the water benefits, while site-level consumption figures will be disclosed through environmental reporting.
The company has also outlined four training programmes intended to reach approximately 800,000 people between 2027 and 2031. They cover educators, small businesses, public-sector workers and vocational trainees, including planned data centre training institutes at selected polytechnics in Selangor and Negeri Sembilan.
The UAE is expected to generate more solar electricity per person than any other country by 2031, as renewable power development accelerates across the Middle East, the International Energy Agency has forecast. The Paris-based agency projects UAE solar generation exceeding 4,000 kilowatt-hours per capita in 2031, placing it ahead of Australia and Oman. Its Renewables 2026 report, published on Friday, also anticipates a sharp expansion of renewable […]
The Japanese investment group and Swiss engineering company are considering placing ABB Robotics’ China business into a separately owned entity while allowing SoftBank to acquire the remaining operations. Discussions remain preliminary, and there is no assurance that the proposed separation will overcome China’s objections or produce a completed transaction.
SoftBank is understood to be driving the restructuring discussions with ABB and their advisers. The companies have not publicly confirmed a carve-out proposal. Both declined to comment on the reported deliberations, although SoftBank has acknowledged continuing talks with ABB over the transaction.
China’s Office of the Working Mechanism for Foreign Investment Security Review, operating under the National Development and Reform Commission, prohibited the acquisition of ABB’s robotics operations in China. The decision, communicated to SoftBank this week, interrupted a sale agreed in October 2025 and valued at approximately $5.4 billion.
SoftBank said it had received notification of the prohibition and was working constructively with ABB. The Chinese authorities have not publicly detailed their reasons for rejecting the transaction. Questions surrounding the protection of industrial technology and data have nevertheless become central to discussions about a possible alternative ownership arrangement.
A separation would be commercially significant because China is ABB Robotics’ largest individual market. Its manufacturing and research operations in Shanghai form an important part of the business SoftBank originally agreed to purchase. Removing those assets could change both the economic value and strategic appeal of the acquisition.
China accounts for roughly 30 per cent of the robotics business, although the precise share varies with the period and measure used. More than 90 per cent of robots supplied to ABB’s Chinese customers are manufactured locally, illustrating the extent to which its operations are integrated into the country’s industrial supply chains.
The proposed structure would therefore need to address more than the legal ownership of a subsidiary. Manufacturing facilities, research activities, intellectual property, commercial relationships and arrangements for handling operational information could all affect how the businesses are divided. No agreed terms governing those matters have been disclosed.
ABB is separately examining alternatives, including finding another purchaser for the robotics division. One possible sale scenario has been associated with a valuation of $2 billion to $3 billion, substantially below the original SoftBank transaction price. That figure remains an informal possibility rather than a confirmed offer or independent valuation.
Returning to a previously considered stock-market separation is another potential route. ABB had originally intended to spin off the robotics division before agreeing to sell it to SoftBank. A listing would introduce different execution and market risks, particularly after the companies signed a binding acquisition agreement.
The regulatory intervention has complicated ABB’s capital allocation plans. The company had expected to use proceeds from the divestment to support acquisitions elsewhere in its business. Citigroup analyst Martin Wilkie estimated that the Chinese blockage could reduce ABB’s available acquisition capacity to approximately $5 billion, roughly half the amount previously envisaged.
ABB shares declined on Friday, extending their losses for the week to more than 5 per cent. SoftBank shares fell about 11 per cent in Tokyo amid a broader technology-sector sell-off, although movements in its share price cannot be attributed solely to the robotics decision.
For SoftBank, the proposed purchase was intended to strengthen its position in robotics systems that combine artificial intelligence with physical machinery. The group has identified this field as an investment priority, making access to ABB’s engineering capabilities and established industrial customer base an important consideration.
The robotics division generated approximately $2.3 billion in revenue in 2024 and employed around 7,000 people. Its manufacturing footprint includes facilities in China, Sweden and the United States, serving industrial customers alongside competitors such as Fanuc, Yaskawa Electric and Kuka.
The original acquisition agreement, signed on 8 October 2025, specified a purchase price of $5.375 billion and required regulatory approvals in several jurisdictions, including China. The Chinese security review was distinct from competition approval, demonstrating that clearance under one regulatory process did not settle the separate investment-security assessment. ABB had previously targeted completion of the divestment during 2026, subject to the remaining necessary approvals and other applicable customary closing conditions.
By K Raveendran Wall Street was waiting for an excuse to punish the technology sector, whose extraordinary valuations had increasingly defied conventional measures of profitability and risk. The sweeping defeat of Donald Trump’s Republicans in the American midterm elections provided the trigger, unleashing a sell-off that exposed the fragility beneath the artificial intelligence boom. Yet […]
The article Wall Street’s AI Reckoning Offers India A New Opening appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).
