Under the Chinese mainland's high-level opening-up policies and the Belt and Road Initiative, a new wave of next-gen companies is redefining globalization. Moving beyond cost and scale, firms are competing on smart manufacturing, digital solutions and AI-driven innovation.
Hangzhou-based Unitree Robotics is a showcase: its humanoid and quadruped robots sold over 20,000 units overseas in 2024, and its quadrupeds command roughly 60% of the global market.
In automotive, brands like BYD, SAIC and Chery are ramping up via low-carbon LNG shipping fleets. BYD delivered 4.27 million vehicles last year, from fully electric to hybrids. It now exports entire energy ecosystems – batteries, storage and charging solutions – positioning it as a clean energy solutions provider.
Energy firms from the Chinese mainland are taking pipelines, smart grids and solar software abroad. Their digitalized infrastructure uses data and AI for real-time energy management across Southeast Asia and Latin America.
But hurdles remain: localizing operations, regulatory compliance and smart connectivity abroad pose challenges. Automakers face vehicle-to-everything communication, over-the-air updates and cross-border cloud data compliance issues.
Robotics companies, for instance, must adapt AI models and data pipelines to new languages and customer behaviors. 'When our quadruped robots are sold overseas, we often need to provide remote upgrades and support if customers run into problems. China Mobile's global coverage and stable data transmission make that possible,' says Li Pengfei from Unitree Robotics.
Connectivity infrastructure is no longer just an enabler but a competitive edge. Carriers and infrastructure firms are evolving into AI-powered platforms offering industry-specific solutions. 'AI is not only reshaping industries. It is redefining the innovation position of companies from the Chinese mainland in the global value chain,' notes Li Huidi, vice president of China Mobile.
Investments in AI infrastructure, edge nodes and cross-border data compliance help build a low-latency, high-reliability global AI computing network – a one-stop digital platform for firms expanding abroad.
The impact is tangible: Chinese energy tech firms use AI for real-time power load balancing in African mini-grids, while automakers explore edge computing and AI inference for global navigation and autonomous driving optimization.
As the next generation of enterprises from the Chinese mainland goes global, technology, digital connectivity and AI form the new frontier of competitiveness.
Reference(s):
Born global: The tech edge of China's next-gen global enterprises
cgtn.com
