BEIJING, April 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — A report from People’s Daily

In a significant shift for the global automotive industry, Chinese automakers sold nearly 27 million vehicles worldwide in 2025, surpassing Japan’s approximate 25 million sales. This marks the first time China has ended Japan’s 25-year reign as the global sales leader.

The milestone is underscored by three Chinese companies now ranking among the world’s top ten automakers. Notably, BYD secured its position as the global leader in new energy vehicle (NEV) sales for the fourth consecutive year.

The shift has sparked a wave of online comparisons: Nokia watching Apple’s rise, or Kodak facing the digital revolution.

However, the rise of Chinese automakers is not simply a story about volume. It signals a generational transformation in the global auto industry, driven by strategic foresight and sustained innovation.

Often described as a “crown jewel” of modern industry, the automotive sector is a key indicator of a country’s manufacturing strength.

In the early 20th century, Ford pioneered assembly-line production, shifting the industry’s center from Europe to the United States. In the 1970s, following the oil shocks, Japanese automakers built global dominance on fuel efficiency and lean production. By 1980, Japan had overtaken the United States, and since 2000, companies like Toyota, Honda and Nissan set the pace.

Now, momentum has shifted decisively towards China.

As global decarbonization efforts accelerated, Chinese automakers moved quickly into electrification and intelligent technologies. This led to rapid advancements in areas like battery technology, large in-car displays, and urban automated driving systems (like Navigation on Autopilot – NOA).

Meanwhile, segments of the Japanese auto industry deliberated over the pace of transition, debating whether electric vehicles would fully supplant hybrids.

This divergence in approach led to a widening gap. By 2025, NEVs accounted for nearly 60 percent of China’s auto market, compared with less than 3 percent in Japan.

China’s rise reflects a long-term strategic vision, not an overnight success. NEVs were designated a national high-tech R&D priority as early as 2001.

Over more than two decades, policies ranging from purchase subsidies to charging infrastructure development, alongside sustained technological breakthroughs and market cultivation, have laid a solid foundation for the industry.

Furthermore, China’s comprehensive industrial chain and vast domestic market provided fertile ground for the rapid innovation and large-scale deployment of NEVs.

This well-integrated ecosystem, encompassing upstream sectors like advanced materials, accelerated battery breakthroughs and enabled significant economies of scale.

This industrial clustering not only fosters coordinated innovation but also significantly reduces costs and shortens development cycles. Some estimates suggest Chinese automakers can develop a new electric vehicle in about 18 months — more than twice as fast as many Japanese counterparts.

An analyst at Japan’s Mizuho Bank attributed this to a combination of advanced technology, cost advantages and rapid R&D capabilities.

Yet, scale does not equate to strength. Despite a sharp drop in net profit in 2025, Toyota continues to generate higher per-vehicle profit — around 17,000 yuan ($2,470) — than its Chinese competitors.

Having secured the title of “volume champion,” Chinese automakers now face the challenge of becoming “quality champions.” Key hurdles remain: building stronger brand premium, navigating regulatory headwinds such as carbon tariffs and data security reviews in Europe and the United States, making charging as seamless as refueling; and advancing autonomous driving from promise to reality.

Each milestone reveals new challenges. However, one fact is undeniable: China’s auto industry has moved to the center of the global stage. Its focus is shifting beyond speed and scale to pursuing long-term excellence and enduring quality in the new energy era.

As defence demand accelerates, companies must shift focus from capability development to qualification, compliance, and ecosystem positioning to unlock growth

LONDON, April 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Frost & Sullivan today released new analysis highlighting a fundamental shift in the European aerospace and defence (A&D) sector, where industrial capacity – not demand – is emerging as the primary constraint on growth.

Presented in the context of Hannover Messe #HM26, the findings underscore a structural transformation in defence manufacturing, driven by geopolitical realignment, increased spending commitments, and the urgent need to rebuild sovereign production capabilities across Europe.

“Defence is no longer a demand story – it is an industrial execution challenge,” said Irit Nudelman, Vice President, Aerospace & Defence Advisory, Europe & Israel at Frost & Sullivan. “The opportunity is significant, but success depends on whether companies can scale production, meet stringent qualification standards, and position themselves within the right supply-chain ecosystems.”

From Demand Surge to Industrial Bottleneck

Frost & Sullivan’s analysis finds that across multiple defence segments, demand visibility is strong and sustained. However, the limiting factor is the ability of industry to deliver at the required pace, volume, and quality.

As a result, defence is increasingly being reframed as a manufacturing scale-up challenge, placing renewed emphasis on supply-chain resilience, production readiness, and operational consistency.

Expanding the Supplier Base

The findings highlight that the opportunity extends well beyond traditional defence contractors. Many industrial companies already possess capabilities relevant to defence production, particularly in:

• Advanced components and materials
• Production equipment and automation
• Industrial process control and engineering

For these organisations, the most effective entry strategy is not to develop entirely new offerings, but to reposition existing capabilities to meet defence-grade requirements.

Qualification and Ecosystem Integration: The Real Barriers

While capability alignment is necessary, it is rarely sufficient to secure market access. Frost & Sullivan identifies qualification and compliance as the most critical barriers for new entrants.

Requirements such as documentation, traceability, audit readiness, and adherence to regulatory standards are essential to establishing credibility as a defence supplier.

In parallel, the defence market operates as an interconnected ecosystem. Success depends on integration with primes, Tier-1 suppliers, and established industrial networks, making relationship-building and strategic positioning as important as technical capability.

Early Movers Positioned to Capture Value

With European defence supply chains actively expanding and being restructured, companies that engage early are better placed to secure qualification, build partnerships, and define their role within the value chain.

Delayed entry is likely to result in higher barriers, increased competition, and reduced strategic flexibility.

Supporting Growth Through End-to-End Advisory

Frost & Sullivan supports organisations across the full A&D value chain, combining market intelligence, competitive benchmarking, and strategic advisory to enable informed decision-making and accelerated market entry.

The firm’s approach helps clients to:

• Identify and prioritise high-value defence opportunities
• Understand procurement timelines and customer requirements
• Assess competitive positioning and differentiation
• Navigate regulatory, ecosystem, and localisation challenges
• Develop actionable growth and market-entry strategies

“Winning in defence requires more than capability – it requires credibility, compliance, and connectivity within the ecosystem,” Nudelman added. “Companies that move early and align their strengths with defence-specific requirements will be best positioned to capture long-term growth.”

Connect with Irit Nudelman (irit.nudelman@frost.com) to explore how your organisation can translate existing industrial capabilities into defence-ready solutions and secure a position within Europe’s evolving defence supply chains.

About Frost & Sullivan

Frost & Sullivan, the Transformational Growth Company, enables clients to accelerate growth and achieve best-in-class positions in growth, innovation, and leadership. The company’s Growth Pipeline as a Service provides the CEO’s Growth Team with transformational strategies and best-practice models to drive the generation, evaluation, and implementation of powerful growth opportunities. For over 60 years, Frost & Sullivan has partnered with investors, corporate leaders, and governments to identify, prioritise, and execute transformational growth strategies.

Your Transformational Growth Journey Starts Here: Schedule Your Growth Pipeline Dialog™

Contact:

Kristina Menzefricke
Marketing & Communications
Global Customer Experience, Frost & Sullivan
kristina.menzefricke@frost.com

Celebrating Every Mother’s True Self Beyond the Role of a Mom

LOS ANGELES, April 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — MOM is a title she earned, but it’s not the only story she owns. When a woman becomes a mom, some of her traits grow stronger, while others may be temporarily set aside. This Mother’s Day, Liene, a global leader in innovative smart printing solutions, today launches a campaign titled “Stick What Makes Her, HER”, celebrating the full and more authentic person behind every mom.

During this campaign, Liene teamed up with four real families to create heartfelt surprises for their moms. Each family used Liene’s PixCut S1 Smart Printer, the world’s first all-in-one photo printing and cutting machine for home use, to create custom stickers that honor a mother’s unique traits, passions, and hidden stories that make every mom an individual. Instead of praising “perfect mom”, Liene encourages people to see “the complete her”.

“Moms are often reduced to their role as caregivers, overshadowing the passions and personalities they carried before and continue to have alongside motherhood,” said Kim, Marketing Director of Liene, “With the PixCut S1, we want to give people a simple, joyful tool to say: ‘We love you not only for what you’ve done for us, but for exactly who you are.'”

PixCut: Stick What Makes Her, HER

Creating a heartfelt gift for mom is more achievable than you realize. With the PixCut S1, you can upload a cherished photo, a symbol of her favorite hobby, or a family moment that captures her essence. In just moments, the Liene app connects seamlessly to the printer, producing your design in vibrant, high-resolution 300 dpi. The process is smooth and effortless. If the design doesn’t quite look right in the preview, you can easily adjust it before printing to ensure it perfectly captures what makes your mom unique.

The PixCut S1 does more than just print. It combines AI-powered precision cutting into one machine, ensuring that each design is refined to perfection and delivers clean, detailed results with minimal waste, making the process as smooth and thoughtful as the gift itself. Additionally, the PixCut S1 uses thermal dye-sublimation technology to make every sticker waterproof, fade-resistant, and scratch-resistant, preserving the memories you create for years to come. Every creation becomes more than just a gift; it’s a lasting tribute to the mom you admire, celebrating her uniqueness and the love she shares.

Jenna, a daughter from one of the four families, is creating a personalized 3D photo book using the PixCut S1 to print stickers of her mother’s favorite video game character. “My mom loves video games,” Jenna said. “This year for Mother’s Day, I wanted to show my mom how cool her video game character is. Something so uniquely ‘my mom.'”

How to participate

• In-Person Event: On Mother’s Day (May 10), Liene will host a pop-up activation at the Melrose Trading Post in Los Angeles from 10 AM to 5 PM. Visitors can print custom stickers for free, featuring their mom’s favorite things, to personalize any gift they bring. An artist KOL will also be on-site to offer crafting guidance.
• Online Participation: From April 25 to May 9, families are encouraged to record their mom’s reaction when she receives the sticker-decorated gift. Share the video on social media with #StickWhatMakesHerHer #PixCutS1, and tag @lienephotoprinter (on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok) or @LienePhoto (on Facebook). Participants will have a chance to win a free Liene Pearl N200 Pro Portable Photo Printer, plus a special mystery gift.

Mother’s Day Discount

To celebrate Mother’s Day, Liene is offering Top 35% off on any product from May 4 to 10. Just click here to go to Liene’s official Amazon store and order the best gift!

Media contacts
Liene
liene.service@liene-life.com 

Media Resources
https://youtu.be/I5-lXN5H3PU

About Liene

Established in 2017, Liene was born from a deep belief in the enduring power of printed memories. Our journey is fueled by the desire to empower you to capture and preserve life’s most beautiful moments through our innovative photo printers.Liene photo printers are renowned for their exceptional print quality, whether it’s color reproduction, clarity, or detail. Designed with user convenience in mind, our printers offer smart connectivity features that make printing photos directly from a variety of devices quick and easy. Join us as we weave your digital memories into tangible treasures that you can touch, share, and hold close to your heart.

NEW YORK, April 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Stage and Screen, a specialist division of Corporate Traveler, has today announced a strategic realignment of its global brand structure that will bring its sports and entertainment travel services under the Corporate Traveler banner worldwide.

The new structure will now extend across the United States, Canada, the UK, and New Zealand, establishing a unified global presence and positioning the company for significant international growth while strengthening its offering to customers in the sports and entertainment sectors.

Stage and Screen has maintained a long-standing presence in the United States, operating for nearly two decades. With strong performance in the market, this realignment marks Corporate Traveler’s continued investment in a key area of growth for the business and deepens its commitment to delivering expanded services to Stage and Screen clients in the U.S.

Given its expertise in navigating the dynamic, fast-paced nature of the sports and entertainment world, the company has become a trusted travel partner for film and TV productions, music tours, creative services companies, and major U.S. professional sports teams — including the New York Mets, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Houston Rockets.

“The U.S. sports and entertainment market has been one of our strongest growth stories, and this gives us the platform to go further,” said John Van den Heuvel, President of Corporate Traveler USA. “Our clients need a travel partner that understands how to operate in fast-moving, high-stakes environments. This rebrand reflects our commitment to deepening our investment in this space, with more opportunities ahead for U.S. clients.”

A recent global survey highlighted that nearly 80% of industry clients view a provider’s global presence as important, reinforcing the strategy behind this alignment. Tiziano Galipo, Global Managing Director of Stage and Screen, affirmed the company’s direction.

“This is more than a brand refresh. It’s a strategic alignment of our global capabilities under one name. Our clients operate on a world stage, and they require a travel partner they can trust that mirrors their global footprint,” said Galipo. “By uniting as one Stage and Screen, we amplify our strength, share our expertise more effectively, and reinforce our promise to deliver performance-enhancing travel, anywhere and everywhere.”

The rebranding solidifies Stage and Screen’s identity as the premier travel partner for organizations that depend on performance. For customers, this unified brand signifies a more consistent and powerful global service network. It combines deep local expertise with the worldwide resources of Corporate Traveler and its parent company, Flight Centre Travel Group, ensuring seamless, high-touch travel management across every continent.

For more than 30 years, Stage and Screen has provided specialized travel for industries where logistics are critical, and timing is everything.

“The alignment sharpens this focus, backed by survey data showing over 75% of clients prioritize a travel management company with proven expertise in their specific sector,” said Galipo. “The unified brand will deliver on this expectation with dedicated teams who understand the unique demands of moving production crews, sports teams, and touring artists. Our legacy is built on a performance mindset that helps the best perform at their absolute peak.”

“The brand unification will allow us to focus on eliminating logistical hurdles so our clients can concentrate on their moment in the spotlight. Our teams, our experience, and our commitment to excellence are now globally aligned to ensure your people arrive ready to perform,” added Galipo.

HOUSTON, April 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Arriving just in time for National Plumbers Day and the kickoff of the busy spring renovation season, VEVOR today launched its 18V High-Efficiency Compact Propress Tool. Engineered to empower professionals facing a surge in residential and commercial projects, this new solution helps plumbers complete copper connections faster, even in the most restrictive working spaces. With press cycles as fast as 3 seconds, a 360° swivel head, and dual 18V batteries, the tool is purpose-built to slash installation time and physical strain while delivering pro-level performance at an accessible price point.

Uncompromising Performance Without the Premium Markup

For plumbing professionals and dedicated home creators, reliability and speed are non-negotiable. They demand tools that simply perform better under pressure. The VEVOR Compact Propress Tool answers this call with uncompromising, jobsite-ready power. Engineered with a high-efficiency 18V motor and delivering rapid 3-second press cycles, it outpaces many traditional options in pure performance. By combining superior capability with an unexpectedly accessible price point, VEVOR ensures that anyone entering the trade or upgrading their arsenal can instantly access top-tier performance without the financial strain.

Behind the accessible price point is a commitment to uncompromising, professional-grade manufacturing. The VEVOR Compact Propress Tool features hydraulic cylinders precision-machined using advanced Mazak 7-axis CNC technology, ensuring top-tier durability and leak-proof stability. Its jaws are forged from vacuum heat-treated carburized steel—the same cutting-edge metallurgical process utilized by the industry’s most premium brands. Built to exceed standard stress tests, this meticulous engineering ensures the tool delivers proven, heavy-duty reliability right out of the box, ready to withstand the daily rigors of demanding jobsites.

“Professional-grade efficiency shouldn’t be a privilege gated by legacy pricing,” said Gavin, Brand Director at VEVOR. ” Our mission is to tear down those financial barriers, putting high-performance tools directly into the hands of anyone ready to elevate their craft and take pride in their work.”

Built to Solve Common Jobsite Challenges

More than specs alone, a propress tool is judged by how it performs in real installation environments. VEVOR designed the 18V Compact Propress Tool around three common jobsite needs: faster cycle times, better access in tight spaces, and dependable runtime for repeated pressing tasks.

• Faster Cycle Times for Demanding Jobs (Up to 60% Faster Crimping):

Slow crimp cycles can severely bottleneck productivity on large-scale jobs. By delivering press cycles in just 3 seconds—compared to conventional 5-second tools—VEVOR boosts the crimping rate per minute by up to 60%. Across multiple connections, that time savings can help users reduce downtime, minimize repetitive physical strain, and keep projects moving on schedule.

• Better Access in Tight Spaces (360° Swivel Head):

Pipe installations frequently occur in highly restrictive environments, such as ceiling crawl spaces or beneath cramped cabinetry, where limited mobility can compromise efficiency. To address this structural challenge, VEVOR engineered the tool with a smooth 360-degree rotating head. This mechanism enables users to precisely calibrate their approach angle without awkward contortion, ensuring a secure, professional-grade seal even in the most challenging spaces.

• Extended Runtime and Jobsite Durability:

To support repeated pressing tasks, the kit includes two 18V 2.0Ah batteries for extended runtime. Under test conditions, the system supports approximately 200 presses per charge, depending on pipe size, material, and operating environment. For durability, the tool’s jaws are made from vacuum-carburized steel to provide the hardness needed for secure gripping performance while maintaining the toughness required for repeated high-load applications.

Designed specifically for ProPress copper pipe crimping applications, the VEVOR Compact ProPress Tool is equipped with press jaws for crimping 1/2″, 3/4″, and 1″ pipe sizes. Delivering 24kN of output force, the tool supports ProPress copper pipe connections up to 1-1/4 inches in diameter. The tool also features a digital display that provides real-time visibility into operating status and crimp count for added convenience on the job.

Availability

The VEVOR 18V High-Efficiency Compact ProPress Tool is now available for purchase. The kit includes [tool body], [3 pro press jaws], [2 x 18V 2.0Ah batteries], [fast charger], and [carrying case].

Consumers can purchase the product at VEVOR.com, Amazon, and eBay. Those interested in exploring more of VEVOR’s home-improvement solutions can visit the brand’s first global flagship store at 10951 Farm to Market 1960 Road W in Houston or shop online at www.vevor.com.

About VEVOR

Pro-Level Performance Without the Pro-Level Price. From backyard makeovers to apartment innovations, we deliver superior performance through practical technological innovation that combines purposeful technology with the hands-on joy of creation.

Today, VEVOR operates in over 50 countries, supported by a network of 200+ global warehouses and a catalog of more than 15,000 SKUs spanning tools, outdoor equipment, and home improvement solutions. VEVOR has supported over 30 million Home Creators worldwide, bringing performance, inspiration, and value to their home improvement projects.For more information, visit www.vevor.com or search “vevor” on Amazon.

Media Contact
VEVOR Communications Team
media@vevor.com