XIAMEN, China, April 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — With the increasing popularity of healthy lifestyles and the widespread promotion of fitness, the global athletic footwear and apparel market continues to expand, driven by rising consumer demand for high-performance running products. In 2024, the global running shoe market reached $51.3 billion. The growth of this sector is primarily fueled by the following factors — rising health awareness and mass adoption of Marathons races. As there is a growing emphasis on health and fitness, it has encouraged more consumers to engage in running, driving demand for professional running shoes, functional sportswear, and related accessories.

Furthermore, the increasing participation in marathons and road running events has significantly expanded the market for performance running shoes and running gear, with athletes showing a growing preference for high-performance footwear and smart wearable devices.

Among all sportswear brands, Chinese sportswear brands have gained increasing recognition in global markets, transitioning from regional players to internationally competitive brands. With the global rise of Chinese trend culture, overseas consumers have shown growing awareness and demand toward the fashion-forward designs, high value-for-money, and deep cultural elements embedded in Chinese brands.

Chinese sports brands have strengthened their global presence through strategic initiatives such as collaborating with international ambassadors, sponsoring major sporting events, and expanding global sales channels. These efforts have significantly enhanced brand influence on the international stage. Meanwhile, leading Chinese sports brands such as Li-Ning, ANTA, and Xtep have ramped up investments in product research and development, technological innovation, and sustainable materials, enabling them to deliver internationally competitive products with superior performance, comfort, and quality. As consumer preferences evolve, a growing number of international buyers are choosing Chinese brands, further solidifying their global market share and accelerating their transition towards premiumization and internationalization.

Chinese sports brands have also increased their presence in national marathon events, with domestic running shoes demonstrating growing stability in professional races and significantly higher adoption rates among athletes. Meanwhile, marathon participation has surged across China, with both event numbers and scale expanding in parallel. In 2024, China hosted 749 road races of various levels, attracting over 7.04 million participants, reflecting the growing mass adoption and regional expansion of marathon events in the country.

As marathon participation rises, demand for professional running gear continues to escalate, with performance running shoes, moisture-wicking apparel, and GPS smartwatches becoming essential for runners. This trend has not only driven the expansion of the performance running gear market but also fueled continuous advancements in running shoe design and technology. Runners and marathon participants now form a key consumer segment, with their increasing demand serving as a crucial driver of market growth.

Sports brands play a pivotal role in marathon sponsorship, with running shoes being highly aligned with marathon event content, making them a natural fit for sports marketing initiatives. The broad exposure and high engagement levels in marathon events provide sports brands with greater visibility and stronger marketing effectiveness. As a result, marathon events have become a critical marketing battleground for sports brands, further strengthening brand recognition and competitiveness in the performance sportswear market.

Xtep – The Market Leader in Professional Running Shoes

As a well-known domestic sports brand, Xtep has solidified its position in the running shoe sector by making running footwear its core product focus while leveraging extensive exposure through marathon sponsorships. Since initiating its strategic expansion into the running shoes’ category in 2007, Xtep has continuously deepened its presence in the running track. After more than a decade of accumulation and refinement, it has established a solid foundation in technology R&D and product innovation, successfully transforming from a mass sportswear brand into a professional running brand. This strategic approach has successfully positioned Xtep as a top choice among consumers in the running shoe market.

Designed specifically for running, running shoes play a critical role in ensuring safety and enhancing athletic performance. Through deep insights into runners’ needs and continuous optimization of product performance, Xtep has built a solid foundation in running shoe technology and launched professional racing shoes. With lightweight design, advanced carbon plate technology, and exceptional cushioning performance, the shoes have been widely recognized by professional runners and core user groups, becoming their preferred choice for training and competition. Xtep’s flagship product, the 160X product series, has consistently garnered global recognition and prestigious running shoe awards for its exceptional performance and advanced technology.

Leveraging its product advantages, Xtep achieved outstanding sales performance across all distribution channels in 2024, marking a significant leap in market share and reinforcing its leadership in the industry.

In addition, Xtep continues to expand its influence in the running industry through deep engagement in marathon events and the establishment of a comprehensive runner ecosystem. Through years of continuous in-depth communication and interaction with runners, Xtep has gradually built a one-stop professional service system covering product experience, foot shape and gait analysis, scientific training guidance, and post-race recovery. This comprehensive approach not only enhances the end-to-end sports experience for runners but also enables the brand to gain more accurate insights into the real needs of different runner groups, providing ongoing feedback and support for product development and service optimization.

Xtep’s full-spectrum running shoe portfolio caters to a wide range of running needs—from daily training and competitive racing for professional marathon runners to everyday running for recreational athletes. This comprehensive product lineup meets the diverse usage scenarios of runners at all levels, achieving full market coverage from elite racing to mass participation.

Xtep continues to support China’s road running events and sponsored a total of 44 marathon races nationwide in 2024. With its expanding market share in recent years, Xtep has emerged as a leading brand in the domestic and international running shoe industry.

As a result, Xtep has become one of the most prominent sponsors of marathon events, steadily increasing its market share in the running shoe segment. With its continuous innovation and market expansion, Xtep has firmly established itself as a leading brand in the global running shoe industry.

Based on extensive market research, Frost & Sullivan has officially recognized Xtep International Holdings Limited for its outstanding market leadership. Xtep has been awarded the “Global Leading Brand in terms of Sales Volume of Running shoes in 2024” and “Top-Ranked Running Shoe Brand by Wearing Rate in China’s Marathons in 2024”, affirming its dominant position in both global sales and nationwide marathon participation.

BEIJING, April 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — On the evening of April 24, BlueFocus released its 2024 annual report, posting full-year revenue of RMB 60.797 billion, up 15.55% year-on-year. It is now the first marketing company in China to surpass RMB 60 billion in annual revenue.

Amid technology transformation and global expansion, the company recorded a positive inflection in operating gross margin, supported in part by significant growth in AI-driven business.

“BlueFocus has entered what is arguably the most strategically focused and decisive era in its history,” said Fei Pan, CEO of BlueFocus. “We are committed to transforming into a true AI-powered marketing technology company, tapping into the trillion-RMB-scale opportunities emerging from the restructuring of both China’s marketing industry and the global outbound market.”

Since 2023, the company has fully committed to an “All in AI” strategy, developing its proprietary industry model, BlueAI, now powering over 95% of operational workflows. Efficiency gains across integrated marketing, intelligent advertising, and global outbound business have improved by 60% to 1000%. In 2024, AI-driven revenue reached RMB 1.2 billion, surging more than tenfold year-on-year.

Looking ahead, BlueFocus anticipates AI-driven revenue to reach RMB 3–5 billion in 2025 and surpass RMB 10 billion longer-term. Fei Pan noted, “Reaching this milestone will be measured by three benchmarks: high gross margins, high AI integration intensity, and the creation of revenue models enabled by AI. Ultimately, 70% to 80% of BlueFocus’s revenue must be reinvented through AI, transforming into high-quality revenue streams.”

Meanwhile, BlueFocus’s Globalization 2.0 strategy is advancing at pace. In 2024, overseas advertising revenue reached RMB 48.333 billion, representing a 29.36% year-on-year increase and accounting for nearly 80% of total revenue. Advertising revenue generated through strategic partners including Meta, Google, and TikTok for Business continued to deliver double-digit growth.

BlueFocus is also accelerating the expansion of its localized network, having established offices in the United States, Singapore, Japan, the Netherlands, Vietnam, Thailand, Canada, Saudi Arabia, and Brazil. It plans to open an additional three to five branches across Southeast Asia, Europe, and South America.

Powered by the synergy between its AI strategy and Globalization 2.0 initiatives, BlueFocus is poised to redefine marketing valuation standards. Its ambition is to evolve into a marketing technology leader rooted in technological innovation and driven by a bold global vision, ultimately becoming a defining Chinese example in the evolution of the global marketing landscape.

SHANGHAI, April 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — ChangAn Automobile (“ChangAn” or “the Company”), an intelligent low-carbon mobility technology company, has unveiled its forward-looking roadmap under the theme “Together for a Smarter World” at Auto Shanghai 2025, which is being held from April 23 to May 2 at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai. The Company’s three strategies — its new energy Shangri-La Mission, Dubhe Plan for intelligence, and its Vast Ocean Plan for global expansion — usher in a new chapter of strategic upgrades and innovation for ChangAn. Major breakthroughs for the Company include debuting multiple new energy models, deploying intelligent driving technology, boosting international sales, and developing a manufacturing facility in Thailand.

ChangAn’s Shangri-La Mission, aiming to continuously enrich its product portfolio over the next five years, will introduce 45 all-new models globally, including 37 new energy models. In 2025 alone, 20 new models are set to launch, with 12 new energy vehicles such as the AVATR 06, DEEPAL S09, and CHANG-AN Q07. In partnership with CATL, ChangAn is advancing key electrolyte technologies and accelerating solid-state battery development. A prototype will debut by late 2025, with installation tests in 2026 and mass production by 2027. The company also unveiled its intelligent battery collision monitoring system and Kirin 4C fast-charging battery.

Under its Dubhe 2.0 Plan, ChangAn will invest 20 billion yuan over five years to advance AI large model development and end-to-end assisted driving. Another 20 billion yuan will support growth in the low-altitude economy, including flying cars. The Intelligent TS Drive, TY Cockpit, and TH Chassis systems will be comprehensively upgraded, alongside over 50 intelligent features. Five versions of Intelligent TS Drive assisted driving system will be released, catering to varying user needs, with the LiDAR PRO version set for mass production by late 2025. ChangAn will invest over 200 billion yuan in new automotive technologies in the next decade, launch test flights for flying cars this year, and target humanoid robot production by 2028. Its NextLab in Shanghai anchors global design innovation.

Under its Vast Ocean Plan, ChangAn will invest over $15 billion globally by 2030, targeting annual international sales of 1.5 million vehicles and expanding its overseas workforce to 10,000. The Company’s global market strategy will shift to a “6+2” layout, elevating five key regions to match the strategic level of China. International market capacity will grow from 30 million to 50 million, with 11 KD projects launching in countries including Kazakhstan and Egypt, adding 500,000 units in production capacity. ChangAn will enter new markets, including Brazil, Algeria, Indonesia, Germany, and Australia, aiming for full coverage of five major regions by 2026.

“Despite strong headwinds and a long journey ahead, ChangAn Automobile will press forward with unwavering determination,” said Zhu Huarong, Chairman of ChangAn Automobile. “With our historical spirit of ‘innovating through change and persisting through adversity,’ our deep cultural heritage, consistent strategic execution, outstanding team, and robust R&D capabilities, we firmly believe we can ride the waves, accelerate high-quality transformation, and achieve our vision of building a world-class auto brand. We will contribute more ChangAn strength to our mission of ‘leading sustainable mobility and benefiting human life.'”

About ChangAn Automobile

ChangAn is an intelligent low-carbon mobility technology company. Its product lineup includes passenger vehicles, pick-ups, and light commercial vehicles. Powered by innovation and industrial upgrading, the Company is committed to advancing sustainable mobility and becoming a global industry leader. 

BEIJING, April 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The China Electricity Council, TÜV Rheinland, China General Certification Center（CGC), AIKO, and LONGi jointly released the Back Contact (BC) Solar Technology Development White Paper (hereinafter referred to as the “White Paper”) in Beijing. As the world’s first authoritative report on BC technology for the photovoltaic industry, the White Paper systematically elaborates on BC technology’s industrialization path, core advantages, and sustainable development potential, marking the official entry of BC technology—widely recognized as the “ultimate form of single-junction silicon solar cells”—into the large-scale application phase.

The event was hosted by Prof. Hui Shen, Director of the Yangtze Delta Solar PV Innovation Center, and garnered endorsements and commendations from leading industry experts, scholars and customers.

Professor Martin Green from the University of New South Wales (UNSW), Australia—renowned as the “Father of Photovoltaics”, extended his congratulations via video on the release of the White Paper. He predicted that Interdigitated Back Contact (IBC) technology will gradually supplant TOPCon technology within the next five years, while lauding Chinese enterprises’ industrial advancements in BC applications and the technology’s vast future potential. Mr. Jinhua Wu, Executive President of the Solar Power Branch of the China Electricity Council, emphasized in his address that BC technology will propel the photovoltaic industry toward higher efficiency and lower costs. Mr. Xiaochao Zhang , former Deputy Director of the New Energy Division at China Huaneng Group (one of China’s five major power generation conglomerates) stated that BC technology innovation demands collaborative efforts across the entire industrial chain. “As an end-user, we are actively advancing the commercialization of BC innovations. We are confident that BC products, with their high efficiency and proven reliability, will deliver enhanced value to the end-user market,” he emphasized. 

Expert Insights: Validating BC’s Global Relevance

Dr. Qi Gao, Technical Director of Solar Services at TÜV Rheinland, interpreted BC technology’s reliability standards and testing systems from an international certification perspective. Mr. Gang Zhou, General Manager of the Solar Energy Division at CGC, presented empirical data demonstrating the outstanding performance of BC modules in demonstration projects. Dr. Yongqian Wang, Chief Scientist of AIKO, discussed the evolution and future vision of photovoltaic technology, particularly BC technology, from the perspective of energy transformation. Dr. Xixiang Xu, Chief Scientist and Vice President of LONGi Central R&D Institute, provided an in-depth analysis of BC technology’s process innovations in the context of photovoltaic technology advancement.

Record-Breaking Efficiency & Technological Superiority

This year, BC cells achieved a new world-record efficiency of 27.81% (certified by ISFH), just 1.3% shy of the theoretical maximum. BC cells integrate both positive and negative electrodes on the backside through full back-contact electrode technology, eliminating front-side busbars shading entirely and maximizing light absorption area. This breakthrough significantly improves conversion efficiency while achieving both optical and electrical performance enhancements, solidifying BC’s status as the “ultimate form of single-junction silicon solar cells.”

During the panel discussion session, Mr. Zhenguo Li, Founder and President of LONGi,  and Prof. Wenzhong Shen, Director of the Solar Energy Research Institute at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, along with other industry experts, shared insights on the significance of the White Paper, BC technology’s core breakthroughs, and future challenges. The consensus was clear: BC technology has become the pinnacle of single-junction silicon solar cell development, with its maturity poised to drive future innovation and industry growth.

White Paper Highlights: A Blueprint for Global Adoption

Structured into seven chapters, the White Paper provides an in-depth analysis of : BC technology principles and industrialization pathways; Standardization frameworks and third-party validation; Core performance advantages (efficiency, reliability, bifaciality) ; Application value across utility, commercial, and residential scenarios; Ecosystem development and future trends, etc.

As the “crown jewel” of photovoltaic technologies, BC technology is poised to propel the global solar industry into a new era characterized by higher efficiency and lower levelized cost of electricity (LCOE), injecting powerful momentum into the global energy transition.

SHANGHAI, April 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — ChangAn Automobile (“ChangAn” or “the Company”), an intelligent low-carbon mobility technology company, has unveiled its forward-looking roadmap under the theme “Together for a Smarter World” at Auto Shanghai 2025, which is being held from April 23 to May 2 at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai. The Company’s three strategies — its new energy Shangri-La Mission, Dubhe Plan for intelligence, and its Vast Ocean Plan for global expansion — usher in a new chapter of strategic upgrades and innovation for ChangAn. Major breakthroughs for the Company include debuting multiple new energy models, deploying intelligent driving technology, boosting international sales, and developing a manufacturing facility in Thailand.

ChangAn’s Shangri-La Mission, aiming to continuously enrich its product portfolio over the next five years, will introduce 45 all-new models globally, including 37 new energy models. In 2025 alone, 20 new models are set to launch, with 12 new energy vehicles such as the AVATR 06, DEEPAL S09, and CHANG-AN Q07. In partnership with CATL, ChangAn is advancing key electrolyte technologies and accelerating solid-state battery development. A prototype will debut by late 2025, with installation tests in 2026 and mass production by 2027. The company also unveiled its intelligent battery collision monitoring system and Kirin 4C fast-charging battery.

Under its Dubhe 2.0 Plan, ChangAn will invest 20 billion yuan over five years to advance AI large model development and end-to-end assisted driving. Another 20 billion yuan will support growth in the low-altitude economy, including flying cars. The Intelligent TS Drive, TY Cockpit, and TH Chassis systems will be comprehensively upgraded, alongside over 50 intelligent features. Five versions of Intelligent TS Drive assisted driving system will be released, catering to varying user needs, with the LiDAR PRO version set for mass production by late 2025. ChangAn will invest over 200 billion yuan in new automotive technologies in the next decade, launch test flights for flying cars this year, and target humanoid robot production by 2028. Its NextLab in Shanghai anchors global design innovation.

Under its Vast Ocean Plan, ChangAn will invest over $15 billion globally by 2030, targeting annual international sales of 1.5 million vehicles and expanding its overseas workforce to 10,000. The Company’s global market strategy will shift to a “6+2” layout, elevating five key regions to match the strategic level of China. International market capacity will grow from 30 million to 50 million, with 11 KD projects launching in countries including Kazakhstan and Egypt, adding 500,000 units in production capacity. ChangAn will enter new markets, including Brazil, Algeria, Indonesia, Germany, and Australia, aiming for full coverage of five major regions by 2026.

“Despite strong headwinds and a long journey ahead, ChangAn Automobile will press forward with unwavering determination,” said Zhu Huarong, Chairman of ChangAn Automobile. “With our historical spirit of ‘innovating through change and persisting through adversity,’ our deep cultural heritage, consistent strategic execution, outstanding team, and robust R&D capabilities, we firmly believe we can ride the waves, accelerate high-quality transformation, and achieve our vision of building a world-class auto brand. We will contribute more ChangAn strength to our mission of ‘leading sustainable mobility and benefiting human life.'”

About ChangAn Automobile

ChangAn is an intelligent low-carbon mobility technology company. Its product lineup includes passenger vehicles, pick-ups, and light commercial vehicles. Powered by innovation and industrial upgrading, the Company is committed to advancing sustainable mobility and becoming a global industry leader. 

Photo – https://laotiantimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/imag-63.jpg
Photo – https://laotiantimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/imag-64.jpg

SHENZHEN, China, April 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Lexar, a global consumer brand of data storage solutions conducted a 2-day media event participated by a select group of journalists from leading international technology publications, April 23-24, Zhongshan, China.

Lexar’s wide-range of products cater to the needs of professional photographers, filmmakers, content creators, gamers and mainstream audiences. In October 2024, it launched a new line of digital picture frames under its sub-brand pexar. Some Lexar products for the global market are produced in its near 50,000 m(2) Zhongshan factory, in operation since 2019.

Ryan Li, CEO of Lexar, met with media members to provide executive insights into the company’s industry leadership and future trajectory as one of the most advanced factories for producing digital memory products.

While much of the leading consumer technology products in the world are produced in China, journalists from international media outlets are rarely able to visit factories. Lexar utilized this opportunity to not only showcase its industry-leading products to top global tech media outlets, but also to demonstrate the company’s innovation and high standards in its production process.

The tour was part of Shenzhen Global Connect Innovation Week, a technology showcase event organized by iMpact, a communications and business consulting firm helping global companies localize their operations in key markets.

Sixteen journalists from around the world participated in the Lexar factory tour, representing technology focused media from outlets including Trusted Reviews, Tom’s Guide, Android Police, ZDNet, Bloomberg and more.

During the media tour, the group visited the production lines focused on Lexar’s module products manufacturing. This was followed by a visit to the Lexar Quality Labs, where much of the rigorous testing for all Lexar products takes place. Before lunch the group was treated to a hands-on demonstration of the company’s key products for each category, armed with a better understanding of how they are made.

The tour wrapped up with a visit to the Memory History Museum, located inside the factory complex. It displays the significance and historicial connections between the storage memory with history and culture.

“It’s easy to take for granted the amount of innovation, dedication, and investment that goes into the consumer tech products we use on a daily basis,” noted one of the journalists on the tour. “We’re extremely grateful to Lexar for inviting us into their factory to see first-hand why they are one of the world’s leading brands in digital memory technology.”

About Lexar

For more than 28 years, Lexar has been trusted as a leading global brand of memory solutions. Its award-winning lineup includes memory cards, USB Flash Drives, card readers, solid-state drives, and DRAM.

Media Contact

Katherine Zhang
lexarbm@lexar.com