

Mason Greenwood: Former Manchester United star quits England, switches national teams
1.Mason Greenwood has reportedly abandoned England and switched his international allegiance. 2.The former Manchester United…
Tesla introduces an updated Model Y in China to counter local competitors.
Tesla revealed an upgraded iteration of its beloved Model Y in China on Friday, as the American electric vehicle leader seeks to counteract competition from local contenders. The new Model Y will have a starting price of 263,500 Chinese yuan ($35,935), with deliveries scheduled to commence in March. This represents a 5.4% increase compared to the introductory price of the prior Model Y. A representative for Tesla China stated that the refreshed Model Y is currently available for pre-sale exclusively in the Chinese market and will not be released globally at this time. Tesla’s update on the Model Y follows the company’s announcement earlier this month regarding its first-ever annual decline in total deliveries for 2024. Elon Musk’s electric automobile company is encountering intensified competition globally, from emerging startups and established automakers in Europe. In China, the firm continues to grapple with an influx of competitors ranging from BYD to newer entrants like Xpeng and Nio. Jason Low, chief analyst at Canalys, highlights that the Tesla Model Y was the top-selling EV in China in 2024, emphasizing that its appeal “remains substantial.” However, he pointed out that rivalry in the sports utility vehicle (SUV) sector, specifically for vehicles priced between 250,000 yuan and 350,000 yuan, “has been intense.” “Tesla needs to present attractive smart functionalities, particularly a distinctive yet well-customized cockpit and service ecosystem,” along with “efficient” semi-autonomous driving assistance technologies “to maintain its competitiveness within the market,” Low remarked. Tesla is providing various incentives for consumers to purchase the Model Y, including a five-year 0% interest financing offer. The latest Model Y can sprint from 0 kilometers per hour to 100 kilometers per hour in just 4.3 seconds, according to Tesla, surpassing the performance metrics of its predecessor. The Model Y Long Range offers an extended driving distance on a single charge compared to its former version. Since the rollout of the Cybertruck in late 2023—priced at nearly $80,000—Tesla has not unveiled a new model. Investors have been eager for a new mass-market vehicle to rejuvenate sales. Tesla has indicated that a new budget-friendly model could be introduced in the first half of 2025. In spite of the challenges facing Tesla, the company’s stock has risen nearly 70% in the past year, partly owing to CEO Musk’s close ties with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.
Samsung Electronics banking on AI to outpace global growth in smartphones, home appliances
Samsung Electronics is set to enhance its on-device AI initiatives with the goal of surpassing the global expansion in the consumer electronics sector this year. According to Jong-Hee Han, CEO of Samsung Electronics, the worldwide consumer electronics market encompassing smartphones, TVs, and home appliances is projected to grow approximately 3% by 2025, as reported to CNBC’s Chery Kang. As the leading manufacturer of smartphones and TVs globally, Samsung anticipates its mobile devices division to see an increase of 4%-5% this year, while the growth in the TV and home appliance segment is also expected to pick up speed, Han, who also oversees the device eXperience (DX) division at Samsung Electronics, stated.
Amazon seeks to grow its advertising sector byallowing merchants to utilize its promotional tools within their shops.
In recent years, Amazon has evolved into a colossal player in online advertising, with brands investing heavily for prime visibility on the retailer’s platforms. Now, Amazon is opening the doors for other websites to leverage its advertising technology for their own marketplaces. This new service, named Amazon Retail Ad Service, enables businesses to display “contextually relevant advertisements in the optimal locations and at the ideal times” within search results, product pages, and various sections of their sites, as announced by Amazon on Thursday. Initially, this service is available for retailers in the U.S., who will incur fees based on their usage levels, though specific pricing details were not shared. In 2022, Amazon started detailing its advertising income in quarterly financial reports, revealing that this sector had become a vital asset to both the company’s revenue streams. The latest quarter saw advertising revenue reach $14.3 billion, making it the third-largest player in digital advertising, behind Alphabet and Meta. However, this figure pales in comparison to sales generated from Amazon’s online retail and cloud services, which totaled $61.4 billion and $27.4 billion, respectively, in the quarter ending October. The majority of Amazon’s advertising income is derived from sponsored product ads, which are keyword-focused advertisements allowing brands to promote specific products. Over time, Amazon has integrated more of these sponsored listings into search results and product pages. The company also secures some advertising revenue through its streaming services. With the Amazon Retail Ad Service, businesses will gain the ability to personalize the configuration, positioning, and quantity of ads displayed across their platforms, in addition to utilizing Amazon’s advertising measurement and analytics tools.