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Gavekal Technologies: Chips
China’s Vision For AI-Powered Manufacturing
Laila Khawaja
29 Jan 2026
Beijing wants AI to supercharge manufacturing; China sees record transformer export; Chinese humanoids seek money in rentals.
Gavekal Technologies: Briefing
The Lidar Revolution
Tom Hancock, Huang Shichan, Laila Khawaja
26 Jan 2026
Our lead article explains how Chinese companies have seized control of the market for lidar sensors, a key part of autonomous driving technology, through technical innovations that drove down cost and enabled economies of scale. Assisted and autonomous driving may advance more rapidly as a result. But Chinese lidar makers will remain reliant on a global supply chain.
More research
Beijing Accelerates Semiconductor Localization
Chinese customs block Nvidia’s H200; China’s analog industry consolidates; Beijing wants more domestic chip tools.
Manus AI’s Regulatory Odyssey
Beijing reviews Meta-Manus deal; China seeks closer chip ties with South Korea; House passes bill to close chip loophole.
China’s Bet On The Electrotech Stack
Today's Gavekal Technologies Briefing explains that China's big bet on electrification is more than an energy strategy: it is an effort to create a new industrial ecosystem. China is creating an integrated network of related industries. Neither the US nor the Europe has come up with a convincing response.
What To Watch In 2026
The year 2025 was pivotal for US–China semiconductor and AI development. It saw a rollback of US AI chip export controls under President Trump and DeepSeek's breakthrough that shifted competition toward software innovation and open-source models. Chinese firms found workarounds to controls while advancing indigenously, and Beijing continued to expand support for the semiconductor sector. In 2026, US policy may pivot from export controls toward broader tools to extend US spheres of influence and constrain China's, amid intensifying competition across the AI stack. It will also be an acid test for China’s tech rally, as companies must deliver earnings that justify elevated valuations. This report outlines the top AI and semiconductor themes to watch in 2026.
Open Door And Chip Self-Sufficiency
China plans new chip subsidies, top officials meet AMD chief and China sees rising chip exports
China’s Tech Power—And Its Limits
In 2025, the world learned to take China’s tech power seriously: the DeepSeek moment, the increased dominance of Chinese electric vehicles, a biotech boom and a trade surplus of over US$1trn all went to show that China is now a technological leader. Yet just as many used to underestimate China’s tech prowess, we are now at risk of exaggerating it. China’s strengths are real, but not unlimited. The theme of our final Briefing for this year is the constraints on Chinese technology power, in semiconductors, new energy and a wide range of sectors where catch-up is slow and global incumbents still enjoy many advantages.