The Impulso Podcast

In this episode, we dive into Xiaomi’s bold leap from consumer electronics into the electric vehicle space. What sparked the buzz around the SU7 launch? How did Xiaomi manage to sell over 200,000 cars in a market dominated by giants like BYD and Tesla? And will a recent accident impact future sales?

Tune in as we unpack what makes Xiaomi stand out in China’s crowded EV market—and why its founder’s loyal fan base and focus on design are key parts of the story. 

Chapters:

00:00:00: Xiaomi SU7 crash 

00:02:50: SU7, a Porsche-inspired car?

00:05:00: Why did Xiaomi enter the EV market?

00:08:00: Can Xiaomi compete with BYD

00:11:00: The risks of EVs and autonomous driving

Featured materials: 

A Chinese EV manufacturer’s deep trouble, livestreamed

https://thelowdown.momentum.asia/a-chinese-ev-manufacturers-deep-trouble-livestreamed/

Live-selling cars in malls? China’s EV retail strategy | Impulso E111

https://thelowdown.momentum.asia/live-selling-cars-in-malls-chinas-ev-retail-strategy-impulso-e111/

Founded by a young man with (allegedly) no formal education, Chagee has quickly become one of the top tea brands in the world. Its recent successful IPO debuted at a market cap of nearly US$6 billion. How did they get here? In this episode, we dive into the success story behind Chagee’s rapid rise - from humble beginnings to becoming one of Starbuck’s biggest rivals anda hiccup in Vietnam. With over 6,000 global stores and a plan to expand further into the US in these turbulent times, can Chagee become the next global beverage giant? 

Chapters:

00:00:50 – Chagee’s US$6 billion debut in Nasdaq

00:02:30 – How the name “Cha” came about

00:04:00 – The founder’s unconventional journey

00:07:40 – Chagee’s same store sales are declining

00:11:00 – Chagee’s hiccup in Vietnam

00:12:00 – Could Chagee be the next Starbucks? 

Is the food delivery landscape of Brazil going to completely change? Bouncing back from a failed launch in 2019, Didi is back in Brazil as 99 Food. In this episode, we explore Didi’s reentry into Brazils food delivery market. What went wrong the first time? Why is Didi confident enough now for a comeback? Can they take a bite out of iFood’s massive 80% market share? At the same time, we also received news that Meituan is entering Brazil under Keeta. What will this mean for the food delivery lStay tuned as we see how Chinese platforms are reshaping global food delivery dynamics. Chapters:00:00:50: Didi is entering Brazil… again00:05:40: An introduction to Didi’s international business 00:07:35: Why did Didi fail in Brazil in 2019? 00:10:16: Can Didi beat iFood’s 80% market share? 00:16:10: Keeta vs Didi in Brazil Food delivery market Featured materials: TLD China’s Didi enters Brazil’s food delivery market

In this episode, we take a closer look at the fast-paced and competitive food delivery industry in Southeast Asia. ShopeeFood is gaining traction in Vietnam—but does this pose a real challenge to market leader Grab? Is TikTok considering a move into local services? And could drones become the new norm for food delivery?We’re joined by Weihan, our insights lead, to unpack these questions and more. From drone delivery trials in Dubai to the high costs of operations in Singapore, we explore the trends and challenges shaping the future of how we order and eat food.What does this mean for the industry—and for consumers? Tune in for a thoughtful discussion on the evolving world of food delivery.Chapters:00:04:00: Grab leads Southeast Asia’s food delivery again00:05:00: Is Shopee Food a threat to Grab?00:10:00: Indonesia’s intense food delivery battle00:14:00: TikTok’s secret expansion into local services?00:23:00: Drones are now delivering your food? Featured Materials:Food Delivery Platforms in Southeast Asia 5.0, Momentum Works Vietnam Ecommerce and Retail Immersion, Momentum WorksE108: From Dianping to RedNote: Shanghai’s role in breeding successful consumer apps, The Impulso Podcast

E95: How Meituan overtook FoodPanda in Hong Kong, and what’s next?

AI is taking over the world by storm, and AI generated humans are becoming more popular. What does this mean for the ecosystem? 

In this episode of Impulso Podcast, we sit down with Jensen, co-founder and CEO of Topview.ai, an AI-powered video creation platform.

 With over 13 years of experience at Taobao, Jensen has been at the forefront of AI applications, especially in e-commerce and digital media. As AI-generated video becomes more sophisticated, Jensen shares how the shift from small, targeted AI models to large, multimodal models has transformed the industry since 2022. 

From completely AI generated videos, to AI humans in the videos - how will AI change the future of content creation? Or even the videos we see on a daily basis?

Chapters:

00:01:04 AI Evolution: Before & After 2022 

00:03:29 AI Acceleration & Market Impact 

00:05:00 AI generated videos and how it is used 

00:10:21 Can AI be the future of the Metaverse?

00:14:07 AI in Business & Global Expansion – Hangzhou’s tech ecosystem and China’s AI influence.

00:21:10 Closing Remarks – AI’s future and an invitation to explore China’s tech scene.

Featured materials: 

E46: SenseTime founder’s passing & AI companies’ challenges in China, The Impulso Podcast

Tabcut report, Momentum Works

BYD is now outselling automotive giants like Toyota and Volkswagen in China. But beyond the numbers, a bigger shift is happening—Chinese EV brands are moving away from traditional dealerships and into shopping malls.

In this episode, we explore China’s electric vehicle revolution, breaking down the numbers behind its EV boom and uncovering why mall showrooms are replacing dealerships, and the economics driving this shift.

From sleek in-mall showrooms to live-streamed car sales and in-store cafés, China’s EV industry is transforming not just how cars are made, but how they’re sold. The way we buy cars is changing—China is leading the charge, but will the rest of the world follow?

Featured materials: 

E105: Collapse of a Chinese EV company, livestreamed, The Impulso Podcast

在本期节目中，我们与中国的电商资深专家凯飞一起探讨拼多多的成功故事。凯飞深入剖析了该公司独特的电商模式，并作为行业专家提供了独到见解。

What makes Pinduoduo one of the most disruptive forces in e-commerce?

The United States was TikTok Shop’s biggest market in 2024 - with a GMV of US$9 billion!

In this episode, we unpack how the 400k stores and 11 million influencers are driving TikTok Shop (and video commerce – contributing to 58% of GMV) in the U.S., featuring insights from our “TikTok Shop in the U.S. 2024” report. 

Tune in as we explore why beauty products dominate video commerce sales (not just in the U.S. but globally), the cultural and logistical hurdles why live commerce thrives in China but struggles in the US, and what TikTok’s uncertain future could mean for the development of live commerce in the US. 

Chapters:

00:05:16: Unpacking TikTok Shop's Revenue Streams

00:10:00: Influencers as The Powerhouse Behind TikTok Sales

00:15:00: The Potential of Live Commerce in the U.S.?

00:17:21:  Beauty as the Top Category of TikTok Shop

00:21:13: TikTok Shop's Potential Impact on U.S. Live Commerce

Featured materials: 

TikTok Shop in the U.S. 2024, Momentum Works

In this episode, we’re joined by Freeman Ding, a pioneer of China’s consumer internet boom who worked in Chinese tech giants like Baidu, and even Dianping during the $9.5B Meituan-Dianping merger. 

Tune in as Freeman dives into why China’s tech ecosystem remains unmatched and Shanghai’s crucial role in the development of consumer tech. He also breaks down the key drivers behind Meituan’s food delivery dominance, and the need for local services platform to balance between low frequency and high frequency use cases.  

Freeman also challenges the buzz around “super apps,” arguing that only WeChat truly fits the label. Finally, we explore the global ambitions of Chinese tech giants — TikTok, SHEIN and Meituan  — can they replicate China’s playbook? Or will regulatory and cultural barriers prevail? 

Chapters:

00:01:14 Life in Shanghai vs. Singapore: 

00:06:49 Why Shanghai breeds consumer tech unicorns

00:13:05 Rise of Meituan, from group-buying wars to food delivery dominance

00:39:44 The “Yelp” of China? 

00:48:46 WeChat is China’s only superapp

00:56:20 Can Meituan/TikTok conquer global markets?

Featured materials: 

E42: Why were 2011~16 golden years of Chinese tech?, The Impulso Podcast

E95:How Meituan overtook FoodPanda in Hong Kong, and what’s next?, The Impulso Podcast

[Case Study] meituan’s business clarity, Momentum Works