Yueyue Global (2021.09.13)
China, Japan and the United States compete in MaaS technology
Nikkei reported on the 13th that the core new generation service "MaaS" (Mobility-as-a-service, Mobility- as-a-Service) is being widely used in Japan, China and the United States.
MaaS makes travel more convenient by using big data about transportation and users. Individual technologies and services, such as car-sharing and taxi-hailing services, and commercial vehicle operation management, have become popular, and they have now entered the stage where these vehicles need to be integrated.
(Screenshot source: Nihon Keizai Shimbun)
It is China that has set off an upsurge in the development of related technologies. The number of patent applications from 2014 to 2018 in six regions including Japan, the United States, and Europe was 9,643, and 3,283 of which accounted for more than 30% were applications from China. The second place is Japan’s 2,173 cases, and the third place is the United States’ 2,132 cases.
From the perspective of China, in addition to vehicle-related services, vehicle arrangements, and payments, there are also more patent applications for technologies that use big data to collect user travel records. For example, more than 6 of the number of applications for MaaS technology related to buses (1529) were from China. In China, for example, while monitoring the operation interval of buses, it will adjust to a certain interval based on congestion and other conditions. Operation management that combines vehicles and big data has been promoted.
According to patent applicants, Toyota has 647, the largest number, followed by Didi (436), Ford Motor (290) and Uber (289). In order to realize the automobile-based MaaS, Toyota has developed a "Level 4" self-driving pure electric vehicle that realizes auto-driving under certain conditions. It is envisaged to be used for multiple purposes such as shared cars and mobile shops.
It is the United States that has the same number of applications as Japan. Uber, ranked 4th overall as an applicant, in addition to taxis and other online car-hailing services,It also provides services outside of travel such as "Uber Eats" and other food and beverage delivery, and transporting patients to and from the hospital.
The global MaaS market is expected to continue to expand. According to statistics from Indian research firm Mordor Intelligence, the market size in 2020 is US$12 billion. According to the company's forecast, the average annual growth rate will exceed 30%, and by 2026 it will increase to five times the $60 billion in 2020.
Rolls-Royce sells shares of the tanker subsidiary AirTanker for US$261 million The price of GBP (261 million US dollars) sold its 23.1% stake in AirTanker Holdings, which owns 14 A330 tankers.
This aero engine manufacturer hopes to sell assets worth 2 billion pounds to help repair its balance sheet after the epidemic.
Rolls-Royce said that after the planned sale to Equtix Investment Management Co., Ltd., the company will continue to hold a 23.5% stake in AirTanker Services, which operates 14 refueling and transport aircraft mainly used by the British Ministry of Defense .
Air Tanker Holdings is a joint venture of Airbus, Babcock and Thales.
European natural gas prices set another record at over US$720 per thousand cubic meters
Russian Satellite News Agency reported on September 13 that according to transaction data, natural gas prices in the European market set a new record, exceeding US$720 per thousand cubic meters
The October natural gas futures price at the start of trading on September 13 was 713.1 US dollars per thousand cubic meters, later rose to 728.2 US dollars, and then adjusted to 724.1 US dollars.
The previous record was set on the previous trading day on September 10, when the European natural gas price reached US$710 per thousand cubic meters.
Natural gas refers to all the natural gas in nature,Including gases formed by various natural processes in the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere (including oil field gas, gas field gas, mud volcanic gas, coal bed methane and biogenic gas, etc.).
ITOCHU will carry out the authorization business of cartoon characters in China
Nikkei reported on the 13th that Japan's ITOCHU Corporation will carry out the authorization business of animation and cartoon characters in Asia.
ITOCHU has established a joint venture with authorized companies in Hong Kong. First, we will exclusively promote the popular cartoon character "Moomin" from Northern Europe in mainland China. The market for goods and services using cartoon characters is centered on mainland China, and it is expanding rapidly in Asia. ITOCHU strives to make the licensing revenue of the new company reach about 10 billion yen per year in five years.
The new company will be invested 38.5% by ITOCHU, 38.5% by authorized management company PPW Sports & Entertainment, and 23% by Swedish companies involved in licensing business in Northern Europe and Finnish companies managing Moomin copyrights.
will first strengthen the promotion of Moomin products in mainland China. The authorized business in Mainland China will be transferred to the new company, and Moomin-themed cafes and parks will be opened. It will also promote online promotion, such as selling content to online video companies and video cooperation. The cartoon character Moomin is very popular in Europe and Japan, and business opportunities are also expected to expand in mainland China, focusing on children and women.
The new company will also help Japanese companies expand into the Asian market. ITOCHU specializes in life-related businesses such as clothing and food in Mainland China. It will encourage partners to use cartoon characters, obtain authorization income, and carry out various support activities from commercialization to sales promotion.
In order to increase the visibility of cartoon characters, the new company will also actively use digital marketing. Increase distribution and advertising on short video apps and games.
Daily picture
Picture source: CFP
French glaciologist: The largest glacier in the Pyrenees will disappear in 2050
local time September 5, 2021,French glaciologists measure the height of ice on the Ossau Glacier in the Pyrenees. The Ossau Glacier is the highest and largest glacier in the French Pyrenees. Experts predict that it will disappear around 2050 due to climate change.
(This article is compiled from Nihon Keizai Shimbun, Reuters, and Russian Satellite News Agency)
Economic Observer Network trainee reporter Zhou Yuqing finishing
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