Vietnamese electric vehicles (EVs) maker VinFast has officially launched its premium electric sport utility vehicles (SUVs) in India. The firm said in a statement on last Saturday that the SUVs include the Sleek, smart VF 6 and Sporty sophisticated VF 7 mark the firm’s first models introduced to India’s rapidly expanding EV market. It said the launch underscores the company’s strong commitment to supporting the nation’s transition toward sustainable, green mobility...

VinFast Auto India, a subsidiary of the Vietnam-based electric vehicle (EV) brand VinFast, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Axis Bank, one of the largest private sector banks in India, to provide auto and inventory financing for its exclusive dealer network. VinFast said in a statement on last Thursday that the partnership aims to offer a seamless suite of credit solutions ahead of the company’s highly anticipated launch. Under the dealer finance tie-up, Axis Bank...

Indonesian investigators on last Thursday named a former education minister and Co-Founder of ride-hailing firm Gojek, Nadiem Makarim, as a suspect in a corruption case about alleged improper laptop procurement and said he had been detained, Reuters reported. An investigator at the attorney general’s office said Makarim would be detained for 20 days while the investigation proceeds. Makarim, who was education minister between 2019 and 2024, was accused of involvement in the...

Vietnamese electric vehicles (EV) maker VinFast has remained in the red despite increased revenue in the second quarter ended June 30, 2025. The firm said in a statement on Thursday that its total revenues were VND 16,609.3 billion ($663 million) in the second quarter of 2025, an increase of 91.6 percent from the second quarter of 2024 and 1.9 percent higher than the first quarter of 2025. The company’s gross loss was VND 6,824.9 billion ($272.4 million), net loss was VND 20,341.6...

Automaker Proton has launched the first assembly plant exclusive for electric vehicle (EV) production in Malaysia at Proton Tanjung Malim, with 20,000 annual capacity. Located within the Automotive High Tech Valley (AHTV) in Tanjong Malim, the plant begins full-scale assembly activities this month, just seven months after its groundbreaking ceremony on February 7, this year, the firm said in a statement on Thursday. Notably, the Proton e.MAS 7, the first Malaysian EV which was launched in...

LineWise (YC X25), the Thai-founded artificial intelligence (AI)-powered virtual engineer for manufacturers, has raised $1.1 million in pre-seed funding from A2D Ventures, Y Combinator, Exitfund, REMUS Capital, SBXi Fund, and Team Ignite Ventures. LineWise said in a statement that the funding will accelerate its aim to eliminate two of the most expensive problems in manufacturing: unplanned downtime and yield loss caused by defects. With this investment, the firm will expand across North...

SC Ventures, the Singapore-based innovation and ventures unit of Standard Chartered, and INSEAD, the business school for the world, have on Tuesday announced the launch of Lexarius, an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered EdTech venture with a bold vision to unlock human potential everywhere by making learning deeply experiential. The duo said in a statement that Lexarius has introduced a breakthrough role-play and coaching platform designed to transform corporate L&D by accelerating...

Malaysia’s automaker Proton said Monday that its electric vehicle (EV) production plant is nearing its completion, with the full-scale production process slated to begin in September. The firm said in a statement that the new plant which located within the high-tech Tanjung Malim compound, will be completed just six months after the groundbreaking ceremony in February. The building is now 90.4 percent complete and equipment installation is at 83.5 percent, with overall progress at...

Taiwan-based Foxconn Technology Co., Ltd (FTC) has invested $30 million in Hong Kong-based robotics firm Robocore Technology Limited to expand into medical, elderly care robotics market. Robocore, a partner of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP), announced in a statement on Tuesday the completion of its Series D funding. FTC, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Q-Run Holdings Limited, has made a strategic investment of up to $30 million in Robocore’s...

StashAway, a Malaysia-based digital wealth management platform, has announced the release of its Shariah global portfolios. StashAway said in a statement on Wednesday that these Shariah-compliant diversified portfolios have delivered back-tested returns of up to 14.4 percent annually over the past five years. These global portfolios address Malaysia’s rapidly growing demand for Shariah- compliant investment solutions while delivering solid risk adjusted performance. The portfolios...

Aalo Atomics, a next-generation nuclear energy company, has closed a $100 million Series B financing round led by Valor Equity Partners. Earth VC said in a statement on Wednesday that the round also saw participation from new and existing investors including Fine Structure Ventures, Hitachi Ventures, Crosscut, NRG Energy, Vamos Ventures, Tishman Speyer, Kindred Ventures, 50Y, Harpoon Ventures, Crescent Enterprises, Alumni Ventures, MCJ, Gaingels, Perpetual VC, Nucleation Capital and Earth...

Stripe, the programmable financial services company, has on Wednesday showcased stablecoin and AI product updates at Stripe Tour Singapore 2025 to accelerate global growth for Asian businesses. The announcements come as new research from Stripe shows that businesses across Asia are expecting to quickly adopt the technologies reshaping the internet economy. Stablecoins and AI are becoming core enablers of cross-border commerce across the region, according to a statement. Asian businesses are...