Get Ready for a LOT of Driverless Cars in China
In this episode of Under the Banyan Tree, HSBC economists discuss the rapid rollout of autonomous vehicles in China, highlighting that robotaxi services are already commercially viable and that the country could see half a million driverless taxis on the road by 2030. Guest Yuqian Ding explains that technology is mature, with low disengagement rates, and that China’s cost‑effective supply chain gives it a scaling advantage over the U.S., despite similar technical capabilities. The conversation also covers safety, liability, and the competitive landscape between Chinese firms like Pony and WeRide and U.S. players such as Tesla.
Energy Crisis: A Green Light for Renewables?
The episode examines how the Middle East conflict‑driven energy shock is reshaping Asia’s energy security strategy and accelerating its renewable transition. HSBC analysts Fred Newman and Harold van der Linde discuss Asia’s heavy reliance on imported oil and gas, while...
The Unintended Consequences of Conflict
In this episode, Fred Neumann and Harold van der Linde explore the second‑round effects of the Middle East conflict on Asian economies, highlighting how rising oil and gas prices ripple through raw material costs such as plastics, cement, fertilizers, and...