China's state iron ore buyer reaches new supply deal with Rio Tinto - Reuters

Tesla has reached an agreement with Chinese fintech company Ant Group's Alipay to incorporate Alipay's digital payment software into its vehicles sold in China. This move comes as Tesla seeks to enhance its smart features amid fierce competition in the Chinese electric vehicle market. The partnership, announced on Tuesday, will introduce an Alipay-powered smart parking service across Tesla's Chinese fleet, allowing drivers to pay parking fees directly through in-car touchscreens.

The feature is set to roll out through a future software update, with further "in-car lifestyle scenarios" currently under development. Alipay, an affiliate of Alibaba Group Holding, aims to strengthen its presence in the automotive sector with this collaboration. Launched in 2024, Alipay's smart assistant connects its extensive service ecosystem with driving scenarios, enabling users to access various features via voice commands.

The assistant has been integrated into over 66 models from 16 car manufacturers, including BYD, Xpeng, Nio, Geely, and Dongfeng Motor, reaching more than 10 million vehicles. For Tesla, this partnership is crucial as it navigates an intense EV price war in China, which has led to price cuts on its vehicles in Shanghai and delays in obtaining regulatory approval for its Full Self-Driving system.