Amazon has unveiled a new budget-friendly outlet called Haul, aiming to capture the market share of low-cost retailers such as Temu and Shein. Announced on Wednesday, Haul is a mobile-only shopping experience within Amazon’s Shopping app, exclusively available to US customers.

The standout feature of Haul is its price cap, with all products available for $20 (approximately £15.79) or less. The platform promises “crazy low prices” for goods that may take up to two weeks for delivery—a strategy mirroring the business models that have driven the rapid growth of its Chinese rivals.

Temu and Shein have seen explosive growth in recent years by offering inexpensive items with extended shipping times. However, they have also faced scrutiny for their environmental impact and alleged exploitation of import loopholes. “Temu and Shein have faced backlash both for taking advantage of import loopholes and for being wasteful and environmentally irresponsible,” said Sucharita Kodali, a retail analyst at Forrester. Kodali noted that Amazon Haul could face similar challenges.

Despite these potential pitfalls, Amazon is focusing on low-cost offerings with products priced significantly below the $20 cap. The company cited examples such as a three-piece razor set and a necklace, bracelet, and earring set, each priced at under $3. To further attract shoppers, Amazon is offering free shipping on orders over $25, with expected delivery times between one and two weeks.

“Finding great products at very low prices is important to customers, and we continue to explore ways that we can work with our selling partners so they can offer products at ultra-low prices,” said Dharmesh Mehta, Amazon’s vice president of worldwide selling partner services. Mehta emphasized that the Haul shopping experience is still in its “beta” phase, with plans to refine and expand the platform based on user feedback.

Haul also promises that all listed products will be backed by Amazon’s product guarantees, ensuring consumer confidence in product safety. The move comes as global regulators increasingly monitor platforms that push mass-produced goods at exceptionally low prices. For instance, the European Commission initiated action against Temu in October over concerns about illegal product sales.

“It’s still early days,” Mehta stated, adding that Amazon will assess customer feedback to adapt and improve the service in the coming months.

With Haul, Amazon is making its most significant foray yet into the competitive market for ultra-affordable, slower-shipping products—a market that has upended conventional retail practices and attracted millions of budget-conscious shoppers worldwide.

Tesla’s stock surged over 10% in Friday afternoon trading, propelling the electric vehicle giant’s market capitalization past the $1 trillion mark. This significant gain followed a week where Tesla shares jumped by approximately 27%, spurred by Donald Trump’s victory in the U.S. presidential election and investor optimism about how his administration might benefit Tesla. CEO Elon Musk has been a prominent Trump supporter, contributing at least $130 million to pro-Trump campaign efforts.

Tesla’s market capitalization stood at $807.1 billion at Tuesday’s close before this week’s rally. With the latest surge, the company’s stock has increased about 29% for the year. Tesla now rejoins a select group of tech powerhouses worth over $1 trillion, including Nvidia, Apple, Microsoft, Alphabet, Amazon, and Meta, with most of these companies exceeding $2 trillion in value. Tesla initially crossed the $1 trillion threshold in October 2021.

Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives noted that Trump’s potential administration could reduce regulatory pressures on Tesla and other firms. “Tesla has the scale and scope that is unmatched in the EV industry,” Ives wrote in a client note, suggesting that a shift away from EV subsidies combined with increased tariffs on Chinese EV competitors like BYD and Nio could give Tesla a stronger foothold in the U.S. market.

Seven French families are suing TikTok, accusing the popular social media platform of exposing their children to harmful content that contributed to severe consequences, including two teenagers taking their own lives. The case, filed in the Créteil judicial court, claims TikTok’s algorithm promoted content related to self-harm, eating disorders, and suicide, according to Laure Boutron-Marmion, the families’ lawyer.

Boutron-Marmion described the lawsuit as the first of its kind in Europe and stated that the families aim to hold TikTok legally accountable for the content their platform failed to moderate. “This is a commercial company offering a product to consumers who are, in addition, minors. They must, therefore, answer for the product’s shortcomings,” she explained to French media.

One of the tragic cases involves Marie, a 15-year-old who took her own life in 2021. Her mother has argued that TikTok’s exposure to dangerous video content was a significant factor leading to Marie’s death. The ongoing criminal complaint filed last year by Marie’s parents remains separate from the current group lawsuit.

Another teenager involved in the case also died by suicide. Four of the remaining five young women reportedly attempted suicide, with at least one developing an eating disorder after engaging with content on the platform.

TikTok has responded, stating that it has not received any notifications of legal proceedings related to these allegations. The company emphasized its community guidelines, which prohibit content promoting self-harm or suicide, and highlighted its use of technology and human moderators to enforce these standards.

Despite TikTok’s claims of rigorous safety measures, the social media giant has faced increasing scrutiny for its content moderation practices, echoing concerns raised about the impact of social networks on vulnerable youth.