Volkswagen and Xpeng have announced plans to collaborate on a vast super-fast electric vehicle (EV) charging network in China, marking a significant step in their partnership. The two companies signed a memorandum of understanding to share access to their respective charging networks, creating over 20,000 charging points across 420 cities in China.

The partnership, which aims to make EV charging more accessible, also includes plans for co-branded super-fast charging stations. Olaf Korzinovski, executive vice president of Volkswagen Group China, highlighted the ambition:
“Through our strategic collaboration with Xpeng, we will form one of the largest Super Fast Charging Networks in China, enabling seamless e-mobility not only in major cities but also in remote areas.”

The announcement sent Xpeng’s Hong Kong-listed shares up 3.4% by market close on Monday, while Volkswagen shares rose 2% in early European trading.

The charging infrastructure is a critical aspect of EV adoption, allowing drivers to recharge their vehicles conveniently and drive longer distances. The partnership is expected to rival Tesla’s growing Supercharger network in China, adding competition to the rapidly expanding EV market.

Volkswagen has been intensifying its focus on the Chinese EV market. In 2023, the German automaker invested $700 million in Xpeng, acquiring a 4.99% stake in the company. By 2030, Volkswagen plans to introduce at least 30 fully electric models in China across its various brands.
In addition to the charging network, Volkswagen and Xpeng are working together on two electric car models, slated for delivery in China by 2026.

Google’s 2024 began with a high note when its April earnings report triggered the largest rally in Alphabet shares since 2015, propelling the company’s market capitalization past $2 trillion for the first time. The results signaled to Wall Street that Google was holding its ground in the competitive AI space.

However, inside the company, a different narrative unfolded. During an all-hands meeting following the earnings announcement, a top-rated employee comment highlighted concerns about morale, trust, and cohesion within Google’s workforce. “We’ve noticed a significant decline in morale, increased distrust, and a disconnect between leadership and the workforce,” the comment read. Another highly ranked question pointed to dissatisfaction with compensation, despite the company’s stellar performance.

These sentiments reflected broader challenges for CEO Sundar Pichai, who faced growing scrutiny from employees amid product missteps, layoffs, and questions about his vision for the company.

Despite internal tensions, Pichai guided Google through a year of solid financial growth. The company saw strong revenue in key segments, including search advertising and cloud services. It also advanced its AI strategy, overcoming early product setbacks that included some high-profile embarrassments. By the end of 2024, Google’s stock had risen over 40%, outperforming the S&P 500 but lagging behind competitors like Meta and Amazon.

Internal shake-ups, including layoffs and reorganizations, further fueled unease among employees. Conversations with staff, recordings, and internal correspondence revealed a vocal workforce questioning the company’s direction and expressing concerns about leadership’s ability to maintain Google’s culture of innovation and trust.

As Google continues to evolve in the face of intense market competition and workforce expectations, Pichai remains at the center of navigating the delicate balance between meeting financial goals and addressing employee concerns.

The U.K. has officially enacted its landmark Online Safety Act, ushering in stringent regulations to combat harmful content online and hold tech giants like Meta, Google, and TikTok accountable. The new rules, effective Monday, aim to tackle illegal content, including terrorism, hate speech, fraud, and child sexual abuse, with oversight by the British media and telecommunications regulator, Ofcom.

Ofcom has issued its initial codes of practice and guidance, detailing the steps platforms must take to comply with the law. The act imposes “duties of care” on tech firms, requiring them to prevent harmful content from spreading on their platforms. Companies have until March 16, 2025, to complete risk assessments of illegal harms and implement measures such as enhanced moderation tools, easier reporting systems, and in-built safety features.

Ofcom Chief Executive Melanie Dawes emphasized the regulator’s commitment to enforcing the new standards. “We’ll be watching the industry closely to ensure firms match up to the strict safety standards set for them under our first codes and guidance, with further requirements to follow swiftly in the first half of next year,” she said in a statement.

The Online Safety Act, which passed in October 2023, includes severe penalties for non-compliance. Ofcom can impose fines of up to 10% of a company’s global annual revenue. For repeated violations, senior managers may face imprisonment, and the regulator has the authority to block access to services in the U.K. or restrict platforms’ payment and advertising capabilities.