BRICS Report: China

Brand outlets hope weak pound, extra flights from China and easing of visa system will drive sales and fill the tills over the year of the rooster. Chinese shoppers are particularly good news for the UK’s retail sector as they are big spenders, spending an average of £2,174 each during their stay – about three and a half times the average of other visitors.   China’s new auto industry players have had to confront tough questions. Some had to decide between partnering with traditional automakers and focusing on complementary services such as auto-computer software, or taking the far-riskier but potentially more-lucrative road less traveled by building cars on their own. Electronics maker and video-streaming service provider LeEco, for example, decided to design and build its own electric cars from scratch, while e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. chose to partner with traditional automakers.   The humble bicycle is seeing a revival in China as a new generation of startups help tackle urban congestion and pollution with fleets of brightly colored two wheelers. The bike-share concept has attracted huge venture capital as fledgling firms wrestle for market share. Such has been the success of this made-in-China business model, which is using smartphones to reignite the nation's passion for cycling, companies are hatching plans to export the idea worldwide.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.