Growth Dragons Weekly: IShowSpeed Boosts China’s Image, Mixue Soars 113%, BYD Breaks $100B Revenue, Xiaomi Raises $5.5B
What happened in China this week:
IShowSpeed Improving Western Views of China
Alibaba’s Joe Tsai Warns of an AI Infrastructure Bubble
Mixue Soars: Revenue Up 22%, Profits Up 40%, Stock Up 113% in Less Than a Month
Xiaomi Raises $5.5 Billion on Record Share Price to Fuel EV Ambitions
BYD Surpasses Tesla with Record $107 Billion Revenue in 2024
#1 IShowSpeed Improving Western Views of China
We’ve often discussed China’s struggle to manage its global image. But this week, something unexpected happened—IShowSpeed might be helping to change the narrative.
Better known as “Speed,” the popular YouTuber is famous for his over-the-top reactions and high-energy livestreams. Lately, he’s been traveling the world, broadcasting entire days of unfiltered content to his massive global audience. On 24 September 2024, he was in Singapore. Now, he’s in China—and the impact is real.
Speed’s streams from China have shed light on the country’s daily life in a way mainstream Western media rarely does. From bustling street food stalls to quirky marriage markets and everyday city scenes, his content captures the rich cultural nuances and human moments that typically go unnoticed. His livestreams also unintentionally promote domestic brands like Haidilao, and with millions of views within 24 hours, the exposure is massive.
What’s striking is how naturally Speed interacts with locals, and how welcoming they are in return. The fact that many Chinese citizens recognize him—even though YouTube is banned in China—shows how plugged in the country is to global pop culture. His unscripted, often chaotic streams run for hours, offering raw, authentic views of Chinese society that can’t be staged.
A hilarious highlight: on his first day, Speed rode a Xiaomi SU7 Ultra and was visibly shocked that the EV outpaced his Lamborghini Huracán. It was a great showcase not just of local innovation, but how Western perceptions of Chinese tech might be in for a surprise.
Speed plans to visit multiple cities across China, Mongolia, and Hong Kong. As the Chinese Embassy in the U.S. noted in a recent X post, his visit could spark more Western influencers to follow, helping to bridge cultural gaps. This kind of organic, influencer-driven exposure is exactly what China needs—a bottom-up, relatable way to connect with global audiences.
If this continues, it could lead to greater cultural acceptance and benefit Chinese businesses in the long run. It’s a rare win for soft power in a time of geopolitical tension.
