JD.com UK Probe Could Hamper Amazon; AWS Faces Nvidia-led AI Race
AMZN•UK ministers face calls to probe Chinese e-tailer JD.com’s Joybuy launch and its €2.2bn bid for Ceconomy, potentially triggering regulatory measures that could hamper Amazon’s UK operations. Meanwhile, Bezos-backed Slate secured 180,000 reservations for its $24,950 EV pickup and investors shift from Microsoft to Nvidia for OpenAI infrastructure, pressuring AWS.
1. Regulatory Pressure on UK E-commerce
Shadow national security figures have urged Parliament to investigate JD.com’s Joybuy arm after its €2.2bn bid for Ceconomy, arguing Chinese state subsidies create unfair competition. Any resulting UK regulatory action could introduce new barriers for Amazon’s online and high-street retail services.
2. Emerging EV Competition and Logistics Implications
Bezos-backed Slate flipped 180,000 EV pickup reservations into paid preorders for its $24,950 two-door model, highlighting strong consumer demand for low-cost electric vehicles. Amazon may need to accelerate its own electric delivery fleet and charging infrastructure investments to maintain logistics efficiency.
3. AI Infrastructure Competition Intensifies
Investor sentiment is moving away from Microsoft toward Nvidia as OpenAI plans $115bn in infrastructure spending through 2029, heavily reliant on Nvidia GPUs. This shift underscores escalating demand for AI-optimized cloud services and may force AWS to secure additional GPU capacity to remain competitive.
