Today’s Pickup: Asia’s richest man looks to stand up to Amazon’s might in India

UPS expects to ship 1.9 million gifts and other items back to U.S. retailers Jan. 2 as e-commerce fuels an anticipated 26% year-over-year volume surge on “National Returns Day.”

Quotable

“Subdued business confidence was a major factor behind the economic slowdown this year. As the phase one trade deal between China and the U.S. has sent out positive signals, there is room for a recovery in business confidence, which should be able to help stabilize the economy.”

— Zhong Zhengsheng, director of macroeconomic analysis and financial research firm CEBM Group, while commenting on China’s economic slowdown in 2019.

In other news

Shipping fuel regulation to cut sulfur levels go into force

New rules introduced by the International Maritime Organization are expected to reduce certain forms of air pollution. (The Guardian)

Automakers face tough new standards in EU

The long-awaited vehicle emission rules hit light-duty vehicle makers working in EU member countries on Jan. 1. (Oilprice)

Oil starts 2020 higher on trade optimism, Mideast tensions

Oil prices rose to begin the new year buoyed by signs of improving trade relations between the United States and China that eased demand concerns and rising tensions in the Middle East. (CNBC)

South Korean exports top forecasts as China demand, chip prices recover

South Korean exports fell in December year-on-year, but the drop was less than what was expected. (Reuters)

Jumia, DHL and Alibaba will face off in African e-commerce 2.0

Africa’s e-commerce consumer spending is expected to top $2 billion by 2025. (TechCrunch)

Final thoughts

Bosch has developed a commercially viable LiDAR sensor for vehicles, with the company stating that its unit price will be brought down when produced at scale. LiDAR is a key component for the development of a self-driving vehicle, with nearly all major companies in the autonomous vehicle race opting for LiDAR, except Tesla, which bets on camera vision technology. 

The laser-based LiDAR will put together a high-resolution, real-time 3D map of the driving environment, which will be used by the vehicle to identify its surroundings and react accordingly. The LiDAR is expected to work in tandem with radar and cameras that will help the vehicle navigate through every possible driving condition. 

Hammer down, everyone!