Chinese tech company Huawei has formally launched a new mobile operating system HarmonyOS Next, its self-developed operating system built independent of Android architecture, drawing wide attention of electronic enthusiasts
The company stressed how its fifth-generation HarmonyOS, for mobile, computer and smart wearables, is truly independent from its competitors in Android and iOS, which has impressed many early movers.
"I believe it has become more energy-efficient, and the smoothness of using WeChat has improved as well," said Gai Xiangbin, one of the early users of the HarmonyOS Next.
"The system is extremely smooth and fluid, with seamless switching between different apps and no sluggishness," another said.
Huawei says the previous version of its HarmonyOS ranks the second in the Chinese market, with 6.7 million registered developers and over 1 billion ecological devices.
According to global research firm Counterpoint, HarmonyOS made up 17 percent of China's smartphone market in the first quarter of 2024, surpassing iOS's 16 percent and becoming the second-largest operating system in China after Android's 67 percent.
With Android and iOS being already well-established operating systems, challenges remain for Huawei's self-developed platform to compete with its counterparts.
"There aren't many apps available on HarmonyOS Next yet, so I won't switch to it right away. Therefore I might continue using my current operating system, the older version of HarmonyOS or iOS as for now," said Shenzhen resident Li Siquan.
"New options, very good," said a non-Chinese resident of Shenzhen.
"[The brand Huawei] represents the scientific and technological strength of China. Second, it is a kind of patriotism. We, as Chinese people, must support Chinese products," another resident named Ye Qingguo said.
Meanwhile, an expert explained the reason why Huawei develops its own operating system.
"As a leading enterprise in scientific and technological innovation in China, Huawei shoulders the responsibility of providing a public operating system for Chinese manufacturing and addressing the technical bottlenecks that arise in the current great power competition. I believe this is also a responsibility for a major enterprise," said Cao Zhongxiong, assistant president of the China Development Institute and the director of the Digital Strategy and Economic Research Center.
Cao believes that Huawei's self-developed operating system will have a substantial impact on China's manufacturing industry in the future, potentially becoming the foundational infrastructure for both China's and the world's digital economy.
Huawei's Android-free OS draws wide public attention
A 25 percent import tariff on all foreign-built vehicles entering the United States has raised serious concerns for manufacturers in South Africa.
Automotive giants like Mercedes and BMW have long used South Africa as a base for global exports -- but those plans may be shifting into reverse gear after the U.S. announced the punitive measures.
"If you take, for example, BMW, 97 percent of the X3 that we are producing in Rosslyn is exported out of the country. We only sell 3 percent in South Africa, and there's a huge number of those vehicles that also go into the U.S. So there are companies in South Africa that are purely here not because they are selling vehicles in South Africa; they are here to produce vehicles for the global market, and it's important for them to remain globally competitive," said Mike Mabasa, CEO of the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa.
U.S. automaker Ford, which has deep roots in South Africa, is also in the crosshairs.
The company recently invested over 300 million U.S. dollars to upgrade its Silverton plant in Pretoria, South Africa, for the production of the world's only plug-in hybrid Ranger, which has just entered production but could face delays or restrictions.
"If an American citizen wants to buy specifically a Ford Ranger that is a plug-in hybrid, they can only place an order in South Africa, nowhere else in the world. So, that means, obviously, the capacity of Ford to be able to produce those vehicles in big volumes is going to be constrained, because Americans are going be looking at another Ford that is produced in another country, or even in the United States," said Mabasa.
South Africa has long enjoyed duty-free automotive exports to the U.S. under the African Growth and Opportunity Act, but that relationship now hangs in the balance.
A sharp shift in U.S. foreign policy threatens to derail an industry that employs thousands and contributes around 5 percent to the country's economy.
"We produce less than 1 percent of global automotive vehicles, so to say. So, in reality, the impact on us is likely to be more disproportionate than those of our peers that produce at the same level. And the risk is actually created -- a concentration risk -- in countries that have greater capacity and are building more; in those countries will be able to absorb some of this," said Parks Tau, South Africa's minister of trade and industry.
Amid growing concerns about overreliance on the U.S. market, Amith Singh, national manager for manufacturing at Nedbank Commercial Bank, emphasized the importance of tapping into regional trade opportunities.
"I think we need to make better use of some of our local agreements, our African continental agreements. How do we leverage that? How do we partner with the government and private sector to start benefiting the countries and the economies aside from the United States? So, those could be the catalyst to drive our localization projects; it could be what we need to drive the African economy as opposed to being completely reliant on the States (United States)," he said.
South Africa is for now standing firm in its decision not to retaliate against steep U.S. import tariffs, set to take effect in just a few days.
Officials in Pretoria acknowledge the challenges posed by the current U.S. administration but are pursuing a diplomatic approach in hopes of maintaining stable relations and preserving the African Growth and Opportunity Act.
US tariffs rock South Africa’s auto industry
