Technology

Nikola Corporation Reports Third Quarter 2024 Results

Published

2 years ago

October 31, 2024

Record 88 wholesale deliveries of hydrogen fuel cell electric trucks in Q3, up 22% quarter over quarterFCEV Fleet adoption up 78% year-to-date, with 16 end fleets deploying Nikola FCEVs, 32 distinct end fleets across both powertrainsExpanded dealer network for the first time since launch of the FCEVReiterating our year-end volume guidance of 300-350 FCEVs

PHOENIX, Oct. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Nikola Corporation (Nasdaq: NKLA), a global leader in zero-emissions transportation and energy supply and infrastructure solutions, via the HYLA brand, today reported financial results and business updates for the quarter ended September 30, 2024.

“Year-to-date, we had record sales of hydrogen fuel cell electric trucks, a 78% increase in FCEV fleet adoption, and a nearly 350% increase in hydrogen fuel dispensed at our commercial stations,” said Steve Girsky, President and CEO of Nikola. “We also returned 78 BEV “2.0s” back to end fleets and dealers. With every truck delivered and fueled at our HYLA stations, we continue to deliver proof points to the market that zero-emission trucks are driving the future of Class 8 mobility.”

Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Truck
We delivered record sales of 88 FCEVs to our dealer network, up 22% from last quarter. On the retail front, we continued to see strong organic growth from existing end fleets. National fleet partners such as Kenan Advantage Group and DHL Supply Chain recently announced deployment of Nikola FCEVs and noted the important role we play in not only helping them meet their sustainability goals, but those of their end customers, which includes Nestlé and Diageo.

We expanded our dealer network for the first time since the launch of our FCEV with the addition of GTS Group, in Southern California. GTS, a successful traditional truck dealership, recently introduced a new division, created for the sales and service of Nikola trucks called “Next Generation Truck” or NGT. This additional dealer brings the number of Nikola sales and service locations up to nineteen across the U.S.

We reiterate FCEV volume guidance of 300-350 trucks by year-end.

HYLA Energy
We expect to deliver 10 HYLA fueling solutions by year-end. We are focusing our strategy on providing more support at existing stations to better serve our customers as we scale. Operationally, over the lifetime of the entire HYLA network, we have recorded more than 5900 fueling events, dispensing more than 210 metric tons of hydrogen, for an average of 36kg per fill. The year-to-date ramp-up in mobile hydrogen refueling stations has been very strong. Since we began measuring commercial fueling operations in Q1, total hydrogen dispensing has grown nearly 350% year-to-date.

Battery-Electric Truck
We are excited that the BEV “2.0” is back on the road, hauling freight, and validating its use case. Since putting the BEV 2.0 back into service, 19 end fleets have accumulated more than 715K in-service road miles. The BEV 2.0 has been the truck of choice for our end fleets not only for its performance but also to meet the sustainability goals of end fleet partners. Program-to-date, we’ve returned 78 BEVs back to the market to overwhelmingly positive feedback.

Third Quarter Operational and Financial Highlights

Three Months Ended
September 30,

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

(In thousands, except share and per share data)

2024

2023

2024

2023

Trucks produced

N/A

203

Trucks shipped

203

Total revenues

$ 25,181

$ (1,732)

$ 63,997

$ 24,307

Gross profit (loss)

$ (61,943)

$ (125,503)

$ (174,244)

$ (175,831)

Gross margin

(246) %

7246 %

(272) %

(723) %

Loss from operations

$ (178,791)

$ (226,167)

$ (455,278)

$ (521,993)

Net loss from continuing operations

$ (199,781)

$ (425,764)

$ (481,177)

$ (711,025)

Net loss on discontinued operations

$ —

$ (101,661)

Net loss

$ (199,781)

$ (425,764)

$ (481,177)

$ (812,686)

Adjusted EBITDA (1)

$ (123,610)

$ (188,563)

$ (337,037)

$ (417,318)

Net loss from continuing operations per share, basic and diluted

$ (3.89)

$ (14.90)

$ (10.12)

$ (30.20)

Net loss from discontinued operations

$ —

$ (4.32)

Non-GAAP net loss per share, basic and diluted(1)

$ (2.75)

$ (9.04)

$ (8.05)

$ (21.97)

Weighted-average shares outstanding, basic and diluted

51,388,962

28,573,800

47,553,460

23,544,174

(1) A reconciliation of the non-GAAP versus GAAP information is provided below in the financial statement tables in this press release.

Webcast and Conference Call Information
Nikola will host a webcast to discuss its third quarter results and business progress at 7:30 a.m. Pacific Time (10:30 a.m. Eastern Time) on October 31, 2024. To access the webcast, parties in the United States should follow this link.

The live audio webcast, along with supplemental information, will be accessible on the Company’s Investor Relations website here. A recording of the webcast will also be available following the earnings call.

About Nikola Corporation
Nikola Corporation’s mission is clear: pioneering solutions for a zero-emissions world. As an integrated truck and energy company, Nikola is transforming commercial transportation, with our Class 8 vehicles, including battery-electric and hydrogen fuel cell electric trucks, and our energy brand, HYLA, driving the advancement of the complete hydrogen refueling ecosystem, covering supply, distribution and dispensing.

Nikola headquarters is based in Phoenix, Ariz. with a manufacturing facility in Coolidge, Ariz.

Experience our journey to achieve your sustainability goals at nikolamotor.com or engage with us on social media via Facebook @nikolamotorcompany, Instagram @nikolamotorcompany, YouTube @nikolamotorcompany, LinkedIn @nikolamotorcompany or X / Twitter @nikolamotor

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws with respect to Nikola Corporation (the “Company”), including statements relating to: the Company’s belief that the third quarter is an example of how it is executing its strategic and operational objectives by strengthening its resolve to push forward, meet the demands of end fleets, and lay a path for a sustainable future; the Company’s belief that zero-emission trucks are driving the future of Class 8 mobility; the Company’s beliefs regarding its role in helping to meet sustainability goals; the Company’s future financial and business performance, truck sale guidance, business plan, strategy, focus, opportunities and milestones; the benefits and momentum in the Company’s profitability flywheel; customer demand for trucks; the Company’s beliefs regarding its competition and competitive position; the Company’s business outlook; the Company’s expectations regarding hydrogen refueling solutions and timelines; expectations related to the battery-electric truck recall; and the Company’s beliefs regarding the benefits and attributes of its trucks, and customer experience. These forward-looking statements other than statements of historical fact, and generally are identified by words such as “believe,” “project,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “strategy,” “future,” “opportunity,” “plan,” “may,” “should,” “will,” “would,” and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections, and other statements about future events based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this press release, including but not limited to: the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern; the Company’s cash needs and obligations, and changes in its cash needs and obligations; the Company’s its ability to raise sufficient capital to continue to operate its business; the Company’s ability to achieve cost reductions and decrease its cash usage; the ability of the Company to successfully execute its business plan; design and manufacturing changes and delays, including shortages of parts and materials and other supply challenges; the continued availability of hydrogen refueling solutions; general economic, financial, legal, regulatory, political and business conditions and changes in domestic and foreign markets; demand for and customer acceptance of the Company’s trucks and hydrogen refueling solutions; the results of customer pilot testing; the execution and terms of definitive agreements with strategic partners and customers; the failure to convert LOIs or MOUs into binding orders; the cancellation of orders; risks associated with development and testing of fuel cell power modules and hydrogen storage systems; risks related to the recall, including higher than expected costs, the discovery of additional problems, delays retrofitting the trucks and delivering such trucks to customers, supply chain and other issues that may create additional delays, order cancellations as a result of the recall, litigation, complaints and/or product liability claims, and reputational harm; risks related to the rollout of the Company’s business and milestones and the timing of expected business milestones; the effects of competition on the Company’s business; the Company’s capital needs ability to raise capital; the Company’s ability to achieve cost reductions and decrease its cash usage; the grant, receipt and continued availability of federal and state incentives; and the factors, risks and uncertainties regarding the Company’s business described in the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, for the quarter ended June 30, 2024 filed with the SEC, in addition to the Company’s subsequent filings with the SEC. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause the Company’s actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and, except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation and does not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
This press release references Adjusted EBITDA and non-GAAP net loss per share, basic and diluted, all of which are non-GAAP financial measures and are presented as supplemental measures of the Company’s performance. The Company defines Adjusted EBITDA as earnings before interest expense, taxes, depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation expense, and certain other items determined by the Company. Non-GAAP net loss is defined as net loss adjusted for stock-based compensation expense and certain other items determined by the Company. Non-GAAP net loss per share, basic and diluted is defined as non-GAAP net loss divided by weighted average basic and diluted shares outstanding. These non-GAAP measures are not substitutes for or superior to measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (GAAP) and should not be considered as an alternative to any other performance measures derived in accordance with GAAP.

The Company believes that presenting these non-GAAP measures provides useful supplemental information to investors about the Company in understanding and evaluating its operating results, enhancing the overall understanding of its past performance and future prospects, and allowing for greater transparency with respect to key financial metrics used by its management in financial and operational-decision making. However, there are a number of limitations related to the use of non-GAAP measures and their nearest GAAP equivalents. For example, other companies may calculate non-GAAP measures differently or may use other measures to calculate their financial performance, and therefore any non-GAAP measures the Company uses may not be directly comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(In thousands, except share and per share data)

(Unaudited)

Three Months Ended
September 30,

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

2024

2023

2024

2023

Revenues:

Truck sales

$ 24,847

$ (2,368)

$ 61,008

$ 19,693

Service and other

334

636

2,989

4,614

Total revenues

25,181

(1,732)

63,997

24,307

Cost of revenues:

Truck sales

82,205

122,679

222,946

195,902

Service and other

4,919

1,092

15,295

4,236

Total cost of revenues

87,124

123,771

238,241

200,138

Gross loss

(61,943)

(125,503)

(174,244)

(175,831)

Operating expenses:

Research and development (1)

41,800

41,966

121,458

168,286

Selling, general, and administrative (1)

41,629

57,982

126,157

159,443

Impairment expense

33,419

—

33,419

—

Loss on supplier deposits

—

716

—

18,433

Total operating expenses

116,848

100,664

281,034

346,162

Loss from operations

(178,791)

(226,167)

(455,278)

(521,993)

Other income (expense):

Interest expense, net

(10,875)

(52,680)

(17,094)

(71,262)

Gain on divestiture of affiliate

—

70,849

Loss on debt extinguishment

(871)

—

(3,184)

(20,362)

Other income (expense), net

(9,417)

(146,654)

(4,664)

(151,969)

Loss before income taxes and equity in net profit (loss) of affiliates

(199,954)

(425,501)

(480,220)

(694,737)

Income tax expense

—

Loss before equity in net profit (loss) of affiliates

(199,954)

(425,502)

(480,312)

(694,738)

Equity in net profit (loss) of affiliates

173

(262)

(865)

(16,287)

Net loss from continuing operations

(199,781)

(425,764)

(481,177)

(711,025)

Discontinued operations:

Loss from discontinued operations

—

(76,726)

Loss from deconsolidation of discontinued operations

—

(24,935)

Net loss from discontinued operations

—

(101,661)

Net loss

$ (199,781)

$ (425,764)

$ (481,177)

$ (812,686)

Basic and diluted net loss per share (2):

Net loss from continuing operations

$ (3.89)

$ (14.90)

$ (10.12)

$ (30.20)

Net loss from discontinued operations

$ —

$ (4.32)

Net loss

$ (3.89)

$ (14.90)

$ (10.12)

$ (34.52)

Weighted-average shares outstanding, basic and diluted (2)

51,388,962

28,573,800

47,553,460

23,544,174

(1) Includes stock-based compensation as follows:

Three Months Ended September 30,

Nine Months Ended September 30,

2024

2023

2024

2023

Cost of revenues

$ 434

$ 414

$ 1,114

$ 1,813

Research and development

2,473

3,383

7,825

19,043

Selling, general, and administrative

5,694

14,862

16,398

48,060

Total stock-based compensation expense

$ 8,601

$ 18,659

$ 25,337

$ 68,916

(2) Shares issued and outstanding have been adjusted to reflect the one-for-thirty (1-for-30) reverse stock split that became effective on June 24, 2024.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands, except share and per share data)

(Unaudited)

September 30,

December 31,

2024

2023

Assets

Current assets

Cash and cash equivalents

$ 198,301

$ 464,715

Restricted cash and cash equivalents

3,374

1,224

Accounts receivable, net

51,773

17,974

Inventory

76,076

62,588

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

61,996

25,911

Total current assets

391,520

572,412

Restricted cash and cash equivalents

16,086

28,026

Long-term deposits

17,256

14,954

Property, plant and equipment, net

490,244

503,416

Intangible assets, net

52,130

85,860

Investment in affiliate

56,197

57,062

Goodwill

—

5,238

Other assets

12,610

7,889

Total assets

$ 1,036,043

$ 1,274,857

Liabilities and stockholders’ equity

Current liabilities

Accounts payable

$ 57,161

$ 44,133

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

205,508

207,022

Debt and finance lease liabilities, current

73,111

8,950

Total current liabilities

335,780

260,105

Long-term debt and finance lease liabilities, net of current portion

270,018

269,279

Operating lease liabilities

6,806

4,765

Other long-term liabilities

44,193

21,534

Total liabilities

656,797

555,683

Commitments and contingencies

Stockholders’ equity

Preferred stock

—

Common stock

Additional paid-in capital

3,931,702

3,790,401

Accumulated deficit

(3,552,246)

(3,071,069)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

(216)

(162)

Total stockholders’ equity

379,246

719,174

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

$ 1,036,043

$ 1,274,857

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

Nine Months Ended September 30,

2024

2023

Cash flows from operating activities

Net loss

$ (481,177)

$ (812,686)

Less: Loss from discontinued operations

—

(101,661)

Loss from continuing operations

(481,177)

(711,025)

Adjustments to reconcile net loss from continuing operations to net cash used in operating activities:

Depreciation and amortization

33,408

28,758

Stock-based compensation

25,337

68,916

Equity in net loss of affiliates

865

16,287

Revaluation of financial instruments

6,284

195,132

Revaluation of contingent stock consideration

—

(43,981)

Inventory write-downs

56,587

64,500

Non-cash interest expense

11,906

72,846

Loss on supplier deposits

—

18,433

Gain on divestiture of affiliate

—

(70,849)

Loss on debt extinguishment

3,184

20,362

Loss on disposal of assets

2,921

—

Impairment expense

33,419

—

Other non-cash activity

5,674

3,888

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

Accounts receivable, net

(33,799)

20,932

Inventory

(71,085)

(9,983)

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

(14,017)

(48,332)

Other assets

(1,595)

(2,384)

Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other current liabilities

(3,478)

(1,672)

Long-term deposits

(262)

(1,377)

Operating lease liabilities

(2,769)

(1,191)

Other long-term liabilities

29,064

2,316

Net cash used in operating activities

(399,533)

(378,424)

Cash flows from investing activities

Purchases and deposits of property, plant and equipment

(43,740)

(108,409)

Proceeds from the sale of assets

21,398

20,742

Divestiture of affiliate

—

35,000

Payments to Assignee

—

(2,725)

Investments in affiliate

—

(250)

Net cash used in investing activities

(22,342)

(55,642)

Cash flows from financing activities

Proceeds from the exercise of stock options

—

7,393

Proceeds from issuance of shares under the Tumim Purchase Agreements

—

67,587

Proceeds from registered direct offering, net of underwriter’s discount

—

63,456

Proceeds from public offering, net of underwriter’s discount

—

32,244

Proceeds from issuance of common stock under Equity Distribution Agreement, net of commissions and other fees paid

73,464

115,027

Proceeds from issuance of convertible notes

80,000

217,075

Proceeds from issuance of financing obligation, net of issuance costs

—

53,548

Proceeds from insurance premium financing

4,598

5,223

Repayment of debt and promissory notes

(522)

(45,287)

Payment for Coupon Make-Whole Premium

(4,579)

—

Payments on insurance premium financing

(3,661)

(3,550)

Payments on finance lease liabilities and financing obligation

(3,549)

(459)

Payments for issuance costs

(80)

—

Net cash provided by financing activities

145,671

512,257

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents, including restricted cash and cash equivalents

(276,204)

78,191

Cash and cash equivalents, including restricted cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

493,965

313,909

Cash and cash equivalents, including restricted cash and cash equivalents, end of period

$ 217,761

$ 392,100

Cash flows from discontinued operations:

Operating activities

$ —

$ (4,964)

Investing activities

—

(1,804)

Financing activities

—

(572)

Net cash used in discontinued operations

$ —

$ (7,340)

Reconciliation of GAAP Financial Metrics to Non-GAAP

(In thousands, except share and per share data)

(Unaudited)

Reconciliation of Net Loss from continuing operations to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA

Three Months Ended September 30,

Nine Months Ended September 30,

2024

2023

2024

2023

(in thousands)

Net loss from continuing operations

$ (199,781)

$ (425,764)

$ (481,177)

$ (711,025)

Interest expense, net

10,875

52,680

17,094

71,262

Income tax expense

—

Depreciation and amortization

11,720

16,996

33,408

28,758

EBITDA

(177,186)

(356,087)

(430,583)

(611,004)

Impairment expense

33,419

—

33,419

—

Stock-based compensation

8,601

18,659

25,337

68,916

Loss on supplier deposits

—

716

—

18,433

Gain on divestiture of affiliate

—

(70,849)

Loss on debt extinguishment

871

—

3,184

20,362

Loss / (gain) on disposal of assets

(237)

—

2,921

—

Equipment purchase cancellation

—

15,613

—

Revaluation of financial instruments

8,431

145,717

6,284

151,151

Regulatory and legal matters (1)

2,491

2,432

6,788

5,673

Adjusted EBITDA

$ (123,610)

$ (188,563)

$ (337,037)

$ (417,318)

(1) Regulatory and legal matters include legal, advisory, and other professional service fees incurred in connection with a short-seller article from September 2020, and investigations and litigation related thereto.

Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Net Loss, and GAAP to Non-GAAP Net Loss per Share, basic and diluted

Three Months Ended September 30,

Nine Months Ended September 30,

2024

2023

2024

2023

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

Net loss from continuing operations

$ (199,781)

$ (425,764)

$ (481,177)

$ (711,025)

Impairment expense

33,419

—

33,419

—

Stock-based compensation

8,601

18,659

25,337

68,916

Debt issuance costs for Senior Convertible Notes

4,890

—

4,890

—

Loss on supplier deposits

—

716

—

18,433

Gain on divestiture of affiliate

—

(70,849)

Loss on debt extinguishment

871

—

3,184

20,362

Revaluation of financial instruments

8,431

145,717

6,284

151,151

Loss / (gain) on disposal of assets

(237)

—

2,921

—

Equipment purchase cancellation

—

15,613

—

Regulatory and legal matters (1)

2,491

2,432

6,788

5,673

Non-GAAP net loss

$ (141,315)

$ (258,240)

$ (382,741)

$ (517,339)

Net loss from continuing operations per share, basic and diluted (2)

$ (3.89)

$ (14.90)

$ (10.12)

$ (30.20)

Non-GAAP net loss per share, basic and diluted

$ (2.75)

$ (9.04)

$ (8.05)

$ (21.97)

Weighted average shares outstanding, basic and diluted (2)

51,388,962

28,573,800

47,553,460

23,544,174

(2) Shares issued and outstanding have been adjusted to reflect the one-for-thirty (1-for-30) reverse stock split that became effective on June 24, 2024.

Reconciliation of Cash flows to Adjusted Free Cash Flow

Three Months Ended September 30,

Nine Months Ended September 30,

2024

2023

2024

2023

(in thousands)

Most comparable GAAP measure:

Net cash used in operating activities

$ (149,377)

$ (91,259)

$ (399,533)

$ (378,424)

Net cash used in investing activities

(13,558)

(115)

(22,342)

(55,642)

Net cash provided by financing activities

98,080

188,119

145,671

512,257

Non-GAAP measure:

Net cash used in operating activities

(149,377)

(91,259)

(399,533)

(378,424)

Purchases of property, plant and equipment

(13,558)

(20,690)

(43,740)

(108,409)

Adjusted free cash flow

$ (162,935)

$ (111,949)

$ (443,273)

$ (486,833)

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SOURCE Nikola Corporation

Technology

76% of Coupon Codes Work at Checkout, but Most Failures Trace Back to Terms Shoppers Never Read, CouponDopa Study Finds

Published

55 minutes ago

July 18, 2026

Study Finds 76% of Coupon Codes Work at Checkout

NEW YORK, July 18, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Multi-country research across 11 regions finds that most coupon code failures were not due to expired codes, but to terms and conditions shoppers did not check before checkout.

Our research shows that most coupon code failures are caused by overlooked terms and conditions not expired codes. Understanding the offer requirements can significantly improve checkout success.” — Anderson Joe, CMO, CouponDopa

A new study testing 1,000 coupon codes across 11 countries found that three in four online discount codes applied successfully at checkout, while the remaining failures were tied more often to unmet terms than to expired or invalid codes.

The research was conducted by CouponDopa, a multi-regional coupon platform operating in 11 countries. Codes were tested across multiple retail categories in July 2026 to measure real checkout success rates.

KEY FINDINGS

Overall success rate: 76%. Overall failure rate: 24%. Highest-performing country: Netherlands, 81%. Lowest-performing countries: Poland and Italy, tied at 70%. Highest-performing category: Electronics. Lowest-performing category: Travel. Desktop success rate: 78%. Mobile success rate: 74%.

The study’s most significant finding was not the failure rate itself, but the reasons behind it.

“The assumption most shoppers make is that a coupon code doesn’t work because it’s expired,” said Anderson Joe, CMO at CouponDopa. “Our testing found that expiry was rarely the primary issue. In most failed attempts, the code was still active, but the shopper’s cart did not meet a listed condition, such as a minimum spend or a region restriction.”

WHY COUPON CODES ACTUALLY FAIL

Minimum spend not met: the most common reason for failure across all 11 regions, since many codes require a basket value above a set threshold.Region-specific restrictions: codes valid in one country frequently failed in another.Unread terms and conditions: codes were applied to excluded categories, sale items, or specific product ranges without checking eligibility first.Delivery and shipping thresholds: free shipping codes requiring a minimum order value were sometimes mistaken for blanket offers.

No exact percentage breakdown of failure causes is available. Minimum spend is confirmed as the single most common cause; the other three were not ranked against each other.

“In our view, a code that fails because of an unmet minimum spend is not necessarily a broken code,” said Anderson. “It may simply be a condition the shopper did not see before checkout.”

REGIONAL FINDINGS — NETHERLANDS LEADS

Country Success Rate

Netherlands 81%

Germany 79%

United States 77%

Canada 77%

United Kingdom 76%

Australia 75%

New Zealand 74%

France 73%

Spain 72%

Poland 70%

Italy 70%

Netherlands recorded the highest success rate of the 11 regions tested. Germany followed closely. The United Kingdom matched the overall study average, and Canada and the United States recorded the same rate. Poland and Italy recorded the lowest rates in the study, tied at 70%.

ELECTRONICS OUTPERFORMS TRAVEL

Electronics recorded the highest coupon code success rate of any category tested, at 80%, while travel recorded the lowest, at 69%.

“Electronics codes in our sample tended to carry fewer conditions,” noted Anderson Joe. “Travel codes more often included conditions tied to dates, destinations, or booking windows, which may explain the difference.”

MOBILE SHOPPERS RECORD LOWER SUCCESS RATES

Desktop checkouts recorded a 78% success rate compared with 74% for mobile, a 4-point gap. Researchers said the difference may relate to how terms are displayed on smaller screens, though this was not directly tested.

“We saw a consistent gap between desktop and mobile across our markets,” said Anderson Joe. “We can’t say precisely why from this data alone, but it’s a pattern worth further study.”

ABOUT THE STUDY

CouponDopa tested 1,000 coupon codes across 11 countries during July 2026, across electronics, fashion, food delivery, travel, beauty, and home categories. Codes were manually tested at real checkouts on desktop and mobile. A code counted as successful only when the discount appeared in the checkout total. Failed codes were categorized by reason. Read the complete methodology available at CouponDopa tested 1000 coupon codes in 11 regions.

ABOUT COUPONDOPA

CouponDopa is a multi-regional coupon and discount platform operating across 11 countries. CouponDopa verifies coupon codes across hundreds of brands before publishing, providing shoppers with discount information across major retail categories, including verified codes available on CouponDopa’s store pages.

MEDIA CONTACT

Organization: Coupondopa

Contact Person Name: Anderson Joe

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Technology

Global Times: Head-of-state diplomacy shines at WAIC, fostering ties and advancing global governance consensus

Published

5 hours ago

July 18, 2026

BEIJING, July 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday held a series of high-level meetings on the sidelines of the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance in Shanghai, sitting down successively with Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, and UN Secretary-General António Guterres. The bustling diplomatic activity transformed the WAIC from a premier showcase of AI technologies and industrial breakthroughs into a vibrant platform for head-of-state diplomacy and global governance coordination.

Analysts said hosting intensive head-of-state diplomatic events in Shanghai, a core hub of reform, opening-up and technological innovation, carries profound meaning. In addition, Friday’s high-level meetings embody the innovative model of “technology builds the stage while diplomacy takes the leading role.” It not only deepens China’s bilateral relations with ASEAN members, but also helps advance inclusive global AI governance centered on the UN mechanism.

Strategic guidance

According to the two separate official releases by Xinhua, during his meetings with the prime ministers of Thailand and Cambodia, President Xi spoke of the long-standing friendship China shares with both nations. He called on China and Thailand, as well as China and Cambodia, to join hands to advance the development of their respective communities with a shared future.

Furthermore, the Chinese leader stressed the need for China to expand pragmatic cooperation with Thailand and Cambodia respectively across traditional and emerging sectors, and work with each country to jointly crack down on cross-border crimes such as online gambling and telecom fraud, according to Xinhua.

He called for the proper handling of border frictions between Thailand and Cambodia and called on the two sides to resolve disputes through dialogue and consultation, with China standing ready to continue playing a constructive role in this regard, per Xinhua.

During their respective meetings with the Chinese leader, the prime ministers of Thailand and Cambodia both expressed willingness to deepen multi-field cooperation with China and spoke highly of China’s positive efforts to facilitate the peaceful settlement of the Thailand-Cambodia border conflicts.

Xu Liping, Director of the Center for Southeast Asian Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times that head-of-state diplomacy has charted the fundamental course for the advancement of China’s ties with both Cambodia and Thailand.

WAIC exemplifies the innovative model of “technology builds the platform, while diplomacy takes the leading role,” said Xu, “In addition, AI cooperation is also expected to serve as a vital entry point to further deepen and substantiate China’s ties with Thailand and Cambodia going forward.”

Furthermore, addressing the sensitive and thorny Thailand-Cambodia border dispute amid the relatively relaxed atmosphere of a tech summit enables all relevant parties to handle differences in a rational and pragmatic manner, which embodies Eastern wisdom and an Asian approach to resolving issues, said Xu.

The year 2026 marks the fifth anniversary of the establishment of the China-ASEAN comprehensive strategic partnership, witnessing the official rollout of the new Plan of Action on the China-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (2026-2030). It also kicks off the implementation of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan.

The critical juncture offers a perfect window to align China’s development plans closely with the national development strategies of Global South countries and ASEAN members, said Xu. “Thailand and Cambodia’s willingness to ramp up cooperation with China mirrors the aspiration of the majority of ASEAN members to leverage China’s development dividends and pursue win-win outcomes and common prosperity in the region.”

Firm support for UN

In his meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday, Xi reiterated China’s firm support for the UN.

Noting that this year marks the 55th anniversary of the restoration of the lawful seat of the People’s Republic of China at the UN, the Chinese leader said China has since been committed to building world peace, contributing to global development, defending international order, and firmly supporting the UN, Xinhua reported.

Xi added that he proposed the vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity and the four global initiatives with one important consideration in mind – to uphold the status and authority of the UN.

Currently, the international landscape is marked by more pronounced changes and turbulence, making it all the more necessary to practice true multilateralism and reinvigorate the status and role of the UN, he said.

Guterres commended China for its steadfast support for multilateralism, the cause of the UN, and international cooperation, saying that China has set an example for the world.

Guterres said the UN will continue to strengthen cooperation with China, oppose unilateralism, protectionism, and hegemonic bullying, safeguard the UN Charter and international law, as well as advance the process toward a multipolar world.

At this pivotal juncture where talks on AI development and UN multilateral governance converge, China, leveraging head-of-state diplomacy as a top-tier platform, has elaborated in a systematic manner its vision for global governance in the AI era, Wang Yiwei, a professor at the School of International Studies, Renmin University of China, told the Global Times.

He added that China’s emphasis on the UN-centered global governance architecture will further strengthen the UN’s authority and operational capacity.

Before the official opening of the WAIC, on Thursday, representatives from 29 countries, including Kazakhstan, Laos, Pakistan, Russia and Indonesia, signed an agreement on establishing the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO) in Shanghai. UN chief Guterres was among representatives from countries and international organizations present at the signing ceremony.

According to the agreement, WAICO will be an independent intergovernmental international organization, which aims to promote international cooperation and global governance on AI, ensuring that AI is beneficial, safe and fair, thereby promoting its healthy and orderly development to benefit all humanity.

President Xi on Friday also announced that in the next five years, China will provide developing countries with 5,000 opportunities in AI training and seminar programs. China will also develop international AI application cooperation centers with the ASEAN, the League of Arab States, the African Union, the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and BRICS.

However, some international media, including Reuters and Nikkei, used the term “AI diplomacy” describing the grand gathering in Shanghai, claiming that Beijing seeks a new global AI order, challenging US dominance.

In rebuttal, Wang pointed out that China advocates open, inclusive technology that lets AI benefit all humanity under the vision of “AI for All”. In contrast, the US adheres to a mindset of “All for AI”, weaponizing AI for geopolitical rivalry and aiming to outpace China in technological competition. Driven by the “America First” doctrine and capital-centric priorities, Washington’s approach forms a sharp contrast with China’s.

Meanwhile, China’s resolute commitment to upholding the UN system underscores that for China and a wide array of Global South countries, the sensible path lies in reforming and improving the existing global governance architecture rather than discarding it to build parallel institutions from scratch, the expert added.

This article first appeared on Global Times

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SOURCE Global Times

Technology

Global Times: China sends fresh signal on global AI cooperation at WAIC

Published

5 hours ago

July 18, 2026

BEIJING, July 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — “AI development should not be a solo performance by a single country, but a symphony of international cooperation,” Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Friday while addressing the opening ceremony of the 2026 World AI Conference (WAIC) and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance, stressing that China is ready to be more open, take more practical actions, and assume a more visionary perspective.

We are ready to work with all parties to seize the opportunities of AI development and meet the challenges, and join hands to create a brighter future for humanity, he added.

Xi’s remarks received positive responses from domestic and foreign enterprises and experts, as they spoke highly of China’s scientific and technological achievements in recent years while noting that China’s commitment to openness and cooperation can help ensure that the benefits of AI are shared by all humanity and Chinese solutions in AI governance enable other countries to better tackle the common challenges brought about by AI development.

Openness and win-win cooperation

Xi presented four observations on AI development and governance in the speech. The Chinese leader called for adhering to the principle of openness and win-win cooperation while boosting innovation-driven development. He highlighted the importance of encouraging open-source, openness, collaboration and sharing to facilitate technological innovation, industrial development and scenario-based application of AI.

He also called for strengthening risk-awareness and ensuring that AI is secure and controllable. Stressing the need to ensure that AI is always under human control, Xi urged all sides to jointly oppose overstretching the national security concept in the field of AI or placing one country’s security over that of others.

Third, he called for encouraging inclusiveness and promoting mutual learning among civilizations.

Fourth, he called for advocating solidarity and improving global governance. The important role of the United Nations should be recognized, Xi said, calling for further alignment and coordination on AI development strategies, governance rules and technical standards.

“We must carry out extensive international cooperation and help Global South countries with capacity building to bridge the AI and digital divides, promote sustainable development and prevent creating new historical injustice in AI,” he said.

In the next five years, China will provide developing countries with 5,000 opportunities in AI training and seminar programs, Xi said. He said China will develop international AI application cooperation centers with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the League of Arab States, the African Union, the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and BRICS. China will enable 30 countries to use the AI-powered meteorological warning system, or MAZU, to safeguard homes around the world.

“President Xi’s remarks underscore China’s commitment to advancing global AI governance and technological innovation through opening-up and win-win cooperation, bringing new opportunities for sharing AI dividends and achieving shared prosperity to countries worldwide, especially developing countries,” Song Yang, professor of School of Economics and research fellow at the National Academy of Development and Strategy at Renmin University of China, told the Global Times on Friday.

China is sending a clear and important message: AI should become a bridge between countries, not a new dividing line, Luigi Gambardella, president of the Brussels-based international digital association ChinaEU, told the Global Times on Friday on the sidelines of the forum.

“No country, however technologically advanced, can develop and govern AI alone. China’s commitment to openness and cooperation can help ensure that the benefits of AI are shared by all humanity. It can help prevent the fragmentation of technologies, standards and markets, while ensuring that the opportunities created by AI are shared more widely,” Gambardella said.

“President Xi proposed ‘adhering to the principle of openness and win-win cooperation’ and ‘advocating solidarity’, and announced a series of pragmatic measures to support global AI development. These remarks have deeply inspired me and further strengthened my confidence in promoting the inclusive development of AI through opening-up and cooperation,” Xu Li, chairman and CEO of Shanghai-based AI software company SenseTime, told the Global Times on Friday.

Looking ahead, SenseTime aims to bring more field-tested technologies, products, and talent cultivation expertise to more countries and regions, and boost “China innovation” to deliver sustained value across a wider spectrum of industrial scenarios, thereby enabling AI to better benefit all of humanity, Xu said.

China actively supports strengthening global cooperation on AI governance, advocates multilateralism, and promotes the establishment of a global governance framework, which has received positive responses from many Global South countries.

Twenty-nine countries on Thursday signed an agreement in Shanghai on establishing the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO). As an independent intergovernmental international organization headquartered in Shanghai, WAICO will uphold the purposes of the UN Charter, be committed to extensive consultation and joint contribution for shared benefit and adhere to a people-centered approach, according to the agreement, per Xinhua.

Global spotlight on WAIC

Since its inception in 2018, the WAIC has successfully convened for eight consecutive editions, becoming an important window for showcasing cutting-edge AI technologies from China and around the world while deepening international opening-up and cooperation.

Themed “AI Partnership for a Brighter Future”, the exhibition area exceeds 100,000 square meters for the first time this year, attracting the participation of over 1,100 enterprises. The exhibitors are showcasing more than 3,000 products and technologies, with over 300 products making their global debuts.

Among the exhibition highlights are Huawei’s latest AI computing super node system Atlas 950, MiniMax M3 multimodal foundation model, and the world’s first agentic AI phone, alongside a range of humanoid robots and AI-powered dexterous hands.

A German BMW representative, who attended WAIC for the first time, expressed enthusiasm about the event, highlighting the humanoid robotics showcased in the exhibition area – technologies he said he has never encountered before.

The representative told the Global Times that his company has adopted Chinese AI-powered large language models such as Qwen and DeepSeek. “The new updated versions of these models emerge weekly, which is very impressive,” the representative said, speaking highly of the cost efficiency of Chinese models.

However, some Western media outlets keep smearing China’s AI advancements and international cooperation. The Economist even claims that China’s open-source AI is a “trap” and that embracing China is “risky.”

Debunking this groundless smearing, Song said that China’s AI development has consistently adhered to the philosophy of a people-centered approach and AI for good, accumulating a wealth of vivid, replicable, and scalable experiences.

At the opening ceremony of the WAIC, the China Meteorological Administration unveiled the MAZU-FengYun Satellite AI Box. The launch marks a new stage in MAZU’s intelligent early-warning initiative, which was unveiled last year, shifting from providing shared meteorological products to delivering AI-enabled forecasting capabilities, according to the administration.

“Over the past year, meteorological and disaster reduction agencies from more than 40 countries have accessed the MAZU early warning technologies and products via cloud platforms. Customized versions of the tool have been deployed in Nigeria, Djibouti, Pakistan, and other nations, earning widespread recognition from users,” You Yang, a staff member with the Shanghai Meteorological Bureau, told the Global Times on Friday.

“From base models to industry-specific applications, China is opening up its low-cost, replicable technological pathways to the world, thereby lowering the threshold for underdeveloped nations to enter the AI era. Meanwhile, China actively helps developing countries address gaps in technology, talent, and governance capabilities to bridge the digital divide in the age of intelligence,” Song said.

According to a March report from Hugging Face, one of the world’s largest AI open-source communities, China has surpassed the US in monthly downloads and overall downloads. In the past year, Chinese models quickly accounted for the plurality or 41 percent of downloads.

“China possesses three unique institutional advantages in promoting AI for good and inclusive development: First, the new system for nationwide mobilization of resources coordinates development and security, achieving synergistic progress in key technological breakthroughs and rule-making. Second, a people-centered approach ensures that technological advancement benefits the people. Third, a multi-stakeholder agile and collaborative governance model links governments, universities, research institutions, enterprises, and social organizations to explore the synergy between rules and technology, providing China’s experience to the world,” Zeng Yi, a member of the UN Advisory Body on AI, told the Global Times on Friday.

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SOURCE Global Times