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U Power Limited (NASDAQ:UCAR) Partners with Sumitomo Mitsui to Deliver Southeast Asia’s First Battery-Swapping Taxi Fleet in Phuket

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PHUKET, Thailand, May 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — U Power Limited (Nasdaq: UCAR), a global leader in a global leader in green smart energy grid innovation, announced that its Thai subsidiary, USWAP Co., Ltd., has successfully delivered 21 battery-swapping-enabled MG EP vehicles to Auto Drive EV Public Company Limited, a leading mobility service provider in Thailand, through a strategic partnership with Sumitomo Mitsui Auto Leasing & Service (Thailand) Co., Ltd. The vehicles will be deployed to enhance sustainable taxi operations across the island of Phuket, a world-renowned tourist destination. This landmark transaction marks the deployment of Southeast Asia’s first fleet of battery-swapping taxis, setting a new benchmark for sustainable transportation in the region.

Pioneering Battery-Swapping Green Mobility in Southeast Asia

The vehicles are equipped with U Power’s proprietary UOTTA fully automated battery-swapping technology, showcased at the 2025 Bangkok International Motor Show. This system enables a full battery replacement in just 3 minutes, ensuring minimal downtime for taxis, maximizing operational efficiency, and uninterrupted service for passengers. The deployment aligns with Thailand’s EV 3.5 Policy, which aims to subsidize EV adoption and establish a nationwide charging/swapping network by 2027.

A Model for Sustainable Tourism

Phuket, a hub for international tourism, faces growing demand for efficient and environmentally responsible transportation. The deployment of battery-swapping fleet will not only improve air quality but also position the island as a leader in adopting smart EV solutions. The battery-swapping infrastructure, supported by U Power’s network, ensures operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness for Auto Drive’s taxi operators.

Leadership Insights

Johnny Lee, CEO of U Power Limited: “This delivery is not just a milestone for USWAP but a leap forward for Southeast Asia’s EV transition. By partnering with Sumitomo Mitsui Auto Leasing and Auto Drive, we are proving that battery-swapping technology can revolutionize urban mobility while aligning with Thailand’s carbon neutrality goals.” 

Representative of Sumitomo Mitsui Auto Leasing & Service (Thailand): “Our financing model bridges the gap between cutting-edge technology and market accessibility. This project exemplifies how financial innovation can drive sustainable development in the EV sector.”

Dr. Akaranun Ariyasripong, Chairman of Auto Drive EV Public Company Limited, revealed, “The integration of U Power’s vehicles into Auto Drive’s fleet reinforces our commitment to delivering up to 2,000 electric taxis within 2025 and reducing carbon emissions in key tourist cities. The partnership includes comprehensive support for battery-swapping infrastructure, operational management, and financial services.”

Market Impact and Future Plans

This initiative establishes Thailand as a leading hub for EV innovation in ASEAN. USWAP is expanding its battery-swapping network across key urban centers and major transportation routes, with a focus on commercial applications including taxis, trucks, and logistics fleets. As Thailand’s EV market continues its rapid growth, U Power’s technology provides solutions to critical energy replenishment and grid stability challenges.

About U Power Limited

U Power Limited (Nasdaq: UCAR) is a vehicle sourcing services provider with a vision to become an EV market player primarily focused on its proprietary battery-swapping technology, UOTTA technology. UOTTA is an intelligent modular battery-swapping solution designed to provide comprehensive battery power solutions for EVs. Since its inception in 2013, U Power has established a vehicle sourcing network in China’s lower-tier cities, developed multi-types of battery-swapping stations for compatible EVs, and operates a manufacturing facility in Zibo City, Shandong Province, China.

For more information, please visit: https://www.upower-limited.com/ 

About SMAT

Sumitomo Mitsui Auto Leasing & Service (Thailand) Co., Ltd. (SMAT) is a leading provider of corporate vehicle leasing and fleet management solutions in Thailand. Established in 2003 as a subsidiary of Japan’s Sumitomo Mitsui Auto Service Co., Ltd., SMAT has over two decades of experience in supporting businesses with comprehensive mobility services and currently manages a fleet of over 10,000 vehicles nationwide.

About Auto Drive

Auto Drive EV Public Company Limited is a pioneering Thai company specializing in electric vehicle (EV) solutions aimed at promoting sustainable transportation and reducing air pollution. In collaboration with Grab Thailand, Auto Drive EV launched the “Electric Taxi Rental Project,” aiming to deploy up to 2,000 electric taxis by 2025 in key tourist cities across Thailand.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements.” Forward-looking statements reflect the company’s current view about future events. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on the company’s current expectations and projections about future events that the company believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy, and financial needs.

Investors can identify these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as “may,” “will,” “could,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “aim,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “is/are likely to,” “propose,” “potential,” “continue” or similar expressions. The company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law.

Although the company believes the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results. Investors are encouraged to review other factors that may affect future results in the company’s registration statement and other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

For more information, please visit: https://www.upower-limited.com/

Media Contact: xing.wang@upincar.com

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SOURCE U Power Limited

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Real-World Study of Over 185,000 Users Finds Engagement with UpLife Digital Mental Health App Yields Significant Reductions in Depression and Anxiety

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Five-year evaluation shows a clear “dose–response” link between deeper engagement with UpLife’s CBT-based ‘Journeys’ programs and greater depression and anxiety symptom improvement

LEESBURG, Va., July 21, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — UpLife Inc, a digital mental health and self-therapy platform, today announced a set of research findings from a large real-world evaluation of its app, showing that people who engaged with the platform reported statistically significant reductions in symptoms of depression and anxiety over time. The evaluation drew on five years of real-world data from an engaged user base of more than 185,000 people across the United States and 197 other countries worldwide.

“These results reflect what we hear from users every day, now backed by data at real-world scale. What stands out is the dose–response signal where the people who lean into the work by completing their Journeys and doing the exercises are the ones who get the most out of it.” Jeff Musa, CEO, UpLife

The research analysis examined anonymized data collected between 2021 and 2026 using three validated clinical outcome measures: the PHQ-9 (depression), the GAD-7 (anxiety), and the WHO-5 (well-being). Among UpLife users who completed assessments at baseline and follow-up, depression and anxiety scores decreased significantly over time.

In the fully adjusted analysis, average depression scores (PHQ-9) fell by approximately 3.7 points; moving the typical UpLife user from the “moderately severe” range toward the “moderate” range. Anxiety scores (GAD-7) showed comparable significant reductions over time.

A clear dose–response relationship

One of the study’s central findings was a consistent dose–response pattern regarding the relationship between engagement and outcomes. Users who completed UpLife’s CBT-based ‘Journeys’ experienced a reduction in their symptoms. The study also found that the completion of additional Journeys were associated with a further measurable decrease in their assessment scores, even after accounting for subscription type and other factors. Notably, depth of engagement with therapeutic content was a stronger predictor of improvement than simply the amount of time spent in the app.

“These results reflect what we hear from users every day, now backed by data at real-world scale. What stands out most is the dose–response signal where the people who lean into the work by completing their Journeys and doing the exercises are the ones who get the most out of it. That tells us our job is to keep building an experience that helps people stay engaged, because engagement is where the clinical value lives.” — Jeff Musa, Chief Executive Officer, UpLife

Built on cognitive behavioral therapy

UpLife delivers evidence-based psychological education and interventions grounded in the principles of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) through five core features: structured Journeys, a Daily Plan, a Mood Tracker, journaling, and an AI assistant (“Lila”) that recommends relevant content from the platform. The app does not provide AI-generated therapy; its assistant only directs users to content that has been created, curated, and reviewed by clinicians.

For clinicians, UpLife also offers a HIPAA-compliant therapist portal that supports a Blended Care model, allowing providers to extend therapeutic support between sessions through structured digital programs, progress tracking, and shared assessments.

The platform has also been extensively used in humanitarian settings. Through UpLife’s Ukraine Humanitarian Gift Program, tens of thousands of users in Ukraine have received full, free access to a localized version of the app through UpLife’s Ukraine Humanitarian Gift Program.

About the evaluation

The study used an observational pre–post design based on real-world data and was conducted in accordance with the ethical principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. As an observational evaluation without a control group, it demonstrates associations between app engagement and symptom improvement rather than establishing causation, and well-being scores (WHO-5) did not change significantly over the study period. The findings add to a growing body of research suggesting that CBT-based digital interventions can be associated with meaningful symptom reduction, while underscoring the central role of sustained user engagement.

About UpLife

Founded in 2019, UpLife is a digital mental health and self-guided therapy platform that is designed to help people improve their emotional well-being, build healthier thinking patterns, and develop positive daily habits through structured, evidence-based psychological programs. UpLife also provides a secure, HIPAA-compliant portal to help therapists and health systems to extend care beyond the through a Blended Care Therapy model. Learn more at www.uplifecare.com.

Media Contact

Matt Landry, UpLife, 1 617-699-7205, matt@thesecondrow.net, https://www.uplifecare.com/ 

View original content:https://www.prweb.com/releases/real-world-study-of-over-185-000-users-finds-engagement-with-uplife-digital-mental-health-app-yields-significant-reductions-in-depression-and-anxiety-302829280.html

SOURCE UpLife

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TruHeight Joins Nordstrom and JCPenney Marketplaces as Wellness Brands Reshape the Department Store

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Family nutrition brand’s newest retail partnerships reflect a broader shift: health and wellness products are becoming a staple of platforms once reserved for fashion and apparel

LAS VEGAS, July 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — TruHeight, the family nutrition brand, today announced it is joining the Nordstrom Marketplace and the JCPenney Marketplace, bringing its lineup of clean-label vitamins, gummies, protein shakes, and everyday nutrition products to two of America’s most iconic department store names.

The partnerships place TruHeight at the center of one of retail’s most notable shifts. Department stores and fashion-first marketplaces, long defined by clothing, shoes, and accessories, are rapidly expanding into health and wellness as consumers increasingly treat wellness as part of their everyday lifestyle rather than a separate shopping trip. For a generation of shoppers, the same platforms where they buy back-to-school outfits and activewear are becoming destinations for the products that fuel those activities.

“Five years ago, you wouldn’t expect to find a family nutrition brand next to denim and sneakers,” said Justin Rapoport, Co-CEO of TruHeight. “Today, wellness is part of how families shop for everything. Nordstrom and JCPenney recognize that, and we’re proud to bring family nutrition to their marketplaces.”

The move extends a period of rapid retail growth for TruHeight, which launched in 5,000 CVS stores nationwide in June following its national debut at Target earlier this year, and is also available at iHerb and on Amazon. With the addition of Nordstrom and JCPenney, TruHeight’s products will reach shoppers across drug, mass, e-commerce, and department store channels.

“Every retailer we add is a signal of the trust families place in our brand,” said Eden Stelmach, Co-Founder of TruHeight. “Department stores are where families have shopped together for generations. Meeting them there with simple, clean nutrition products is a natural next step.”

TruHeight products will be available on the Nordstrom and JCPenney marketplaces in the coming weeks, joining the brand’s existing availability at CVS, Target, iHerb, Amazon, and truheightvitamins.com.

About TruHeight
TruHeight is a family nutrition brand offering clean-label vitamins, gummies, protein shakes, and everyday nutrition products for kids, teens, and active families. Founded with a commitment to simple ingredients and convenient formats, TruHeight products are available at major retailers nationwide and online at truheightvitamins.com.

Media Contact
TruHeight Vitamins
Kim Brown
419189@email4pr.com
4704265920
truheightvitamins.com

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SOURCE TruHeight Vitamins

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TrendyMinds Founder Trevor Yager Returns as CEO to Lead Agency’s Next Phase of Growth

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Veteran agency leader returns to accelerate TrendyMinds’ AI capabilities and advance the firm’s evolution as a strategic partner helping organizations drive growth, strengthen reputation, and navigate transformation.

INDIANAPOLIS, July 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Trevor Yager has returned as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of TrendyMinds, the Indianapolis-based agency he founded in 1995, while continuing to serve as Chairman. In this dual role, Yager has resumed direct involvement in day-to-day leadership, working alongside account and delivery teams on client work in addition to setting the agency’s strategic direction. As CEO, he is leading the company’s next phase of growth by advancing the firm’s artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities while strengthening its position as a strategic partner to organizations navigating growth and change.

Yager previously transitioned from CEO to Chairman as part of a planned leadership evolution that reflected both the agency’s maturity and his own exploration of future ownership opportunities. As AI has accelerated the pace of change across the industry, reshaping how organizations operate and compete, he made the decision to step back into the CEO role and lead TrendyMinds through its next chapter directly.

“Moving into the Chairman role was the right decision at the time because the Board, including myself, believed TrendyMinds needed to demonstrate it could thrive beyond its founder,” said Yager. “But after more than 30 years of leading through every major technology shift, I believe artificial intelligence represents one of the greatest opportunities our industry has ever seen. The environment shifted fast enough that it made sense for me to step back in and lead it personally, continuing to build the capabilities our clients will need and position the agency for what’s next.”

Beginning in 2019, TrendyMinds became increasingly intentional about optimizing the artificial intelligence, machine learning, and automation capabilities already embedded within the technologies used across the agency. Following a comprehensive assessment of AI-enabled tools and workflows, the agency integrated AI across strategy, research, creative development, marketing operations, and internal business processes while establishing governance, security, and data protection standards to support responsible implementation.

By transforming its own business first, TrendyMinds refined its methodologies, validated new approaches, and built the operational discipline that now informs how it evaluates AI opportunities with clients. Today, TrendyMinds continues to expand its internal AI capabilities through a dedicated team of AI transformation specialists, developing proprietary workflows, audience intelligence tools, and implementation frameworks. Drawing on that experience, the agency helps clients responsibly evaluate and implement AI in ways that align with their business objectives, regulatory requirements, and governance standards.

That experience also enables TrendyMinds to support clients developing innovative AI technologies, including a leading healthcare AI innovator. By combining firsthand AI transformation experience with strategic consulting, communications, and market positioning expertise, the agency helps organizations communicate complex technologies, build trust with stakeholders, and accelerate market adoption.

Founded as a traditional marketing agency more than 30 years ago, TrendyMinds has continually evolved alongside the changing needs of its clients, bringing together strategic consulting, integrated marketing, communications, creative, thought leadership, media relations, digital strategy and development, research, analytics, and emerging technologies.

About TrendyMinds

TrendyMinds is the Agency of Preference®, a multidisciplinary consulting partner helping organizations accelerate growth, strengthen and protect reputation, and navigate transformation. Founded in Indianapolis in 1995, the firm has spent more than 30 years uniting strategic consulting, communications, marketing, creative, technology, and data-driven insight into a single integrated practice built to solve complex business challenges.

Learn more at TrendyMinds.com.

Media Contact:
Claire Gregory
419095@email4pr.com | 317.902.6973

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SOURCE TrendyMinds

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