LSN : News : China experiences a rent-a-robot boom

Range Rover unveils first lifestyle collection

The London Collection by Range Rover, UK

UK – Range Rover has stepped into the fashion arena with The London Collection – its first-ever eight-piece lifestyle capsule. Combining the brand’s modernist design ethos with British mid-century inspiration, the collection includes reversible jackets, silk scarves and wool-cashmere blankets, all hand-crafted in the UK and Italy. Each piece is made ‘from the finest materials and a mix of innovative techniques by a highly skilled team of artisans’.

British supermodel and actress Adwoa Aboah fronts the campaign, shot in London’s Design District. ‘The pieces are elevated yet playful, making you feel free and confident, and I love the versatility the silk scarves can bring to an outfit,’ said Aboah in a press release.

A distinctive abstract print, echoing Range Rover’s elegant silhouette, runs throughout the collection. Apparel designer Kimberley Panton said her team curated a contemporary, luxury lifestyle capsule designed for ‘discerning individuals who appreciate Range Rover’s vision of modern luxury’.

Chief creative officer Gerry McGovern OBE goes even further, saying the collection extends the ‘desirability of the Range Rover brand beyond our current portfolio’.

In our Luxury Recrafted macrotrend report, we analysed how automotive brands like Rolls-Royce are finding synergies between cars and fashion craftsmanship, as seen in its recent partnership with haute couture designer Iris van Herpen for the Phantom Syntopia.

Strategic opportunity

Explore how your brand’s values and aesthetics can be translated into lifestyle products. Doing so creates new revenue streams and strengthens brand loyalty by embedding your brand into consumers’ everyday lives

China experiences a rent-a-robot boom

China – Following a viral humanoid robot dance at China’s Spring Festival Gala, robots have become the country’s latest must-have marketing asset.

Merchants on platforms such as Alibaba-owned Xianyu are capitalising on the hype, renting out Unitree Robotics’ G1 model – similar to those seen in the Gala – for about £1,066 ($1,379, €1,277) per day. Demand is soaring, with nearly half of bookings coming from exhibitions and brand activations, while corporate receptions and vloggers are driving further interest, according to Zhao Binran, CEO of Shanghai Bailun Culture Media Co (source: Sixth Tone).

Despite their sleek, futuristic appeal, these robots remain more of a status symbol than functional AI assistants. Yet, with China leading global robotics innovation – accounting for 56% of publicly traded robotics firms, according to Morgan Stanley – this trend signals a shift in perception; humanoid machines are evolving beyond industrial tools to become interactive branding and entertainment assets.

For more on how brands can navigate the merging of human and machine intelligence, head to our macrotrend report, The Synthocene Era.

Neo Gamma by 1X, Norway and US

Strategic opportunity

Prepare for a future when humanoid robots will be essential to customer service. Explore their integration as interactive brand ambassadors in retail spaces or as concierge assistants in luxury hotels and private clubs to enhance personalised experiences

Stat: Uganda targets £4bn tourism revenue by 2028

Photography by Francesco Ungaro, Uganda

Uganda – Uganda aims to boost its tourism sector, setting a goal of attracting 3.5m visitors annually by 2028, generating some £4bn ($5.2bn, €4.8bn) in revenue. To achieve this, the country plans to increase annual tourist arrivals from 1.5m to 3.5m over the next three years. Central to this strategy is the Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo (POATE), scheduled from 21 to 24 May 2025. The expo aims to connect Uganda’s tourism offerings with international buyers and investors.

Lilly Ajarova, outgoing executive director of the Uganda Tourism Board (UTB), emphasised POATE’s role, stating it serves as an essential bridge connecting Uganda’s tourism offerings with the world, facilitating collaboration, investment and long-term partnerships.

In addition, the government is promoting the Tell Your Story campaign, encouraging citizens to share personal travel experiences on social media to highlight Uganda’s diverse attractions. Pearl Kakooza, UTB chairperson, noted efforts are also under way to attract investors to national parks by offering new concessions as existing leases expire. These initiatives align with Uganda’s broader goal to increase tourism’s contribution to its GDP.

Explore our coverage of ITB Berlin 2025 to discover the future of travel and tourism, focusing on emerging traveller demographics, the pivotal role of social media in destination discovery and the integration of artificial intelligence in enhancing travel experiences.

Strategic opporutnity

As Uganda opens up new concessions in national parks, eco-conscious investments – such as lodges with low environmental impact, community-led tourism or conservation-centric experiences – will be in demand. Sustainability will be a core differentiator for future travellers