iFlyTek looks to Europe after US trade restrictions impact supply chain
US tariffs on Chinese tech have pushed iFlyTek to diversify its supply chain.
Chinese AI company iFlyTek is expanding its European operations as trade tensions with the US continue to escalate.
Vice President Vincent Zhan stated that North America remains the firm’s largest market outside China, but new tariffs introduced by United States President Donald Trump have made diversification a priority. The company is looking to reduce supply chain risks while strengthening its presence in Europe.
iFlyTek, known for its voice recognition technology, currently operates in France and Hungary and is planning to open a Paris office soon.
Future expansion targets include Spain and Italy, where the company is assessing partnerships. The firm unveiled a new tablet at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, highlighting its commitment to the European market.
The company has faced US restrictions since being placed on a trade blacklist in 2019, limiting access to American-made components such as Nvidia’s AI chips. In response, iFlyTek has turned to domestic alternatives, using Huawei chips and integrating AI models from Chinese start-ups like DeepSeek.
Despite these challenges, Zhan expressed confidence in China‘s growing AI chip industry, which is helping firms like iFlyTek stay competitive.
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