A Taiwan-based importer and distributor of whisky products has signed several contracts for the development of a data center in Indonesia as part of a major pivot.

This week also saw a China-focused car financing firm announce plans to pivot into developing data centers in the US.

Agencia pivots from whiskey to data centers

Whiskey distributor Agencia Comercial Spirits first announced plans to pivot into data centers and AI in February, signing a Letter of Intent (LOI) with RiCloud AI to lease Nvidia B300 hardware, and another LOI with an unnamed firm to explore developing a data center in Indonesia.

The firm this week announced its subsidiaries have entered into agreements covering data center construction, network infrastructure procurement, and technical support and maintenance services for the project in Indonesia.

An Agencia subsidiary has entered into a binding letter of award with an independent contractor for the general construction works of the planned data center in West Java, Indonesia. The contract is valued at $40-50 million. It has also signed a $10.1m contract for the purchase of network infrastructure equipment, and signed a $1m five-year on-site technical service and equipment maintenance agreement.

Full details of the planned data center weren't shared.

“These agreements advance several of the principal workstreams required for our planned AI computing infrastructure deployment in Indonesia, including construction, network infrastructure and ongoing technical support,” said Tsai Yi-Yang, CEO of Agencia. “Our focus remains on disciplined execution, including funding, construction and procurement scheduling, equipment delivery, operational readiness, cost management and risk control.”

Agencia Comercial Spirits Ltd is a Taiwan-based importer and distributor of whisky products, including bottled and cask whiskies, as well as Sake. It joined the Nasdaq in October.

Senmiao forms data center joint venture in US

This week also saw a China-focused car financing firm announce a pivot towards developing data centers in the US.

Nasdaq-listed Senmiao Technology Limited (AIHS) has announced plans to establish a data center joint venture. Its wholly-owned subsidiary, Green Energy Capital Asset Inc., has signed an operating agreement with Constant Energy Construction Corp. (CECC) to jointly establish Nebula Matrix AI LLC.

The joint venture will serve as the core platform through which the two companies will develop, invest in, construct, and operate AI data centers in the US.

Details of any planned projects under the joint venture weren't shared.

Founded in 2018, Senmiao has traditionally provided automobile transaction and related services, including automobile sales, financing, and leasing in China. It previously owned the XXTX ride-hailing platform in China, but sold the unit in 2024.

The company began seeking to expand its investment opportunities in digital infrastructure, energy, and strategic emerging industries in March. Green Energy Capital Asset Inc. was formed around the same time.

Ronggang (Jonathan) Zhang, Senmiao Technology CEO and chairman, said: “Over the past year, the company has been searching for a new positioning and direction for growth, and this cooperation represents a significant milestone since the Company’s transformation began. Artificial intelligence is driving global digital infrastructure into a new investment cycle. Through this cooperation, we hope to build an AI infrastructure platform with long-term competitiveness, pursue the growing opportunity presented by the rapid growth of the US AI industry, and seek to create long-term value for the company and its shareholders.”

Texas-based CECC is a full-service electrical and infrastructure construction contractor. The company’s listed projects on its website include server manufacturing facilities in Texas, several solar farms, cryptomines, and a cheese factory.

Marcus Xue, CECC CEO, added: “CECC brings experience in energy infrastructure and digital infrastructure construction, with a track record of power and infrastructure projects in the United States. We look forward to a long-term partnership with AIHS to jointly advance the development, construction and operation of AI data center projects in the United States."

Senmiao Technology is the latest in a number of unexpected companies looking to get into the AI data center market. Former shoe company Allbirds is one of the more notable examples, having rebranded as Smartbird. Other examples include a Taiwanese whiskey importer, a recruitment website, a Singaporean healthcare company, an Indian TV production firm, a Chinese car loan financing company, an aviation operator, an owner of Hard Rock Cafe franchises in Malaysia, and an Indonesian eCommerce software firm.