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Jul 7
Xiaomi's 'toys for grown-ups' strategy fuels hype for YU7 EV, smart glasses
Xiaomi's latest breakout products, the YU7 electric vehicle and AI-powered smart glasses, are making waves not just for their functionality, but for how they're being positioned and sold. In today's digital-first consumer economy, tech is no longer just about utilities; it's a lifestyle marker. Analysts are increasingly framing this shift as "hype-driven tech consumption," with some even likening it to the rise of "tech collectibles."

China Motor Corporation (CMC) unveiled a new special edition of its popular J Space model on July 2, 2025. Buoyed by strong sales momentum, the company also raised its full-year sales target for the vehicle from 17,000 to 19,000 units.

Due to the slowdown in electric vehicle (EV) demand and intensified competition in the battery market, South Korea's major battery manufacturers LG Energy Solutions (LGES), SK On, and Samsung SDI have shown lackluster performance. However, as global IT and automotive companies actively invest in the humanoid robot industry, batteries dedicated to humanoid robots are poised to become a key factor in reversing this trend.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has confirmed that the company's first LFP battery plant in the US—located in Sparks, Nevada—is nearing completion and will soon begin production. The facility will have an initial annual capacity of 10GWh, primarily serving Tesla's energy storage product Megapack and select vehicle models.

The global automotive industry is rapidly pivoting toward software-defined vehicles (SDVs), fueling a parallel surge in demand for large in-car displays. Market research firm Omdia forecasts that displays larger than 10 inches will account for a staggering 81% of automotive display sales by 2027, nearly doubling their market share from 2021.

The Taiwan automotive market showed limited growth in the first half of 2025, with consumer caution fueled by ongoing uncertainty related to US tariffs. June vehicle registrations increased slightly month-over-month but declined 17.5% compared to the same period last year.
Next-generation lithium ceramic battery manufacturer ProLogium announced that its cumulative shipments have officially surpassed 2.4 million units as of the first half of 2025, marking a significant milestone since its inception in 2013.
Facing rising geopolitical tensions and uncertainty surrounding US trade policy under President Donald J. Trump, Chinese EV maker BYD has put plans for a large-scale factory in Mexico on hold.
Taiwan battery material maker HCM signed a cooperation agreement with France's Saft to develop lithium manganese iron phosphate (LMFP) batteries for electric vehicles and energy storage systems, with support from Taiwan's Industrial Technology Research Institute.
As global automakers advance deeper into electrification and intelligent mobility, China's top EV brands—BYD, Nio, and Xiaomi—are fast-tracking the development of self-designed chips. The push reflects a broader transition from dependence on foreign semiconductor suppliers to fully integrated hardware-software platforms, with significant implications for the global EV value chain.
China's first-tier electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer Nio has taken a significant step forward in its chip self-sufficiency strategy, announcing that its chip division has officially spun off from the parent company to form a new entity, Anhui Shenji Technology. The spin-off has completed mass production and large-scale vehicle integration of its first self-developed automotive-grade 5nm smart driving chip, the Shenji NX9031, marking a new phase from chip development to commercial application.
In-vehicle infotainment (IVI) systems are a key feature of smart cockpits and the driving technology experience, but their high failure rates and quality issues have become a major problem for car manufacturers.