Chinese semiconductors may avoid engagement in traditional advanced process competition, potentially fostering a domestic chip manufacturer similar to "DeepSeek," according to Burn-Jeng Lin, former VP of R&D at TSMC
Semiconductor equipment vendors have historically operated in stealth mode, relying on proprietary technologies and patents as their main defense. Product launches were subdued, often reaching foundries only after extensive validation—far from the world of bold marketing campaigns
Lens Technology reported CNY69.9 billion (approx. US$9.62 billion) in revenue for 2024, a 28.3% year-over-year increase, according to its annual results released on March 27. Net profit attributable to shareholders rose 19.9% to CNY3.62 billion, while adjusted net profit—excluding non-recurring items—jumped 46.3% to CNY3.29 billion
Zhiyuan Robotics (AgiBot), a Chinese AI startup specializing in embodied intelligence, has become a central player in the humanoid robotics supply chain as a major customer of Lens Technology
SK Hynix has completed the full acquisition of Intel's NAND Flash division, concluding a four-year process. The assets will be integrated under Solidigm, SK Hynix's US subsidiary, to enhance R&D collaboration for enterprise-grade SSDs
SenseTime reported its full-year 2024 earnings, revealing a significant narrowing of losses alongside a surge in generative AI (GenAI) revenue, underscoring the Chinese AI company's strategic shift toward faster-growing business lines and disciplined cost management
Recent reports indicate that China plans to introduce new chip performance standards regulations. Officially, the aim is to control the power consumption of chip products to promote energy savings and carbon reduction. However, many have noticed this will directly impact high-performance AI chips, such as Nvidia's H20. If the Chinese government is determined to enforce these regulations strictly, American chipmakers will have to adjust their product specifications to continue selling in the Chinese market
Japan-based Shibaura Electronics has disclosed that it is preparing to hold a meeting on April 2 with Taiwan-based Yageo regarding the latter's proposed tender offer
The collaboration between Taiwan and Japan in the drone sector is taking shape. The Taiwanese Excellence Drone Alliance (TEDIBOA) has recently formed a new partnership with the Japan Drone Consortium (JDC). Both parties announced further cooperation as Ann Wu, chairman of CIRC, signed a memorandum of understanding with Kenzo Nonami, chairman of JDC
South Korean display makers have surpassed Japanese manufacturers in the global high-end automotive display market for the first time. In the future, LG Display (LGD) and Samsung Display (SDC) will focus on developing high-end products to expand their business
Mundus Smart Energy, a subsidiary of Taiwan's Lealea Group, is expanding into Japan's high-voltage battery storage market with seven approved projects totaling 14MW. The installations span key economic zones including Tokyo, Kyushu, and Hokkaido. Two 2MW sites in Saitama Prefecture are scheduled to go online by the end of 2025, marking the company's first operational assets in Japan
As the memory chip market re-enters a favorable cycle, industry forecasts predict that Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix's operating profits in 2025 could surge by 40% compared to previous predictions. Samsung's operating profit is expected to reach KRW41 trillion (US$28 billion), returning to levels seen during its peak years. SK Hynix will likely achieve a historic high, with operating profits possibly reaching KRW29 trillion
Since January 2025, the open-source large language model (LLM) DeepSeek has sparked a surge of product launches across China's enterprise AI sector. Nearly 100 vendors—including server manufacturers, cloud service providers, software developers, and AI model firms—have introduced pre-integrated (aka 'all-in-one') AI appliances designed to run DeepSeek locally with minimal setup
Alibaba Group Chairman Joe Tsai warned that the ongoing AI data center boom risks creating a market bubble. Speaking at the HSBC Global Investment Summit, he said construction is likely outpacing actual demand for AI services
Chinese automaker BYD plans to dominate the world's largest car market in 2025 by making smart driving technology accessible in vehicles below CNY100,000 (approx. US$13,780), triggering rivals Geely and Changan to accelerate similar offerings. Industry sources confirm China's advanced driver assistance systems currently max out at Level 2+, requiring constant driver attention despite marketing that suggests otherwise
