China has granted rare earth export permits to domestic magnet manufacturers for the first time since introducing sweeping restrictions in April 2025, in a move reflecting a calibrated stance on mineral controls amid easing trade tensions with the US
Although the 2025 Shanghai International Auto Show has concluded, its ripple effects continue to shape the automotive landscape. Bolstered by the Chinese government's early implementation of trade-in subsidies, alongside a confluence of auto show buzz and promotional campaigns, China's passenger vehicle retail sales soared to 1.81 million units in April 2025, marking the second-highest monthly figure on record
Samsung Electronics' foundry division is actively pursuing orders for its 2nm process technology and is currently conducting process evaluations with major clients, including Nvidia and Qualcomm
Chinese panel manufacturers BOE Technology and TCL China Star Optoelectronics (TCL CSOT) have reportedly begun scaling back their LCD panel production in response to the tariff policies imposed by the Trump administration since January 2025, which have effectively blocked their export channels to the US. Despite strategic efforts to expand into alternative markets across Europe and Asia, these companies face significant challenges securing new customers in the short term. Compounding their difficulties, the Chinese government has reduced subsidies, leaving production cuts as their only viable recourse
SiCarrier, a Chinese semiconductor equipment startup backed by the Shenzhen municipal government, is seeking to raise US$2.8 billion in its first funding round, targeting a valuation of around US$11 billion. Founded in 2021 and closely linked to Huawei, the firm has emerged as a key player in China's national drive for chipmaking self-sufficiency
Huawei International and Keppel Ltd.'s Infrastructure Division have entered a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MOU) to jointly develop renewable energy solutions, particularly in photovoltaic (PV) and battery energy storage systems (BESS)
South Korean AI software company Moreh is developing "K-DeepSeek," a model designed to surpass China's DeepSeek while slashing development costs, according to TheElec and ET News. Moreh insiders revealed the company's commitment to achieving academic certification by the third quarter of 2025, enabling commercial deployment
China's control of over 70% of the global lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery market—the core of an EV's electric system—has triggered growing pushback in Washington. From the Biden administration's Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) to President Donald Trump's tariff threats, Chinese battery firms face intensifying US resistance. Meanwhile, Beijing has quietly imposed export controls to curb technology outflows
Driven by new energy vehicle subsidy policies, the localization wave of automotive chips in China is intensifying, accelerating the domestic substitution process. Chinese integrated device manufacturers (IDM) such as Silan and BYD have achieved breakthrough growth in the power semiconductor sector, with their market shares rising significantly. This shift disrupts the long-standing dominance of foreign companies and has drawn the attention of international IDMs
Chinese semiconductor equipment manufacturers benefited from a surge in localization-driven procurement in the first quarter of 2025. Data from CnEVPost and Chinastarmarket.cn show that 11 of 12 chip equipment firms listed on the SSE Star Market posted year-over-year revenue gains, with nine reporting growth rates above 25%
The Trump administration plans to overhaul regulations on the export of semiconductors used in artificial intelligence (AI), tossing out a Biden-era approach that had drawn strenuous objections from US allies and companies including Nvidia Corp. and Oracle Corp
Alibaba Group has introduced ZeroSearch, an open-source reinforcement learning framework that simulates search engine functionality, reducing AI model training costs by nearly 90%. As described in a paper by Alibaba's research team, ZeroSearch enables large language models (LLMs) to enhance search capabilities without relying on external search engines, marking a significant leap in affordable and efficient AI development
Nissan Motor plans to cut around 20,000 jobs worldwide—more than twice the 9,000 announced in late 2024—as part of a sweeping restructuring effort aimed at reversing declining sales and long-term underperformance. The layoffs would impact approximately 15% of its 130,000 global employees
The global boom in generative AI, fueled by OpenAI, triggered a surge of investment into Chinese AI startups. But OpenAI's recent decision to abandon its for-profit status—announced by CEO Sam Altman—highlights the growing difficulty of monetizing AI innovation. Meanwhile, China's so-called "AI Four Darlings," CloudWalk Technology, SenseTime Group, Megvii Technology, and Yitu Technology, are battling mounting losses and operational setbacks, with growing pressure to overhaul their business strategies
Huawei has entered into a strategic partnership with Ubtech Robotics Inc. to integrate its AI chip capabilities with Ubtech's humanoid robotics expertise. The alliance aims to fast-track the development of embodied intelligence and bring humanoid robots from lab prototypes to practical deployment in industrial and home environments
