Samsung Electronics' Device Solutions (DS) division is revising its production strategy as falling DRAM prices and weak IT demand weigh on profits. South Korean securities firms have slashed Samsung's fourth quarter 2024 operating profit forecast from KRW4.6 trillion (US$31 billion) to KRW3.6 trillion, marking a 6.7% decline quarter over quarter, reflecting mounting pressures from an economic downturn and aggressive pricing by Chinese competitors like ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT)

Kyushu has raised its assessment of the economic benefits stemming from semiconductor investments spearheaded by TSMC. This adjustment comes as Taiwanese semiconductor suppliers increasingly cluster in the region as part of their diversification strategies

Honda and the financially troubled Nissan have announced plans to merge, with Mitsubishi Motors expected to decide on its participation within the month. While speculation suggests the Honda-Nissan merger talks aim to prevent Foxconn from gaining involvement with Nissan, past acquisitions involving Japanese corporations have yielded mixed results, potentially influencing the outcome of this proposed merger

Honda and Nissan aim to forge synergies across seven areas, including vehicle platform commonality and software development, as they strengthen ties through strategic collaboration. Their merger, rooted in memoranda signed in March and August 2024, underscores a shared focus on automotive intelligence and electrification

Samsung Electronics's hiring of Jing-cheng "Vic" Lin(J. C. Lin) from TSMC in a bid to bolster its semiconductor packaging technology made headlines in early 2023. However, reports suggest Lin has now left the company following his contract completion, prompting speculation about his future plans

A recent report has revealed that the CPU department under Arm China, a Chinese chip IP designer and service provider, has started laying off employees. The department consists of around 30-40 staff members. Even though the number of layoffs is not large, it still has a significant impact on Arm China given the scale of the company

China's BYD enjoyed a year-end surge to push total sales to 4.25 million passenger cars last year, narrowing its gap with Tesla as the two vie for the crown of the top-selling electric vehicle (EV) maker of 2024

Alibaba Group agreed to sell its shares in Sun Art Retail Group to private equity firm DCP Capital, unloading another high-profile physical commerce asset to focus on its core online business

Reports indicate that SK Hynix's wafer foundry subsidiary, SK Hynix System IC has initiated a voluntary retirement plan for its entire workforce. SK Hynix System IC specializes in 8-inch foundry operations and has recently faced declining revenues due to aggressive price competition from Chinese manufacturers. Rumors suggest the company has recently been preparing for a "structural adjustment.

Samsung Electronics, after previously securing orders for 2nm AI accelerators from Japanese AI startup Preferred Networks (PFN), is reportedly set to supply 2nm chips to a South Korean NPU company. Samsung's 2nm process is currently undergoing mass production testing

Following Donald Trump's election, the US-China trade war appeared to be entering a new phase with Trump's announcement in late November of additional tariffs on China, Mexico, and Canada, a move reminiscent of his "Tariff Man" persona

Donald Trump's return to the US presidency, coupled with his appointment of hawkish cabinet members focused on China, signals the likelihood of escalated trade and technology sanctions against Chinese firms. Huawei, a key target during Trump's first term, is expected to face renewed pressure under his administration

The Chinese AI model DeepSeek has gained global popularity recently, bringing attention to a figure dubbed the "genius AI girl" Fuli Luo, born post-1995

In 2024, the optoelectronics industry faced challenging market conditions. Despite this, OLED panels are expanding from smartphones into tablets, PCs, and other IT products, driving investments from major players. Microdisplays, automotive panels, and glass substrates are also gaining traction, with competition expected to intensify post-2025

Mainstream car manufacturers are mulling expanding collaboration with Taiwan's supply chain to counter Chinese competitors' dominance in the electric vehicle (EV) market, according to industry sources