Amid the growing trend toward connected, autonomous, shared, and electrification (CASE) in the automotive industry, vehicles are now much more than simply mechanical products but rather rely on contributions spanning the ICT, software, semiconductor, and optical sectors.
US President Donald Trump has imposed sweeping tariffs on foreign-made cars and auto parts to drive supply chain reshoring. The move aims to reduce import dependency, boost domestic jobs, and reinforce the administration's "industrial security is national security" strategy.
Visual AI system provider oToBrite has partnered with Sintrones to jointly introduce an AI depth imaging system based on a monocular camera module. This system achieves depth image ranging through a single camera module combined with an onboard computer, enabling advanced applications such as unmanned vehicles and autonomous mobile robots (AMRs).
Hushan Autoparts posted NT$423 million (US$14 million) in consolidated revenue for the first quarter of 2025, marking a new record high in quarterly revenue for the company. The 47% year-over-year surge came primarily from renewed demand for global aftermarket parts and continued deliveries of new product lines. Moreover, first-quarter operating net profit grew by 72% year-over-year, while net profit after tax reached NT$120 million (US$4 million), signaling stellar results for the quarter if the impact of exchange rate fluctuations is excluded.
As smart vehicles shift from mechanical machines to software-defined platforms, the global auto industry is confronting structural challenges that stretch far beyond hardware. At the Smart Automotive Forum held on May 16 in Taipei, TÜV Rheinland, a leading global provider of technical testing and certification, presented a comprehensive white paper titled Driving the Future: Key Trends in Intelligent Vehicle Development (transliteration), which outlines the regulatory, technical, and validation transformations ahead.
Robin Zeng, Chairman of CATL, announced on May 18, 2025, that electric vehicles could comprise 50% of all new heavy-duty truck sales in China by 2028, rising sharply from 10% in 2025. According to Reuters, East Money, and Gasgoo, the forecast highlights China's accelerating freight electrification and CATL's evolving multi-sector strategy.
Computex 2025 commenced with Foxconn chairman Young Liu delivering a landmark keynote address, marking his inaugural appearance as a featured speaker. Liu articulated Foxconn's advancements in artificial intelligence, introducing an ambitious "3+3+3=∞" strategy. This evolution of the existing "3+3" framework integrates three intelligent network platforms—smart manufacturing, smart electric vehicles (EVs), and smart cities—bolstered by a state-of-the-art AI Factory developed in partnership with Nvidia.
Once a pillar of Japan's automotive might, Nissan now finds itself in financial peril, with talks of potential mergers or alliances repeatedly falling through. After a failed merger attempt with Honda, Japan's second-largest automaker, reports from Japanese media suggest that Toyota—Japan's largest and most influential carmaker—may be quietly extending a helping hand. However, neither Toyota nor Nissan has confirmed the rumors through official channels.
Xiaomi founder and CEO Jun Lei announced on May 19 via Weibo that the company will unveil its first 3nm mobile system-on-chip (SoC), the "Xring O1," on May 22. He also revealed that Xiaomi plans to invest at least CNY50 billion (US$6.94 billion) in chip design over the next 10 years, beginning in 2025.
Formosa Smart Energy Tech, a subsidiary of Formosa Plastics Group, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with GE Vernova to form a strategic alliance focused on hybrid power and energy storage systems. The partnership aims to combine Formosa's lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery expertise with GE Vernova's global experience in gas-fired power and energy storage technologies.
Taiwan-based LED maker Edison Opto said customer orders and shipments remain on track despite mounting uncertainty tied to US tariff policies and currency market volatility. Automotive product lines are operating at a stable 80% utilization rate, supporting the company's full-year growth target.
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