At IAA Mobility 2025 (September 9-14), electrification once again dominates the global automotive conversation, with China, Europe, and the US racing to secure market leadership. Yet industry players warn that beyond scaling electric vehicle (EV) production, the industry faces a critical "last two miles" challenge: securing connected cars and overcoming consumer adoption barriers.

Chinese electric vehicle (EV) giant BYD is reportedly preparing to restart its expansion in India, as warming diplomatic ties between the two Asian powers open new opportunities in one of the world's fastest-growing EV markets.

At SEMICON Taiwan, four global automotive semiconductor executives—Stefan Yores of Bosch, Jochen Hanebeck of Infineon Technologies, Kurt Sievers of NXP, and Hosoku Takuchi of Denso—outlined how artificial intelligence (AI), energy constraints, and system complexity are reshaping the future of mobility.

Suzhou Everbright Photonics is betting on explosive demand from artificial intelligence (AI) and data centers to drive future growth, Chairman Dayong Min said in an interview with DIGITIMES at the China International Optoelectronic Expo (CIOE). The company is also expanding into the European market as a hedge against rising geopolitical tensions.

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently launched a large-scale raid at a Hyundai Motor battery plant under construction in Georgia, detaining hundreds of workers—most of them South Korean nationals. The project, jointly invested in by Hyundai and LG Energy Solution (LGES), has now come to a complete standstill, igniting industry-wide discussions over the structural challenges facing the US automotive sector.

Tesla has announced plans to establish a new R&D center in Kopenick, Berlin, Germany. Positioned between Tesla's existing Gigafactory in Grunheide, Brandenburg, and central Berlin, the facility is expected to bolster the company's vehicle development activities in Europe.

Vietnamese automaker VinFast has officially entered India with the launch of its VF 6 and VF 7 electric SUVs, betting on local manufacturing and ecosystem partnerships to gain a foothold in one of the world's fastest-growing EV markets. The company's Tamil Nadu plant, with an initial capacity of 50,000 units, represents a US$500 million investment and positions VinFast as the first foreign pure-play EV maker to set up production in India.

The global automotive market reached total sales of 44.42 million units in the first half of 2025, marking a year-over-year increase of 2.7%. Among these, the combined sales volume of the three major markets—China, the US, and Europe—totaled 27.48 million units, accounting for 61.9% of the global share, and they remain the core of the worldwide automotive industry.

Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL), the largest China-based battery maker, has recently dispatched procurement managers and engineers on a large-scale visit to South Korea, with industry insiders believing CATL aims to secure technological advantages by engaging with South Korean companies amid ongoing structural adjustments in the Chinese industry, ensuring its differentiated competitive edge.

A major immigration raid at Hyundai Motor Group and LG Energy Solution's (LGES) battery plant in Georgia has exposed the labor and visa hurdles facing South Korean firms in the US. The case raises fresh doubts over how sustainable Korean investment in America's electric vehicle supply chain can be.

China's push for semiconductor self-sufficiency is gaining momentum, but automotive-grade chips present a unique challenge. Local automakers remain cautious about adopting untested domestic components that could jeopardize safety-critical systems.