Global attention is currently fixated on the humanoid robots unveiled by upstart automakers: Tesla's Optimus and BMW-backed Figure 02. Behind the scenes, two of the industry's most powerful incumbents, Toyota and Volkswagen, are charting a markedly different course. Rather than staging high-profile demonstrations, the giants are pursuing what amounts to a quiet, deeply rooted "invisible front" in robotics.
Roughly 20 automakers worldwide have now announced plans to enter the humanoid-robot arena—from Tesla and Germany's automotive trio of Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Volkswagen to China's XPeng, BYD, and GAC—signaling a new industry consensus in the age of intelligent mobility.
The Yulon Group is set for a high-stakes week, with a string of online investor briefings scheduled from November 19 to 20 by Yulon Motor, Nissan Taiwan, China Motor, Yulon Finance, and Kian-Shen. But industry attention is overwhelmingly focused on one issue: the widely circulated expectation that Foxtron Vehicle Technologies—a joint venture between Yulon and Foxconn—will acquire Yulon Motor's homegrown Luxgen brand.
Chinese new-energy vehicles, propelled by low starting bases and rapid growth, have quickly gained visibility across Europe in recent years. The shift has been swift enough that major European auto retail groups are now accelerating the introduction of Chinese models into their showrooms. Over the past year, the 50 largest dealer groups in Europe have, on average, added at least one Chinese brand each, with some adopting as many as three or four, evidence that the penetration of Chinese automakers is advancing on all fronts.
Taiwanese battery innovator Xing Mobility has joined forces with German automotive design powerhouse IDEENION to bring a groundbreaking immersion-cooled, cell-to-pack (CTP) battery architecture to European automakers. The partnership, formalized with a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at Xing's Taiwan headquarters, promises to accelerate time-to-market for high-performance and commercial electric vehicles (EVs).
DIGITIMES' latest analysis predicts that the global electric vehicle (EV) market will enter a phase of slower growth in 2026, with an annual growth rate of roughly 15.2%—down from the double-digit surges exceeding 20% seen through 2025. After a period of rapid expansion, the industry is showing signs of saturation, prompting automakers to shift their strategic focus toward advanced autonomous-driving technologies to maintain competitiveness.
Luxgen, the homegrown automotive brand under Taiwan's Yulon Motor, holds a unique place in the island's industrial history. Recent reports that Foxtron—a subsidiary of Foxconn—may acquire Luxgen have stirred significant discussion in Taiwan's automotive circles.
Toyota Motor Corporation announced plans to invest up to US$10 billion in the US over the next five years, signaling a major expansion of its domestic operations. The confirmation comes less than a month after President Donald Trump publicly mentioned the potential investment in October 2025.
Facing the European Union's looming anti-subsidy tariffs on Chinese-made battery electric vehicles (BEVs), BYD is executing a three-pronged strategy—combining geopolitical positioning, product diversification, and global production realignment—to blunt the impact and maintain its rapid global expansion. The approach is already beginning to yield results, narrowing the gap with industry leader Volkswagen and signaling a new phase of competitive pressure for Europe's homegrown automakers.
