At its "Global Brand Night" in Hong Kong on April 15, XPeng Motors unveiled its 2025 global flagship, the XPeng X9, and laid out an ambitious new AI roadmap. Chairman and CEO He Xiaopeng said the company is entering a transformative decade, evolving from a smart EV maker into a full-stack AI innovator.

Taiwan's auto industry is bracing for the possibility of the Taiwanese government reducing tariffs and commodity taxes for car imports as part of its bid to ease pressure from the US reciprocal tariffs, a move that could doom the entire local automotive supply chain.

Despite the tariff war US President Donald Trump is waging on the world, Taiwanese cooling fan manufacturer Yen Sun Technology (YS Tech) is among the few companies saying the impact is limited.

Amid the ongoing economic uncertainties worldwide, tire costs and energy consumption have become increasingly important for ordinary commuters and transport operators alike, and tires that balance durability and energy savings have thus become a critical priority.

With US tariffs still unresolved and the European Union imposing steep duties on Chinese electric vehicles (EVs), Chinese automakers are accelerating efforts to establish overseas production bases. Among the emerging options, Turkey has become a key springboard for their global expansion, thanks to its geographic advantages and tariff exemptions.

As the Trump administration considers exempting automobiles and parts from new tariffs to give US manufacturers breathing room, the lack of clarity on timing and scope is already rattling the auto industry. Insiders warn this uncertainty could trigger a surge in contract disputes throughout the global automotive supply chain.

Trump's steep 25% tariff on imported vehicles plus an additional 25% border tax on cars from Canada and Mexico has upended the US auto market, creating significant supply constraints and pricing uncertainties.

Taiwan-based Global PMX, a leading manufacturer of automotive powertrain and safety components, is beginning to reap the benefits of its strategic investments in the autonomous vehicle sector.

Laster Tech, a leading purveyor of LED automotive modules, reported a consolidated revenue of NT$708 million (approx. US$21.63 million) for March 2025, a striking 38.42% surge year-over-year, propelled by steadfast growth in LED headlamp modules and lighting controllers. The firm's first-quarter tally reached NT$2.049 billion, up 17.34% from the prior year, setting a record for the period.

The tariff strategy of US President Donald Trump has taken another sharp turn, delaying implementation by 90 days and reducing tariffs for most countries to 10%. However, his 25% auto tariffs remain unchanged, along with the 25% tariff on auto parts set for May 3, 2025.

US President Donald Trump's expansive tariff push—spanning metals, automobiles, auto parts, and possibly semiconductors—is disrupting global trade flows. As supply chains are thrown into disarray, analysts say the fallout could spark a broader geopolitical alignment, with countries setting aside differences to counterbalance US pressure. Trump abruptly backed off his tariffs on most nations for 90 days, with countries subject to the pause now being taxed at 10%, while the tax rate on Chinese imports has been raised to 145%.

Samsung Electronics' subsidiary Harman International is reportedly planning to divest part of its operations in India while pursuing growth opportunities in the automotive electronics sector through mergers and acquisitions (M&A). The company has appointed Deutsche Bank as its financial advisor for the sale.

A 25% US tariff on imported passenger vehicles took effect on April 3, following earlier announcements and delays that gave automakers time to adjust. With varying levels of domestic production and market exposure, automakers are now rolling out divergent pricing strategies in response.

The US government under President Donald Trump initiated a new round of trade protection policies on April 3, 2025, imposing a 25% tariff on all automobiles produced outside the US and planning to further expand this to the automotive component supply chain starting May 3, 2025. This move has triggered a ripple effect across the global automotive industry, with China, as a major hub for automotive components, being particularly affected.

US president Donald Trump's tariffs war has heaped pressure on the entire automotive supply chain. But Taiwan-based automotive components maker Hiroca Holdings, which runs manufacturing in Mexico, sees no immediate impact from the newly announced US tariffs.

Japan's Nikkei 225 plummeted more than 1,700 points, or over 5%, on April 9 as the latest set of US tariffs, including a massive 104% levy on Chinese imports, took effect. Rising trade tensions between the US and China have created uncertainty for businesses operating within China, including Apple. The tech giant's iPhone production is significantly dependent on Chinese manufacturing, which could be impacted by the ongoing economic dispute.

The latest US tariffs have caused widespread anxiety among automotive manufacturers around the world, as complete vehicles and components imported to the US become targets. Amid this uncertainty, Taiwanese aftermarket (AM) component makers have remained relatively optimistic. Tong Yang Group and Hushan Autoparts have both reported results for March 2025, while also sharing their views on the impact of US tariffs.

Following the announcement of the reciprocal tariff policy by US President Donald Trump, South Korean companies are thoroughly reviewing their supply chains and formulating countermeasures. Enterprises with production bases in China and Vietnam may face direct impacts, raising public concern.

On April 2, 2025, US President Donald Trump announced a new round of tariffs, imposing rates as high as 46% on products from Vietnam, 34% on those from China, 32% on Indonesia, and 26% on goods from India—key regions where many South Korean companies have production hubs. This escalation threatens to disrupt the complex global supply chains of these firms. However, for businesses like Hanwha Solutions and OCI, which run solar energy plants in the US, the changing geopolitical landscape could strengthen their competitive position.

China has imposed new export restrictions on seven medium and heavy rare earth elements—samarium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, lutetium, scandium, and yttrium—through a joint directive from the Ministry of Commerce and the General Administration of Customs. Although intended to curb US access, the move could have far-reaching consequences, with potential disruptions across the robotics sector and its broader supply chain.

Although China's automobile industry has overtaken its competitors on the global stage, the industry itself is suffering from ever-increasing internal competition, with supply chain players pointing to homogeneity as the main culprit.

In his "Liberation Day" speech on April 2, former U.S. President Donald Trump singled out key players in the global tech and trade landscape — including TSMC, its chairman C.C. Wei, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, and notably China's President Xi Jinping — as he unveiled a sweeping reciprocal tariff plan aimed at bringing manufacturing back to America.

Chinese companies like BYD are now leaders in autonomous driving technology, bolstered by a strong ecosystem and government support, putting significant pressure on Tesla.

The US auto industry is experiencing a purchasing frenzy ahead of the 25% tariff set to take effect on April 3 under President Donald Trump. The tariff will be expanded on May 3 to include components like engines and transmissions, exacerbating concerns in both domestic and international supply chains.

Silicon carbide (SiC) supply chain prices have collapsed due to China's production capacity expansion, creating a challenging market environment for the first half of 2025, according to ACME Electronics General Manager Wen-Hao Wu. Despite these headwinds, ACME Electronics—which specializes in manganese-zinc/nickel-zinc soft ferrite cores and SiC powders—reports minimal impact due to its focus on markets outside China.