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Wednesday 16 July 2025
South Korean AV startup brings self-driving shuttles to Singapore with Grab
As autonomous vehicle (AV) companies worldwide race to accelerate commercialization, Singapore has established itself as a premier proving ground for self-driving technology. South Korean autonomous shuttle startup Autonomous A2Z has seized on Singapore's robust regulatory framework and advanced infrastructure to launch its first overseas operation, partnering with ride-hailing giant Grab to deploy self-driving shuttle services on public roads in Singapore's bustling downtown.
Wednesday 16 July 2025
Copper shock: auto industry faces cost surge under new tariff
President Donald Trump's latest tariff announcement — a proposed 50% duty on copper imports to take effect in August — is sending shockwaves through the American auto industry, which is already strained by rising material costs. Industry analysts warn the move could trigger a fresh wave of price increases for vehicles, as financial pressures ripple down through the supply chain.
Wednesday 16 July 2025
European automakers confront Trump 2.0 tariff reality
The Trump administration has unveiled the second wave of reciprocal tariffs, escalating trade tensions with the European Union. Under the latest announcement, tariffs on EU imports will increase by 10% to 30%, taking effect in August 2025. In response, the EU has finalized a retaliatory tariff list targeting American goods, including Boeing aircraft, automobiles, and whiskey.
Wednesday 16 July 2025
EV disputes remain a roadblock to EU-China relations
As the European Union and China prepare to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations with a high-level summit in Beijing at the end of July 2025, the atmosphere behind closed doors is far from festive. The main issue at hand is the tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles (EVs), which have become a contentious point in the increasingly complex trade relationship between the EU and China.
Wednesday 16 July 2025
Asian nations face new US tariffs; Taiwan's auto parts makers eye reshored demand
New tariff rates from the US government are set to take effect in August, impacting a range of countries, including Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Malaysia, all key players in Taiwan's regional trade network. Despite the broader uncertainties, Taiwan's automotive parts industry is expressing optimism, anticipating a potential surge in orders.
Wednesday 16 July 2025
Prolonged US trade negotiations loom over Taiwanese auto parts suppliers
With tariff negotiations between Taiwan and the United States dragging on with no clear outcome, Taiwan's auto parts industry is feeling like it's on a roller coaster ride — uncertain, uneasy, but ultimately resigned to a wait-and-see approach.
Wednesday 16 July 2025
Semco pushes thinner chip capacitors to chase AI server boom
Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co. (Semco) is ramping up development of advanced multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCC) as demand surges from artificial intelligence (AI) servers and automotive systems, betting that breakthroughs in ceramic powder technology will give it an edge over Chinese rivals.
Tuesday 15 July 2025
Auto supply chains brace for tariffs and inflation bite
The global automotive supply chain is under growing strain amid a turbulent macroeconomic environment. As pressure mounts, Chinese automakers are passing rising costs onto suppliers, prompting government intervention. Foreign media reports that Western carmakers—including Ford and Stellantis—have also begun tightening contract terms with their suppliers in response.
Monday 14 July 2025
As physical AI matures, SOS Lab bets big on smarter, smaller LiDAR
With autonomous vehicles and service robots ushering in a new era of "physical AI," the spotlight is once again on core sensing technologies. While Tesla CEO Elon Musk has famously championed vision-based systems over LiDAR, South Korean startup SOS Lab believes laser-based sensing is poised for a comeback, thanks to breakthroughs in size, clarity, and safety.
Monday 14 July 2025
Hyundai sets 2028 goal for AI-integrated software-defined vehicles

Hyundai Motor, South Korea's largest automaker, has announced plans to release its first production vehicle equipped with end-to-end (E2E) autonomous driving technology by 2027. The company also aims to launch a fully integrated software-defined vehicle (SDV), powered by artificial intelligence and cloud-based services, by 2028.

Sunday 13 July 2025
Despite exchange rates hurting June revenue, Laster Tech's 1H25 still posts record high
Despite foreign exchange fluctuations and seasonal factors decreasing June revenue, LED automotive lighting module manufacturer Laster Tech still achieved a record-high consolidated revenue for the first half of 2025.
Friday 11 July 2025
Nissan to cut component lines and suppliers in the deepening crisis
In a bid to pull itself out of a deepening business crisis, Nissan Motor has announced sweeping structural reforms that could drastically reshape its production network and leave thousands of Japanese suppliers in peril.
Friday 11 July 2025
China tackles auto supplier payment crisis with complaint platform
Facing growing frustration from suppliers, China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has launched a national complaint platform to address delayed payments by automakers — a widespread issue that has plagued small and medium-sized suppliers amid the country's ongoing automotive price wars. Whether the platform can offer effective relief, however, remains uncertain.
Thursday 10 July 2025
US auto market resets as Trump shuts door on Chinese electric cars
President Donald Trump's return to the White House may have dealt a blow to the clean energy subsidies championed under President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), but his administration is doubling down on "America First" manufacturing and mounting a fierce blockade against Chinese electric vehicles (EVs).
Thursday 10 July 2025
Three questions for Taiwan and its attempt to build a fully integrated EV industry

Taiwan's electric scooter market appears to be entering a new phase—one defined by a tripartite division of battery-swapping networks. But with limited space, dense urban populations, and room still left for adoption growth, a fundamental question arises: How many battery-swapping systems does Taiwan need? And more importantly, what are the hidden costs and long-term risks that come with this model?

Wednesday 9 July 2025
GSEO expects 2H25 orders to outpace 2H24
Taiwanese lens maker Genius Electronic Optical (GSEO) announced its latest financial report on July 8 and expects revenue in the third quarter will grow compared with the second quarter, as it moves into the peak season in July.
Wednesday 9 July 2025
Kinko Optical avoids price war, achieves 25% revenue surge in 1H25 with premium lens strategy
Taiwan-based Kinko Optical has strategically avoided low-price competition by expanding its mid- to high-end lens and next-generation product offerings, resulting in nearly 25% revenue growth in the first half of 2025.
Wednesday 9 July 2025
Is a 25% US tariff on Japan high? Combined impact of auto and steel tariffs significant
US President Donald Trump notified trade partners on July 7, 2025, Eastern Time, of new tariff rates set to take effect on August 1. He first informed Japan and South Korea that a 25% reciprocal tariff would be imposed on their goods, warning that rates could increase further if retaliatory measures are taken.
Wednesday 9 July 2025
Volvo cuts jobs in China as EV ambitions stall and global restructuring accelerates
Volvo Cars has begun laying off staff in its China operations, with the majority of the cuts affecting its Shanghai-based technical and research and development center, according to employees familiar with the matter. The affected departments include engineering, research and development, and supply chain management. Employees have reportedly been offered severance packages equivalent to three months' salary plus one month for each year of service (N+3).
Wednesday 9 July 2025
Foxconn eyes Nissan factory as EV gateway in Japan

Nissan Motor Co. has initiated discussions with Foxconn over a possible collaboration to convert its Oppama plant in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, into a manufacturing site for EVs. If finalized, Foxconn plans to inject fresh capital into Oppama and leverage the facility's sprawling supply network and experienced workforce to strengthen its EV supply chain in Japan.

Tuesday 8 July 2025
With tariff clarity, Aeon Motor’s Vietnam strategy shifts into high gear

Taiwanese electric vehicle maker Aeon Motor has officially begun mass production at its new Vietnam facility as of April, with the first batch of US-bound products shipped in May. The company sees the move as a critical milestone in its broader global expansion and a strategic hedge amid shifting trade policies and intensifying supply chain decoupling.

Tuesday 8 July 2025
Taiwanese firms upbeat about Vietnam's long-term prospects in auto manufacturing
Taiwanese firms remain optimistic about Vietnam's long-term automotive prospects, citing trade agreements, government support, and improving infrastructure. Though still developing compared to Thailand and Malaysia, Vietnam's rising local production and supply chain integration, boosted by Taiwan's "Local by Local" strategy, signal strong potential for future growth in the sector.
Monday 7 July 2025
J Space drives growth for CMC as Taiwan's auto market recovers

China Motor Corporation (CMC) unveiled a new special edition of its popular J Space model on July 2, 2025. Buoyed by strong sales momentum, the company also raised its full-year sales target for the vehicle from 17,000 to 19,000 units.

Friday 4 July 2025
Big screens, bigger stakes: LG and Samsung compete in the SDV display market

The global automotive industry is rapidly pivoting toward software-defined vehicles (SDVs), fueling a parallel surge in demand for large in-car displays. Market research firm Omdia forecasts that displays larger than 10 inches will account for a staggering 81% of automotive display sales by 2027, nearly doubling their market share from 2021.

Thursday 3 July 2025
BYD's Mexico factory on hold due to trade uncertainty and geopolitical concerns
Facing rising geopolitical tensions and uncertainty surrounding US trade policy under President Donald J. Trump, Chinese EV maker BYD has put plans for a large-scale factory in Mexico on hold.