Chinese electric vehicle maker XPeng Motors believes the robotics industry will eventually surpass the automotive sector in scale, though consumer adoption may take several years. The company plans to initially focus on commercial applications in factories and retail environments.

With the collaboration between Nvidia and major US automaker General Motors (GM), AI is poised to take on a robotic form in car factories, promising to both boost production efficiency and advance autonomous driving technology.

With competitive pressure increasing in the Chinese market, compounded by various unfavorable factors globally, Tesla China announced on March 17 that it will offer a one-month free trial of its full self-driving (FSD) feature. This initiative is viewed as an urgent measure to stimulate sales in the Chinese market and demonstrates Tesla's effort to enhance competitiveness and reverse declining sales.

According to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, China's automobile export volume reached 5.859 million units in 2024, representing a year-over-year increase of 19.3%. This includes 4.574 million internal combustion engine vehicles and 1.284 million new energy vehicles.

The development of edge AI, driven by DeepSeek, has garnered attention and created opportunities for new suppliers aiming to position themselves in the AI servers market. YS Tech, primarily focused on automotive and consumer technology, has recently ventured into AI servers. General manager Robert Liu stated that the company will focus on Tier 2 suppliers and is targeting the cooling opportunities brought about by edge AI.

The Nvidia GPU Technology Conference (GTC) is eagerly awaited for updates on new GPUs and AI innovations, such as humanoid robots and autonomous vehicles, to which Taiwan is anticipated to continue being a significant contributor.

Escalating trade tensions under President Trump's new tariff regime are forcing Tesla to recalibrate its China strategy, with deeper Baidu partnerships emerging as a crucial lifeline. The electric vehicle (EV) maker faces growing data restrictions as Chinese regulations prevent its 2 million vehicles from transmitting information back to the US for driving systems training, while US policy simultaneously blocks AI software training in China—effectively crippling Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) capabilities in the world's largest auto market.

BYD, China's automotive giant, has recently taken the lead in the race for intelligent driving equality, triggering a nationwide push among car manufacturers to accelerate the adoption of smarter, more autonomous vehicles. The rise of Deepseek, a promising new player in the field, appears poised to significantly impact China's intelligent driving sector, potentially reshaping the future of the industry.

For three years, China's automotive market has been embroiled in a price-cutting war, evolving from a tussle between new energy vehicles and traditional cars to a contest for smart driving capabilities. Automakers are vying for market share with rapid tech upgrades and aggressive pricing for new models, while the used car market faces increasing turmoil.

The concept of digital twins initially emerged in consumer applications for AR/VR/MR, but its future lies in smart manufacturing. Like quantum computing, this is not a technology that will take 20 years to materialize, but a tangible reality within the next decade. Hardware evolution may progress even faster than expected, but the real challenge lies in educating users and making these new technologies mainstream applications.

In Ruifang District, New Taipei City, once known for its bustling mining industry, the economic landscape transformed with the creation of the Ruifang Industrial Zone in 1981. Among the new enterprises, Hushan Autoparts emerged in 1983, starting small and gradually expanding.

In the Chinese automotive market, emerging manufacturers such as NIO, Xpeng, Li Auto, and Leapmotor have long been emblematic of the industry's shift toward self-developed intelligent driving technology. Historically, these companies were known for their high degree of in-house innovation in autonomous driving systems. However, as intelligent driving technologies gain broader adoption across China, many of these new players are now increasingly turning to outsourcing partnerships.

Tesla has begun rolling out a software update in China, introducing Autopilot driver-assistance features similar to the Full Self-Driving (FSD) system in the US—without explicitly branding it as FSD. The update expands Autopilot's reach into China, a key market where local competitors are advancing autonomous driving technologies.

Chinese electric vehicle leader BYD recently launched its smart driving system, God's Eye, aiming to offer advanced driver-assistance features at a low cost, making smart driving more accessible to everyday consumers. However, competitors seem to be rather unimpressed.

Geely Auto (Geely) recently introduced the DeepSeek large language model, set to enable significant leaps in human-machine interface (HMI) upgrades for its vehicles in the future. This move may also send shockwaves through the autonomous driving chip and solution platforms, posing potential threats to the industry's leading players.

BYD Electronics is positioned to become the primary beneficiary of BYD's upcoming intelligent driving expansion, according to a CLSA research report. At its 30th-anniversary event on February 10, 2025, BYD will unveil its comprehensive autonomous driving strategy, supported by a CNY100 billion investment in technology development.

At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2025, DIGITIMES analyst Mark Yu provided insights into smart mobility breakthroughs and future developments, drawing from his firsthand experience at the event.

The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, composed of General Motors (GM), Toyota, Volkswagen, and others, has recently appealed to a US court to overturn a regulation set by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) during the Biden administration. This regulation mandates that by 2029, all new cars in the US must be equipped with Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) systems. As Biden's ban constrained Chinese companies, this offered opportunities for Taiwanese manufacturers.

Inceptio Technology, a Chinese developer of self-driving technologies for heavy-duty trucks, is exploring an initial public offering in the US as soon as this year, people familiar with the matter said.

The Biden Administration planned to ban Chinese hardware and software for vehicle communication and autonomous driving systems in the US by September 2024. In addition to this, a 100% tariff on Chinese electric vehicles (EVs) has been introduced, with additional tariffs expected under a potential second term for Donald Trump. These measures reflect heightened scrutiny of Chinese technology in critical sectors.

The Biden Administration seized the opportunity during its last days in office to introduce new regulations for artificial intelligence (AI) chip controls, categorizing China as a third-level control area with almost total prohibition.

The Biden administration is rolling out measures to bolster US automotive manufacturing and artificial intelligence (AI) development, as it looks to sharpen curbs on Chinese technology and tee up potential restrictions for Donald Trump, to enact.

The US's tightened semiconductor restrictions have propelled China's drive for self-sufficiency, spurring advancements in autonomous vehicles, AI robotics, and industrial-grade semiconductors. This development could enable China to shape global industry standards.

The self-driving car industry has bounced back from a Cruise incident in 2023 thanks to advancements in generative AI. These innovations in AI robotics now place the industry on the verge of potentially exceeding US$1 trillion, highlighting it as a notable force in technology.

Honda and Renesas Electronics have joined forces to co-develop high-performance chips for its next-generation electric vehicles (EVs), integrating advanced features like autonomous driving. Leveraging TSMC's cutting-edge 3nm process technology, these chips are designed to deliver superior performance and efficiency.