Mobile technology giant Vivo and new energy vehicle leader BYD have officially signed a comprehensive strategic cooperation agreement, marking a major milestone in smart mobility.

Democrats have won control of Congress in the US midterm elections, turning the second half of President Donald Trump's term into a lame-duck period. Trump still holds the veto, however, and overriding it requires a two-thirds vote in both chambers. Congress is therefore more likely to apply pressure through budgets, investigations, and blocking new legislation than to overturn executive orders outright. For Taiwan's technology sector and supply chain, several fronts are worth watching closely.

Foxconn-backed Foxtron GM Adam Chen said the company exported EVs to Australia and New Zealand in September this year, signed an agreement with Mitsubishi Fuso to develop electric buses, and plans to enter the European market. As protectionism intensifies worldwide, localization will become an unavoidable path for automakers, Chen said.

Ecarx, an automotive technology supplier, reported a 65% year-over-year reduction in profit for the third quarter of 2026 on November 4 as rising memory-chip costs eroded margins despite higher sales.

Electric vehicles (EVs) represent the single-most effective starting point for the automotive industry's net-zero transition, as their energy efficiency is nearly four times that of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, according to Adam Chen, President of Foxtron Vehicle Technologies.

SuperAlloy reported strong third-quarter 2026 results, with consolidated revenue rising 18.5% year-over-year to NT$2.016 billion (US$61.4 million) as demand from international supercar and luxury vehicle brands increased. Operating profit jumped 211.7% to NT$208 million, while net income attributable to the parent company surged 478.1% to NT$247 million.

Toyota Motor Corporation is partnering with autonomous taxi leader Waymo to advance its dual-track strategy in self-driving vehicles, as the auto industry faces the rapid rise of autonomous driving and software-defined vehicles (SDVs).

Samsung Display (SDC) is facing a shortage of automotive OLED panels supplied to Chinese EV maker Li Auto, prompting Li Auto to temporarily ship some new Mega vehicles with LCD panels. Strong vehicle sales have driven demand for high-specification displays beyond expectations, potentially giving SDC's automotive OLED business fresh momentum.

Alphabet's autonomous taxi service Waymo began operations in San Diego, California, in September 2026 and expanded its coverage on October 27. However, EV owners have reported that large numbers of robotaxis are using public fast-charging stations, forcing other drivers to queue and prompting local politicians to call for tighter oversight of autonomous vehicles.

Foxconn outlined EV expansion plans for Europe and Japan at its 2026 Hon Hai Tech Day (HHTD 26), positioning Taiwan as more than a manufacturing base. The strategy could give Taiwan's auto industry new ways to enter international markets through vehicle exports, contract manufacturing, and overseas platform partnerships.

Taiwanese automotive aftermarket retailer Car Quality Automotive is launching a major franchise expansion. Chairman Feng-Min Cho announced that the company began rolling out franchised stores in 2026, targeting 20 locations by the end of the year, expanding to 100 in 2027, and aiming for 300 stores within three years. On the operational front, Car Quality Automotive plans to complete its Southeast Asian market rollout within two years, with plans to submit an application for a Taipei Exchange (TPEx) over-the-counter listing in April 2027 and officially list in the third quarter of 2027.

JPP Holding's Thai operating arm, Jinpao Precision Industry, joined Praksa subdistrict authorities in Samut Prakan Province, Thailand, on October 31 to hold the finals of the Jinpao–Praksa automation and robotics innovation competition, strengthening its efforts to develop AI and smart-manufacturing talent locally. Chairman Chung Kuo-sung said corporate philanthropy should involve long-term engagement with local communities rather than one-time donations.

Foxconn is in advanced discussions with Polish electric vehicle (EV) company Electromobility Poland (EMP) to establish a joint venture, with an agreement expected soon, according to Jun Seki, Chief Strategy Officer of Foxconn's EV business.

Hon Hai Precision Industry (Foxconn) and Japan's Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus (MFTBC) will officially launch their bus joint venture on November 2, according to Foxconn chief strategy officer for electric vehicles (EVs) Jun Seki. Separately, Foxconn's joint venture with Mitsubishi Electric's automotive business is expected to take around nine to 10 months to complete antitrust reviews in various countries.

South Korean companies showcased humanoid robot components, dual-arm machines, and autonomous driving systems at FIX 2026 in Daegu, offering a look at how developers are bringing automation into factories and transportation. The technologies ranged from robotic hardware under development for manufacturing applications to an autonomous taxi service already carrying paying passengers.

Speaking at Hon Hai Tech Day (HHTD 26), Kazunori Tanaka, Representative Director and President of Mitsubishi Electric Mobility, emphasized that the company's core competitiveness in EV platforms has decisively pivoted toward software—spanning electric powertrains, autonomous driving, and in-cabin intelligence. Tanaka announced that Mitsubishi Electric Mobility will officially join the Foxconn family in October 2027, leveraging complementary strengths to target JPY1 trillion (approx. US$6.4 billion) in annual revenue by 2030.

Foxconn Technology Group Chief Strategy Officer Jun Seki unveiled three new electric vehicles (EVs) at Hon Hai Tech Day 2026 (HHTD 26): the Model A+, an SUV derived from the Model A platform; the Model K, a light-duty truck built on a new compact platform; and the Model K+, a small SUV based on the Model K.

BYD reported rising profits for the third quarter of 2026, but its performance fell short of analysts' forecasts. The result stems from the challenges China's automakers face, navigating price wars at home while pushing to expand to higher-margin overseas markets.

BYD's premium Yangwang brand has named its ultra-luxury flagship sedan "Altior," with the model expected to sell for more than CNY2 million (US$300,027.8). Developed over approximately three years, the sedan is set to debut in the United Arab Emirates as Yangwang seeks to compete with Mercedes-Maybach, Rolls-Royce, and Bentley.

Qisda President Cally Ko said future infrastructure supporting autonomous physical AI would evolve beyond simply providing connectivity and power to also deliver sensing, computing, and autonomous dispatching capabilities. She also disclosed that the company's commercial drones had already secured orders and entered production, while its quadruped robots were expected to be unveiled publicly in early 2027.

China's luxury car market is undergoing a major brand reshuffle. BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, and Porsche all recorded significant sales or delivery declines in China in the third quarter of 2026, while domestic automakers continued moving upmarket with new energy vehicles (NEVs), smart cockpits, and driver-assistance technology.

Foxconn Technology Day (HHTD) is set to take place at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center on October 30, with "Accelerating Intelligence" as its theme for 2026. While AI infrastructure and smart manufacturing will feature prominently, battery electric vehicles (BEVs) remain a major focus of industry attention.

Toyota Motor Corporation is accelerating the commercialization of robots, creating potential opportunities for Ikka Holdings (IKKA-KY) to leverage its existing Japanese automotive supply-chain relationships and compete for robot component orders. IKKA, a long-standing supplier of Toyota-related automotive products, also plans to strengthen its metal-gear and robotic-arm assembly capabilities through an investment in Yijin Precision, extending its customer relationships into new applications.

Tesla's automotive business weakened in the third quarter of 2026 as lower average vehicle prices and battery shortages pressured revenue and profit, while the company accelerated investment in artificial intelligence and its autonomous vehicle strategy. Total revenue was flat, automotive revenue fell 3% year-over-year to US$20.56 billion, and net income declined 4% to US$1.7 billion.

Imported electric vehicles captured more than half of South Korea's new electric passenger-car registrations during the first nine months of 2026, marking the first time the share of domestically made models fell below that threshold. About 258,000 new electric passenger cars were registered from January through September, with imported vehicles accounting for 51.3%, or approximately 132,000 units, according to data from the Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association cited by Money Today and Seoul Economic Daily.