As Tesla's long-rumored low-cost electric vehicle appears poised for launch, anxiety is rising across its global battery supply chain—particularly among Korean and Japanese partners. Industry observers warn that Tesla's increasing reliance on Chinese-made lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries could marginalize long-standing suppliers like LG Energy Solution (LGES), L&F, and Panasonic, potentially eroding their influence in the world's most consequential EV supply chain.
For years, automakers across Europe, the US, Japan, and even China have heralded 2025 as the dawn of Level 3 (L3) autonomous vehicles—a long-anticipated turning point for the commercialization of self-driving technology. Yet, a familiar question resurfaces: Is the year of L3 still approaching?
The global silicon carbide (SiC) supply chain is facing renewed turbulence, driven by weakening EV demand, aggressive market entry by Chinese suppliers, and mounting concerns over a potential bankruptcy at Wolfspeed, the top US-based SiC manufacturer. Wen-Hao Wu, Director of Taiwan-based ACME Electronics, which produces manganese-zinc and nickel-zinc soft ferrite cores alongside SiC powders, commented that while Wolfspeed is a client, it is not a Tier 1 customer, and any exposure remains limited.
On May 21, Jabil, a global manufacturing solutions provider for the automotive industry, announced that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with AVL Software and Functions GmbH, the e-drive and software arm of AVL List GmbH. The agreement marks the beginning of a strategic collaboration aimed at streamlining the development of next-generation vehicle electronics.
As smart vehicles shift from mechanical machines to software-defined platforms, the global auto industry is confronting structural challenges that stretch far beyond hardware. At the Smart Automotive Forum held on May 16 in Taipei, TÜV Rheinland, a leading global provider of technical testing and certification, presented a comprehensive white paper titled Driving the Future: Key Trends in Intelligent Vehicle Development (transliteration), which outlines the regulatory, technical, and validation transformations ahead.
