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Apr 2
France backs Taiwan's ProLogium with EUR1.5B subsidy to build solid-state battery factory
The French government will provide about EUR1.5 billion (US$1.7 billion) in subsidies to support Taiwanese startup ProLogium Technology's new factory construction in France. According to Nikkei, this move signals France's accelerated efforts to attract electric vehicle (EV) battery manufacturers and marks a shift from its previous "self-reliance" industrial policy focused on EU-based companies.
Acer's smart mobility strategy is beginning to show results. The company expects the overall industry to rebound in 2026 and anticipates its smart mobility to expand, with full-year growth likely reaching double digits. Key growth markets will be the US and Canada, while opportunities in electric motorcycles and e-bikes are also promising in the Asia-Pacific region. However, despite being a large e-bike market, China is not a current target due to intense competition.
In January 2026, Canada reached an agreement with China to allow the annual import of 49,000 Chinese electric vehicles (EVs), replacing tariffs that had previously reached as high as 100%. The policy shift has fueled consumer speculation about the prospect of "half-price" cars. In practice, however, industry executives say such expectations are unlikely to materialize.

The trade environment for US businesses operating in or trading with China deteriorated sharply between 2025 and 2026, according to a comparative analysis of the latest National Trade Estimate (NTE) Reports, underscoring a widening gap between high-level diplomacy and on-the-ground economic realities.

In the era of software-defined vehicles (SDVs), the automotive industry faces a fundamental tension: while a car's mechanical structure can last 15 years or more, its digital computing and communication technologies evolve on a 3-to-5-year cycle.
LG Energy Solution has introduced a new "double stack" manufacturing process for prismatic batteries to be supplied to Tesla, according to South Korea's The Elec, as the battery maker expands US production for grid-scale energy storage.

MG, the European arm of China's SAIC Motor Group, confirmed that its upcoming MG4 Urban will feature semi-solid battery technology to address the range loss issues of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries in cold climates. LFP batteries are known to lose significant performance in high-latitude, low-temperature environments, drastically reducing driving range. By adopting semi-solid batteries, MG aims to limit range loss even in extreme conditions from -20°C to -40°C, offering European drivers more consistent EV performance.

Japan Display Inc. (JDI) signed a definitive agreement to sell its Tottori Fab to Yahata Touei Estate K.K., with handover scheduled for September 30, 2026; JDI said the transaction follows its March 2025 production halt and forms part of structural reforms that could influence global automotive display supply and the Japanese manufacturing consolidation industry.

Huawei reported 2025 revenue of CNY880.9 billion, up 2.2% year-over-year, its second-highest on record, with net profit rising 8.63% to CNY68 billion (approx. US$9.87 billion). Growth slowed sharply from 22.4% in 2024, leaving revenue just below its 2020 peak of CNY891.4 billion and raising the bar for further expansion, analysts cited by Chinastarmarket.cn said.

A year ago, the Japanese automotive world watched Honda, the financially robust "second brother," attempt to assert dominance over its smaller sibling Nissan. The high-stakes negotiations, marked by a glaring imbalance of power, ended abruptly and bitterly.

Malaysia's EV industrial policy is creating tension with foreign automakers, as export-driven and localization rules prompt BYD to reassess a planned plant. At the same time, authorities insist the framework supports long-term industry development.

In a breakthrough that could redefine electric vehicle (EV) battery technology, a research team led by Professor Yu-Sheng Su at the International College of Semiconductor Technology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU), has developed a lithium-titanate (LTO) battery design that increases capacity by 167% while offering greater safety than conventional automotive lithium-ion batteries.