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Oct 12
DIGITIMES Insight: Personal AI agents could reshape who controls the smart cockpit experience

Meta's recent introduction of its personal AI agent, Muse, has renewed interest in AI assistants capable of operating across devices. Unlike conventional AI features tied to individual smartphones, computers or vehicles, personal AI agents use memory, reasoning and tools to understand user needs and maintain personalised experiences across services and devices. DIGITIMES observes that this shift could extend AI agents into vehicles, transforming smart cockpits from standalone in-car systems into connected environments integrated with smartphones, wearables and personal digital services.

At the Paris Motor Show, Stellantis NV CEO Antonio Filosa rejected proposals to split the company's European and US brands and said the company would not sell Maserati. The automaker is pursuing a US$70 billion restructuring plan as it seeks to reverse a sharp decline in its share price.
Huawei's automotive partnerships are accelerating their overseas expansion while facing growing scrutiny over product safety and brand trust. AITO is reportedly planning to enter the European market in 2027 and has initiated the European Union's Whole Vehicle Type Approval (WVTA) process.
Grenergy Enterprise reported consolidated revenue of NT$34.83 million (approx. US$1.09 million) for September 2026, up 66% from the previous month and 38% from a year earlier. Growth was primarily driven by rising demand for low-speed electric vehicles (LSEV), which boosted shipments of battery modules for tow tractors, as well as shipments of battery packs for garbage truck compactors.
Chinese CMOS image sensor (CIS) maker SmartSens completed a CNY3.2 billion (approx. US$478 million) capital increase in September 2026 to expand into automotive electronics and AI vision. The investment targets high-performance imaging, intelligent driving and on-device AI computing, extending its sensing technology into image processing and edge applications as demand for environmental perception grows in vehicles and robots.
As plans for the Terafab project begin to take shape, the emergence of a scaled chipmaking initiative increasingly reflects Elon Musk's broader ambition to push vertical AI integration across his expanding industrial stack.
As the push toward smarter vehicle systems and full electrification intensifies alongside China's strengthening position in the EV market, these trends are increasingly prompting overseas automakers to enter a new phase of operational restructuring.
China proposed tighter vehicle design and safety requirements that would restrict fully hidden door handles, virtual controls for critical functions and several interior features in new vehicles. The draft rules, issued by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and three other government departments, are intended to reduce safety risks associated with rapidly developed vehicle models and would affect automakers seeking approvals in China.
Aker Technology said AI and electric vehicle demand are driving faster shipments, with automotive products accounting for 51.88% of sales in the first half of 2026. The quartz component maker also said its 312.5MHz product is scheduled to sample in the fourth quarter of 2026.
LED lens manufacturer Ledlink Optics reported record monthly and quarterly revenue in September and the third quarter of 2026, respectively, driven by sustained demand for automotive optical lenses and steadily increasing shipments of precision structural components for AI servers.
LG Group is preparing to test five commercial components developed by LG Electronics, LG Innotek, and LG Energy Solution (LGES), including cameras and batteries, aboard a CubeSat carried as a secondary payload on South Korea's fifth Nuri rocket launch. The mission aims to assess whether commercially available components can operate reliably in space.
Samsung Electronics' System LSI division is reportedly planning a retreat from the automotive application processor (AP) business and launching a major restructuring, with a future focus on high-margin areas such as image sensors and mobile system-on-chip (SoC) products. Analysts say Samsung is seeking to improve profitability in its non-memory businesses through a selection and concentration strategy after years of losses at System LSI and its foundry operations.