Although the defense market has emerged as a new blue ocean for the auto industry, entering it is far from smooth sailing. The main concern remains the national security sensitivities inherent in defense work. Amid international rivalry, automotive supply chains moving into defense can easily become targets, raising the risk that defense gains could shake companies' core automotive businesses. In addition, small, customized defense orders may offer limited profit margins, posing another concern for automakers.

LG Energy Solution expects revenue to keep rising in the fourth quarter while profit dips. On its November 3 earnings call, it told analysts that its North American energy storage system (ESS) business is improving its profitability more slowly than the market expected. Executives also said tighter sourcing rules in the US and Europe are shaping how the battery maker buys materials, chooses customers, and plans its balance sheet.

Onsemi is pitching its AI data center business as a play on the entire power path inside an AI rack, and for now it is prioritizing that business and industrial customers over automotive restocking. On its third-quarter 2026 earnings call, the US chipmaker repeated that AI data center revenue should double in 2027 from a higher 2026 base. It also guided automotive revenue down by a high single-digit percentage in the fourth quarter, which management called a supply decision, not a strategic one.

Foxtron Vehicle Technologies became Taiwan's top-selling EV brand for the first time in October 2026 by capitalizing on Tesla's early-quarter supply gap. The milestone is a sign that the homegrown automaker is gaining scale, even as Tesla still dominates the market.

Bosch plans to create a dedicated semiconductor division as it seeks more business in robotics, AI infrastructure, and manufacturing for external customers, extending a chip strategy rooted in automotive electronics into additional markets.

LG Energy Solution's third-quarter recovery shows energy storage as a growing earnings driver as the battery maker redirects production toward North American demand. Better factory utilization helped restore operating profit even without manufacturing incentives, although a consolidated net loss and cash outflow show that the recovery remains incomplete.

Denso, Japan's largest auto parts maker, reported falling profits for the first half of fiscal 2026 as surging memory and other component costs, driven partly by the AI boom, offset revenue growth. The company said it will pass some costs on to customers when necessary while securing supplies through long-term contracts.

Tong Hsing Electronic Industries (THEIL) outlined the latest developments and market trends across its four major product lines of optical communications, ceramic substrates, new semiconductor materials, and image sensors, during an earnings call on October 30.

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.

From the spectacular flying demonstration of its next-generation Roadster to the prospect of a merger with SpaceX, Tesla appears to be approaching a historic strategic turning point.