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Aug 12
Aleees wins Tesla supply deal as new LFP plant eyes Tainan

Taiwanese lithium battery materials maker Aleees said it secured a 20-year supply contract with Tesla Inc. and plans to deliver at least 100,000 tons of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) precursor materials annually to support demand in the US market. The company is also searching for a new factory site, with Tainan emerging as the leading option.

LG Energy Solution (LGES) and China's Jiangsu Lopal Tech have signed a three-year framework agreement covering up to CNY27 billion (approx. US$3.8 billion) in lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cathode material sales as the South Korean battery maker rapidly expands its energy storage system (ESS) business.

Samsung SDI is ending its battery manufacturing partnership with General Motors (GM) in Indiana, terminating a major EV joint venture — and sending ripples across the supply chain.

LG Chem has been selected as a cathode material supplier for HL-GA Battery Company, the US battery manufacturing joint venture between Hyundai Motor Group and LG Energy Solution, according to The Elec, which cited industry sources. The material accounts for roughly 40% of the cost of a battery cell, and the win is expected to help accelerate LG Chem's shift from petrochemicals toward a business focused on advanced materials.
LX Semicon has begun mass production of an automotive microcontroller unit (MCU) and started supplying the chip to Hyundai Motor and Kia, marking the first time the two automakers will use a South Korean-made MCU in vehicles. The move also marks LX Semicon's first mass-production achievement in automotive MCUs, expanding its business beyond the display driver ICs for which it is best known.

Chinese authorities have announced that sodium-ion batteries will be exempt from consumption tax from September 2026 through the end of 2028, while lithium batteries will once again gradually face a 2% to 4% consumption tax. The new policy creates a 28-month "lithium-sodium tax gap" of about 2% to 4%, accelerating commercialization of sodium-ion batteries and drawing previously cautious downstream buyers into the market.

US battery makers are moving more quickly into sodium-ion technology to gain production flexibility, fresh capital, and reduced exposure to lithium supply shocks. Industry sources say the chemistry still trails lithium iron phosphate in scale and economics, but its long-term appeal is rising as material costs climb and policy support shifts.

Power Win Taiwan, Taiwan's largest waste battery processor, is seeing strong growth as rising electric vehicle adoption boosts demand for battery recycling, while recovering metal prices lift revenue from recycled materials.

Automotive parts makers are looking beyond cars as global demand shifts and AI infrastructure grows. Iron Force Industrial is joining that move by developing liquid-cooling components for AI servers, a shift that could open new markets for precision manufacturers worldwide. The company is seeking steadier growth despite persistent pressure in the automotive sector.
Hiroca Holdings reported consolidated revenue of NT$370 million (approx. US$11.5 million) for July, down 17.2% from the previous month and 16.7% from a year earlier. Consolidated revenue for the first seven months of 2026 reached NT$2.89 billion, down 2.07% year-over-year.
Apple's new product shipments are likely to be delayed, with supply chain sources saying a model originally slated for shipment in the fourth quarter of 2026 may slip to the first quarter of 2027. Apple is also expected to keep rolling out new OLED devices from late 2026 into early 2027.

Hotai Motor's all-round mobility services unit, Hotai Leasing, will officially launch its public listing on August 11. Hotai Leasing posted NT$2.7 billion (US$83.8 million) in consolidated revenue for July 2026, up 7.0% from the same period in 2025, reflecting strong profitability and a solid financial position.