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Apr 13, 13:53
China pressure drives Hyundai to reshape supply chain with fewer Tier 1 suppliers
The global automotive supply chain is undergoing a significant transformation driven by electrification and autonomous driving trends, shifting from traditional mechanical parts procurement toward in-house development or partnerships with tech giants. South Korea's Hyundai has recently changed its sourcing approach by expanding open tendering and reducing the number of Tier 1 suppliers.
Murata Manufacturing, a leading Japanese passive component manufacturer, announced that it has begun mass production of seven types of multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs) for automotive applications, achieving the world's largest capacitance across various rated voltages and sizes.
Under the leadership of Elon Musk, Tesla and SpaceX have stretched their ambitions across a widening array of industries — from robotaxis and the humanoid robot Optimus to low-Earth-orbit satellites and even the prospect of space-based data centers. What may appear to be a disparate set of ventures is, at its core, a coordinated strategy built on "Made in America" manufacturing and deep vertical integration.
As TSMC's entry into Kumamoto accelerates local industry, population, and tourism growth, Taiwanese smart mobility integrator Autopass announced on April 9, 2026, its plan to export integrated mobile and payment services to the Japanese market, starting with Kumamoto. The company aims to further expand across the entire Kyushu region.
Pan-International, a Foxconn subsidiary specializing in connectors, reported a year-over-year revenue decline in the first quarter of 2026 due to cautious customer sentiment and stagnant shipments of automotive products. However, the company expects revenues to rise monthly starting in the second quarter, driven by increased orders for AI servers, while maintaining its goal of double-digit growth for the full year.

The competition in robotaxis is expanding beyond the US and China into Europe, where 2026 is widely seen as the first year of commercial deployment. As domestic automakers and global players enter the market in tandem, a new contest is taking shape, one defined not just by algorithms, but by operating models and the path to profitability.

Tesla is developing a new, smaller and lower-cost electric sport utility vehicle, according to people familiar with the matter and the industry, marking a notable shift in strategy for CEO Elon Musk.

Foxconn and Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus have forged a strategic partnership aimed at exporting Japanese-made electric buses to Southeast Asia and Australia by 2030, combining Foxconn's rapid EV development capabilities with Mitsubishi Fuso's established brand and sales channels. The move addresses shrinking domestic demand in Japan and growing competition from Chinese manufacturers.

AUO and Innolux are accelerating their expansion beyond traditional display panels, with Innolux's non-display revenue surpassing 51% in 2025, mainly driven by automotive applications. AUO also aims to obtain a non-display revenue share exceeding 50% in 2026.

As artificial intelligence (AI) accelerates the buildout of data centers, the race to supply their enormous energy demands is drawing new alliances between China's technology and industrial giants.

US efforts to localize lithium battery production are encountering a new challenge: a mismatch between supply and demand, driven by political shifts and changes to subsidy programs. Batteries originally intended for the electric vehicle (EV) market are now in surplus, prompting manufacturers to rapidly rethink their strategies to avoid leaving billions of dollars in investments idle.
China-based automotive semiconductor wafer foundry Zensemi has announced a new management team led by chairman Xiaofei Chen, appointing two internationally experienced executives: KC Ang as general manager and Marco Maria Monti as co-general manager. This leadership restructuring signals Zensemi's ambition to expand its presence in the automotive and specialty process wafer markets by integrating global expertise.