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Jul 10
EU tariffs push Chinese carmakers to seek deeper ties in Europe

The EU's higher tariffs on China-made battery electric vehicles are reshaping global auto trade and investment. As Brussels tightens market access, Chinese carmakers are being pushed toward local production, while Europe's struggling manufacturers are becoming more important partners, targets, and bargaining chips.

Yulon Nissan reported June 2026 revenue on July 13, posting NT$1.236 billion(US$38.53 million), down 1.91% year on year but up 13.63% from May. The automaker said the monthly result was a five-month high and its second-highest level of 2026, supported by stronger sales and delivery momentum as it awaited benefits from new models.

Taiwan's automotive parts makers are accelerating their transformation into high-tech suppliers as the global expansion of advanced semiconductor capacity and AI server infrastructure creates new demand for precision-engineered components. Companies traditionally focused on powertrain, transmission, and safety systems are leveraging decades of manufacturing expertise to secure positions in semiconductor equipment and AI liquid-cooling supply chains, creating new growth engines beyond their core automotive businesses.

China is tying its climate agenda more closely to industrial policy. The State Council's newly released Action Plan for Carbon Peaking in the 15th Five-Year Plan sets ambitious targets that could further accelerate domestic new energy vehicle (NEV) adoption while intensifying pressure on foreign automakers.

Aker said auto and industrial control customer demand drove double-digit revenue growth in the first half of 2026, while AI-related power components also saw a sharp increase in shipments. The quartz component maker said it is also advancing optical communications products, targeting mass production of its 312.5MHz model by year-end and a 625MHz upgrade in 2027.
Sitronix Technology said this week that zero-capacitance touch with display driver integration (TDDI) and automotive display drive IC (DDI) will drive its growth in 2026, as the chipmaker reported strong June and second-quarter revenue and said demand should remain positive into the second half of the year.

The rise in global defense budgets has led to new opportunities for mainstream automakers as they seek to diversify their operations, yet the move into military and defense-related manufacturing presents another set of hurdles to overcome. These include lengthy certification cycles, highly fragmented specifications, and uncertainties surrounding policy continuity.

Egis Technology on July 9 said it sold part of its stake in iCatch Technology as part of a routine adjustment to its group equity holdings. The IC design company said the move was intended to improve capital efficiency and optimize its ownership structure, while Egis remained an important shareholder with about 12% of iCatch after the transaction.
Global automakers are accelerating their expansion into defense manufacturing as geopolitical tensions fuel record military spending and persistent challenges in the automotive sector leave production capacity underutilized. Industry leaders, including General Motors (GM), Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, Renault, and Ford, are leveraging their large-scale manufacturing expertise to tap growing demand for military vehicles, logistics platforms, and defense systems.
German luxury carmaker Porsche reported global deliveries of 122,300 vehicles in the first half of 2026, down 16% from a year earlier, with sales in the China market remaining weak and falling by more than 30% year over year.
Artificial intelligence-defined vehicles (AIDV) are already a familiar concept in China, but the idea is now drawing wider attention after US startup Rivian announced at the launch of its R2 model that it is moving beyond software-defined vehicles (SDV) toward AIDVs. However, this has raised questions about whether mainstream automakers must confront yet another new hurdle before their SDV transformation is complete.
LED automotive lighting module maker Laster reported June consolidated revenue of NT$500 million (US$15.58 million), down 31.67% from May and 29.48% year on year. Even so, second-quarter revenue climbed 13.30% to NT$1.92 billion, as the company prepared for new vehicle mass production in the second half and an initial move into the robotics module market.