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Apr 13
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.

The annual "360°MOBILITY Mega Shows," a major gathering for the auto parts and mobility industry, opens on the 14th, drawing heightened attention to the growing role of Taiwan's suppliers in next-generation automotive technology. As software-defined vehicles (SDVs) emerge as a central industry direction, the share of automotive semiconductors and software in vehicle development is rising rapidly, according to a DIGITIMES Research report.

Qualcomm said it was expanding its partnership with Bosch in automotive electronics, broadening a collaboration that had previously focused on in-vehicle cockpit systems to now include advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS).

The UK government has confirmed GBP380 million (US$510 million) in funding to support a new electric vehicle battery plant being built in southwest England by Tata Group's battery unit, Agratas, according to Bloomberg and Reuters.

China's auto market entered the year with a sharp jolt. In the first quarter, the long-dominant new energy vehicle (NEV) segment saw its market share slip to 45.1%, down from 47.7% in 2025, while sales of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) also contracted. The shift suggests that as Beijing scales back subsidies and tightens oversight to curb dumping, the market is reverting to more disciplined commercial dynamics.

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.