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Jan 20
Nvidia Alpamayo sparks VLA computing power race as South Korea preps for autonomous ecosystem
At CES 2026 in the US, Nvidia unveiled its open-source vision-language-action (VLA) model series, Alpamayo, signaling a new phase in the development of autonomous driving technologies. The launch has intensified competition among global automakers, which are now ramping up investment and racing to secure computing power centered on VLA architectures.

As the global automotive market shows signs of recovery in 2026, Excellence Opto has completed a corporate restructuring and opened a new factory in Mexico, positioning the company to launch new products and showcase the impact of its AI-powered automotive electronics transformation. In tandem, Excellence Opto has issued 7,000 secured convertible bonds totaling NT$739 million (approx. US$23.3 million), now listed on the local exchange.

As trends in autonomous driving and edge computing continue to evolve, oToBrite Electronics is upgrading its core competitiveness from automotive sensing hardware to full-domain visual AI solutions. Through a product lineup of automotive-grade camera modules ranging from 1 to 8MP, oToBrite is not only strengthening its position in the commercial and passenger vehicle markets but also crossing over into the unmanned vehicle and robotics sectors, building a multi-dimensional sensing moat.
Nvidia unveiled its Alpamayo family at CES 2026, introducing a suite that includes the open-source AI model Alpamayo 1, the AlpaSim simulation framework, and Physical AI Open Datasets. Alpamayo 1 centers on chain-of-thought reasoning and vision-language-action (VLA) inference models designed for autonomous driving applications.

As Taiwan and the US reached a consensus in their tariff negotiations, a long-standing cloud hanging over Taiwan's automotive aftermarket industry began to lift. Securing the most favorable treatment under Section 232—capping tariffs at 15%—was not only a trade victory but a psychological turning point for Taiwan's vehicle-parts supply chain. The agreement has injected new confidence into the sector, allowing manufacturers to shift from a posture of defensive caution to one of proactive expansion.

President Trump's recent decision to link the question of Greenland's sovereignty with punitive tariffs has sent a chill through Europe's auto industry and Asia's manufacturing supply chains. What might once have been dismissed as a trade dispute now looks more like a form of geopolitical brinkmanship; an attempt to bind industrial lifelines to strategic demands.

The opening of the North American International Auto Show in Detroit this year offered a revealing portrait of an industry caught at the intersection of political crosscurrents and technological transition—and increasingly at risk of losing its strategic focus. The concern, executives say, is no longer confined to fluctuations in production or sales, but points to something more fundamental: a strategic retreat that could undermine America's industrial sovereignty and long-term competitiveness.
Large-scale capacity expansions in China have led to severe oversupply and price erosion issues in the global polarizer industry, causing Taiwanese firms to struggle as losses mount. In response, Taiwanese polarizer makers are pivoting toward high-value products as the local industry transitions toward new ventures.
The automotive electronics industry is undergoing a structural transformation unlike any it has seen before. As artificial intelligence moves from the margins to the core of vehicle design, two of Taiwan's lesser-known industrial champions—HCMF Group and Kinpo Electronics—are deepening a cross-industry partnership aimed at navigating the upheaval. Their strategy rests on two pillars: system integration and a "global-local" manufacturing footprint, designed to withstand volatility in an increasingly fragmented market.

Amkor Technology, the US-based semiconductor packaging and testing company, said it will close its Hakodate plant in northern Japan by December 2027, citing weak demand stemming from a slowdown in the global electric vehicle (EV) market. The factory, located in the town of Nanae in Hokkaido, specializes in packaging chips used in automobiles.

US LiDAR company Aeva Technologies has been selected as a partner for Nvidia's next-generation autonomous driving platform, Drive AGX Hyperion, drawing attention to its integration with Mercedes-Benz. Rumors also highlight South Korean firm LG Innotek's crucial role in equity investment, supply, and R&D collaboration with Aeva.
Taiwan's urban mobility market has undergone a significant transformation since 2025, driven by the rising adoption of digital platforms and evolving consumer travel habits. LINE GO, a leading mobility-as-a-service (MaaS) platform, reported its official account surpassing 10 million friends by the end of 2025, underscoring the growing integration of digital services into daily transportation. This expansion highlights stronger demand for shared and diversified mobility solutions across Taiwanese cities.