Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong departed for Washington, DC, on July 29 in a bid to bolster South Korea's final efforts to avert a 25% reciprocal tariff from the US. The visit marks Lee's first official international trip since his acquittal and signals a return to the global stage just ahead of the August 1 tariff negotiation deadline.
On July 29, Foxconn announced the suspension of its common shares and associated warrants, effective from July 30, pending the disclosure of significant information. Teco Electric & Machinery also declared a simultaneous trading halt, starting July 30, prompting market attention to a possible major cooperation between the two companies.
Shanghai has issued its first demonstration licenses for Level 4 autonomous vehicles, allowing eight companies to operate fare-based robotaxi services within designated urban zones. The permits, announced during the 2025 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC), mark a key milestone in the commercial rollout of self-driving technology in one of China's largest and most advanced cities.
Mitsubishi Motors reported a steep decline in earnings for the first quarter of fiscal 2025, with net profit plunging more than 97% year-over-year to JPY738 million (approx. US$4.97 million), as the company faced headwinds from a stronger yen, US automotive tariffs, and sluggish sales in Southeast Asia — a historically critical market.
Tesla is developing an integrated approach to supply chain decarbonization spanning battery production, manufacturing processes, and energy systems as automakers face increasing pressure to reduce emissions across entire value chains rather than just vehicle operations.
Rohm posted a rare net loss in fiscal 2024 amid market headwinds but expects a rebound in fiscal 2025. Growth in electric vehicle and artificial intelligence demand, deeper ties with Denso, and a focus on smaller customers and cost control underpin its strategy to regain profitability.
Despite posting their highest-ever second-quarter revenues, Hyundai Motor Group is grappling with the growing toll of US import tariffs—a headwind that threatens to deepen in the second half of 2025.
BYD, long China's undisputed leader in new energy vehicles (NEV), recently hit an unexpected bump in the road, one that may reshape the industry's competitive landscape: the Chinese government is planning to intervene in BYD's aggressive pricing strategy. While domestic rivals initially appeared to benefit from BYD's troubles, many are now watching the rise of Huawei with heightened interest.
As Taiwan's tariff negotiations with the United States near a critical juncture, uncertainty over the scope and scale of potential tax reductions continues to cloud the country's auto market. Despite growing speculation over whether imported vehicles will soon become cheaper, major international car brands are signaling that price cuts are not currently on the table.
Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD has publicly dismissed comparisons to the troubled property developer Evergrande, rejecting online speculation that it might be headed for similar financial turbulence. Yet behind closed doors, some of its suppliers tell a different story — one of inconsistent payments, tightened profit margins, and mounting caution across the supply chain.
Recent tariff negotiations between Southeast Asian countries and the US under President Donald Trump have yet to produce finalized agreements with nations including Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia. Automotive supply chain stakeholders anticipate that final tariff rates across Southeast Asia will converge, contributing to increased industrial relocation from China.
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