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Jul 31
Elon Musk denies rumored Tesla China contingency plans; discussions on supply chain localization shifts persist
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has denied a Wall Street Journal report on an internal plan within Tesla to prepare for a possible separation of its China operations. Despite his rebuttal, the report has still drawn attention to a wider transformation underway across the technology industry,
Global automakers are moving toward larger, more integrated cockpit displays as in-car screens become the main interface between drivers, passengers, and vehicles. According to Counterpoint Research, center stacks, rear-seat entertainment systems, and head-up displays are all expanding, while traditional sub-9-inch center displays continue to lose ground.

Taiwan will not move ahead for now with proposed passenger car tariff cuts, as the government weighs the risk of disrupting the domestic vehicle supply chain and related jobs. Finance Minister Chuang Tsui-yun said the policy cannot currently be implemented because the Taiwan-US agreement tied to US-made cars has been rendered invalid.

Qualcomm Technologies and BMW Group have signed a long-term agreement under which Qualcomm will supply compute silicon for BMW's next-generation digital cockpit and advanced driver assistance and automated driving systems. The deal, announced on July 29, extends the partnership through the next decade, although financial details of the agreement have not been revealed.

Global automakers are facing slower market growth, the rapid rise of Chinese carmakers, and sustained EV investment, with Volkswagen, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz under strain in recent years. While German automakers still lead the global auto industry, revenue and profitability have come under broad pressure over the past two years as competition shifts from volume growth to product value and operating efficiency.

As automotive electronics, electrification, software-defined vehicles (SDVs) and AI-defined vehicles (AIDVs) reshape the global auto industry, Taiwan's Ken Sean Industries is accelerating efforts to build a non-China automotive supply chain in partnership with leading Taiwanese electronics companies and Japanese automakers.
BMW has put a two-stage battery sourcing plan in place to protect supplies for its South Carolina electric vehicle operations as AESC's US cell plant has faced delays tied to foreign entity rules. The strategy is designed to keep the Woodruff, South Carolina, high-voltage battery assembly plant on schedule for the BMW iX5 and other US-built X-series EVs.
China's semiconductor self-reliance push has notched new gains, with Chinese AI giants expanding purchases of domestic AI chips and facing direct pressure from Beijing to use more local silicon, market sources say. Industry players say the trend toward chip substitution has been building for years, but whether it truly accelerates will depend on how strong the "chilling effect" becomes.

Xiaomi is preparing to unveil a new car technology platform on July 30, signaling a deeper move into the range-extended electric vehicle market. The launch is expected to spotlight not only two flagship SUVs, but also the company's supplier strategy, which could influence competition across China's fast-moving new-energy vehicle sector.

Joby Aviation said at the Farnborough International Airshow that it had reached a multi-year exclusive partnership with Virgin Atlantic to launch a UK air taxi service, and added that certification test flights for its S4 electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft were moving ahead on schedule. The company said it is targeting its first commercial passenger flight by the end of 2026.

Japanese autonomous driving startup Tier IV listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange on July 22 and said it planned to raise capital to expand its self-driving technology ecosystem. The offering came as the company sought to advance its goal of democratizing autonomous driving technology, even after a weaker-than-expected first-day trading debut.

New-car registrations in Europe's midsize and large SUV market reached 476,000 in the first five months of 2026, nearly tripling from four years earlier. As the market expands rapidly, competition among automakers from Europe, the US, Japan, South Korea, and China has shifted sharply, with Tesla's Model Y retaining its place as the best-selling single model.