South Korean companies showcased humanoid robot components, dual-arm machines, and autonomous driving systems at FIX 2026 in Daegu, offering a look at how developers are bringing automation into factories and transportation. The technologies ranged from robotic hardware under development for manufacturing applications to an autonomous taxi service already carrying paying passengers.

From the spectacular flying demonstration of its next-generation Roadster to the prospect of a merger with SpaceX, Tesla appears to be approaching a historic strategic turning point.

Honda Motor plans to achieve Level 4 autonomous driving around 2027 and replace high-definition maps with AI technology around 2030, enabling Level 4 vehicles to navigate the narrow roads and mountain routes common in Asia, said Yuji Yasui, a fellow at Honda R&D, at Hon Hai Tech Day 2026 (HHTD26).

Speaking at Hon Hai Tech Day (HHTD 26), Kazunori Tanaka, Representative Director and President of Mitsubishi Electric Mobility, emphasized that the company's core competitiveness in EV platforms has decisively pivoted toward software—spanning electric powertrains, autonomous driving, and in-cabin intelligence. Tanaka announced that Mitsubishi Electric Mobility will officially join the Foxconn family in October 2027, leveraging complementary strengths to target JPY1 trillion (approx. US$6.4 billion) in annual revenue by 2030.

BYD reported rising profits for the third quarter of 2026, but its performance fell short of analysts' forecasts. The result stems from the challenges China's automakers face, navigating price wars at home while pushing to expand to higher-margin overseas markets.

The in-cabin sensing market is entering a rapid expansion phase. Global Market Insights estimates that the market for in-cabin sensing, including biometric identification and driver monitoring systems (DMS), will grow from US$5.3 billion in 2025 to US$31.7 billion in 2035, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18.4%, with Asia-Pacific being the largest market, driven primarily by European Commission (EC) regulations and the European New Car Assessment Program (Euro NCAP) requirements.

South Korean ultra-thin glass (UTG) maker Dowoo Insys is expanding its smartphone glass technology into the automotive market, developing protective glass for rollable OLED displays with a major South Korean automotive electronics company. The product could enter commercial production as early as the second half of 2027.

Qisda President Cally Ko said future infrastructure supporting autonomous physical AI would evolve beyond simply providing connectivity and power to also deliver sensing, computing, and autonomous dispatching capabilities. She also disclosed that the company's commercial drones had already secured orders and entered production, while its quadruped robots were expected to be unveiled publicly in early 2027.

China's luxury car market is undergoing a major brand reshuffle. BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, and Porsche all recorded significant sales or delivery declines in China in the third quarter of 2026, while domestic automakers continued moving upmarket with new energy vehicles (NEVs), smart cockpits, and driver-assistance technology.

China's cooling auto price war is creating an opportunity for the automotive supply chain to upgrade, as regulators tighten oversight of the new energy vehicle (NEV) industry and curb malicious price cuts. Automakers are being pushed to compete through technological improvements and service quality rather than aggressive discounting, easing margin pressure on parts suppliers.

Foxconn Technology Day (HHTD) is set to take place at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center on October 30, with "Accelerating Intelligence" as its theme for 2026. While AI infrastructure and smart manufacturing will feature prominently, battery electric vehicles (BEVs) remain a major focus of industry attention.