Toyota plans to transition its entire lineup of approximately 50 vehicle models to software-defined vehicles (SDVs) by 2030, equipping them with advanced software capabilities that allow owners to upgrade vehicle functions through over-the-air (OTA) updates after purchase.
The rapid advancement of energy-storage technologies in China is enabling the country to capture a formidable share of the global market, with the domestic industry continuing to post record levels of capacity growth.
Foxconn announced on October 16 that it has formed a strategic alliance with Mitsubishi Electric through its investment management subsidiary Lin Yin International Investment. The two companies will jointly operate an automotive equipment business and develop next-generation mobility solutions under a "Made in/by Japan" concept aimed at supporting the sustainable growth of Japan's automotive industry.
Toyota Motor will introduce its proprietary gigacasting technology in China to produce premium vehicles, while it has not disclosed whether it will use equipment from local Chinese suppliers. The automaker also plans to produce the next-generation Corolla in China from 2028 using a common platform compatible with multiple powertrain systems.
China's premium electric vehicle (EV) market is facing renewed safety scrutiny following product defect concerns. Maextro, an ultra-luxury automotive brand jointly developed by Huawei and JAC Motors, has sparked widespread public debate over vehicle safety and testing standards after its V800 MPV suffered consecutive brake pedal bracket fractures during dynamic braking tests.
Major Chinese energy storage system suppliers that once dominated the US market have reportedly withdrawn almost entirely from US operations in 2026, amid mounting regulatory restrictions, overlapping tariffs, and stringent ownership scrutiny, according to US supply chain sources.
Chinese EV giant and AI mobility manufacturer XPeng has made a major appearance at the Paris Automotive Summit by bringing not just its automotive expertise into the European collaborative space, but a broader technology stack built on the automaker's existing strengths in EV manufacturing and humanoid robotics.
The engineering fusion of SpaceX and Tesla's flagship technologies is making a dramatic showcase through Tesla's next-generation Roadster reveal, held at SpaceX's McGregor, Texas test site on October 15.
Volvo Cars and Nvidia are expanding their partnership to develop automated-driving technology for future Volvo vehicles, with potential implications for drivers worldwide. The system is designed to handle highways, urban streets, and parking while gradually introducing eyes-off and mind-off driving, combining Volvo's safety expertise with Nvidia's sensors, computing, and software.
Chun Yuan Steel expects Taiwan's auto market to deliver its strongest quarter of 2026 in the final three months, lifting full-year new-vehicle sales to 430,000 units from 411,000 in 2025. The steel processor also anticipates fresh growth opportunities as Kuozui Motors begins exporting finished vehicles to Japan, potentially strengthening Taiwan's position in Toyota Motor's global production network.
Samsung SDI will begin mass-producing cylindrical lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries for AI servers as early as June 2027, marking the first adoption of cylindrical LFP backup batteries by a South Korean battery maker. The move expands the company's product portfolio beyond its traditional focus on ternary batteries as AI data centers drive rapidly growing demand for battery backup units (BBUs).
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