Chinese authorities have announced that sodium-ion batteries will be exempt from consumption tax from September 2026 through the end of 2028, while lithium batteries will once again gradually face a 2% to 4% consumption tax. The new policy creates a 28-month "lithium-sodium tax gap" of about 2% to 4%, accelerating commercialization of sodium-ion batteries and drawing previously cautious downstream buyers into the market.

Power Win Taiwan, Taiwan's largest waste battery processor, is seeing strong growth as rising electric vehicle adoption boosts demand for battery recycling, while recovering metal prices lift revenue from recycled materials.

Hotai Motor's all-round mobility services unit, Hotai Leasing, will officially launch its public listing on August 11. Hotai Leasing posted NT$2.7 billion (US$83.8 million) in consolidated revenue for July 2026, up 7.0% from the same period in 2025, reflecting strong profitability and a solid financial position.

Germany's car market posted only modest growth in July, but battery electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids surged as internal combustion engine sales fell sharply. The shift was driven in part by government subsidies, which have boosted demand for new energy vehicles and helped Chinese automakers gain ground in Europe's biggest auto market.

AI is moving from infotainment into steering, braking, and other core driving functions, raising safety questions that matter far beyond one market. Traditional testing rules are no longer enough, Irene Chuang, senior business manager for Industrial Services and Information Security at TÜV Rheinland Taiwan, said at a Taiwan industry forum, as regulators and automakers worldwide confront black-box AI risks in vehicles.