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Feb 11
Exclusive: Taiwan weighs auto tariff cuts in talks with industry leaders
Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs convened a closed-door meeting with leading domestic automakers on February 10, 2026, signaling that potential tariff changes on imported vehicles — particularly from the United States — may be imminent.
BYD plans to intensify its push into the German market in 2026 by expanding its dealer network and implementing steep price cuts to target more than 50,000 annual vehicle sales and overtake SAIC MG as the leading Chinese automotive brand in Europe.
The first wave of Chinese electric vehicles is expected to enter the Canadian market in February 2026 under a new trade arrangement. But alongside the arrival of lower-cost cars comes a surge of anxiety in Western capitals over data security, remote-control capabilities, and the geopolitical risks embedded in connected vehicles.

South Korea is moving to domestically produce key components for electric vehicle (EV) fast chargers, as Chinese-made power modules account for more than 90% of those installed in the country, according to a Hankyung report.

The EU proposed a minimum price commitment for battery electric vehicles (BEVs) in January 2026, replacing punitive tariffs of up to 35%. Still, major Chinese automakers such as BYD have not reacted decisively, according to supply-chain sources.
On February 10, ProLogium Technology held a groundbreaking ceremony for its planned gigafactory in Dunkirk, marking the start of on-site construction for its first manufacturing facility outside Taiwan. The plant will produce the company's "superfluidized all-inorganic solid-state lithium ceramic batteries" and represents a significant step toward establishing a localized battery supply chain in Europe.
For much of the past decade, artificial intelligence served as a premium badge—an easy way for carmakers to justify higher prices and signal technological leadership. But as these systems move from promise to practice, the costs of overestimating algorithms are becoming harder to ignore. In some cases, the market itself is pushing back.

After a series of operational adjustments, Young Optics narrowed its losses sharply in 2025, benefiting from an improved product mix and higher capacity utilization. The Taiwanese optical components maker reported a full-year net loss of about NT$9 million (approx. US$284,600), a dramatic improvement from the year before.

Tesla opened Taiwan's largest V4 Supercharger station on Tuesday, expanding its fast-charging network even as questions linger over potential tariff changes and vehicle sourcing.

LED automotive lighting module maker Laster said it expects China's car purchase subsidies and trade-in programs to stimulate domestic demand in the first quarter of 2026, and that overall end-market automotive demand should remain relatively robust.
Renesas Electronics recorded its first net loss in six years in fiscal 2025, reflecting weak demand for automotive semiconductors and a limited contribution from AI-related products. The company is recalibrating its strategy, with India and China positioned as key pillars in its recovery roadmap.

Onsemi's revenue declined in the fourth quarter as its two largest business units continued to post year-over-year sales declines, highlighting persistent weakness across key parts of its portfolio.