As electric vehicles and autonomous driving technologies spread rapidly, and as automotive electrical and electronic (E/E) architectures grow more centralized, the value of semiconductors embedded in each vehicle is rising sharply. According to an analysis by DIGITIMES, the average semiconductor content per car is expected to increase from about US$759 in 2024 to US$1,332 by 2030.
Tesla aims to shorten its in-house AI chip design cycle to one generation every nine months, targeting rivals Nvidia and AMD. However, industry analysts highlight automotive safety verification and software stability as the biggest bottlenecks.
Speaking at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit this week, President Trump delivered a set of remarks that startled both policymakers and industry executives. He openly questioned the long-term value of the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA) and, in an unexpected turn, extended what appeared to be an olive branch to Chinese automakers.
After months of negotiation, the United States and Taiwan have reached a provisional breakthrough in their tariff talks, signing a memorandum of understanding on investment cooperation. Li-chun Cheng, Taiwan's vice premier, said the agreement makes Taiwan the first economy worldwide to secure a relatively comprehensive and most-favored set of terms in anticipation of potential future tariffs imposed by the United States under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act.
Large-scale capacity expansions in China have led to severe oversupply and price erosion issues in the global polarizer industry, causing Taiwanese firms to struggle as losses mount. In response, Taiwanese polarizer makers are pivoting toward high-value products as the local industry transitions toward new ventures.
The automotive electronics industry is undergoing a structural transformation unlike any it has seen before. As artificial intelligence moves from the margins to the core of vehicle design, two of Taiwan's lesser-known industrial champions—HCMF Group and Kinpo Electronics—are deepening a cross-industry partnership aimed at navigating the upheaval. Their strategy rests on two pillars: system integration and a "global-local" manufacturing footprint, designed to withstand volatility in an increasingly fragmented market.
Amkor Technology, the US-based semiconductor packaging and testing company, said it will close its Hakodate plant in northern Japan by December 2027, citing weak demand stemming from a slowdown in the global electric vehicle (EV) market. The factory, located in the town of Nanae in Hokkaido, specializes in packaging chips used in automobiles.
The EU has introduced a minimum price commitment mechanism to address the ongoing tariff dispute with China over battery electric vehicles (BEVs). This shift comes after months of high tariffs failed to curb the growth of Chinese automakers in the European market.
Hotai Motor president Justin Su indicated on January 13 that despite growing interest in US-spec vehicles in Taiwan, the high manufacturing costs of US-made cars limit their market appeal. Hotai will continue prioritizing Japanese imports in the near term.
EV manufacturer Ola Electric has rolled out Ola Shakti, a residential battery energy storage system (BESS), from its gigafactory in the Krishnagiri district of Tamil Nadu, marking the company's formal entry into India's residential energy storage market and an expansion beyond its core automotive business, according to ANI, PV Magazine, and the Economic Times.
China's total trade in goods reached CNY45.47 trillion (approx. US$6.51 trillion) in 2025, marking a 3.8% year-over-year increase and setting a new record, the General Administration of Customs announced on January 14. Exports rose 6.1% to CNY26.99 trillion, while imports edged up 0.5% to CNY18.48 trillion, maintaining China's status as the largest merchandise trader globally.
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