Japan's Honda Motor Co. stunned investors in March 2026 by announcing up to JPY2.5 trillion (approx. US$15.8 billion) in impairment losses tied largely to its troubled push into electric vehicles, underscoring how even one of the industry's most storied innovators has struggled to navigate the global shift away from gasoline engines.
Buffeted by a slower-than-expected shift toward vehicle electrification and electronic architectures—along with the crosscurrents of tariffs and inflation—the global auto market turned in a muted performance in 2025. Yet even as layoffs and restructuring swept through many Western suppliers, Europe's and America's legacy Tier 1 manufacturers managed to hold margins steady, revealing a survival strategy built on internal austerity and external reinvention.
China's auto market is undergoing a sharp realignment in early 2026, as the phaseout of government subsidies exposes deeper competitive strengths — and weaknesses — among the industry's leading players.
Despite multiple tariffs and policy barriers imposed by the US on China's auto industry, Chinese automakers have avoided directly confronting the restrictions. Instead, they are adopting an indirect strategy, using Canada and Mexico as forward bases for entering the North American market. However, the real challenge is expected to emerge starting in 2027, when US compliance requirements for connected vehicle software and hardware will become an obstacle to overcome.
Mitsubishi Electric is evaluating a partial stake sale in its automotive components subsidiary, Mitsubishi Electric Mobility, as reports emerge of potential investment discussions with Taiwan's Foxconn.
Mainstream carmakers in Europe, the US, Japan, and South Korea are reassessing battery electric vehicle (BEV) strategies amid range anxiety, weak charging infrastructure, high vehicle costs, and softer-than-expected demand, prompting renewed interest in extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) technology.
Benefiting from stabilized shipments of its LED automotive lighting modules and headlight controllers, Laster Tech reported a consolidated revenue of NT$2.201 billion (US$68.7 million) in the fourth quarter of 2025, up 8.83% quarter-over-quarter. The company also posted a net profit after tax of NT$86.64 million for the quarter, a surge 2,725% from the previous quarter. This represents a full-year turnaround from losses to profits.
As major battery manufacturers accelerate the commercialization of solid-state batteries (SSBs), South Korea's battery materials industry is also speeding up product development and production, targeting the emerging demand. Efforts now span multiple areas, including cathode and anode materials, SSBs, and key raw materials. Observations from the show floor at InterBattery 2026 indicate that South Korean materials suppliers are advancing toward mass commercialization through cross-company collaboration and vertical integration.
Rapid growth in global electric vehicle (EV) and energy storage demand is accelerating shifts in the battery industry landscape. South Korea's three major battery makers, LG Energy Solution (LGES), SK On, and Samsung SDI, are facing pressure from Chinese competitors whose advantages in production capacity, cost, and market share continue to expand. At Inter Battery 2026, the Korean companies highlighted their respective technological strengths as they seek to maintain competitiveness.
Horace Luke, the former Nike designer and Microsoft creative director who founded Gogoro in 2011 to revolutionize electric scooters, has reportedly accumulated debts of about NT$150 million (approx. US$4.7 million) and is currently unreachable. This situation has prompted Ruentex Group chairman Samuel Yin to launch an investigation into Luke's overseas assets.
Taiwan's leading automotive power and safety component supplier, Global PMX, has been accelerating its expansion into the fast-growing AI server market while simultaneously advancing into high-value semiconductor and smart medical products. Several new offerings have already entered mass production and shipment, and with additional overseas capacity set to come online, the company is positioning for stronger operational growth ahead.
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