Global automakers are facing slower market growth, the rapid rise of Chinese carmakers, and sustained EV investment, with Volkswagen, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz under strain in recent years. While German automakers still lead the global auto industry, revenue and profitability have come under broad pressure over the past two years as competition shifts from volume growth to product value and operating efficiency.
Automotive chip sales are improving across Europe and the US, but major suppliers say global carmakers and their suppliers are still buying largely for immediate needs. A fuller inventory rebuild — one that could affect prices and supply globally — has yet to begin, leaving the recovery more cautious than expected.
Taiwan and the US are deepening auto trade ties that could influence consumer choice, supply-chain resilience, and tariff policy beyond the island's borders. The latest comments from the American Institute in Taiwan come as Taiwan weighs lower car import duties, a move that could affect prices, jobs, tax revenue, and trade dynamics worldwide.
Taiwan will not move ahead for now with proposed passenger car tariff cuts, as the government weighs the risk of disrupting the domestic vehicle supply chain and related jobs. Finance Minister Chuang Tsui-yun said the policy cannot currently be implemented because the Taiwan-US agreement tied to US-made cars has been rendered invalid.
Xiaomi is preparing to unveil a new car technology platform on July 30, signaling a deeper move into the range-extended electric vehicle market. The launch is expected to spotlight not only two flagship SUVs, but also the company's supplier strategy, which could influence competition across China's fast-moving new-energy vehicle sector.
Joby Aviation said at the Farnborough International Airshow that it had reached a multi-year exclusive partnership with Virgin Atlantic to launch a UK air taxi service, and added that certification test flights for its S4 electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft were moving ahead on schedule. The company said it is targeting its first commercial passenger flight by the end of 2026.
Japanese autonomous driving startup Tier IV listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange on July 22 and said it planned to raise capital to expand its self-driving technology ecosystem. The offering came as the company sought to advance its goal of democratizing autonomous driving technology, even after a weaker-than-expected first-day trading debut.
Automotive chip demand surprised to the upside in the second quarter of 2026, with industry players saying the market could stay hot in the second half as new EV architectures become clearer and customers rebuild inventories. The strongest signal came from Texas Instruments (TI), which said the strength in automotive chips was completely unexpected.
