Major contract electronics makers are accelerating strategic realignments in line with the rapid development of automotive electronics and architectures for software-defined vehicles (SDV). Foxconn has continued to clarify its automotive layout as it expands from full vehicle assembly into core electronics for SDVs, by integrating semiconductors, smart cockpits, battery management systems (BMS), and silicon carbide (SiC) power components into its contract design and manufacturing services (CDMS).
The automotive industry is experiencing a significant structural transformation, putting traditional Tier 1 suppliers under increasing pressure amid a shift toward system integration (SI) capabilities. Major component manufacturers are facing financial difficulties and operational changes, while companies with advanced integration expertise are poised to capture new market opportunities.
As the global automotive industry remains focused on tariff barriers and policy battles, Chinese automakers have quietly advanced their overseas strategies into a new phase, aiming for massive export volumes and deep ties to local markets.
Unlike IC design brands, IDM companies are typically conservative regarding demand conditions for the automotive chip market. The difference is partly related to operating base levels. New entrants continue to expand their market share in certain emerging automotive electronics functions and are in a growth phase. On the other hand, IDMs and some more traditional analog chip suppliers face relatively fixed market structures. With overall vehicle sales momentum not particularly strong, their 2026 outlook is more cautious.
The PC market has been heavily impacted by memory supply disruptions. In response, Acer Group's subsidiary Acer Gadget has partnered with Quanta Group's RoyalTek and Taiwan's leading auto parts retailer New Focus Auto (NFA) to launch smart in-vehicle products.
The long-rumored transfer of Luxgen, the automotive brand under Yulon Motor, to Foxtron Vehicle Technologies—a joint venture between Foxconn and Yulon—was formally confirmed on the evening of December 19. The announcement has drawn intense scrutiny from both financial markets and the manufacturing sector, as its ripple effects across Taiwan's automotive supply chain continue to unfold.
Foxtron Inc. has confirmed its acquisition of 100% of Luxgen Motor from Yulon Group for NT$7.876 billion (US$250 million), aiming to solidify its foothold in Taiwan's electric vehicle (EV) market. The deal, announced at a joint press conference on the evening of December 19, marks a significant step in Foxtron's strategic expansion within the local EV sector.
Shihlin Electric is experiencing robust growth driven by expanding AI computing power needs and accelerated investment in power infrastructure. At HCT Logistics' smart electric vehicle (EV) launch event on December 18, 2025, Shihlin Electric showcased its commercial electric logistics fleet developed with CMC, alongside an integrated solar, charging, and energy storage power system.
Global automotive sales are likely to edge higher in 2026, returning roughly to pre-pandemic levels, but the industry should not expect a swift or robust recovery, according to Jay Shen, managing director of the Garmin Asia Auto OEM Group. While demand is improving compared with 2025, he said, structural pressures and policy uncertainty will continue to weigh on growth.
The global auto industry is entering an unusual phase of expansion—one driven less by strategic ambition than by the need to survive. China's automakers have unleashed a surge of exports that, at first glance, looks like an aggressive push into overseas markets. Beneath the surface, however, lies a harsher reality: cutthroat competition at home and a deepening structural overcapacity that is leaving many firms with few viable alternatives.
Line go, a leading Mobility as a Service (MaaS) platform in Taiwan, has integrated seven key transportation services into a single digital ecosystem, now serving over 4.8 million users nationwide. The company recently obtained dual international ISO certifications for information security and privacy protection as it rapidly expands its service offerings and technological capabilities.
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