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Mar 26
Slower-than-expected smart cockpit monetization prompts global recalibration
Slower-than-expected monetization of smart cockpits is prompting a global reassessment of in-car payments, with implications for automakers, tech platforms, and financial institutions. Industry players say meaningful demand hinges on advanced autonomous driving freeing driver attention, while short-term focus will shift to maintenance and connectivity services as the market recalibrates.
As vehicles become increasingly connected and software-driven, the role of lighting is evolving beyond illumination into a new interface for communication and design.
Taiwan's Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) recently showcased 12 advanced machine tool key technologies driven by artificial intelligence (AI) at the 2026 Taiwan International Machine Tool Show (TMTS). These technologies have been successfully introduced into leading domestic listed companies and end-user application sites, including World Known Precision Industry, Proxene Tools, Kao Fong Machinery (Kafo), Chin Fong Machine Industrial, and Phison Electronics.
Automotive printed circuit board (PCB) manufacturer Eikei Group announced plans to establish a subsidiary in Slovakia, aiming to diversify geopolitical risks across its three major markets in Europe, the Americas, and Asia in 2026. Company chairman Shih-lin Liu added that the rapid growth momentum of artificial intelligence (AI) servers is expected to drive profitability higher.
Yulon Motor held an online investor briefing on March 25, where the company's president, Kuo-Hsing Hsu, stated that 2025 was a low point for the company's operations amid geopolitical tensions and tariff uncertainties. With clearer policies and new business initiatives in place, 2026 is set to become a growth turning point.
LED packaging firm Brightek Optoelectronics completed its factory relocation in 2025 and secured approval from major clients. Brightek general manager CH Tzeng said the company will reduce low-margin products in 2026 and focus on high-value areas including robotics technology collaboration with US customers, boosting infrared (IR) sensor revenue to 20%, and entering the 1.6T high-speed optical communication module market with samples expected in the third quarter. Brightek anticipates double-digit growth in 2026.
Taiwan's China Motor Corporation (CMC) is positioning for a sales rebound in 2026 after navigating a difficult year marked by macroeconomic headwinds and policy uncertainty, banking on new model launches, localization strategies, and a strengthening product mix to regain growth momentum.

Sony Honda Mobility, the joint venture between Sony and Honda, has scrapped the two "Afeela"-branded electric vehicles it had been developing, citing Honda's recent strategic shift that canceled three planned US EVs—moves that could cost the automaker nearly US$16 billion. The decision leaves the joint venture's hundreds of employees in Tokyo and California facing uncertainty, as the companies evaluate the venture's future.

Automotive parts giant Denso, closely linked with Toyota Motor, has officially submitted a proposal to acquire shares in Rohm Semiconductor, signaling its clear intent to pursue a takeover. This move appears to show Denso's intention to strengthen its position in the automotive semiconductor and power control sectors.
Through highly centralized supply chains, a software-first development philosophy, and extensive state subsidies, Chinese automakers have compressed traditional vehicle development cycles from five to seven years to less than two. In some cases, development timelines have shrunk to just a few months.
Aftermarket (AM) automotive lighting manufacturer TYC Brother Industrial posted NT$24.42 billion (US$763 million) in consolidated revenue in 2025, marking a recent high as the company benefited from stable demand in the global automotive market and a shift toward smart lighting technology.
Xiaomi executives outlined the group's 2025 performance and strategic priorities during an investor earnings call and webcast on March 24. Management highlighted record annual revenue and adjusted net profit, then devoted much of the presentation to artificial intelligence (AI), embodied intelligence (physical AI), and progress in the company's electric vehicle (EV) business. The call opened with standard operator instructions and procedural remarks from investor relations, followed by prepared remarks from Xiaomi president Lu Weibing and CFO Alain Lam Sai Wai, who fielded investor questions.