With Chinese automakers seeking to get low quotes from their auto component suppliers, the auto component makers reportedly have turned to request their suppliers of chips in oversupply to cut prices by 10-15% as automotive chips are starting to have mixed levels of shortages, according to sources from the related upstream supply chain.
The development of China's domestic high-voltage IGBTs faces obstacles such as the country's limited manufacturing and materials technology capabilities.
The European Commission said on March 25 that it has reached a deal with Germany that will allow internal combustion engines (ICE) to run on climate-neutral synthetic fuels (e-fuels) beyond 2035.
Automotive diode specialist Actron Technology has seen strong momentum for its MOSFETs from the light and hybrid electric vehicle (EV) sector, according to the Taiwan-based company.
South Korean battery manufacturers are actively expanding their production bases overseas, but employee management is an issue that needs to be resolved. Although businesses get to enjoy lower labor costs and government subsidies in overseas locations, operational efficiency may be significantly impacted by variations in language and culture, which could fall far short of the level attained by manufacturing plants in South Korea.
Leading Indian battery manufacturer Amara Raja Batteries has said they intend to establish a new manufacturing plant operating at a giga-scale capacity, with a primary focus on producing Li-ion cells and battery packs that are optimized for the unique conditions found in India. The move is part of the company's efforts to transition from being just a lead-acid battery maker to an energy and mobility player.
Taiwan's solid-state battery manufacturer ProLogium received a delegation from France's Ministry of Economy, Finance and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty earlier this year. The company said it has been scouting potential production sites in Europe and will make a decision in the second quarter this year.
Nickel, copper, and aluminum prices have fallen to their lowest points in months. Lithium carbonate, a key material for EV batteries, also plunged as supply outpaces demand.
More non-automotive companies have started considering or expanding their businesses to the automotive sector. At a seminar on March 21, Renesas Electronics' executives said those who want to enter the automotive market should form a strategic approach with their current know-how in a particular segment.
Infineon Technologies and Delta Electronics are expanding their long-term cooperation from industrial to automotive applications. On March 21, both companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will deepen their joint innovation activities to provide more efficient and higher-density solutions for the fast-growing market of electric vehicles (EV). The agreement covers a wide range of components such as high-voltage and low-voltage discretes and modules as well as microcontrollers to be used in EV drivetrain applications such as traction inverters, DC-DC converters, and on-board chargers.
Though automotive IC vendors have predicted the chip shortage to persist into the second quarter of 2023, car sales in China have been disappointing so far this year, including sales of new energy vehicles (NEV), according to industry sources.
At APEC 2023, Infineon Technologies announced the company is joining forces with Infinitum, creator of the sustainable, breakthrough air core motor. In this technological collaboration, Infineon will provide silicon carbide (SiC) CoolSiC MOSFETs and other key semiconductor components that greatly contribute to the Infinitum motor system's precise motor control, optimal power, and energy savings.
Despite persistently weak demand for PCs, handsets, and consumer electronics devices, the automotive and industrial sectors continue to see robust momentum, with supplies of certain chips, such as car-use MCUs and MPUs, remaining tight, according to industry sources.
On January 14, Pegatron Corporation, the leading contract manufacturer, held an investor conference. The company released the financial reports for 2022Q4 and the entire 2022, as well as voiced its outlook for 2023. Pegatron believes that business prospects will continue to be affected by macro-environmental factors in 2023, with many variables beyond its control at play here. The revenue in 2023 is expected to be about the same as the previous year or decline slightly. As for the highly anticipated automotive electronics market, Pegatron aims to increase its share of the revenue from the current single-digit percentage range to over 10% within two years.
China-based EV company Nio signed a strategic cooperation framework agreement with its supplier, Ningbo Tuopu Group, on March 16. The pair will collaborate on a "Tier-0.5" model, developing and producing new energy vehicle (NEV) components together.
