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.
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.
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.
AI Expo Taiwan 2026 opened as global automotive manufacturing accelerates into Industry 4.0, highlighting widening industrial sovereignty gaps that will significantly affect global supply chains and competitiveness. Attendees heard that the US and China are outpacing Europe in digital manufacturing, while Taiwan emerges as a key enabler of AI-driven production worldwide.
MicroIP unveiled automotive AI advances at AI EXPO Taiwan 2026, signaling wider availability of driver monitoring and electronic rearview mirror solutions for global fleets and aftermarket suppliers. The move suggests increased commercialisation of previously guarded vehicle technologies with implications for safety, supply chains, and market expansion in Asia and beyond.
Europe's new car market posted modest growth in February 2026. BEV and PHEV sales drove the gains, while internal combustion engine (ICE) models continued to lose ground. Chinese automakers are now outpacing Tesla in the affordable EV segment, putting pressure on established European brands.
The shift to software-defined vehicles (SDVs) will affect consumers, suppliers, and investors worldwide: automakers face huge upfront R&D and cloud costs, uncertain software revenue, and long-term post-sale maintenance burdens over 10-15-year lifecycles, challenging profitability and prompting strategic realignments across global vehicle markets, and raising regulatory questions for long-term investors.
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.
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