Lithium titanate oxide (LTO) batteries are emerging as a promising solution for industrial electrification and critical energy infrastructure, where safety, rapid charging and long service life outweigh the priorities of cost and driving range. As demand grows for high-reliability power systems, companies in Taiwan and South Korea are accelerating overseas expansion, positioning LTO technology for broader adoption in sectors ranging from robotics and mining to AI data centers and defense applications.
LG Magna e-Powertrain returned to profit in the first quarter of 2026 as higher utilization at its Mexico plant lifted performance. Facing the rapid rise of China's electric vehicle (EV) supply chain and intensifying global competition, the company plans to keep increasing R&D spending, especially in high-speed motors, to build a differentiated base for medium- to long-term profitability.
General Motors' move to install collaborative robots at its Factory Zero plant has sharpened concerns about automation, jobs, and worker safety, while also signaling a broader shift that could affect automakers and supply chains worldwide. The dispute highlights how electric vehicle demand, labor costs, and factory technology are reshaping industrial strategy across major markets.
Laster Tech said its new Mexico plant already has order visibility through 2029, underscoring how automakers are reshaping supply chains across North America and beyond. The LED automotive lamp module maker also outlined expansion plans in Thailand and robotics, while warning that China's price competition and currency swings are pressuring revenue and profit.
Gogoro is preparing to launch a new electric scooter on June 23, 2026, that industry supply-chain sources said will feature an in-wheel motor, dual batteries and upgraded performance aimed at the 100-125cc gasoline scooter segment. The announcement comes as Taiwan's electric scooter market moved from a weak start in 2026 to a gradual recovery, supported by local subsidies, affordable new models and high-profile cross-brand collaborations.
Taiwan's investment office, InvesTaiwan, under the Ministry of Economic Affairs, has approved expanded Taiwan investment plans from four companies, led by MSScorps, which will invest NT$1.5 billion (US$47.4 million) and is filing for the third time. The company plans to add production lines and adopt AI technology at its Hsinchu, Tai Yuen Hi-Tech Industrial Park, and Southern Taiwan Science Park (STSP) facilities.
South Korean battery equipment maker A-PRO says robot battery design differs sharply from electric vehicles (EVs), with hot-swap battery replacement, dual-battery setups, and autonomous energy management emerging as key solutions for keeping machines running longer and reducing downtime. The company outlined its strategy at the Korean Institute of Electric Vehicles (KIEV) 2026 summer seminar.
The European Union has rushed through a US-EU tariff agreement after US President Donald Trump demanded that Brussels complete the deal by July 4, the 250th anniversary of US independence, or face higher 25% tariffs on auto and auto parts imports. According to media reports, the European Parliament recently held an emergency vote to approve the agreement, while the EU simultaneously added three safeguards to guard against the risk of renewed tariff hikes.
China's assisted-driving chip market is becoming more concentrated, with Nvidia leading in assisted-driving domain controller chip installations and Horizon Robotics emerging as the strongest domestic supplier, according to April 2026 passenger-vehicle data.
As global EV market growth slows, motor makers that once relied on EV power systems are moving faster to find new growth engines. Fukuta has extended its accumulated design, integration, and manufacturing capabilities in automotive all-in-one power systems into miniaturized power module applications such as drones and quadruped robot dogs, reflecting a broader shift in resource allocation amid cooling EV growth.
Nio founder and chairman William Li warned at the 2026 China Auto Chongqing Summit that China's auto industry has entered its "most brutal final stage," saying 2026 passenger-vehicle retail sales in China could fall 15% to 20% from last year. He urged the industry to prepare early as the Chinese new energy vehicle market enters a more severe phase of competition.
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