Samsung Group and Hyundai are deepening their strategic partnership, exploring opportunities in robotics, energy and physical AI alongside existing cooperation in automotive semiconductors, batteries and displays. More than 100 senior executives from the two conglomerates met in Yongin, Gyeonggi-do province, South Korea, on November 9 to map out collaboration in future mobility and industrial applications.

Japanese automaker Toyota has announced plans to revive the Scion brand, which was discontinued nearly a decade ago, with the launch of its first model, the KEI-01, in the second half of 2027. The light-duty truck (kei truck) will be assembled in Indiana and sold in the US market, targeting short-distance transportation needs at farms, ranches, small businesses, and corporate campuses. Based on Daihatsu Motor's Hijet Jumbo light commercial mini pickup truck, the KEI-01 will be Toyota's first kei truck manufactured in the US.

Kia is considering investing about US$1.5 billion to expand its plant in Andhra Pradesh, India, while South Korean auto-parts makers have pledged follow-on investments. If approved, the project would establish an integrated vehicle manufacturing and parts-supply chain in the state.

Advanced Lithium Electrochemistry (Aleees) plans to make lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cathode material precursors in Taiwan and process them in the US under a North American customer agreement, as it seeks to diversify battery supply chains away from China. The company reported a loss for the first nine months as construction-related expenses increased, while planned shipments from 2027 remain subject to execution and customer demand.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk said that the company will add an extra production shift for its Cybertrucks to meet order backlogs before it stops manufacturing them. The vehicles —iconic to some and infamous to others— are being phased out after years of sales far below expectations as the company pivots toward robotics and AI.

Tesla's Cybertruck, once hailed by CEO Elon Musk as the company's "best product," is heading towards discontinuation. Musk recently announced on X that production at Tesla's Texas Gigafactory would be phased out around mid-2027, freeing capacity for the autonomous Cybercab robotaxi.

Young Liu, chairman of Hon Hai Technology Group (Foxconn), repeatedly highlighted the company's strength in vertical integration at Hon Hai Tech Day 2026 (HHTD26), underscoring progress beyond AI data centers and into battery applications. Foxconn is linking materials, cells, battery management systems (BMS), battery packs and end applications as it targets EVs, energy storage, drones and AI data-center backup systems.

Two leading server component manufacturers remain optimistic about AI demand despite potential short-term volatility following the US midterm elections. Chenbro Micom CEO Corona Chen said the elections would not derail AI's medium- to long-term development, while Advanced Energy Solution (AES) President Wei-Che Sung said customer demand would remain strong in 2027.

Global sales of electrified vehicles, including hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), are forecast to rise 11.9% to more than 36 million units in 2026, even as overall vehicle sales decline 1.4%, reflecting the accelerating shift toward electrification. Electrified vehicles are expected to account for more than 35% of global new-vehicle sales, while China's BYD is poised to enter the world's top five automakers for the first time, according to Richard Hsieh, senior research manager at the Industry, Science and Technology International Strategy Center of Taiwan's government-funded Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI).

Automotive powertrain and safety component maker Global PMX reported 3Q26 consolidated revenue of NT$2.417 billion (US$73.76 million), up 5.87% quarter-on-quarter and 24.59% year-on-year. Stronger operating scale and tight cost controls lifted quarterly operating profit to NT$340 million, while net income attributable to the parent company reached NT$271 million, with earnings per share (EPS) of NT$2.36.

A Seoul court has dismissed LG Chem's request for a preliminary injunction that would have halted production and sales of certain cathode materials by JS Energy, the South Korean subsidiary of Chinese cathode maker Ronbay, The Elec reported on November 7, citing industry sources. LG Chem has appealed.