Struggling with prolonged financial headwinds, Nissan Motor Co. has announced plans to shutter one of its core production sites, the Oppama plant, by March 2028. Talks to sell the facility to Taiwan's Foxconn, a major electronics and electric vehicle manufacturer, have collapsed after months of stalled negotiations.
LG Electronics has successfully entered the supply chains of eight out of the world's top 10 automakers, leveraging its automotive electronics and software-defined vehicle (SDV) solutions to expand its presence in the rapidly evolving auto industry.
Tesla has rolled out new, lower-cost versions of its two best-selling vehicles—the Model 3 and Model Y—under the "Standard" badge, both starting under US$40,000. While the move helps fill a gap left by delays to Tesla's next-generation vehicle platform, it also underscores a deeper strategic pivot: away from hardware-centric upgrades and toward an intensified focus on artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics.
In recent years, China's traditional industries and those with lower technical barriers have faced intensifying competition, with bad money driving out good. This trend threatens long-term industrial development and competitiveness. Taiwan's industry value chains face similar challenges amid tariffs, exchange rates, and geopolitical risks, compounded by worsening competition among small and medium enterprises (SMEs). It is imperative to take action now to tackle the problem.
In the rapidly evolving race to dominate automotive electrification and vehicle electronics, speed and timing have become the ultimate competitive advantage. Among the rising crop of electric vehicle startups, Chinese automakers have been storming the global market at a breakneck pace, embodying what many now call "China speed."
The global automotive aftermarket (AM) parts sector continues to benefit from shifting vehicle usage patterns, even as overall car market demand remains volatile, and this has benefited players such as Hushan and Tong Yang in achieving increased revenues in September.
Hotai Motor unveiled the Toyota Corolla Cross GR Sport and Corolla Altis GR Sport on October 7, aiming to boost year-end sales by appealing to a younger demographic with sporty designs, improved handling, and suggested retail prices of under NT$1 million (approx. US$32,800) for both models.
South Korea's once-dominant battery manufacturers are losing their footing in the global electric vehicle (EV) supply chain, as Chinese rivals surge ahead, driven by low-cost lithium iron phosphate (LFP) technology, strategic pivots, and overwhelming production efficiency. New data shows Korea's three major battery makers—LG Energy Solution, SK On, and Samsung SDI—are ceding market share at an accelerating pace.
As demand slows in consumer electronics, Samsung Electronics is accelerating its expansion into the B2B digital signage market. The company has secured a large-scale order from Toyota Motor to supply about 23,000 smart displays to its global exhibition centers in the first half of 2025.
Recent US-EU tariff negotiations promised to dismantle trade barriers and establish mutual recognition of automotive standards. The US has already cut EU car import tariffs from 27.5% to 15%, signaling the EU's initial move to ease some trade restrictions on American goods.
Action Electronics is focusing on the specialized automotive electronics sector, targeting niche markets rather than conventional passenger vehicles. The company anticipates its automotive electronics segment will become a significant medium- to long-term growth driver, with projected double-digit revenue growth by 2026.
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