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Jul 24
German automakers reset strategy with AI, powertrain, and alliances

Volkswagen, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz are reshaping their growth strategies as the global auto market enters a low-growth era, with profitability under pressure and EV demand slowing. Instead of chasing volume, the three German automakers are focusing on multi-powertrain platforms, deeper AI integration, and cross-border partnerships.

US efforts to restrict Chinese technology from connected vehicles are expanding beyond hardware and software sourcing, as proposed legislation introduces ownership thresholds that could affect even automakers headquartered outside China.

SuperAlloy Industrial is broadening its business beyond forged aluminum wheels, with recycled aluminum and semiconductor parts emerging as new growth drivers. The shift could matter for global customers watching supply chains, low-carbon materials, and semiconductor equipment costs, as the company works to secure certifications, diversify sourcing, and expand production capacity.
Hisense outlined a broader AI strategy at its global partner conference in New York, saying it will expand beyond home appliances into semiconductors, smart energy, laser displays, and automotive electronics. The Chinese consumer electronics maker said the plan is designed to widen its AI value chain, strengthen global brand management, and improve user experience and operations.
South Korea's EcoPro BM said it aims to begin mass production of sulfide-based solid electrolytes, a core material for all-solid-state batteries, as early as 2027, laying out a roadmap to supply the full slate of materials the next-generation cells will require. The plan was disclosed at a corporate briefing in Yeouido, Seoul, on July 16 and formalized in a roadmap announcement on July 19.
PG Union is counting on new vehicle launches to navigate a weakening Taiwan auto market in the second half of 2026, after demand in the first seven months fell short of industry expectations.

BMW Group has appointed Benjamin Nagel as managing director of BMW Group's importer markets in Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, effective Sept. 1, 2026. He will succeed Raymond Tan Chor Ann, who will become managing director and CEO of BMW Group Malaysia.

The Trump administration's temporary 10% tariff under Section 122 of the US Trade Act is set to expire on July 24, putting Taiwan-US zero-tariff talks and global auto supply chains under pressure. In Taiwan, planned tariff changes for US-made cars remained stuck in legislative review, leaving potential launches in the fourth quarter uncertain.
Tesla has placed equipment orders for an in-house semiconductor development facility in Austin it calls TeraFab, CEO Elon Musk confirmed during the company's Q2 2026 earnings call on July 22, marking a significant step toward chip self-sufficiency.
Fulian Precision Technology Component, a Vietnamese subsidiary of Taiwan's Foxconn Industrial Internet (FII), has added electric-vehicle charging equipment to its registered business lines, marking the contract manufacturer's first formal step into EV infrastructure in the country, according to The Investor. The change, recorded in a business registration update on July 16, follows a recent increase in the unit's charter capital.

A quality scandal is spreading around lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries made by China Aviation Lithium Battery (CALB). Ride-hailing and taxi versions of GAC Aion's Aion S have suffered cell swelling, electrolyte leakage and insulation failures, an issue estimated to affect more than 210,000 vehicles. CALB was adopted by automakers such as GAC as an alternative to Contemporary Amperex Technology Ltd. (CATL), the world's largest battery maker, as part of a broader industry effort to reduce reliance on a single dominant vendor. The current crisis is now sparking backlash against that diversification strategy.

Tesla posted its strongest-ever second quarter for vehicle sales in results released after the US market close on July 22, but a razor-thin operating margin and a sharp swing to negative cash flow left the debate over the company squarely on its self-driving and robotics ambitions rather than its cars.