US automakers are shifting major battery investment away from electric vehicle traction packs and into stationary battery energy storage systems as policy changes and grid needs have altered market incentives, executives said. The move has accelerated in recent months as the expanding US BESS market and federal and local "Made in the US" subsidies have made large-scale stationary storage a more immediate commercial opportunity than some EV segments.
Taiwan-based UBright Optronics is accelerating its transformation from an LCD optical film specialist into a diversified technology supplier, expanding into semiconductor materials, passive components and smart acoustics. The new businesses are expected to begin generating revenue in 2026 as product certifications advance, but the company has not yet offered guidance on their revenue impact.
India sees rising global tech investment as Meta, Reliance and Anthropic deepen AI ties, while EV firms expand, Starlink faces delays, and semiconductor and tablet markets show steady structural growth.
The US Department of Defense has expanded its list of Chinese military companies, adding major battery, electric vehicle, solar, memory, sensor, and robotics firms. The move came as Contemporary Amperex Technology Ltd. (CATL) disclosed lithium-air battery research, underscoring how Chinese companies are responding to mounting policy pressure.
During a panel discussion between executives and research experts from Bosch, Infineon, Rohm Semiconductor, Nexperia, Wolfspeed, and Omdia at PCIM Europe 2026, one reality was made clear: frictionless, globalized chip manufacturing is ending. While the conversation reflected industry enthusiasm for new applications such as AI servers and industrial motor drives, it was tempered by macroeconomic realities of international trade protectionism, regional resilience mandates, and aggressive tariffs.
Shin-Etsu Chemical plans to build a new rare earth production facility in Fukui Prefecture, aiming to expand domestic smelting capacity and reduce Japan's reliance on China for materials critical to electric vehicle and semiconductor manufacturing equipment, according to Nikkei and Kyodo News.
