China is accelerating the commercialization of humanoid robots, with key players UBTech Robotics Inc. and Midea Group Co. rapidly advancing deployments in factory environments. UBTech has initiated small-batch shipments of its Walker S1 and Walker C humanoid robots, according to reports from South China Morning Post, Zol.com, and The Paper. These units are being introduced into automotive plants for both manufacturing operations and customer engagement roles

OpenAI is making a decisive push into Asia, with Singapore emerging as a focal point for its regional ambitions. The AI giant is aggressively hiring across a wide range of functions, from engineering and business development to legal, product management, and marketing. The move underscores Singapore's growing clout as a strategic operational hub, positioning the city-state as OpenAI's de facto Asia-Pacific headquarters and a rising force in the global artificial intelligence race

Vingroup, Vietnam's largest private conglomerate, has announced plans to develop the country's first general-purpose humanoid robot. The initiative is a key pillar of the group's 2025 technology and industrial strategy, which also encompasses its fast-growing electric vehicle (EV) and artificial intelligence (AI) operations

Murata Manufacturing anticipates its profit for fiscal year 2025 (April 2025 to March 2026) to hit an eight-year low, citing stagnant demand for smartphones and automotive components, along with currency headwinds from a stronger yen

LG Energy Solution (LGES) of South Korea has exited its US$8.45 billion electric vehicle (EV) battery project in Indonesia, prompting the Indonesian government to court China's Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt Co., Ltd. (Huayou) as a potential replacement investor

China's booming auto industry is moving beyond product competition as automakers increasingly prioritize unified safety standards for intelligent driving systems. The sector is transitioning toward a technology-driven growth model built around standardization and long-term scalability

Advanced L3–L5 autonomous driving has long been a critical battleground in the technological rivalry between the US and China. Recently, as both nations aim for L5 fully autonomous vehicles, their regulatory approaches have begun to diverge sharply: the US is moving toward deregulation, while China is tightening its oversight

Washington's export controls and escalating US-China chip tensions have dominated headlines, but American semiconductor leaders continue to rely heavily on the Chinese market. In 2023, China drove 27% of Intel's global revenue, roughly US$14.6 billion, and 15% of AMD's, about US$3.4 billion. Nvidia reported China accounted for over 13% of its fiscal 2025 revenue, totaling approximately US$17 billion. Despite Beijing's push for self-reliance, these numbers highlight China's critical role for US chipmakers. However, Chinese customs data reveals a stark contrast, with US semiconductors comprising just 3% of China's total chip imports

The memory market is seeing a sharp surge, fueled by rising contract prices since the second quarter and Samsung Electronics' move to phase out DDR4 modules, as revealed in communications with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). This shift has sparked a significant jump in spot market prices, with DDR4 modules leading the charge. Despite lingering concerns over potential tariff hikes, constrained supply from upstream manufacturers and aggressive stockpiling by buyers have helped sustain the upward momentum in prices

With panel supply-demand conditions improving and demand for larger displays accelerating, TCL Technology's semiconductor display business is staging a strong comeback. According to its 2024 annual report and 2025 first-quarter results released on April 29, TCL posted record-high figures in its display segment, with robust revenue and profit growth underscoring its strengthened position in a recovering industry

China's electric vehicle (EV) giant BYD held a groundbreaking ceremony on April 28 for its new factory in Cambodia, with plans to begin production in late 2025 at an annual capacity of 10,000 units

The Adani Group has paused discussions with Israel's Tower Semiconductor over a proposed US$10 billion semiconductor project in India, according to two people familiar with the matter, Reuters reported. The Indian conglomerate decided to halt talks after internal evaluations raised concerns about the project's strategic fit and uncertain demand outlook in the Indian market

Dixon Technologies has strengthened its role in India's electronics manufacturing sector by signing a joint venture with Taiwan-based Inventec to produce IT hardware. The partnership expands Dixon's footprint in high-growth segments, supporting the Make in India initiative through local manufacturing of notebooks, servers, desktops, and related components