DIGITIMES news

Tuesday 13 October 2026

Geothermal power too costly for chipmakers? Taiwan's semiconductor industry sees value beyond electricity prices

As geothermal energy prepares to enter Taiwan's semiconductor renewable electricity market, the most immediate question is how much each kilowatt-hour (kWh) will cost compared with solar, wind, and conventional power generation.

Monday 12 October 2026

China proposes physical controls and tougher testing for new vehicles

China proposed tighter vehicle design and safety requirements that would restrict fully hidden door handles, virtual controls for critical functions and several interior features in new vehicles. The draft rules, issued by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and three other government departments, are intended to reduce safety risks associated with rapidly developed vehicle models and would affect automakers seeking approvals in China.

Monday 12 October 2026

EU caps annual HEV imports at 350,000 to curb trade deficit with China

The European Union plans to cap imports of hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) at 350,000 units per year, with safeguard measures potentially taking effect as early as December 1, 2026. The four-year framework sets a 350,000-unit limit in its first year, followed by a 6% annual quota expansion starting in the second year, while both sides commit to complying with World Trade Organization (WTO) rules.

Monday 12 October 2026

Samsung reportedly secures long-term contracts covering up to 80% of 2027 memory supply

Samsung Electronics has committed 75–80% of its 2027 memory supply, including high-bandwidth memory (HBM), to long-term agreements (LTAs), the Korea Economic Daily reported on October 9, 2026, citing industry sources. Nvidia, Google and Microsoft were among the major customers that had largely finalized contracts. Samsung has not confirmed the allocation or named the buyers.

Monday 12 October 2026

Moonshot AI's Hong Kong IPO faces a critical ownership dispute ahead of US$50 billion debut

China's Moonshot AI is seeking to settle a shareholder dispute involving claims potentially exceeding US$700 million ahead of a potential US$5 billion Hong Kong initial public offering (IPO). Allegations concerning asset transfers and corporate governance could complicate the AI startup's listing preparations.

Monday 12 October 2026

South Korea's Nucode targets US drone identification market with Realtek-based module

South Korean wireless communications module maker Nucode has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with US drone identification and airspace intelligence provider Zing Drone Solutions to develop and supply electronic component modules for ultra-small and small-scale solutions. Nucode's NU87 module, which uses a Realtek chip, is among the products submitted for evaluation.

Monday 12 October 2026

Biren's BR20X GPU targets 1,024-chip AI systems, but US curbs cloud mass production

China's Biren Technology has successfully powered on its next-generation BR20X GPU, advancing to post-tapeout validation while preparing for customer sampling and mass production. The milestone advances its AI accelerator roadmap, though US export controls and manufacturing constraints remain major obstacles.

Monday 12 October 2026

Sumitomo Bakelite expands packaging material production across Singapore, China

Sumitomo Bakelite announced that it is expanding production capacity for encapsulation materials used in advanced chip packaging at its facilities in Singapore and Suzhou, China. This is expected to approximately double its production capacity for mold underfill (MUF) materials and approximately triple that for compression-molding granules.

Monday 12 October 2026

South Korean startup Helios targets Taiwan supply chains and Taiwan Strait risk analysis

As US defense procurement restrictions and European Union (EU) supply-chain due diligence requirements advance, South Korean risk-intelligence startup Helios is targeting verification needs in Taiwan and South Korea's AI, semiconductor, and defense industries. The company plans to bring public-information analysis and on-site verification services to Taiwan while strengthening maritime-threat analysis around the Taiwan Strait for corporate and national-security applications.

Monday 12 October 2026

AITO doubles down on CATL as China's battery supply chain shifts toward selective diversification

As efforts to curb CATL's dominance accelerate across China's automotive landscape, the domestic battery market is beginning to move away from single-supplier dependence and toward a more diversified sourcing model.

Monday 12 October 2026

Samsung could unseat SK Hynix as HBM leader in 2027

Samsung Electronics could overtake SK Hynix as the world's largest supplier of high-bandwidth memory (HBM) in 2027, as HBM4 prices climb and memory manufacturers compete for limited DRAM production capacity, according to forecasts presented at an October 6 semiconductor industry forum in Seoul.

Monday 12 October 2026

Cook makes first post-CEO visit to China, lauds Guangdong's role in Apple supply chain

Apple Executive Chairman Tim Cook made his first visit to China since stepping down as Apple CEO. He visited Guangdong Province, a manufacturing hub that contains much of the iPhone maker's supply chain ecosystem as it rolls out the iPhone 18 Pro series and its first foldable smartphones.

Monday 12 October 2026

Apple's iPhone 18 order cuts expose widening divide in premium demand

Apple's iPhone 18 Pro lineup is showing mixed demand signals weeks after launch. Reports of component order cuts suggest weaker-than-expected sales, while Chinese supply-chain sources point to stronger demand for the pricier Pro Max and foldable iPhone Duo. The divergence highlights growing pressure on Apple's premium strategy as rising memory costs drive smartphone prices higher.

Monday 12 October 2026

Rapidus targets customers underserved by TSMC, but can it convince them to take the risk?

Backed by US$15 billion in Japanese government funding, Rapidus announced an alliance with 17 semiconductor design-related companies, including US-based Synopsys and India's Infosys, on October 5. The partnership aims to expand its potential customer base by helping companies develop custom chips.

Monday 12 October 2026

India's festive smartphone sales may slow as memory costs lift prices

India's key festive smartphone season is set to matter far beyond its borders, as higher memory costs reshape pricing, buying habits, and brand competition in a major emerging market. Counterpoint Research expects unit sales to fall, even as market value rises, highlighting a global shift toward pricier, more selective device upgrades.

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Oct 15, 08:00

Samsung Semiconductor Highlights 400+ Layer Flash Powering Agentic AI

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