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Tuesday 27 May 2025
Tesla's budget EV raises alarm among Korean, Japanese battery giants

As Tesla's long-rumored low-cost electric vehicle appears poised for launch, anxiety is rising across its global battery supply chain—particularly among Korean and Japanese partners. Industry observers warn that Tesla's increasing reliance on Chinese-made lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries could marginalize long-standing suppliers like LG Energy Solution (LGES), L&F, and Panasonic, potentially eroding their influence in the world's most consequential EV supply chain

Tuesday 27 May 2025
Rocket science meets red ink: China’s Star Compute Program explained
Chinese satellite network provider ADA Space Technology has advanced its space capabilities with the recent launch of 12 satellites featuring sophisticated AI inference technology. This deployment, known as the "Three-Body Computing Constellation," represents the first phase of the company's ambitious "Star Computer Program.
Monday 26 May 2025
OpenAI bets on South Korea's AI appetite
Seoul becomes the latest hub in a global push to deepen ties with advanced tech markets
Monday 26 May 2025
Shibaura Electronics revises stance on bidding war, withdraws opposition to Yageo's hostile offer
Shibaura Electronics announced on May 21, 2025, a shift in its stance regarding the competing tender offers (TOBs) from Japan's MinebeaMitsumi and Taiwan-based Yageo for its shares. Originally, Shibaura Electronics had recommended that shareholders accept MinebeaMitsumi's bid. However, the company has now revised its position from a clear endorsement to a neutral stance
Monday 26 May 2025
Wolfspeed's collapse threatens SiC market: US$2B Renesas deal in jeopardy
Wolfspeed, the US-based chip component maker, is reportedly preparing to file for bankruptcy—sending shockwaves through the global semiconductor industry. The news has sparked significant concern among its key clients, particularly Japan's Renesas Electronics, which may face direct financial fallout from the potential collapse
Monday 26 May 2025
Hygon, Sugon unify to cement China's HPC leadership
China's Dawning Information Industry Company (Sugon) and Hygon Information Technology announced plans for a strategic merger on May 25 to consolidate the country's computing power ecosystem. The proposed deal involves a share swap, with Hygon set to issue shares to all A-shareholders of Sugon. A simultaneous capital raise is also planned to support the integration. Both companies halted trading on May 26, with the suspension expected to last no more than ten trading days
Monday 26 May 2025
Xiaomi takes the long road on custom chips as Qualcomm shrugs off the XRing O1
Xiaomi has unveiled its new in-house smartphone processor, the XRing O1, positioning it as a direct competitor to flagship system-on-chips from Qualcomm and MediaTek. Designed with top-tier architecture and manufactured using advanced process nodes, the chip signals Xiaomi's growing ambition and maturity in custom silicon development
Monday 26 May 2025
Samsung edges toward Nvidia HBM3E approval, but SK Hynix remains dominant

Samsung Electronics may clear Nvidia's certification for its 12-layer HBM3E memory, but industry sources say the achievement is unlikely to yield short-term financial gains. SK Hynix, having secured early qualification, has already locked in most of the orders and controls the supply chain

Monday 26 May 2025
China's export controls on advanced equipment disrupt global manufacturing expansion
As geopolitical tensions continue to reshape global supply chains, manufacturers expanding production overseas are facing fresh hurdles due to China's tighter export controls on advanced equipment and materials. While the impact on production capacity remains limited for now, sources say these measures are causing delays in setting up new manufacturing lines abroad, prompting companies to turn to local suppliers for critical support
Monday 26 May 2025
China eases rare earth curbs, drone makers to resume shipments
China has quietly relaxed export restrictions on rare earth elements crucial for drone manufacturing after the controls threatened to derail the industry's growth, according to people familiar with the matter. The move comes as both Beijing and Washington face mounting pressure from material shortages and stockpile risks
Monday 26 May 2025
QPC plans major transformation in 2025 with 75% of products exported
Qualipoly Chemical Corporation (QPC) announced that 2025 will be a year of significant transformation. The Annan plant is expected to begin trial production and ramp up operations in the third quarter, while the Yong'an plant is currently investing in building large-scale electronic chemical material reactors and planning subsequent capacity expansions. Additional ongoing projects include expanding PSMA production capacity and constructing automated warehousing facilities
Monday 26 May 2025
Nvidia reportedly develops new lower-cost AI chip for China to skirt US export curbs
Nvidia is reportedly developing another lower-cost AI chip for China, pricing it at US$6,500–8,000—well below its restricted H20 model. The new GPU, based on Blackwell architecture, is designed to comply with US export rules as Nvidia seeks to defend its market share amid tightening trade controls
Monday 26 May 2025
Samsung Galaxy phone prices could surge by 40% due to 25% tariff
Starting June 2025, Samsung Galaxy smartphones exported to the US may be subject to a 25% import tariff, a move that could push retail prices up by as much as 40%, according to South Korean media reports. The tariffs are part of a broader trade policy push by US President Donald Trump aimed at reshoring tech manufacturing
Monday 26 May 2025
Weekly news roundup: Huawei's 5G lead, DeepSeek's LLM moves, and TSMC's packaging gap
These are the most-read DIGITIMES Asia stories from the week of May 19 – May 25. Highlights include China's accelerating push for tech self-sufficiency with new AI chips and operating systems, TSMC's global fab and packaging expansion gaps, Wolfspeed's looming bankruptcy amid China's SiC surge, and Huawei's growing dominance in 5G infrastructure as Western RAN giants retreat. From Computex showdowns to DeepSeek's LLM momentum, here's what topped the headlines
Monday 26 May 2025
Xiaomi enters 3nm race, but Lei Jun says it's no Apple showdown
Xiaomi has launched its first self-designed 3nm system-on-chip, the XRing O1, positioning it as the cornerstone of a broader push into advanced semiconductors. Debuting inside both the Xiaomi 15S Pro smartphone and the Xiaomi Pad 7 Ultra tablet, the chip anchors the company's latest hardware rollout. CEO Lei Jun also introduced the XRing T1, Xiaomi's inaugural smartwatch chip, which incorporates the brand's first in-house 4G baseband processor