Japan's push to revive its semiconductor manufacturing is hitting speed bumps as major manufacturers expressed cautiousness over operation or expansion amid weak demand outside of AI

China has rapidly emerged as a global powerhouse in hydrogen energy, demonstrating strong capabilities across the entire supply chain—from production and storage to transport and fuel cell vehicle manufacturing. However, industry observers warn that the sector could soon face the same overcapacity and cutthroat price competition that once plagued the solar and wind industries

Xiaomi's XRing O1 will debut in the 15S Pro smartphone and Pad 7 Ultra, reportedly built on TSMC's second-gen 3nm (N3E) process. With around 19 billion transistors, the chip ranks alongside Apple's A17 Pro and other flagship SoCs, according to National Business Daily and Zol.com.cn

On the evening of May 22, Xiaomi is expected to launch its self-developed 3nm mobile system-on-chip (SoC), the XRing O1, in a move that underscores both the company's technological maturity and China's broader drive toward semiconductor independence amid tightening US export restrictions. The chip has already entered mass production and is set to power Xiaomi's upcoming mobile device lineup, according to chairman and founder Lei Jun

Xiaomi is set to unveil its latest slate of strategic products at 7 pm CST on May 22, headlined by the long-awaited debut of its in-house smartphone SoC, the XRing O1—a bold play that marks a new chapter in the company's semiconductor ambitions. Xiaomi chairman Lei Jun quickly followed up with technical disclosures, noting that the XRing O1 is built on a second-generation 3nm process and packs 19 billion transistors, putting it in the same league as Apple's A17 Pro from a specification standpoint

The US Commerce Department set the stage for anti-subsidy duties on imports of key battery components from China after concluding materials had been unfairly subsidized

Samsung Electronics has sharply reduced its memory chip production—by more than 100 billion units in a year—raising eyebrows across South Korea's tech industry. The unexpected drop, revealed in the company's latest quarterly report, signals a strategic pivot amid intensifying price competition from Chinese rivals

More than two years ago, on the outskirts of a medieval German town, China's biggest EV battery company placed a EUR1.8 billion (US$2 billion) bet on the future of global trade

Chinese shipments of Apple Inc.'s iPhone and other mobile devices to the US dived to their lowest levels since 2011 in April, underscoring how the threat of US tariffs choked off the flow of big-ticket goods between the world's two largest economies

Khgears International Limited secured four humanoid robot customers and will begin small-batch for a customer in the second half of 2025, with revenue recognition expected in the fourth quarter. Although large-scale deployment of humanoid robots remains distant, Khgears believes its smart transmission business could approach 10% of total revenue by 2025 as the sector gains traction

Of the seven semiconductor fabs completed in Japan during fiscal 2023–2024 (April 2023 to March 2025), only three had begun mass production by April 2025. New facilities from Kioxia, Renesas Electronics, Rohm Semiconductor, and Sanken Electric remain inactive, while Sony has launched production but is moving forward conservatively

Japan's behind-the-meter energy storage market is entering a period of significant policy benefits. Driven by subsidy programs and residential demand, the market is rapidly heating up with simultaneous growth in applications and distribution channels. Taiwan-based energy IoT platform provider NextDrive has strategically positioned itself ahead of this trend, recently announcing partnerships with leading Japanese home energy storage brand Choshu Industry (CIC) and Hanwha Japan, boosting its market share ranking to third place with plans to challenge for second place in 2025

Robin Zeng, Chairman of CATL, announced on May 18, 2025, that electric vehicles could comprise 50% of all new heavy-duty truck sales in China by 2028, rising sharply from 10% in 2025. According to Reuters, East Money, and Gasgoo, the forecast highlights China's accelerating freight electrification and CATL's evolving multi-sector strategy

China's Ministry of Commerce has denounced new US restrictions targeting Huawei's artificial intelligence (AI) chips, arguing the move threatens the recently established trade consensus between the two nations in Geneva. The Ministry urged Washington to "immediately correct its wrongful actions" and cease what it called discriminatory measures against Chinese companies

Once a pillar of Japan's automotive might, Nissan now finds itself in financial peril, with talks of potential mergers or alliances repeatedly falling through. After a failed merger attempt with Honda, Japan's second-largest automaker, reports from Japanese media suggest that Toyota—Japan's largest and most influential carmaker—may be quietly extending a helping hand. However, neither Toyota nor Nissan has confirmed the rumors through official channels