Honda and Nissan have officially called off their merger negotiations, which began in December 2024. Both companies held board meetings on February 13, 2025, where they decided to end the discussions
ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT) has accelerated its next-generation DRAM development, transitioning from 17nm to 16nm process technology for its first DDR5 product, according to TechInsights. The company is also advancing 15nm DRAM, with plans to complete R&D by 2025 and begin mass production in late 2026
The advanced logic ICs and memory needed to support generative AI (GenAI) have brought huge benefits to related semiconductor equipment manufacturers. In 2025, the DeepSeek impact is not expected to deter US tech giants from investing heavily in AI infrastructure, fueling optimism for semiconductor equipment makers eyeing the AI chip opportunity
During Qualcomm's latest earnings call, CEO Cristiano Amon described DeepSeek-R1 as a turning point for the AI industry, driving the shift of AI inference from the cloud to edge devices. He highlighted that DeepSeek-R1 strengthens Qualcomm's competitive position, as its chips are optimized for efficient on-device AI processing, reducing dependence on cloud-based computing
Samsung Electronics' foundry unit is set to ramp up production, lifting shutdown measures on its manufacturing equipment and targeting full operational capacity at its Pyeongtaek facility by June 2025, according to industry sources
Samsung Electronics plans to convert part of its 3D NAND production at its Xi'an plant in China to the company's most advanced 286-layer stacked products
China's semiconductor equipment purchases are expected to decline in 2025 after three years of growth, according to Canadian research firm TechInsights. The decline comes amid industry overcapacity and intensified US export controls
Donald Trump's administration is implementing sweeping tariff reforms that reverse many of his predecessor's policies. The US has initiated a Section 301 investigation targeting China's mature semiconductor manufacturing and third-generation silicon carbide (SiC) technologies. With the Trump administration showing no signs of halting the probe, the investigation appears set to continue
Japanese electronic components supplier Taiyo Yuden has revised its financial forecast for fiscal 2024 (ending March 31, 2025), expecting year-over-year increases in revenue and operating profit
The proposed merger between Honda and Nissan has reached an impasse, while Renault is preparing to reduce its 36% ownership in Nissan. This development has sparked speculation about potential new investors, notably Apple and Foxconn
Canalys reported on February 11, 2025, that Southeast Asia's smartphone market rebounded in 2024, growing 11% year-over-year after two years of decline, with 96.7 million units shipped. Oppo led the market for the first time with an 18% share, followed closely by Samsung Electronics (Samsung) (17%), while Transsion and Xiaomi shared third place (16%), and Vivo rounded out the top five (13%)
Taiwan's Minister of Economic Affairs J.W. Kuo held discussions with a Kyushu Regional Strategic Council delegation during their visit to Taiwan on February 11, 2025
In its latest earnings call, China's leading pure-play foundry, SMIC, acknowledged an increase in domestic competition, resulting in a growing supply even as demand begins to recover. The company is aiming to capture a larger share of revenue from the automotive sector, driven by the heightened competitiveness among Chinese automakers
