Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) has allocated JPY100 billion (US$638 million) in its fiscal 2025 budget proposal (April 2025 to March 2026) to support domestic semiconductor startup Rapidus. The ministry also plans to introduce legislative changes during the 2025 regular session of the National Diet to bolster Rapidus and similar ventures
Tesla China has reduced the starting price of its Model Y rear-wheel drive model to CNY239,900 (US$32,870) on its official website, making it the lowest-priced version of this model globally. The company has also introduced a five-year zero-interest financing scheme to make its vehicles more accessible to Chinese consumers
Yovole is considering an initial public offering in the US, people familiar with the matter said, years after the Chinese data center operator's failed attempt to list in mainland China
South Korea's semiconductor industry is considering the creation of KSMC amid claims of facing its biggest crisis ever, prompting calls for KRW300 trillion (US$207 billion) in government financial support
Following Xiaomi's venture into electric vehicles, automakers are now emerging as key players in the humanoid robot market. Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently announced that the company's future focus will gradually shift from electric vehicles (EVs) to humanoid robots, particularly its "Optimus" model, which he described as Tesla's core competitive advantage for the next decade
Honda Motor Co. absorbing Nissan Motor Co. could give the two struggling Japanese brands the scale they need to take on China's BYD, sales figures released Wednesday show
Elephantech Inc., a Tokyo-based printed electronics manufacturer, has announced a breakthrough in developing general-purpose multilayer printed circuit boards (PCBs). The company's press release claims its proprietary SustainaCircuits™ technology is poised to revolutionize the industry by significantly reducing copper usage and production costs
Major Japanese technology companies are undertaking comprehensive transformation initiatives in response to digital transformation and generative AI challenges, according to Nikkei and Nikkan. These changes span headquarters relocations, governance restructuring, and workplace modifications
Micron is aggressively expanding its footprint in the high-bandwidth memory market, capitalizing on surging AI chip demand to accelerate growth. Backing this expansion, the company is set to receive up to US$6.165 billion in CHIPS Act funding from the US Department of Commerce by the end of 2024. To strengthen its market position, it plans to expand production in the US and Malaysia, aiming for a 20% share of the HBM market by 2025
While Samsung Electronics (Samsung) can breathe a sigh of relief as Qualcomm's close collaborator following the US semiconductor manufacturer's victory in its lawsuit against UK semiconductor IP firm Arm, concerns are mounting over the company's overreliance on Qualcomm
Samsung Electronics (Samsung) plans to boost shipments of its Galaxy S series in 2025 while scaling back targets for the Galaxy Z series, as the company shifts focus to its flagship models amid sluggish sales of foldable devices
Elephantech, a Tokyo-based printed electronics manufacturer, has introduced NeuralJet™, an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered inkjet technology that improves precision in semiconductor packaging applications through the correction of printing variations. The technology addresses specific challenges in advanced packaging processes, including those used in AI semiconductor production
China's electric vehicle (EV) industry has endured a two-year price war, leading to significant profit compression across the supply chain. Automakers have slashed costs to defend their market share, but this strategy has intensified upstream financial strain. Suppliers face cash flow crises, disrupting component stability and driving up costs, creating a self-perpetuating cycle of instability
A report by Nikkei Asia reveals that Sony Semiconductor Manufacturing, operating mainly from four factories in Kyushu, Japan, has shipped over 20 billion image sensors. To enhance its production capabilities and sustain its dominant market position, the company is currently building a new facility in Kumamoto Prefecture
Mitsubishi Electric has unveiled the sixth satellite in Japan's Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS) at its Kamakura Works facility. Scheduled for launch by the H3 rocket by the end of March 2025, the satellite features a groundbreaking "high-precision positioning system." This technology promises to enhance the positioning accuracy of smartphones to within one meter without requiring hardware modifications
