DIGITIMES: News and Insight of the Global Supply Chain

Micron overhauls pay in Taiwan as unions push for profit sharing

DIGITIMES — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 12:59:37 GMT

Micron is overhauling how it pays employees, promising quarterly profit-sharing bonuses and better pay and benefits for its Taiwan staff. The changes follow a labor dispute with the company's unions in Taiwan.

PSMC raises mature-node prices again, targets 20% increase in 2027

Charlene Chen — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 10:28:24 GMT

Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing (PSMC) reported third-quarter 2026 revenue of NT$21.3 billion (US$654.3 million), up 23% quarter-over-quarter, as higher foundry prices, a stronger average selling price (ASP) and improved capacity utilization lifted gross margin from 28% to 48% and drove net profit to NT$6.5 billion. With AI servers fueling demand for memory, power-management ICs and advanced packaging, PSMC expects double-digit revenue growth in the fourth quarter and has indicated that foundry prices will rise another 10% to 20% in 2027.

Taiwan-France semiconductor alliance strengthens with CPU pact between SiPearl and Egis Group

DIGITIMES — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 10:26:35 GMT

Highlighting the deepening industrial synergies between Europe and Asia, the Egis Group TechDay Taiwan-France Strategic CPU Partnership Signing Ceremony hosted the official signing between Egis Group and SiPearl. The landmark ceremony unveiled a joint initiative to build a Mobius 100 CPU and UCIe chiplet-based marketplace, establishing a cooperative framework for sovereign AI and high-performance computing (HPC) data center infrastructure.

ADEPT Taiwan holds inaugural in-person meeting as PLP and substrate standardization efforts gain momentum

Scarlett Yu — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 08:36:11 GMT

The Advanced Electronic Packaging Technology (ADEPT) committee under the Global Electronics Association continues to expand its presence in Taiwan.

U-Power listing highlights Taiwan's growing need for high-speed EV charging

Jingyue Hsiao — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 08:20:00 GMT

U-Power, Taiwan's ultra-fast electric vehicle (EV) charging operator, has applied to list on the Taipei Exchange as the country's expanding EV population supports expectations for sustained charging demand. The company, which plans an emerging-stock listing in early November, reported higher first-half revenue but remained unprofitable as it continues investing in infrastructure.

MIPI expands beyond smartphones into AR glasses and humanoid robots

Lily Hess — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 07:39:08 GMT

The MIPI Alliance held this year's MIPI Demo Day Taipei at the Grand Hyatt Taipei this week, where 16 member companies demonstrated working products to more than 200 developers and engineers. Founded in 2003 to standardize camera and display interfaces for smartphones, the alliance now serves automotive, IoT, industrial, medical, and PC applications, with AI driving its next expansion into AR glasses and humanoid robots.

Infineon, Nvidia push gallium nitride power for 800-volt AI data centers

DIGITIMES — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 07:26:46 GMT

Infineon Technologies is expanding its work with Nvidia on 800-volt direct current power architectures for AI data centers, with a focus on gallium nitride (GaN) chips in the intermediate bus converter (IBC), the company said on October 21.

Chi Yi Hsin Technology's Arizona fab projects drive order backlog to NT$4.476B

Charlene Chen — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 07:19:07 GMT

As the global foundry leader accelerates construction of advanced-process and advanced-packaging facilities in the US, semiconductor facility engineering integrator Chi Yi Hsin Technology is expanding its role in Arizona, from core facility systems and equipment hook-up to materials supply. Chi Yi Hsin Technology said its backlog reached NT$4.476 billion (US$137.5 million) as of the end of September 2026, with projects scheduled for execution through around 2028 and overall order visibility extending to 2030.

Apex Science & Engineering expands automotive and medical display push

Jingyue Hsiao — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 07:19:00 GMT

Apex Science & Engineering is expanding its optoelectronics business in automotive and medical markets, with booked but undelivered orders worth approximately NT$105.7 million (US$3.24 million). Exports have accounted for 73% of the division's sales since the start of 2026, highlighting its exposure to international demand as it develops display modules for industrial, consumer, and public-sector applications worldwide.

Analysis: Musk's thrusting Roadster takes off, but questions remain up in the air

Scarlett Yu — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 07:15:14 GMT

Tesla unveiled its new Roadster, equipped with rocket-style thrusters, on October 15 and announced plans to begin production in 2028, more than a decade after the second-generation prototype was first showcased.

Tesla's Megapack boom meets AI power crunch, but margin gains raise questions

DIGITIMES — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 06:20:54 GMT

While Tesla is expanding its ambitions in autonomous transportation and embodied AI, developments in its energy-storage business are drawing attention following a mixed set of financial results in the company's third-quarter 2026 earnings report.

Texas Instruments posts rising Q3 sales across data centers, cars, industry

DIGITIMES — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 05:59:17 GMT

Texas Instruments reported strong revenue growth in its third-quarter earnings call due to strong demand across its industrial, automotive, and data center businesses. The company said it is facing a tight supply environment for its chips, but brought up its ramping of production and testing capacity, including through its new Malaysia back-end facility.

Samsung reportedly overhauls DRAM, NAND R&D incentives to retain talent and accelerate next-gen memory chips

DIGITIMES — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 05:55:00 GMT

Samsung Electronics is reportedly restructuring its semiconductor research operations and performance-based compensation system to accelerate next-generation DRAM and NAND flash development, bringing researchers and production teams closer together while addressing concerns over incentives and talent retention.

Taiwan's Aero Win expands role in next-gen engine programs amid global aircraft backlog

Willis Ke — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 05:53:57 GMT

Taiwan's aerospace components maker Aero Win Technology is positioning itself for a new growth cycle, capitalizing on robust aircraft engine demand while expanding its role in next-generation development programs. With global aircraft production struggling to keep pace with orders, the company's gross margin reached a record 26% in the first half of 2026, up 8pp year-over-year.

China's L3 autonomous driving adoption tipped to top 35% by 2030, raising stakes for automakers

DIGITIMES — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 04:27:24 GMT

Level 3 (L3) autonomous driving penetration in China is forecast to exceed 35% by 2030, supported by falling sensor costs, advances in AI models, and tighter safety regulations. The forecast comes as the country expands autonomous driving trials and prepares for wider commercial deployment.

Samsung DX division postpones meeting amid bonus tensions

Jingyue Hsiao — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 04:07:46 GMT

According to reports from Financial News, ETNews, News1 and Yonhap, Samsung Electronics' postponement of an event has intensified scrutiny of internal communications, bonus disparities, and preparations for 2027 wage talks as DX employees challenge compensation arrangements favoring the memory-focused DS division, while unions contest who should represent workers in negotiations expected to begin integrating demands in December.

Why Terafab approached South Korean suppliers first

Charlene Chen — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 04:06:20 GMT

Elon Musk is moving ahead with Terafab, as Tesla and SpaceX reportedly negotiate with about 10 South Korean semiconductor materials, components, and equipment suppliers. The discussions cover process materials, piping and valves, wastewater recycling equipment, and semiconductor testing components, raising questions about whether Taiwan's semiconductor supply chain will benefit from the massive expansion.

OpenAI acquires Orchestra Bio to advance AI drug development

DIGITIMES — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 04:03:01 GMT

OpenAI has acquired biotech startup Orchestra Bio and will integrate its team and technology into its life sciences research platform, Rosalind, expanding AI applications in drug development in an effort to accelerate the arrival of new therapies.

Unitree showcases H2-X as China's humanoid robot output tops 100,000

DIGITIMES — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 03:57:17 GMT

Unitree Robotics unveiled its new H2-X humanoid robot on October 21, showcasing martial arts combat, landings from height, and vehicle rescue as China's humanoid robot production accelerates. China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) said humanoid robot output exceeded 40,000 units in 1H26 and is expected to surpass 100,000 units for the full year, signaling the industry's shift toward large-scale production and broader applications.

Inside Nvidia DSX POD: How a factory-built AI data center could go live in 14 days

Jingyue Hsiao — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 03:53:05 GMT

Nvidia used its first GTC conference in Berlin to present a factory-style approach to AI, framing AI production as an industrial process. CEO Jensen Huang introduced the DSX full-stack architecture and DSX POD, a modular computing container designed to speed data-center deployment and bring systems online faster across Europe.

Japan sets execution plan for 17 growth strategies

DIGITIMES — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 03:51:18 GMT

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi will finalize a five-year plan by the end of 2026 outlining an investment blueprint for 17 strategic sectors. The plan will prioritize semiconductors and gaming for near-term investment, while physical AI and hydrogen are positioned as the next growth drivers.

BOS, LG, and HANA Micron team up on Korean automotive chiplets

DIGITIMES — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 03:50:00 GMT

BOS Semiconductors is partnering with LG Electronics and HANA Micron to develop and commercialize chiplet-based automotive semiconductors in South Korea, connecting domestic AI chip design with packaging and vehicle testing. ChosunBiz and ZDNet Korea reported the collaboration on October 20.

Racing Electric Instrument expands across drone systems

Rodney Chan — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 03:46:04 GMT

Motor manufacturer Racing Electric Instrument (REI) is expanding from propulsion systems into electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) payloads and inertial navigation for drones, targeting gaps in Taiwan's unmanned systems supply chain and supporting the development of locally controlled drone technologies.

Amazon backs 960MW nuclear project for AI power

DIGITIMES — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 03:37:40 GMT

Amazon plans to invest in a proposed 960MW nuclear power plant in Indiana and become its first power purchaser, securing long-term electricity for its AI data centers as it expands its nuclear energy strategy.

Amazon spends US$220B on AI as power delays squeeze cash flow

DIGITIMES — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 03:28:53 GMT

Amazon plans about US$220 billion in capital expenditure in 2026, mainly for cloud and AI infrastructure, but delays in data center power and construction are causing server racks to arrive before they can be deployed. The bottleneck is leaving expensive equipment in warehouses, preventing it from immediately generating computing capacity and revenue.

Analysis: Why Tesla needs to manufacture Optimus robots before its humanoid AI is ready

DIGITIMES — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 03:26:02 GMT

Tesla's move into early production of its Optimus humanoid robot has exposed an unusual challenge in scaling embodied artificial intelligence (AI): the company may need to manufacture thousands of robots before it can generate enough training experience to make them commercially useful.

Amazon to invest over EUR160B in Germany for AI, cloud and logistics

DIGITIMES — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 03:25:00 GMT

Amazon will invest more than EUR160 billion (about US$17.9 billion) in Germany in 2027 to expand its cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI), low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellite network, logistics and media-content businesses, while establishing its second robotics and AI research laboratory in Berlin.

Intel begins Arizona Fab 62 equipment installation, advances Ohio project as AI CPU demand surges

DIGITIMES — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 03:22:13 GMT

Intel is accelerating work on its long-delayed US semiconductor manufacturing projects, with equipment installation underway at its Fab 62 facility in Arizona and construction progressing at its Ohio site. The developments come as stronger demand for AI data center processors supports the chipmaker's efforts to expand capacity and strengthen its foundry business.

Apple, Google push PCB supply chain toward net zero amid challenges

Jingyue Hsiao — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 03:11:00 GMT

PCB makers are expanding sustainability efforts as artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing (HPC) drive demand for higher-performance boards. Still, the industry faces obstacles in securing affordable renewable power, validating low-carbon materials, and measuring emissions across its supply chain. Industry output is expected to exceed NT$1.13 trillion (US$34.63 billion) in 2026, putting pressure on the industry to balance growth with its sustainability goals.

Hyundai rethinks AAM strategy as Tesla Roadster sparks flying-car buzz

DIGITIMES — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 03:09:00 GMT

Tesla's unveiling of a redesigned Roadster with rocket-style thrusters has intensified interest in flying cars, while an internal report calls on Hyundai Motor Group to reconsider its aircraft development direction and advanced air mobility (AAM) strategy.

Meta says compute, not demand, now limits Muse; pushes shared standard for AI shopping agents

DIGITIMES — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 03:04:13 GMT

Meta Platforms is limiting the Muse personal AI agent to the US and Canada for now, saying that compute costs are the main reason it hasn't gone global.

SDC supplies over 70% of major laptop brands' OLED panels

DIGITIMES — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 02:58:34 GMT

Samsung Display (SDC) currently supplies more than 70% of the OLED panels used by major global laptop brands, intensifying concerns over supply and pricing risks tied to dependence on a single supplier. Laptop makers are therefore gradually adjusting their procurement strategies to build more diversified sources.

iPhone Duo preorders surge, but sales momentum remains uncertain

DIGITIMES — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 02:52:45 GMT

Apple Inc.'s first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo, has exceeded sales expectations since preorders opened on October 16, 2026. Supply constraints have extended delivery times to January 2027, but industry executives said the strength of demand will not become clear until after the first quarter of 2027.

Tesla's Robotaxi test enters harder phase: turning autonomous miles into transport business

DIGITIMES — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 02:51:48 GMT

Tesla's Robotaxi expansion is entering a new phase as the company increases unsupervised autonomous mileage, deploys its purpose-built Cybercab and works to expand fleet operations. The challenge now is translating those advances into a commercial transportation service capable of operating across more cities while managing vehicle production and operating costs.

Exclusive: Apple raises iPhone Duo shipment target 44% on strong preorders

Jingyue Hsiao — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 02:51:22 GMT

Apple has raised its iPhone Duo shipment target by 44%, from 9.7 million to 14 million units over 12 months, as strong consumer demand for its first foldable iPhone prompts the company to increase orders. Supply chain sources say the move signals confidence in sales, while forecasts for other models remain mixed.