DIGITIMES: News and Insight of the Global Supply Chain

Chinese automakers face globalization test in overseas push

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 01:32:51 GMT

China's auto industry has moved from capacity expansion and price competition into a final round of competition, as the decisive factor shifts to how each brand performs overseas. The reason is simple: overseas markets offer more rational margins, making the global expansion of Chinese brands increasingly important.

Accenture, Google Cloud launch global Gemini Enterprise business group

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 01:25:00 GMT

Accenture and Google Cloud launched a new global business group to help companies scale agentic AI, a move that could speed enterprise adoption of AI tools worldwide. The effort targets faster deployment, clearer returns, and broader access to AI talent, engineering, and industry expertise across sectors.

Apple may delay iPhone 18 base model to 1Q27

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 01:19:48 GMT

Apple's fall product event will begin at 1 a.m. Taiwan time on September 10, with the company set to unveil the iPhone 18 Pro series and its first foldable phone, tentatively called iPhone Ultra. Market watchers said Apple may postpone the standard iPhone 18 until the first quarter of 2027, using older models to support sales in the fourth quarter.

Preferred Networks eyes an IPO as Japan's AI chip ambitions outgrow private funding

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 01:13:53 GMT

One of Japan's few private technology companies valued above US$1 billion is preparing to abandon a decade of engineering independence, because designing an AI chip is no longer the expensive part — manufacturing one at volume is.

Meta ships Muse as its agent bet, waging faster model cadence can close the frontier gap

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 00:57:05 GMT

Meta launched Muse on September 9, a personal AI agent that acts on a user's behalf across email, calendar, payments, shopping, and the smart home — the clearest sign yet that the company means to convert a year of catch-up spending on frontier models into a consumer product before rivals lock in the agent market.

ASML chooses Netherlands for major expansion after warning it could build abroad

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 00:40:02 GMT

ASML's groundbreaking at Brainport Industries Campus North commits Europe's most valuable company to a build-out that could eventually hold up to 20,000 workplaces in a single Dutch metropolitan region, against a current global workforce of more than 44,500.

Qualcomm to build custom AI inference chips for AWS

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 00:32:39 GMT

Qualcomm's multi-generation agreement to build customized AI inference silicon and optical interconnects for Amazon gives the company something its data center roadmap has lacked since it re-entered the market: a named, US-scale hyperscaler willing to put Qualcomm parts into a production fleet. The commercial value was not disclosed; the strategic value is the point. Qualcomm has spent the past year buying its way into AI infrastructure and telling investors it belongs there. Amazon Web Services (AWS), the largest buyer of AI compute in the market, has now agreed.

China GPU developer Biren expands AI chip R&D into optical interconnects, advanced cooling

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 00:25:01 GMT

Chinese GPU developer Biren Technology has teamed up with Shanghai University to establish an Integrated Circuit Intelligent Chip Joint Laboratory, expanding their cooperation into joint research on AI-chip optical interconnects and advanced thermal management.

SDC, LGD target advanced glass packaging

Yunnie Cheng — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 00:24:31 GMT

As glass substrates emerge as a next-generation semiconductor packaging material, they have become the centerpiece of the display industry's cross-sector transformation. Although South Korean panel makers have turned their attention toward glass substrates and advanced packaging, their overall strategy remains exploratory. Compared to rivals in Taiwan and China, South Korea's leading players face a double-edged sword: their parent conglomerates already maintain established semiconductor and packaging divisions, a structure that enables cross-technology synergy but can also constrain new business expansion.

CSPs expand Malaysia AI server hubs as Southeast Asia grows

Charlene Chen — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 00:23:55 GMT

According to the latest DIGITIMES Intelligence report, US-based cloud service providers (CSPs) are expanding their footprint in Malaysia, with Microsoft and Google driving the next wave of added AI computing capacity. The availability of land, power, and related infrastructure for campus developments of several hundred MW will further shape Malaysia's data center growth pace and regional divergence.

Backed by Nanya partnership, PieceMakers eyes AI memory upgrade boom

Yunnie Cheng — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 00:22:37 GMT

As AI compute requirements scale, memory bandwidth has become a primary bottleneck governing system performance. PieceMakers Technology, which maintains a strategic partnership with Nanya Technology, is slated to debut on Taiwan's Emerging Stock Board on September 16, 2026. Leveraging 3D stacking and Near Memory architectures, the company is positioning itself to capture burgeoning AI memory upgrade opportunities, driving concurrent top- and bottom-line growth.

Taiwan's chip research agencies overlap on two new 300mm fabs

Charlene Chen — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 00:12:16 GMT

To receive 12-inch (300mm) advanced-process R&D and pilot-line equipment donated by TSMC, the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) and the National Development Council (NDC) are jointly funding ITRI's new advanced semiconductor pilot production laboratory. The facility is scheduled for completion by the end of 2027 and will begin phased activation in the first quarter of 2028.

Taiwanese suppliers are being demoted to second tier as Xiaomi squeezes prices

Charlene Chen — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 00:08:44 GMT

Xiaomi Auto moved aggressively in September 2026, officially launching its second product line, the SkyNomad extended-range SUV series, on September 7. The company also said cumulative deliveries have surpassed 800,000 vehicles and laid out a timetable to enter the European market in 2027. But behind the upbeat headlines, Taiwanese suppliers are settling for secondary-supplier roles.

WinWay revenue surges on AI chip pin-count demand

Charlene Chen — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 00:08:16 GMT

Semiconductor test interface maker WinWay said AI-related orders drove August 2026 revenue to NT$1.706 billion (US$53.8 million), up more than 2x year-over-year and a record high for a single month. The company also posted its fifth straight month of month-over-month growth, its third consecutive monthly revenue record, and said cumulative revenue for the first eight months of 2026 rose nearly double, beating expectations.

Arm expands AI platform strategy across cloud, robotics and mobile

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 00:08:03 GMT

Arm unveiled new platforms and ecosystem programs for cloud data centers, Physical AI and mobile devices on September 8, broadening its role beyond CPU intellectual property into a wider AI computing platform. The company said the push is aimed at supporting agentic AI, which requires systems to plan tasks, retrieve data, coordinate models and take actions on behalf of users.

Uber Eats names Samuel Li Taiwan GM

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 00:07:49 GMT

Uber Eats on September 8 named Samuel Li as its Taiwan general manager, as the delivery platform continues to deepen its local market presence and partner relationships, and drive business growth in Taiwan.

IQE returns to profit in 1H26, warns on China InP risk

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 00:07:30 GMT

IQE said first-half 2026 results came in better than expected on an AI data-center buildout boom, but the UK compound semiconductor epitaxy maker also warned that China's grip on indium phosphide, or InP, could become a major industry risk. Bloomberg and Reuters reported that surging demand for next-generation optical communications chips helped IQE post core profit of GBP6 million (about US$8.1 million) in the first half of 2026, swinging the company back into the black.

Taiwan Mobile moves into enterprise AI integration with Systex

Yunnie Cheng — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 00:05:34 GMT

Taiwan Mobile kicked off its fourth annual Tech Day, "D.E.E.P. Tech Day 2026," on September 8. This year's event centered on Agentic AI, exploring enterprise strategy, platform technologies, Japanese corporate case studies, deployment, and governance and security.

Industrial AI needs eyes: Sony tests its sensor edge in Aramco's physical world

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 00:04:57 GMT

For years, sensor technologies tied to image processing and machine vision have carved out their own foothold in the digital world, where the prevailing use of AI was largely confined to workflows such as historical data analysis and software-level applications. The smartphone market became the most visible proving ground, where image-sensing technology held a formidable edge as a crucial component in unlocking the full potential of smartphones' intelligent layer.

Realtek expands Wi-Fi 8, optical communications, ASICs, keeps Nvidia partnership low-profile

Levi Li — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 00:04:39 GMT

ITRI held its 15th Laureate Ceremony on September 7, honoring three new laureates in 2026: TSMC executive vice president and co-COO Y.P. Chyn, Realtek chairman Sun-Chien Chiu, and superintendent of Taipei Veterans General Hospital Wei-Ming Chen.

OpenAI taps Firmus for Malaysia data center capacity

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 00:04:24 GMT

OpenAI has signed a multi-year agreement with Australian AI infrastructure developer Firmus for dedicated computing capacity at two data center sites in Malaysia, becoming an anchor customer as demand for power and data-center capacity accelerates.

Samsung's Taylor fab reportedly fully booked before 2nm production begins

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 00:04:00 GMT

Samsung Electronics' Taylor foundry fab in Texas has reportedly reached full booking before 2nm volume production begins, signaling stronger demand for the company's incoming US advanced-node capacity as the site moves toward trial operations.

Lotte Energy Materials pivots from EV weakness to AI, ESS copper foil

Levi Li — Tue, 8 Sep 2026 23:47:23 GMT

Cooling electric vehicle demand is forcing South Korean copper foil makers to rethink capital and capacity. Lotte Energy Materials has sold a 90% stake in its architectural exterior contracting subsidiary Lotte EcoWall for KRW170.8 billion (approx. US$120 million), and is redirecting the proceeds into its core copper foil business.

LCD supply could tighten by 2028 as Taiwan sells its fabs to chipmakers

Lily Hess — Tue, 8 Sep 2026 23:45:39 GMT

LCD panel supply could tighten around 2028 as Taiwan manufacturers exit the segment faster than expected, while China uses profits from LCD to ramp OLED investment. The shift is being driven by shrinking LCD line capacity, rising demand for advanced semiconductor packaging, and continued growth in large-screen TVs.

Analysis: When 72% of the world's EV batteries are Chinese, one defect travels

Scarlett Yu — Tue, 8 Sep 2026 23:43:29 GMT

A battery quality controversy involving GAC Aion has put supplier CALB, the world's fourth-largest EV battery maker, under scrutiny and highlighted a less comfortable side of China's breakneck expansion in new energy industries.

Syrma SGS Elemaster opens electronics plant in southern India to serve global markets

DIGITIMES — Tue, 8 Sep 2026 23:43:13 GMT

A new electronics factory in Bengaluru is set to strengthen India's role in global supply chains, with potential benefits for customers in railways, industrial systems, energy, and medical devices worldwide. The facility highlights rising demand for high-reliability manufacturing and deeper India–Italy industrial ties.

Indonesia bets on a full EV supply chain as BYD opens its Subang plant

DIGITIMES — Tue, 8 Sep 2026 23:42:51 GMT

Indonesia's industry minister said the country has the resources to build a complete domestic electric vehicle chain, speaking in Subang, West Java, on September 3, as BYD inaugurated an IDR16 trillion assembly plant, joining the Chinese carmaker's operating plants in Thailand, Uzbekistan, and Brazil.

Tesla's Cybercab hits the road, but regulation may become autonomy's next scaling bottleneck

DIGITIMES — Tue, 8 Sep 2026 23:39:32 GMT

Tesla has finally put its purpose-built Cybercab onto public streets, marking a critical step in Elon Musk's years-long ambition to transform the EV maker into an autonomous mobility company.

Kian Shen eyes stronger 3Q26 on chassis, lightweight frames, Lean3

Willis Ke — Tue, 8 Sep 2026 09:00:00 GMT

Taiwan's Kian Shen is counting on chassis, lightweight panel frames, and the Lean3 electric vehicle to drive growth, with third-quarter 2026 performance expected to improve from the previous quarter as July returned to profitability and non-operating income provided additional support.

FIT wins Amphenol patent license, expands AI interconnect push

Charlene Chen — Tue, 8 Sep 2026 08:55:00 GMT

Foxconn Interconnect Technology (FIT) announced on September 7, 2026, that it has secured a patent license from competitor Amphenol for high-speed backplane connector solutions. The two companies also issued a joint statement, saying the collaboration marks an important milestone in advancing core technologies for the AI era and will let them offer customers a more complete service package.

Ma-tek August revenue hits record, eyes U.S. FA, MA service in 2027

DIGITIMES — Tue, 8 Sep 2026 08:37:45 GMT

MA-tek, a semiconductor testing and analysis company, reported August revenue of NT$565 million, up 17.78% from a year earlier and marking a record high for the sixth straight month. Revenue for the first eight months reached NT$4.196 billion, up 17.66% from the same period in 2025.

AIDC wins 20-year Bombardier contract to expand business jet work

DIGITIMES — Tue, 8 Sep 2026 08:37:13 GMT

Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC) said on September 7 that it won a 20-year full-life-cycle contract from Canadian aerospace group Bombardier for the Challenger 3500 business jet. The award was described as AIDC's most important recent breakthrough in civil aviation and was tied to Taiwan's aerospace supply chain.

SmallSat 2026: Two bottlenecks and four trends reshaping satellite industry

Scarlett Yu — Tue, 8 Sep 2026 08:30:39 GMT

The 40th Annual Small Satellite Conference, held August 23-26, 2026, in Salt Lake City, capped what has been a productive year for the space industry, marked by new payload technologies, next-generation satellite buses, a wave of partnership agreements, and one of the most favorable funding environments in recent years.

LG's robot actuator push turns appliance know-how into a physical AI supply-chain bet

DIGITIMES — Tue, 8 Sep 2026 08:30:26 GMT

As humanoid robots increasingly move from demonstrations toward factories and commercial deployments, competition is expanding beyond finished robots into the components that determine their cost, weight and ability to move precisely.

US chip tariffs raise stakes for Samsung, SK Hynix's US memory plans

DIGITIMES — Tue, 8 Sep 2026 08:30:05 GMT

South Korea and the US are discussing semiconductor investments in the US as part of broader bilateral negotiations, bringing US chip tariff policy closer to the investment decisions facing Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix.