DIGITIMES: News and Insight of the Global Supply Chain

Interview: Infineon's first RISC-V automotive MCU is built for a decade-plus production run

Jingyue Hsiao — Fri, 6 Nov 2026 18:34:00 GMT

Infineon Technologies is betting on RISC-V scalability with AURIX RC1, its first RISC-V-based microcontroller (MCU) platform, unveiled this week. A single instruction set lets the platform span everything from very small controllers to real-time vehicle computers and robotic motion controllers, so RC1 can serve automotive, robotics, and industrial customers at the same time.

DIGITIMES Insight: Cloud LLMs drive sharp increase in KV cache demand; establishes three key directions for SSD development

Yunnie Cheng — Fri, 6 Nov 2026 17:32:00 GMT

DIGITIMES observes that as large language models (LLMs) and agentic AI development become increasingly widespread, it is driving not only significant growth in data center CPU demand but also a sharp surge in key-value cache (KV cache) storage requirements. As DRAM and HBM capacity face severe supply shortages, demand for data center SSDs is rising rapidly.

Analysis: Britain's semiconductor paradox—world-class innovation, but who captures the value?

DIGITIMES — Fri, 6 Nov 2026 17:00:00 GMT

As artificial intelligence reshapes global chipmaking, the UK's strength in design, materials and research is being tested by a longstanding challenge: turning technological breakthroughs into scalable commercial products.

US lawmakers request briefing with Nvidia's Jensen Huang on dealings with Megaspeed executive

DIGITIMES — Fri, 6 Nov 2026 10:04:49 GMT

Three US lawmakers asked Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang to attend a closed-door meeting to discuss his interactions with former Megaspeed executive Alice Huang. The request followed recent reports alleging that Alice Huang had fed intelligence to the Chinese government and had developed a "close relationship" with Jensen Huang.

Commentary: US governors target AI data centers as Taiwan firms await Nvidia outlook

Lily Hess — Fri, 6 Nov 2026 09:00:00 GMT

Following the 2026 US gubernatorial elections, four states that host major AI data centers—Texas, Ohio, Georgia, and Pennsylvania—could impose tighter controls on new projects after Democratic candidates won or secured reelection, according to Bloomberg. Taiwan suppliers are watching closely as some projects could be paused, while Nvidia's upcoming earnings call is expected to provide clues on AI infrastructure demand.

Moonshot AI reportedly seeking access to Nvidia GPUs through European neoclouds

DIGITIMES — Fri, 6 Nov 2026 08:59:43 GMT

Moonshot AI, a leading Chinese model developer, is reportedly seeking remote access to Nvidia chips held in Europe. With sales of advanced US chips to China limited, the move would exploit a loophole in American law that currently does not restrict cloud service providers (CSPs) from selling compute to Chinese companies.

YMTC targets up to 70% Chinese tools for new NAND fab

DIGITIMES — Fri, 6 Nov 2026 08:55:28 GMT

China's Yangtze Memory Technologies (YMTC) plans to source as much as 70% of the manufacturing equipment for its fourth NAND flash factory from domestic suppliers, a substantial increase over the share at its existing operations as the company expands into advanced memory for AI and data centers.

Democrats constrain Trump as scarce AI capacity benefits CSPs

Lily Hess — Fri, 6 Nov 2026 08:55:00 GMT

Democrats swept the US midterm elections, reshaping the global technology and industrial landscape. Their victories in key gubernatorial races, including in Texas and Georgia, have raised concerns about AI infrastructure expansion after some winning candidates explicitly pledged to pause data-center development.

Taiwan Mobile clears Systex tender offer, securing 61.02% ownership

DIGITIMES — Fri, 6 Nov 2026 08:47:42 GMT

Taiwan Mobile said its wholly owned subsidiary, Taiwan Cellular, had satisfied all conditions for its tender offer for Systex Corporation shares, clearing the way for the telecom operator to raise its stake in the information-services provider to 61.02%. The announcement was made on November 6 as the companies moved to expand their enterprise technology businesses through cross-selling, artificial intelligence (AI) and regional growth.

Nvidia reportedly buys glass substrate samples from Korea's JNTC

DIGITIMES — Fri, 6 Nov 2026 08:04:38 GMT

South Korea's JNTC has joined Nvidia's purchasing supplier list and is supplying paid samples of through-glass via (TGV) substrates, including 2mm-thick glass cores, The Elec reported on November 6.

Vivo and BYD formalize alliance: Why automakers must capitalize on smartphone integration over proprietary apps

DIGITIMES — Fri, 6 Nov 2026 08:00:40 GMT

Mobile technology giant Vivo and new energy vehicle leader BYD have officially signed a comprehensive strategic cooperation agreement, marking a major milestone in smart mobility.

Wistron ITS reports record third-quarter profit as AI and semiconductor focus accelerates

DIGITIMES — Fri, 6 Nov 2026 07:55:00 GMT

Wistron ITS reported record gross profit, operating profit, net income, and earnings per share in the third quarter of 2026, as stronger revenue and improved operating efficiency supported continued expansion in AI and semiconductor services. Consolidated revenue reached NT$3.752 billion (approx. US$114.1 million), up 3.5% quarter-over-quarter and 25.6% year-over-year.

US election backlash reshapes AI data center expansion strategies

DIGITIMES — Fri, 6 Nov 2026 07:45:00 GMT

Companies at the forefront of the AI infrastructure buildout in the US are taking different approaches following the results of this week's midterm elections, which saw a nationwide backlash against data center construction. OpenAI pledged to prevent resource impacts on communities, while Nvidia is turning toward retrofitting small existing facilities.

Huawei, Alibaba among 20 Chinese tech firms confronting AI agent security, algorithmic exploitation

Levi Li — Fri, 6 Nov 2026 07:40:00 GMT

The 2026 World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit, which opened on November 4, brought AI agent governance into focus, with leading Chinese technology companies seeking common standards to address cybersecurity risks and potential misuse.

Taiwan science park debt tops NT$160 billion as NSTC targets faster repayment

Rodney Chan — Fri, 6 Nov 2026 07:32:39 GMT

Debt held by Taiwan's science park operating funds reached NT$163.54 billion (approx. US$4.97 billion) as of the end of September 2026, while the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) remains confident that rising operating cash flow will accelerate repayment. The government continues to develop and expand science parks to meet industry demand, including new sites and expansions across Taiwan.

Tencent launches Hy4 model to boost visual reasoning, AI safety

DIGITIMES — Fri, 6 Nov 2026 06:29:00 GMT

Tencent has launched its next-generation artificial intelligence (AI) model, Hy4, adding visual understanding for the first time and limiting cybersecurity training data to reduce the risk of misuse in cyberattacks and harmful biological research.

Qualcomm validates HBC memory architecture, targets AI250 samples in 1H27

Charlene Chen — Fri, 6 Nov 2026 06:00:44 GMT

Qualcomm has completed initial hardware validation of its high-bandwidth compute (HBC) memory architecture, which will form a key part of its next-generation Dragonfly data-center AI accelerators. The company aims to deliver a lower-cost, more energy-efficient alternative to sixth-generation high-bandwidth memory (HBM4) for AI inference workloads requiring high bandwidth and large buffers.

EOI posts record nine-month results, readies Mexico plant for 4Q26 production

Charlene Chen — Fri, 6 Nov 2026 05:51:51 GMT

Excellence Opto (EOI), a major automotive LED light-source supplier, posted record revenue and profit for the first nine months as product-mix optimization, supply-chain efficiencies and high global capacity utilization lifted results. The company is also preparing to begin mass production at its Mexico plant in the fourth quarter and to develop SiPh optical communication module samples by 2027.

Democratic Congress set to challenge Trump on energy, AI, and EVs

Jingyue Hsiao — Fri, 6 Nov 2026 04:38:20 GMT

Democrats have won control of Congress in the US midterm elections, turning the second half of President Donald Trump's term into a lame-duck period. Trump still holds the veto, however, and overriding it requires a two-thirds vote in both chambers. Congress is therefore more likely to apply pressure through budgets, investigations, and blocking new legislation than to overturn executive orders outright. For Taiwan's technology sector and supply chain, several fronts are worth watching closely.

LX Semicon posts first quarterly operating loss since IPO

DIGITIMES — Fri, 6 Nov 2026 04:24:24 GMT

South Korean chip designer LX Semicon posted its first quarterly operating loss since going public in 2010, as weak demand for display chips and pricing pressure from electronics manufacturers weighed on earnings. The company also nominated a new CEO to lead its turnaround efforts.

TV panel makers hold prices firm in November despite fading demand, with supply cuts proving crucial

Levi Li — Fri, 6 Nov 2026 04:01:07 GMT

The global TV panel market entered a period of fragile equilibrium in November 2026 following the end of peak-season inventory replenishment. Although TV brands have become more cautious in procurement, panel manufacturers are adjusting production at advanced-generation LCD fabs to stabilize prices, with rising upstream material costs reinforcing their reluctance to offer discounts.

China's NSIG sees silicon wafer prices rebound, but profitability remains elusive

DIGITIMES — Fri, 6 Nov 2026 03:59:06 GMT

National Silicon Industry Group (NSIG) expects to complete its expansion to 1.2 million 300mm silicon wafers per month by the end of 2026, positioning the Chinese semiconductor materials supplier to benefit from recovering wafer prices and growing demand for silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrates used in silicon photonics (SiPh).

China's chip equipment makers ride record AI orders into 2027, but new challenges lie ahead

DIGITIMES — Fri, 6 Nov 2026 03:46:28 GMT

Chinese semiconductor equipment makers report record orders extending into 2027, with AI-driven investment in advanced memory, logic chips and packaging strengthening demand for domestic manufacturing tools. The expansion is benefiting suppliers across etching, thin-film deposition, cleaning and electroplating, although component delivery constraints could delay the conversion of orders into revenue.

Samsung speeds P5 Fab 2 construction as memory chip shortage looks to last through 2028

DIGITIMES — Fri, 6 Nov 2026 03:35:03 GMT

Samsung Electronics plans to begin structural work at its P5 Fab 2 facility in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, in January 2027, accelerating its memory capacity expansion as chip shortages are expected to persist through 2028, DealSite reported.

Taiwan-UK tech ties could support Europe's chip autonomy drive

Jingyue Hsiao — Fri, 6 Nov 2026 03:35:00 GMT

Taiwan and the UK are deepening technology ties as supply-chain restructuring and industrial security reshape semiconductor strategy. A new bilateral arrangement covers semiconductors, space, communications, net zero, and AI standards, while cooperation could link British research strengths with Taiwan's manufacturing and testing capabilities across more of the chip lifecycle.

Meta faces political pushback over US data center expansion

DIGITIMES — Fri, 6 Nov 2026 03:25:00 GMT

The US midterm election and referendum results show broad public opposition to building more data centers, raising the prospect of tougher local-government reviews for large-scale facilities and prompting hyperscalers to shift some AI infrastructure investment overseas. Meta Platforms President Dina Powell McCormick said the issue had become a key election topic as companies struggle to demonstrate tangible benefits for local communities.

Commentary: YMTC's record NAND profits mask bigger risks behind its reported IPO delay

Levi Li — Fri, 6 Nov 2026 03:20:30 GMT

YMTC's parent company, CCSH Corporation, had planned to raise CNY33 billion (approx. US$4.93 billion) through an IPO on Shanghai's STAR Market to finance production-line upgrades and next-generation memory research. However, the strategic placement process, originally expected to begin between late October and early November 2026, has reportedly slowed.

V5 Technologies posts 69.7% revenue growth in first 10 months

DIGITIMES — Fri, 6 Nov 2026 03:20:03 GMT

V5 Technologies, a major provider of advanced semiconductor optical inspection and image-processing software, reported consolidated revenue of NT$316 million (US$9.61 million) in October 2026, up 1.67% from September and 32.5% year-on-year. Revenue for the first 10 months surpassed NT$2.6 billion, rising 69.7% from the same period in 2025.

Taiwan’s Niching posts 369% operating profit jump after folding in thermal-management maker

DIGITIMES — Fri, 6 Nov 2026 03:13:32 GMT

Niching Industrial reported a 369% year-on-year increase in 3Q26 operating profit to NT$45.05 million (US$1.37 million), as the consolidation of Ming Chun Yuan boosted manufacturing contributions and improved its product mix. Gross margin climbed to 28%, up 8 percentage points from the previous quarter.

Stockpiled in Hong Kong: Beijing limits Nvidia H200 imports as domestic silicon push accelerates

DIGITIMES — Fri, 6 Nov 2026 03:08:42 GMT

A significant backlog of advanced GPUs has accumulated in Hong Kong, according to Reuters, highlighting the widening rift between US export controls and Beijing's drive for semiconductor self-sufficiency. Approximately 600,000 unit shipments of Nvidia's H200 artificial intelligence processors are currently stored in Hong Kong awaiting clearance into mainland China, as Beijing regulators withhold large-scale import approvals despite sustained demand from major cloud service providers.

Rehear Audiology partners with Saudi group on AI hearing care

DIGITIMES — Fri, 6 Nov 2026 03:05:09 GMT

Rehear Audiology has signed a strategic memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Saudi Arabia's Medical Electrical Equipment Maintenance Professionals Association (MEEMPA) to introduce advanced AI hearing-care technology, conduct clinical validation, and develop a localized healthcare ecosystem in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region.

SK Hynix AI arm buys US$377 million stake in Penguin Solutions from SK Telecom

DIGITIMES — Fri, 6 Nov 2026 03:01:13 GMT

SK Hynix's US-based artificial intelligence (AI) investment arm, HYAICO Corporation, has acquired a stake in AI infrastructure provider Penguin Solutions from an SK Telecom affiliate for US$377.16 million, according to filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Why US midterm sweep could cost China's AI exports more than it gains

DIGITIMES — Fri, 6 Nov 2026 02:53:41 GMT

A slower US build-out of AI infrastructure after the Democratic Party's midterm sweep could cost China more economically than it gains strategically, Bloomberg Economics said, because the hardware export boom propping up China's growth this year rests on US data center construction.

Texas governor-elect Hinojosa seeks data center freeze, SpaceX land review

DIGITIMES — Fri, 6 Nov 2026 02:51:13 GMT

Texas governor-elect Gina Hinojosa has announced plans to suspend new data center approvals until the state establishes legal safeguards for residents, power supplies, and the environment, while also urging the state government to pause land deals that could involve SpaceX. The policy could reshape investment plans by major technology companies in one of the US's fastest-growing AI data center regions and a key base for Tesla and SpaceX.

Primax bets on B2B pivot for double-digit growth through 2029

Willis Ke — Fri, 6 Nov 2026 02:42:35 GMT

Taiwan-based Primax Electronics plans to increase the share of its business-to-business (B2B) operations over the next five years, expanding beyond traditional PC peripherals into artificial intelligence (AI), smart security, automotive and robotics applications. With public safety and surveillance projects already secured through 2029, the company expects these higher-value businesses to underpin sustained double-digit growth.