DIGITIMES Asia: News and Insight of the Global Supply Chain

Hengs lists on Taiwan Innovation Board to scale solar-plus-storage across Asia-Pacific

DIGITIMES — Sat, 23 May 2026 03:37:29 GMT

Hengs listed on the Taiwan Innovation Board on May 22, positioning the firm to expand its solar-plus-storage and energy management services across the Asia-Pacific as corporate demand for energy self-management intensifies. Executives said the move came amid rising energy security concerns, new large-user power rules, and the launch of carbon fees in Taiwan, which have pushed industrial customers to seek in-house generation and storage solutions.

Interview: XCaliber challenges million-dollar missile defenses with cheap drone interceptors

DIGITIMES — Sat, 23 May 2026 03:37:05 GMT

The Ukraine War and ongoing tensions in the Middle East have exposed a technological revolution reshaping modern warfare: the rise of cheap drones. These developments, along with AI-powered decision-making and the growing importance of resilient supply chains, are increasingly occupying the minds of military strategists — from great powers to smaller upstarts.

Taiwan power chip maker Panjit targets AI and robotics for next growth phase

Levi Li — Sat, 23 May 2026 03:36:56 GMT

Panjit International Inc. is accelerating its expansion into AI and automotive electronics as the Taiwanese power semiconductor maker positions itself for a new growth cycle after four decades in the discrete device market.

Tech Forum 2026: Autonomous driving enters commercial validation era, shifting competition to algorithms, chips, and data

Jingyue Hsiao — Sat, 23 May 2026 03:36:07 GMT

As Computex approaches, DIGITIMES hosted a forum where analyst Mark Yee argued that Physical AI is driving autonomous driving into full commercial validation, with implications for market structure and technology leadership.

IBM and US DoC announce America's first purpose-built quantum foundry, supported by proposed US$1 billion CHIPS award

DIGITIMES — Sat, 23 May 2026 03:35:34 GMT

IBM and the US Department of Commerce (DoC) announced a Letter of Intent (LOI) to build an American quantum chip foundry, securing the nation's global quantum leadership and fueling the country's growing quantum ecosystem. The CHIPS incentive from the DoC will support the research and development efforts of a new IBM company: Anderon, which will be America's first pure-play quantum foundry. This initiative represents one of the most significant commitments by the US Government to date in quantum R&D to position the US to manufacture most of the world's quantum wafers.

SK Hynix weighs opening Seoul office at SK Group headquarters

DIGITIMES — Sat, 23 May 2026 03:35:15 GMT

SK Hynix is reportedly considering opening a Seoul office and sales operation inside SK Group's Seorin Building in Jongno, Seoul, a symbolic headquarters site for the conglomerate, according to Maeil Business Newspaper and Chosun Biz.

Seoul as next frontier for global startups

DIGITIMES — Sat, 23 May 2026 03:35:06 GMT

At the Plug and Play Silicon Valley May Summit 2026, industry leaders gathered for the "Seoul Forward: Where Global Startups Scale Next" session to discuss the city's rapid evolution into a premier global innovation hub. Lee Ji-hyung, President and CEO of Invest Seoul, noted that Seoul and Silicon Valley share a core DNA of talent and collaboration, positioning the city as an ideal testing ground for global companies expanding across Asia. Sobhan Khani, President and Partner at Plug and Play, echoed this sentiment, highlighting the immense talent pool in South Korea and the ongoing mission to connect innovation dots worldwide.

Research insight: China’s auto industry turns to robotaxis and AI at Beijing Auto Show

Elaine Chen — Sat, 23 May 2026 03:34:56 GMT

The 2026 Beijing Auto Show, which concluded on May 3, offered a glimpse into what may become the next defining chapter of China's automotive industry: not simply electric vehicles, but intelligent mobility powered by artificial intelligence, autonomous driving, and deeply localized innovation.

Hotai to build Taiwan production for Toyota Noah and Voxy, exports to Japan start October 2026

DIGITIMES — Sat, 23 May 2026 03:34:45 GMT

Hotai Motor Co. said it will produce Toyota's Noah and Voxy models in Taiwan and begin exporting them to Japan in October 2026, a move aimed at deepening Taiwan's role in the global automotive supply chain and supporting Japan's vehicle demand. According to Japanese media reports and Hotai statements, Toyota will add a dedicated production line in Taiwan, with output currently built at Toyota Auto Body's Fujimatsu plant and set to expand to Kuozui Motors' Guanyin plant from October 2026.

CXMT IPO puts China's DRAM supply-chain push in focus

DIGITIMES — Sat, 23 May 2026 03:34:35 GMT

CXMT's planned Shanghai listing is becoming more than a test of investor appetite for China's top DRAM maker. It is also putting a spotlight on whether the company's next phase of expansion can accelerate China's push to localize semiconductor equipment and materials.

Huawei continues to erode Nvidia's market share as China remains closed despite hopes of reopening

DIGITIMES — Sat, 23 May 2026 03:34:12 GMT

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said he expects Chinese authorities to eventually allow imports of US artificial intelligence (AI) chips, according to Bloomberg Television. Still, the remarks also underscored the growing implications of export controls that have weakened Nvidia's position in China while creating opportunities for domestic rival Huawei Technologies and other local suppliers.

Japan's five major companies form PSC battery alliance to lead next-gen solar market

Emily Kuo — Sat, 23 May 2026 03:33:39 GMT

The perovskite solar cell (PSC) market is still in its early stages, and in an effort to secure leadership, five major Japanese companies have announced the establishment of the Japan Association for the Promotion of Perovskite Solar Cells (JPSC). The initiative aims to take the lead in establishing standardized product specifications, safety guidelines, and recycling protocols while promoting industry-wide adoption and preventing low-quality products from entering the market.

Lenovo revenue rises 27% as AI demand helps offset PC market strain

Sherri Wang — Sat, 23 May 2026 03:33:28 GMT

Lenovo reported a 27% increase in revenue for the fourth quarter of its 2026 fiscal year, which ended March 31, as demand tied to artificial intelligence (AI) helped lift results across the company.

Analysis: AMD bets the future of AI runs on CPUs as much as GPUs

Elaine Chen — Sat, 23 May 2026 03:33:14 GMT

Under CEO Lisa Su, AMD is reshaping itself for the age of artificial intelligence. To describe AMD today simply as a hardware company is no longer accurate. As Jensen Huang has often said of Nvidia, his company is "not just a GPU company." AMD is making a similar argument about its own future.

Trump revives chip theft claim, heaping pressure on Taiwan semiconductor firms

Rodney Chan — Sat, 23 May 2026 03:32:58 GMT

US President Donald Trump has again repeated the false claim that Taiwan stole America's chip industry after his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping earlier this month, sparking concerns that he is renewing pressure on Taiwanese chipmakers to invest further in America in a bid to reshore semiconductor production.

Taiwan broadband CPE industry, 1Q 2026: 10G upgrades drive volume but pricing pressures linger

DIGITIMES — Fri, 22 May 2026 08:27:02 GMT

Global broadband CPE shipments in the second quarter of 2026 are estimated to see a yearly growth of 3.4%, with PON CPE supporting shipment growth.

AMD's Lisa Su says memory is becoming another pressure point for AI chips

Sherri Wang — Fri, 22 May 2026 07:56:22 GMT

AMD CEO Lisa Su said the company is satisfied with its current CoWoS supply from TSMC, while noting that memory has become another pressure point in the AI chip supply chain.

AMD's Lisa Su says AI demand is 'absolutely real' as CPUs return to focus

Sherri Wang — Fri, 22 May 2026 07:05:20 GMT

AMD CEO Lisa Su pushed back against concerns of an AI bubble on May 22, saying demand is "absolutely real" and that the industry remains in an early phase of growth.

Trump calls off executive order for AI safety due to concerns about inhibiting growth

DIGITIMES — Fri, 22 May 2026 06:45:12 GMT

US President Donald Trump abruptly called off a highly anticipated White House signing ceremony for a sweeping executive order intended to establish a federal safety vetting framework for advanced artificial intelligence (AI) models.

China's tech grip forces India's renewable energy ambitions into structural dependence on Beijing's battery supply chains

DIGITIMES — Fri, 22 May 2026 06:34:00 GMT

Reliance's pivot from domestic manufacturing to component procurement reveals the geopolitical constraints reshaping India's clean energy transition and raising questions about supply chain resilience in critical infrastructure.

Anthropic reportedly eyes Microsoft Maia chips to cut Nvidia reliance

DIGITIMES — Fri, 22 May 2026 06:17:45 GMT

Microsoft is in early discussions to provide AI servers powered by its in-house Maia chips to Anthropic, deepening ties between the two companies as cloud providers race to reduce dependence on Nvidia hardware and secure a stronger position in the AI infrastructure market.

EverDisplay appoints former Hua Hong executive as chairman in board overhaul

DIGITIMES — Fri, 22 May 2026 05:28:19 GMT

China AMOLED panel maker EverDisplay Optronics completed a board reshuffle and senior management overhaul after a board meeting on May 20, appointing a former Hua Hong Semiconductor executive as chairman and naming a new general manager as it builds a new leadership team. The changes included a slate of shareholder-representative directors and retained an existing director, the firm announced.

Amkor expands Arizona semiconductor packaging campus with additional 67 acres

DIGITIMES — Fri, 22 May 2026 05:24:27 GMT

Amkor Technology today reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening advanced semiconductor packaging and test capabilities in the US through continued investment in its Arizona manufacturing operations.

AMD deepens China packaging alliance with TF-AMD expansion in Suzhou

DIGITIMES — Fri, 22 May 2026 04:47:23 GMT

AMD CEO Lisa Su appeared in Suzhou on May 20 to attend the launch ceremony for the second-phase expansion of Suzhou TF-AMD Semiconductor Co. (also known as Suzhou Tongfu Advanced Microelectronics), underscoring AMD's growing focus on advanced packaging capacity as AI and high-performance computing demand accelerate globally.

Taiwan moves to govern AI across risk, talent, and education

Willis Ke — Fri, 22 May 2026 04:45:26 GMT

Taiwan's cabinet approved three sweeping AI policy initiatives in a single sitting on May 21, signaling a rare moment of whole-of-government alignment on artificial intelligence. The measures span regulation, workforce certification, and school-level education — a coordinated bet that getting the governance right now will determine who leads in AI later.

AIC expands analog ICs into fiber optics; orders reach 1Q27

Jingyue Hsiao — Fri, 22 May 2026 04:42:38 GMT

AIC's expansion from analog ICs into fiber-optic components and other products, and its inclusion in a major US cloud service provider's supply chain, extend order visibility to the first quarter of 2027, signaling global demand pressures and supply-chain implications for cloud infrastructure suppliers and telecom equipment markets worldwide.

Broadcom, Applied Materials, GlobalFoundries, Meta, and Synopsys back US$125M UCLA Semiconductor Hub

DIGITIMES — Fri, 22 May 2026 04:41:09 GMT

Broadcom, Applied Materials, GlobalFoundries, Meta, and Synopsys are partnering with UCLA Samueli to create a US$125 million Semiconductor Hub to accelerate research and workforce development in AI-driven chip technologies, promising global impacts on computing speed, energy efficiency, and applications from healthcare to transportation while strengthening US competitiveness and innovation globally.

Tesla ramps up hiring for self-driving team in China

Eifeh Strom — Fri, 22 May 2026 04:29:00 GMT

Tesla has begun recruiting for driver-assistance roles in China as it pushes ahead to bring its full self-driving (FSD) system to market. The move comes after repeated delays and amid growing pressure from local competitors — including Xpeng Motors, Xiaomi Auto, and Huawei Technologies — on the US electric vehicle (EV) maker's market share.

WPG Holdings flags server supply gaps amid memory price hikes, 800V shift

Eifeh Strom — Fri, 22 May 2026 04:23:35 GMT

Amid the continued crowding-out effect of artificial intelligence (AI) demand, IC distributor WPG Holdings said memory shortages and rising prices are weakening end-product sales momentum, and forecast that smartphone and PC production will shift from flat growth to a decline in 2026.

Japan, South Korea deepen energy ties: LNG, supply chains and AI security top summit agenda

DIGITIMES — Fri, 22 May 2026 04:21:35 GMT

Japan and South Korea have agreed to deepen cooperation on energy security and supply chain resilience, placing crude oil, petroleum products, LNG, and critical industrial materials at the centre of a wider effort to manage geopolitical shocks from the Middle East to North Korea.

Win Win Precision pivots to semiconductors and overseas renewables

Jingyue Hsiao — Fri, 22 May 2026 04:20:27 GMT

Win Win Precision is reshaping its business around semiconductor consumables and overseas renewable energy, a strategic pivot that could tighten global supply chains and accelerate green energy deployment. Investors, manufacturers, and policymakers worldwide stand to be affected by its capacity expansion, raw-material strategies, and growing presence in Europe, Australia, and Taiwan's green-power market.

Taiwan rides chip-led export boom to bankroll industrial overhaul

Rodney Chan — Fri, 22 May 2026 04:06:23 GMT

AI-driven demand and other emerging technologies kept Taiwan's export momentum strong in the first quarter of 2026, with exports reaching US$195.74 billion, rising 51% year on year. Economic growth hit 13.69%, the highest quarterly growth in 39 years. Taiwan's GDP is forecast to reach NT$32 trillion (US$1.02 trillion) in 2026.

NIO posts operating profit and strong revenue growth in Q1 of 2026

DIGITIMES — Fri, 22 May 2026 03:57:14 GMT

Nio reported a return to operating profitability in the first quarter of 2026, marking its second consecutive profitable quarter as revenue and deliveries surged on stronger demand and an improved product mix.

Emerging Display Technologies pivots to UMI, targets 2026 growth

Jingyue Hsiao — Fri, 22 May 2026 03:54:10 GMT

Emerging Display Technologies is repositioning around integrated user-machine interface solutions, with plans to expand outside China and ramp up R&D investment as it navigates forecast revenue and profit declines in 2025 before targeting a return to growth in 2026.

Forcelead Technology bets on stable 2026 as it expands into TDDI and new automotive displays

Jingyue Hsiao — Fri, 22 May 2026 03:53:40 GMT

Forcelead Technology said it expects stable operations through 2026 as it rolls out a touch-TDDI product and pursues new automotive display opportunities, a development with implications for global suppliers and aftermarket channels as automakers adopt more advanced cockpit features. The company aims to protect margins while expanding beyond its core display business.