DIGITIMES: News and Insight of the Global Supply Chain

Wistron says growth is strong, but transformation remains incomplete

Jingyue Hsiao — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 22:31:09 GMT

Wistron said its revenue and profit continue to rise, and its global manufacturing platform is opening new growth avenues for readers watching the electronics, AI, and industrial supply chains. The Taiwan-based company is pushing into higher-margin businesses while demand remains strong across key markets worldwide.

Nvidia 800V HVDC enters production in 1Q27, Delta set for 2Q ramp

Levi Li — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 22:30:49 GMT

SemiAnalysis recently forecast that large-scale deployment of Nvidia's native single-ended 800V high-voltage direct current power architecture could slip from the market's previous expectation of 2027 to beyond 2028, raising concerns over growth prospects for the AI power supply chain.

Chinese AI labs close gap with Anthropic after Claude Code leak

DIGITIMES — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 22:29:56 GMT

A springtime source-code exposure reframed the AI race around "harness" and memory engineering rather than raw model scale — and a wave of Chinese models built around exactly those ideas has since arrived within striking distance of Anthropic's flagship.

Kimi K3 under fire, part 3: China's AI industry questions success story

DIGITIMES — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 22:29:41 GMT

Chinese officials have embraced Kimi K3 as evidence of indigenous innovation and a maturing open-model ecosystem. Some Chinese developers and technology commentators are far less convinced.

Realme exits China smartphone market, Oppo hands domestic focus to OnePlus

DIGITIMES — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 22:29:28 GMT

Realme has stopped producing smartphones for China and will launch no new models there, ending its domestic expansion as parent company Oppo consolidates overlapping brands and redirects resources overseas.

China's AI chip share tops 50%, but Nvidia still rules frontier training

DIGITIMES — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 22:29:12 GMT

China's AI infrastructure build-out is rapidly lifting demand for domestic accelerators, giving Huawei, Alibaba's T-Head Semiconductor, Cambricon and Hygon a larger role in a market once dominated by Nvidia.

Samsung to break ground on Onyang HBM expansion in October, targets 2029 production

DIGITIMES — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 22:28:52 GMT

Samsung Electronics plans to break ground in October 2026 on a KRW 1.3 trillion (approx. US$884 million) expansion of its Onyang semiconductor packaging site in South Korea, targeting high-bandwidth memory (HBM) mass production in May 2029.

OpenAI compute spending to reportedly rise from US$600B to US$750B

DIGITIMES — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 22:28:36 GMT

OpenAI has increased its projected spending on compute from US$600 billion to US$750 billion by 2030. The 25% increase is meant to give its models an edge during a time of intense competition for compute power, although some worry about that the start-up's investments are oversized.

Apple prepares sweeping Mac refresh, betting on AI-driven demand

DIGITIMES — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 22:28:24 GMT

Apple is gearing up for a broad update to its entire Mac lineup, aiming to ride the wave of demand for high-performance computers driven by AI. New versions of nearly every Mac model are expected to roll out between this fall and next year.

DeepSeek's Liang Wenfeng says China trails US AI by up to 18 months, with compute the decisive gap

DIGITIMES — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 22:27:57 GMT

DeepSeek founder Liang Wenfeng says China's AI industry trails the US by six to 18 months mainly because of limited computing power, not talent.

AI data centers emerge as dynamic loads, posing new challenges for power grids

Scarlett Yu — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 22:27:25 GMT

As generative AI adoption accelerates, AI data centers are becoming one of the fastest-growing sources of electricity demand worldwide. Unlike conventional data centers, however, AI facilities exhibit highly variable power consumption driven by intensive GPU workloads, creating new challenges for grid operators while raising the bar for the reliability of on-site power systems.

South Korea's mandatory ESG disclosures loom: How Samsung Display and LG Display are preparing

Scarlett Yu — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 22:27:15 GMT

South Korea has finalized plans to bring climate-related information under statutory disclosure requirements beginning in 2028, advancing the timetable and widening the scope compared with a draft released in February 2026.

Alibaba Cloud founder: next-gen foundation models need scientific data

Lily Hess — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 22:27:02 GMT

For the past three years, large language model (LLM) development has moved along the same track: models have gotten bigger, parameter counts have climbed, reasoning has improved, AI agents have matured, and long-context windows have kept breaking records. The industry's debate has also centered on model capability, computing scale, and how far the field is from artificial general intelligence (AGI).

Analysis: Why Nvidia is betting Japan's manufacturing data will power physical AI

Scarlett Yu — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 22:26:48 GMT

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's whirlwind visit to Japan in mid-July extended well beyond product announcements and public appearances. Alongside a joint event with gaming giant Sega Corporation, Huang used the trip to promote what he has repeatedly described as Nvidia's next major AI frontier—physical AI—sparking renewed discussion across Japan's industrial sector about the country's role in the emerging technology.

German automakers reset strategy with AI, powertrain, and alliances

Lily Hess — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 22:26:12 GMT

Volkswagen, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz are reshaping their growth strategies as the global auto market enters a low-growth era, with profitability under pressure and EV demand slowing. Instead of chasing volume, the three German automakers are focusing on multi-powertrain platforms, deeper AI integration, and cross-border partnerships.

Trumpf builds EUV moat with 40 years of chip tech

Charlene Chen — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 22:22:21 GMT

AI demand is continuing to drive global semiconductor investment, lifting the importance of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography once again. Trumpf, the German laser maker and key supplier of CO2 laser light sources for ASML's EUV exposure tools, says its EUV technology was the result of more than 40 years of sustained R&D and more than 20 years of collaboration with ASML to industrialize EUV.

Arizona lures chip boom with three key advantages

Charlene Chen — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 22:22:02 GMT

As TSMC expands its investment in Arizona to US$265 billion, the global semiconductor supply chain is accelerating its move into the state, transforming the long-known "Sunshine State" into a new US hub for semiconductors and AI. Arizona has also become a focal point for companies looking to tap into the next wave of growth around advanced manufacturing, data centers, and related services.

Zhen Ding expands Thailand capacity, deepens industry-academia ties to develop PCB, chip talent

Eifeh Strom — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 22:21:46 GMT

Major printed circuit board (PCB) manufacturer Zhen Ding Technology Group has been actively developing its manufacturing base in Thailand. The investment was launched in 2023 and began production in the third quarter of 2025, while also accelerating industry-academia collaboration and local talent development in the country.

EcoPro BM targets 2027 mass production of solid-state electrolyte as it builds a full battery-materials value chain

DIGITIMES — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 22:21:29 GMT

South Korea's EcoPro BM said it aims to begin mass production of sulfide-based solid electrolytes, a core material for all-solid-state batteries, as early as 2027, laying out a roadmap to supply the full slate of materials the next-generation cells will require. The plan was disclosed at a corporate briefing in Yeouido, Seoul, on July 16 and formalized in a roadmap announcement on July 19.

AI memory crunch hits smartphones and PCs, splitting winners from losers

DIGITIMES — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 22:20:01 GMT

AI-driven memory demand is raising smartphone and PC costs, weakening mass-market sales and widening the gap between premium brands and manufacturers reliant on lower-priced devices.

Mitsubishi Electric seeks September deal on power-chip merger with Toshiba, ROHM

DIGITIMES — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 22:19:49 GMT

Mitsubishi Electric is seeking an agreement with Toshiba and ROHM by September on combining semiconductor operations centered on power devices, as the three Japanese suppliers negotiate product scope and corporate control while seeking government support.

AI champions help companies overcome employee resistance to AI adoption

AI bot — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 22:19:36 GMT

Taiwan EV subsidies lag as buyers weigh gasoline, hybrid, and electric cars

DIGITIMES — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 22:19:23 GMT

Taiwan's electric vehicle market is moving more slowly than expected as long-stagnant subsidies leave buyers with a difficult choice between internal combustion engine, hybrid electric, and battery electric vehicle models. According to PG Union, the delay reflects both a softer economy and a broader shift in consumer decision-making as purchase options become more complex.

PG Union bets on new models as Taiwan auto market weakens

DIGITIMES — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 22:19:08 GMT

PG Union is counting on new vehicle launches to navigate a weakening Taiwan auto market in the second half of 2026, after demand in the first seven months fell short of industry expectations.

Techzone sees stronger 2026 demand as semiconductor waste processing tightens

DIGITIMES — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 22:18:54 GMT

Techzone said growing AI demand and continued ramp-up of advanced semiconductor production have increased both the volume and complexity of specialty solvents, pushing hazardous waste processing needs above Taiwan's overall treatment capacity. The company said that gap is supporting its resource recycling business and is expected to lift profits in the first half of 2026, with revenue likely to reach a new high in the second half.

Global Tek expands into AI liquid cooling and robotics to drive second-half growth

DIGITIMES — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 22:18:44 GMT

Global Tek Industrial said on July 20 that it is moving deeper into AI liquid cooling, humanoid robots and aerospace as it targets stronger operating momentum in the second half of 2026. The Taiwan-based industrial supplier said those three segments are becoming its next growth engines as it works to lift revenue and broaden its customer base.

AI data centers push liquid cooling into core infrastructure

Sherri Wang — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 22:18:33 GMT

Rising computing demand in AI data centers is turning liquid cooling from a premium option into a core infrastructure element for high-power AI racks and newly built facilities.

TEEMA advances Mexico science park plan as Sonora offers visa and policy support

DIGITIMES — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 22:18:22 GMT

The Taiwan Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers' Association (TEEMA) moved its event promoting investment in science parks forward on July 21 in Taipei, with Mexico's Sonora state emerging as a key focus. The gathering highlighted new support from Sonora officials and fresh details on TEEMA's "Science Park 3.0" plan, giving Taiwanese companies a clearer view of the proposed overseas base.

After SDA: How the Pentagon is rebuilding military space—and why Taiwan's satellite industry should pay attention

AI bot — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 22:17:49 GMT

The proposal to dissolve the US Space Development Agency (SDA) in the Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) has attracted attention largely as a government restructuring measure. Yet focusing solely on the agency's future risks overlooking the far more consequential story unfolding behind it.

AMD goes all-in on ecosystem strategy to challenge Nvidia

Joseph(C) Chen — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 22:14:14 GMT

AMD used its Advancing AI 2026 conference in San Francisco this week to do more than launch new hardware — it put its entire AI ecosystem strategy on display in a direct challenge to NVIDIA's grip on the AI infrastructure market.

BMW Group names Benjamin Nagel to lead Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan

Levi Li — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 09:05:15 GMT

BMW Group has appointed Benjamin Nagel as managing director of BMW Group's importer markets in Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, effective Sept. 1, 2026. He will succeed Raymond Tan Chor Ann, who will become managing director and CEO of BMW Group Malaysia.

Samsung creates CEO-led robotics unit to speed commercialization

DIGITIMES — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 08:07:57 GMT

Samsung Electronics has created a robotics business unit reporting directly to its chief executive, bringing strategy, technology development, data collection and factory deployment into a more integrated structure as the company moves humanoid robots closer to commercialization.

South Korean president to meet Nvidia and OpenAI CEOs on US trip

Charlene Chen — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 07:59:04 GMT

South Korean president Jae-Myung Lee will launch an economic diplomacy tour centered on AI, advanced industries, and supply chain cooperation, including planned meetings with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and other global tech leaders to discuss AI partnerships. Samsung Electronics, SK Group, Hyundai Motor Group, and Naver executives will also join the trip in force.

IBM trims revenue outlook as hardware demand reshapes client spending

DIGITIMES — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 07:27:29 GMT

IBM lowered its full-year revenue growth target after a second-quarter miss, saying clients shifted spending toward scarce hardware and away from software deals. Management framed the weakness as delayed demand rather than lost business, while reaffirming free cash flow growth, margin expansion plans, and confidence in the company's long-term software and mainframe franchises.

D-Link robot line starts in 3Q26; care model due in 2027

Lily Hess — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 07:14:12 GMT

Networking brand D-Link has set up a subsidiary, D-Link Robotics, and is officially entering the service robot market. The new unit will focus on two niche applications, "smart companionship" and "safe care," while adopting an asset-light model built around connectivity, subscription-based management services, SaaS, cloud platforms, and AI ecosystems.