DIGITIMES: News and Insight of the Global Supply Chain

Nvidia rejects near-term memory glut fears, leaves CXMT cooperation open

DIGITIMES — Sat, 24 Oct 2026 01:44:19 GMT

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said the company did not expect memory supply to exceed demand in the coming years and remained open to working with China's ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT). The comments, made during the GTC Berlin conference and reported by CNBC, came as falling market valuations for memory manufacturers and new Chinese dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) developments intensified concerns about oversupply.

SpaceX's 80,000-site push turns Starlink from satellite overlay into full mobile challenger

DIGITIMES — Sat, 24 Oct 2026 01:44:02 GMT

SpaceX has firmly established itself in direct-to-device connectivity through Starlink's expanding satellite constellation. But the space giant is now pushing beyond orbital coverage as it seeks an equally consequential position in terrestrial mobile infrastructure.

Bosch to spin off automotive business as Asian rivals intensify pressure

DIGITIMES — Sat, 24 Oct 2026 01:43:46 GMT

Bosch Group plans to establish Bosch Mobility as a wholly owned, legally independent subsidiary in August 2027, separating the business that generated about 60% of group revenue. The move will complete the restructuring of Bosch's four major business areas and leave the parent company focused on strategic oversight and centralized research and development.

AIDC launches Taiwan's largest industrial microgrid with 9MW/54MWh energy storage capacity

Scarlett Yu — Sat, 24 Oct 2026 01:43:35 GMT

Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC) held an inauguration ceremony for its 9MW/54MWh large-scale microgrid system at its Shuinan facility in Taichung on October 22, marking the official commissioning of what the company describes as Taiwan's largest industrial behind-the-meter energy storage microgrid.

LGES Poland plant nears breakeven as utilization rebounds

DIGITIMES — Sat, 24 Oct 2026 01:36:29 GMT

LG Energy Solution (LGES)'s Wroclaw plant in Poland, long viewed as a major drag on the business, is nearing profitability after posting an operating loss of nearly KRW600 billion (approximately US$430 million) in 2025. A surge in European EV demand and the early conversion of some production lines to energy storage system (ESS) applications have lifted utilization, putting the plant on track to return to profit in the fourth quarter of 2026.

Doosan Robotics targets automakers, chipmakers as Chinese rivals cut prices

DIGITIMES — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 08:59:00 GMT

Doosan Robotics is focusing its sales efforts on large automotive and semiconductor manufacturers as it develops AI-powered systems capable of handling more complex factory tasks, Hyeonchang Jeon, senior manager of the company's Korea sales team, said in an interview with DIGITIMES at FIX 2026 in Daegu, South Korea.

Taiwan's inaugural semiconductor strike pauses as nearly 70% of Micron Taoyuan Union rejects new bonus offer

Yunnie Cheng — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 08:43:34 GMT

Taiwan's first-ever strike in the semiconductor industry has temporarily drawn to a close. A 24-hour warning strike spearheaded by Micron Technology's Taoyuan union concluded on the morning of October 23, 2026. During the action, an internal ballot saw nearly 70% of all union members sign statements opposing management's proposed compensation structure. Formal labor-management negotiations are set to resume on October 27.

Semco's 61-week MLCC lead times give suppliers upper hand in AI supply chain

DIGITIMES — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 08:25:50 GMT

Samsung Electro-Mechanics (Semco) is gaining pricing power as AI server demand extends multilayer ceramic capacitor (MLCC) lead times beyond a year. Shortages now span consumer, automotive and industrial products, prompting customers to secure 2027 supplies.

Lenovo mounts AI comeback with Nvidia Vera Rubin NVL72 deliveries and US plant expansion

Yunnie Cheng — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 08:03:44 GMT

More than 30 years ago, Lenovo set out with a vision to bring personal computers into every household. Today, Chairman and CEO Yuanqing Yang has defined a new mission for the 42-year-old tech giant: bring artificial intelligence to every home and industry, while transforming Lenovo into an AI-native enterprise targeting over US$100 billion in annual revenue within two years.

Chinese luxury carmakers face barriers in Europe's premium market

Jingyue Hsiao — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 07:35:00 GMT

Chinese luxury carmakers are expanding in Europe but face barriers that differ from those in China. Brand recognition, sales and repair networks, financing, leasing, and used-car values could slow progress, while established German manufacturers retain most of Europe's premium market. The Chinese carmakers' efforts will test whether technology can overcome entrenched expectations.

Japan targets 2nm medical AI chip with IBM design, Rapidus eyed for foundry

Yunnie Cheng — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 07:22:37 GMT

Japan's Leading-edge Semiconductor Technology Center (LSTC), Hokkaido University, Fujifilm Corporation, GE HealthCare Japan, and imec announced a joint initiative in Tokyo on October 20 to develop a next-generation medical imaging system powered by a dedicated 2nm AI inference chip. The initiative aims to dramatically accelerate image processing efficiency and enable real-time computing directly on medical equipment.

Nvidia B300 chips reportedly surface on China Telecom-linked network, raising export-control questions

DIGITIMES — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 07:17:12 GMT

Israeli security firm Lava identified 32 Nvidia Blackwell Ultra B300 GPUs through monitoring endpoints linked to China Telecom, a state-owned carrier. The chips are barred from sale to China under US export controls. The finding adds to questions about whether the restrictions can keep advanced AI processors out of the country, but the network data does not establish where the GPUs are physically located.

First chip-level device on the list: US FCC bans two devices with Huawei HiSilicon chips under new rule

DIGITIMES — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 07:04:04 GMT

The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has banned two electronic devices from entering the US market because both contain surveillance chips made by Huawei's HiSilicon. The move marks the first time the FCC has used a new rule targeting devices whose chipmakers are deemed national security risks.

Samsung reportedly orders final tools for first Taylor fab as Texas site nears 2nm output cap

DIGITIMES — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 06:55:14 GMT

Samsung Electronics has ordered additional equipment to fill the remaining space at its first foundry fab in Taylor, Texas, a move that would lift the plant's 2nm capacity to 20,000 wafers per month in the second half of 2027, ZDNet Korea reported on October 23, citing industry sources.

Taiwan's top telecom spins off AI surveillance unit, plans global push with local hardware makers

Rodney Chan — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 06:55:00 GMT

Chunghwa Telecom (CHT) has established a new subsidiary, CHT Intelligent Vision Solutions (IVS), spinning off an internal team focused on smart security and intelligent video analytics. The new company will target enterprise security, public safety, and smart-city applications, while taking Taiwanese hardware partners overseas.

Apple reportedly taps BOE for LCD iMac development, keeps OLED timetable in question

DIGITIMES — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 06:46:50 GMT

Apple has reportedly asked BOE Technology and other panel makers for technical information on LCD panels for a future iMac, raising questions about the pace of its OLED transition. The potential LCD model's launch around 2029 overlaps with industry expectations for the first OLED iMac in 2029-2030.

TSMC advances CoPoS packaging at Taoyuan Longtan site

Charlene Chen — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 06:30:52 GMT

TSMC's Longtan Science Park Phase 3 in Taoyuan is restarting after nearly three years of delays, with Taiwan's National Development Council approving its development plan on September 17, 2026. The 104.65-hectare site is expected to focus first on advanced packaging technologies such as CoPoS, joining TSMC's Chiayi AP7 and Southern Taiwan Science Park AP8 facilities as the company expands capacity to meet surging AI demand.

Rapidus courts US AI customers ahead of planned 2H27 2nm mass production

Levi Li — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 06:21:57 GMT

Rapidus chairman Tetsuro Higashi said the Japanese chipmaker remains broadly on track to begin mass production of 2nm chips in the second half of 2027. Winning customers remains a key challenge, and initial demand is expected to come mainly from the United States, where demand related to artificial intelligence is strong.

Commentary: How long can the humanoid robot bubble last? Unitree's valuation correction puts physical AI to the test

Scarlett Yu — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 06:15:31 GMT

Concerns over a potential AI bubble are intensifying. From large language models (LLMs) and AI data centers to humanoid robots, investors are increasingly questioning when massive capital investments will translate into corresponding revenue and profits.

Chinese phone brands beat Samsung, Apple to high-refresh OLED

DIGITIMES — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 04:29:59 GMT

Chinese smartphone brands have brought high-refresh-rate OLED displays to market ahead of Samsung Electronics and Apple, with Visionox and BOE supplying 185Hz panels for the iQOO Neo 12 and RedMagic 12 Pro+, respectively. The move sets a new standard for smartphone applications, where power consumption remains a major concern, and has drawn market attention.

FCC grants Intel a waiver to foreign robot ban to prevent chip disruptions

DIGITIMES — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 04:00:22 GMT

The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) granted Intel a waiver to its ban on foreign-made mobile robots, which will allow it to update its fleet of autonomous guided vehicles (AGVs). Intel had earlier petitioned the agency for an exemption, saying that not doing so would threaten chip production in the country.

China's weak car market squeezes automakers, suppliers and dealers

Jingyue Hsiao — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 03:59:00 GMT

China's weakening car market is challenging automakers, parts suppliers, and dealers as exports rise but domestic demand contracts. For global industry watchers, the downturn is a test of electric-vehicle resilience, subsidy dependence, and manufacturing overcapacity. Over time, planned capacity controls and corporate consolidation could reshape competition and supply chains worldwide.

Analysis: Nvidia's Vera CPU takes on Intel and AMD with a platform play

Charlene Chen — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 03:58:39 GMT

Nvidia has won a CPU supply order from AI startup Modal, challenging Intel and AMD in the server CPU market as it expands beyond GPUs into general-purpose computing. Although Modal's annual revenue is below US$1 billion, and neither the order's value nor its deployment scale has been disclosed, the deal underscores a broader shift in AI infrastructure competition toward full-stack system integration.

JCET's AI profit surge sets up US$2.73 billion advanced packaging expansion

DIGITIMES — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 03:57:15 GMT

JCET Group lifted third-quarter revenue 13.53% year-over-year to CNY11.43 billion (approx. US$1.71 billion) and net profit attributable to shareholders 59.99% to CNY773 million. For the first nine months of 2026, revenue rose 7.96% to CNY30.95 billion, while net profit climbed 69.58% to CNY1.62 billion. Profit excluding non-recurring gains and losses increased 99.17% to CNY1.56 billion.

US signs up to US$389 million in CHIPS R&D deals for power chips and fusion

DIGITIMES — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 03:56:23 GMT

The US Department of Commerce has signed letters of intent with four companies to provide up to US$389 million in federal research and development awards under the CHIPS and Science Act, targeting the semiconductors and materials used to control, convert, and deliver power. The department announced the agreements on October 22, 2026.

Anthropic launches Claude Duet to automate cross-app tasks

DIGITIMES — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 03:51:35 GMT

Anthropic has launched a research preview of Claude Duet, an AI agent that connects to email, calendars, and business software to prioritize work, track to-do items, and execute tasks in the background. The standalone app extends AI beyond answering questions into real-world workflows.

DIGITIMES Insight: BCI grasping reaches market; implant stability and chip heat keep advanced uses beyond 2030

Levi Li — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 03:50:00 GMT

Invasive brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) are demonstrating long-term commercial potential. Neuralink has enabled paralysed patients to control computers and robotic arms through thought; Synchron's iOS integration lets patients operate iPads; and Science combines implanted chips with smart glasses to help visually impaired patients recognise text again. Potential applications extend to unmanned vehicles and defence.

Tesla, Nvidia reportedly invest KRW3.7 trillion to secure Samsung Electro-Mechanics ABF capacity

Charlene Chen — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 03:44:29 GMT

Tesla and Nvidia are reportedly investing a combined KRW3.7 trillion (US$2.8 billion) to help Samsung Electro-Mechanics expand Ajinomoto Build-up Film (ABF) substrate production facilities in South Korea. The move reflects growing efforts by global technology companies to secure stable supplies of high-performance semiconductor substrates for AI applications.

Taiwan sits out global chip selloff, thanks to typhoon

DIGITIMES — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 03:37:36 GMT

Taiwan doesn't stop often. On Friday, October 23, Typhoon Champi made it stop.

Care robots need AI modeling, physics simulation to understand humans

DIGITIMES — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 03:33:10 GMT

As Taiwan enters a super-aged society, labor shortages and mounting workloads in long-term care are making care robots more than an automation challenge. The key question is how to enable robots to understand the human body, determine appropriate care movements, and remain safe during close contact with patients.

Mounting R&D and memory costs push Huawei to borrow US$2.3B from six Chinese banks

DIGITIMES — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 03:29:45 GMT

Huawei Technologies has secured a seven-year, CNY15 billion (approx. US$2.3 billion) offshore yuan loan from six Chinese banks, as rising research spending and memory costs weigh on its cash flow. The financing, arranged by domestic lenders, is Huawei's first offshore syndicated borrowing since 2020, Bloomberg reported, citing a person familiar with the matter.

TSMC reportedly surveys suppliers on rare-earth-free motors as China's export-control pause nears legal expiry

DIGITIMES — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 03:24:14 GMT

The world's largest contract chipmaker is weighing whether the motors inside its factory-automation equipment can run without rare-earth magnets, a sign that China's grip on rare earths now reaches the machinery that keeps fabs running, just as a key Chinese export-control pause approaches its legal expiry date.

ChainSea Information Integration lists, targets AI revenue growth by 2027

DIGITIMES — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 03:11:48 GMT

Digital transformation services provider ChainSea Information Integration will list on the Taipei Exchange on October 23 at an underwriting price of NT$60 (US$1.85) per share, as it expands AI-related business to drive revenue growth from 2027.

Analysis: Nvidia's DSX POD reshapes AI factory supply chains

Lily Hess — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 03:02:26 GMT

As AI data centers accelerate construction, supply-chain competition is expanding beyond servers and fully integrated racks to the integrated delivery of computing modules and site engineering. Nvidia unveiled its DSX POD reference design based on the Vera Rubin platform at GTC Berlin, with partners installing, integrating, and validating equipment inside containerized modules before transporting them to customer sites for final assembly and operation.

India becomes Taiwan's third-largest machine tool export market

Eifeh Strom — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 02:59:41 GMT

India's "Make in India" policy is driving demand for smart manufacturing and machinery. As such, Taiwanese machinery manufacturers are positioning themselves to seize the opportunities presented by the country's manufacturing push.