DIGITIMES: News and Insight of the Global Supply Chain

Samsung eyes marquee AI win as Anthropic explores custom chip beyond Nvidia

DIGITIMES — Fri, 3 Jul 2026 01:54:33 GMT

Anthropic is exploring a custom AI chip and has held talks with Samsung Electronics as a potential manufacturing partner, joining OpenAI, Google, Amazon, Microsoft and Meta in the race to control AI infrastructure.

Analysis: Innoscience-Infineon clash shows China's courts becoming a weapon in the global GaN race

Levi Li — Fri, 3 Jul 2026 01:54:21 GMT

A rare gallium nitride (GaN) patent clash dominated the opening day of electronica Shanghai 2026, after China's Innoscience accused Infineon of displaying GaN power products covered by a Chinese court injunction.

Kioxia begins sample shipments of 10th-generation flash memory

DIGITIMES — Fri, 3 Jul 2026 01:46:16 GMT

Kioxia has begun sample shipments of 1Tb triple-level-cell memory devices built with its 10th-generation BiCS FLASH 3D flash memory technology. The move underscores the race to supply higher-capacity, lower-power storage for AI systems, data centers, and enterprise customers worldwide as demand for advanced memory continues to rise.

TSMC wins approval for US$20 billion Arizona expansion

Eifeh Strom — Fri, 3 Jul 2026 00:45:20 GMT

Taiwan's Department of Investment Review (DIR) under the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) has approved Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company's (TSMC) US$20 billion capital injection into its US subsidiary TSMC Arizona.

Sinbon lifts revenue to record levels as humanoid robot work advances

DIGITIMES — Fri, 3 Jul 2026 00:28:39 GMT

Sinbon reported record monthly revenue in June 2026 and new highs for the second quarter and the first half of 2026, driven by stronger demand in green energy and industrial applications. The connector and cable assembler said AI and humanoid robot programs are moving from development validation into pilot production, and it has accelerated capacity planning and regional expansion to prepare for future mass-production demand.

Zyxel Networks adds outdoor wireless access point for MSP customers

DIGITIMES — Fri, 3 Jul 2026 00:26:58 GMT

Zyxel Networks, the commercial networking brand under Zyxel Group, announced a new outdoor wireless access point on the 2nd as it targets managed service provider (MSP) demand for faster, more stable connectivity. The launch expands its outdoor wireless portfolio with the first NWA55AX point-to-point model, aimed at helping MSPs serve enterprise customers that need extended coverage outside traditional office spaces.

CSCC expands Pingnan plant to lift carbon materials output

DIGITIMES — Fri, 3 Jul 2026 00:16:26 GMT

China Steel Chemical Corporation (CSCC) is expanding its Pingnan plant to increase development capacity for advanced carbon materials and graphite blocks. The Taiwan-based subsidiary of China Steel Corporation said the new research and development building is scheduled to open at the end of July 2026, with new production lines expected to begin output in 2027.

Volkswagen takeover talk by BYD highlights Europe's auto industry strain

DIGITIMES — Fri, 3 Jul 2026 00:14:27 GMT

Germany's auto sector came under fresh scrutiny after a senior economist raised the possibility that BYD could one day acquire Volkswagen. The hypothetical remark quickly drew attention in Europe as policymakers and industry leaders grapple with slowing competitiveness, rising Chinese rivals and mounting geopolitical pressure.

Small-home living drives demand for mobile TVs and pico projectors

DIGITIMES — Fri, 3 Jul 2026 00:12:47 GMT

Smaller homes are reshaping display demand in Taiwan and beyond, with manufacturers repositioning mid-size TVs, mobile TVs and pico projectors for tighter living spaces. The shift is being driven by high housing prices and lower birth rates, according to the Ministry of the Interior's real-estate information platform.

Turvo shifts North America production as robot revenue target rises before 2029

DIGITIMES — Fri, 3 Jul 2026 00:11:13 GMT

Turvo International said it has expanded its manufacturing footprint across Taiwan, China and the US to reduce exposure to tariffs and geopolitical risk, while preparing for a bigger push into robotics. The company also said it is moving a planned Mexico plant into North America and expects site selection to be completed as early as 2026.

Volkswagen gives China joint venture control of exports as auto strategy shifts

DIGITIMES — Fri, 3 Jul 2026 00:09:35 GMT

Volkswagen has handed full export-market control to its China joint venture, marking a major shift in how the German automaker uses its Chinese operations. The move, unveiled at an expansion ceremony in Uzbekistan, reflects a strategy moving from "in China, for China" to "rooted in China, facing the world."

Trend Micro and Check Point expand enterprise AI security integrations

DIGITIMES — Fri, 3 Jul 2026 00:08:03 GMT

Trend Micro and Check Point Software are expanding AI security partnerships as large language model use spreads across corporate systems worldwide. The moves, aimed at enterprise customers in the US and beyond, reflect growing pressure on security teams to govern the use of generative AI, limit data exposure, and improve oversight as businesses embed AI into daily operations.

Turvo expands auto business and targets growth in five new markets

DIGITIMES — Fri, 3 Jul 2026 00:06:21 GMT

Turvo Technology said on July 2 that it is expanding beyond automotive parts into healthcare, semiconductors, and robotics, a move that may interest global manufacturers and investors tracking industrial supply chains. The Taiwan-based supplier also reported continued profitability in the first quarter, with overseas markets accounting for the majority of revenue.

Renesas trims chip portfolio to focus on AI servers and EVs

DIGITIMES — Thu, 2 Jul 2026 23:58:50 GMT

Renesas Electronics has completed the sale of its timing device business to US fabless semiconductor specialist SiTime, tightening its portfolio around AI servers, electric vehicles, embedded computing and software-led chip design.

Seoul seeks Kumamoto's chip playbook, but Japan's model isn't easy to copy

DIGITIMES — Thu, 2 Jul 2026 23:58:13 GMT

As South Korea moves to accelerate a new semiconductor cluster in the country's southwest, ruling-party officials have returned to one comparison: Kumamoto.

Taiwan, Japan deepen end-of-life vehicle recycling cooperation to unlock circular economy opportunities

AI bot — Thu, 2 Jul 2026 23:57:49 GMT

As global efforts toward the circular economy and net-zero emissions accelerate, the European Union has continued revising its End-of-Life Vehicles (ELV) Directive to establish a vehicle recycling framework centered on circular design, high-value material recovery, and life-cycle management. The policy is enforced to help drive worldwide development of end-of-life vehicle recycling and resource recovery.

UBTech CEO says robots will take over most physical jobs in 20 years

Lily Hess — Thu, 2 Jul 2026 23:57:26 GMT

UBtech Robotics founder and CEO Jian Zhou said at the company's 2026 global launch event that humanoid robots will gradually take over most physical and repetitive work within the next 20 years, as China's labor-intensive manufacturing sector faces mounting worker shortages and rising costs.

Chinese power chip price hikes lift Taiwanese suppliers

Lily Hess — Thu, 2 Jul 2026 23:57:01 GMT

Inflationary pressures are hitting the semiconductor supply chain in 2026 as Chinese power device makers raise prices, while Taiwan-based firms say their flexibility, quality, and service advantages are becoming more visible as the search for non-China supply chains gains momentum.

Samsung's HBM4E yield tops 70%, sharpening AI memory race with SK Hynix and Micron

Levi Li — Thu, 2 Jul 2026 23:56:27 GMT

Samsung Electronics is moving closer to commercialising HBM4E, its seventh-generation high-bandwidth memory (HBM), after internal testing showed reliability yields above 70%, strengthening its bid to gain ground in the AI memory market.

Huawei's Ascend AI chips target South Korea in new Nvidia challenge

Levi Li — Thu, 2 Jul 2026 23:56:06 GMT

Huawei is reportedly preparing to launch its AI chips in South Korea for the first time in the fourth quarter of 2026, as rising demand for AI infrastructure opens a new market for alternatives to Nvidia-based systems.

Innoscience says Infineon removed disputed GaN products from Shanghai trade show after patent challenge

Scarlett Yu — Thu, 2 Jul 2026 23:55:40 GMT

Chinese gallium nitride (GaN) chipmaker Innoscience said on July 2 via its official WeChat account that certain GaN products from Infineon Technologies displayed at electronica China 2026 were covered by an ongoing patent dispute and had already been barred from sale under a Chinese court ruling. According to Innoscience, after its representatives identified the products during the exhibition and raised objections, the disputed exhibits were removed from Infineon's booth.

South Korea battery industry urges tax reform as US, Europe rules bite

Rodney Chan — Thu, 2 Jul 2026 23:55:13 GMT

The South Korean government treats batteries as a strategic asset tied to national economic and energy security, but industry leaders say the growth and survival of South Korea's companies now depend almost entirely on regulatory shifts in the US and Europe amid fierce competition from China. They are calling for urgent, concrete tax support at home, especially a direct refund system that would also benefit loss-making companies.

Cheng Mei accelerates semiconductor shift as polarizer market faces cost pressure

Jingyue Hsiao — Thu, 2 Jul 2026 23:54:45 GMT

Cheng Mei Materials is expanding into semiconductor materials to support supply chain adjustments for outsourced chip assembly and test customers worldwide. The company's progress with customers in China and Taiwan could lift shipments in the second half of 2025, even as its core polarizer business faces weaker demand, cost pressure, and tighter order cycles.

Physical AI reshape IPC industry: edge adoption, new markets, and US expansion gain pace

Jingyue Hsiao — Thu, 2 Jul 2026 23:54:30 GMT

Driven by Nvidia, the global AI wave is moving quickly from generative AI toward physical AI, and the shift is already changing the industrial computer industry. IPC vendors are seeing stronger edge AI demand, broader vertical exposure, and a deeper strategic focus on North America.

Taiwan carriers, banks roll out MID+ to fight fraud

DIGITIMES — Thu, 2 Jul 2026 23:54:13 GMT

Taiwan Network Authentication Co. (TWCA) on the 1st joined Chunghwa Telecom, Taiwan Mobile, Far EasTone Telecommunications, First Bank, E.SUN Bank and Bank of Taiwan SME to launch the new-generation MID+ mobile identity verification service. The rollout was presented as part of the government-backed push for technology-led anti-fraud cooperation between the public and private sectors.

Apple's iPhone slips in China as local brands hold off challenge

DIGITIMES — Thu, 2 Jul 2026 23:52:43 GMT

Apple's iPhone lost momentum in China in the first five months of 2026, while domestic smartphone brands largely preserved their home-market advantage. The shift came as volatile memory prices, changing pricing strategies and government subsidies made competition in China's handset market harder to predict.

OpenAI's 5% stake pitch pulls AI deeper into Washington

DIGITIMES — Thu, 2 Jul 2026 08:15:59 GMT

OpenAI has discussed giving the US government a 5% stake in the company, according to the Financial Times, as the AI developer seeks to ease political pressure over model risks and whether Americans should share in the industry's profits. Reuters said it could not independently verify the report.

AUO pushes AI-era transformation with executive reshuffle, launch of innovation institute

Eifeh Strom — Thu, 2 Jul 2026 07:33:42 GMT

Taiwanese optoelectronics specialist AUO announced organizational adjustments and senior executive appointments on July 1 as it continues to advance its business transformation. The company is aiming for balanced development across its businesses and accelerating its transition into a key solutions provider centered on display technologies for its long-term growth momentum. The company also unveiled its new Institute of Innovation and New Venture.

Supermicro: We are cooperating with Taiwan, not under investigation

DIGITIMES — Thu, 2 Jul 2026 07:21:32 GMT

Supermicro has pushed back against media characterizations of this week's events in Taiwan, saying the company is a cooperating party in the investigation rather than a target, and that misconduct, if any, lies with individual employees who have been suspended pending the outcome of the case.

Singapore files additional fraud and money laundering charges in Nvidia-linked server case

DIGITIMES — Thu, 2 Jul 2026 07:12:22 GMT

Singapore authorities have filed additional fraud and money laundering charges against four individuals and brought fresh charges against four companies, as part of an investigation linked to the movement of servers that may have contained Nvidia artificial intelligence chips subject to US export controls. The case has been reported by multiple outlets, including CNA, The Straits Times, and Reuters.

Nvidia and nuclear energy startup Valar test microreactor to power AI data center

DIGITIMES — Thu, 2 Jul 2026 07:09:12 GMT

Nuclear energy startup Valar Atomics said on July 1 it is partnering with Nvidia to develop a small data center in Utah, an effort the companies say will demonstrate how computing facilities needed for artificial intelligence can conserve water.

Commentary: G2 rivalry simmers– China quietly watches as US pressure sends Asia's defense industry into overdrive

Kevin Wang — Thu, 2 Jul 2026 07:05:08 GMT

The annual Shangri-La Dialogue, considered the most important defense and security conference in the Asia-Pacific region, was held this year in Singapore at the end of May. For this year's conference, however, China kept a low profile by sending a deputy president from its National Defense University, a move seen as its attempt to minimize the significance of the conference.

Passive component suppliers regain momentum on AI server and auto demand

Levi Li — Thu, 2 Jul 2026 07:00:00 GMT

Taiwan's passive component suppliers are entering the second half of 2026 with stronger order momentum, as demand from AI data centers, networking equipment, power systems, and automotive electronics helps offset earlier pressure from volatile metal prices and weaker consumer electronics planning.

Analysis: How long can memory's AI-driven boom last?

DIGITIMES — Thu, 2 Jul 2026 06:56:25 GMT

The global memory market is enjoying one of its most profitable cycles in years. AI data center demand has driven DRAM and NAND prices sharply higher, and the three companies that dominate global supply — Micron, Samsung, and SK Hynix — are posting results that would have seemed unlikely two years ago.

DDI makers look to smaller displays as NB and TV demand loses momentum in 2H26

Scarlett Yu — Thu, 2 Jul 2026 06:30:00 GMT

Large-size display driver ICs (DDIs) were a key revenue driver for many DDI suppliers during the first half of 2026. Taiwanese manufacturers said early notebook inventory build-up beginning in the first quarter of 2026, together with television restocking ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, allowed large-size DDI shipments to outperform the traditional seasonal slowdown.