DIGITIMES: News and Insight of the Global Supply Chain

Infineon wins fourth German patent ruling against Innoscience, as GaN fight flares in Shanghai

DIGITIMES — Sat, 4 Jul 2026 06:06:22 GMT

Germany's District Court Munich I ruled on July 3 that Innoscience infringed Infineon Technologies' gallium nitride (GaN) patents, barring the Chinese chipmaker from importing, selling, or marketing the affected products in Germany and ordering it to pay damages.

Tesla tops Taiwan imports in June 2026, cuts Supercharger rates

Charlene Chen — Fri, 3 Jul 2026 23:58:38 GMT

Tesla led Taiwan's imported-car market in June 2026, posting 4,369 new registrations and surpassing its highest-ever quarterly delivery pace, as the company said its local owner base has now topped 80,000. Tesla also said more than 70% of its Supercharger stations across Taiwan will switch to a new discounted rate plan starting immediately, with weekend charging costs falling by up to 40% after the weekend peak-off-peak surcharge is removed.

Machvision's June revenue hits another record due to AI demand

Lily Hess — Fri, 3 Jul 2026 23:58:27 GMT

Machvision posted another record monthly revenue in June 2026, as surging demand for AI servers, high-performance computing (HPC), and advanced packaging continued to lift orders for the semiconductor and PCB inspection equipment maker. The company said the biggest challenge has now shifted from winning orders to managing supply chains and expanding capacity.

TSMC's median pay trails four smaller IC design houses, filings show

DIGITIMES — Fri, 3 Jul 2026 23:58:06 GMT

Fabless chip designers dominate the upper ranks of Taiwan's newly disclosed non-managerial employee pay data for fiscal year 2025, with only two capital-intensive manufacturers — TSMC and memory-testing equipment maker Phison — breaking into the top tier typically reserved for asset-light IC design houses.

China's CR Micro raises power chip prices as Chinese suppliers push fresh hikes

Sherri Wang — Fri, 3 Jul 2026 23:57:31 GMT

China Resources Microelectronics (CR Micro), a Chinese power semiconductor integrated device manufacturer, has notified customers and partners that it will raise prices across its entire product lineup starting July 1, with increases beginning at 15%.

SoftBank targets AI cloud market with 10GW US rental plan

Charlene Chen — Fri, 3 Jul 2026 23:55:50 GMT

SoftBank Group (SBG) and telecom subsidiary SoftBank said they will set up a new company in the US in July 2026 to rent out AI computing resources, aiming to challenge CoreWeave and Nebius in the fast-growing AI cloud market. The new unit, SB Neo, is scheduled to begin operations in fiscal 2027 (April 2027 to March 2028).

Samsung and SK Hynix seek substrate price cuts for the second half of 2026

DIGITIMES — Fri, 3 Jul 2026 23:55:38 GMT

Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix are reportedly pressing South Korean semiconductor substrate suppliers to lower prices for the second half of 2026, even as memory demand remains in a Super Cycle. According to ET News, the talks have intensified pressure across the supply chain as raw material costs stay high and substrate makers warn of margin erosion.

Anthropic tightens controls as Chinese firms route around Claude restrictions

DIGITIMES — Fri, 3 Jul 2026 23:55:29 GMT

Anthropic is stepping up efforts to block unauthorized access to Claude after reports that Chinese companies, including Ant Group and ByteDance, have used overseas entities, cloud services, and VPNs to work around its restrictions. Financial Times reported that the company has increased detection measures as it tries to prevent users in China from reaching its AI tools through indirect channels.

Commentary: Korea's KRW800tn chip bet risks US fab pressure while Apple profits from memory shock

Levi Li — Fri, 3 Jul 2026 23:55:08 GMT

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung, Samsung Electronics, and SK Hynix have announced the country's largest-ever semiconductor expansion plan, while soaring memory prices have opened a separate fight between Micron and Apple.

Thinking wins varistor orders as Japanese rival exits amid silver prices hikes

Scarlett Yu — Fri, 3 Jul 2026 23:54:44 GMT

Volatile precious metal prices weighed heavily on passive component suppliers in early 2026, but the cost pressures have also created unexpected order-transfer opportunities for Taiwanese manufacturers.

Infineon China pushes back after GaN products removed at Shanghai electronics show

DIGITIMES — Fri, 3 Jul 2026 08:22:12 GMT

Infineon China said on July 3 that it is pursuing legal remedies after several gallium nitride (GaN) products became the subject of a removal dispute at electronica Shanghai 2026, saying public accounts of the incident did not fully reflect the case's background or specific circumstances.

Ubtech's U1 companion robots test whether China is ready for AI intimacy

DIGITIMES — Fri, 3 Jul 2026 07:42:09 GMT

Ubtech has launched the U1 series, its first mass-produced full-size bionic humanoid robot line, under the U World sub-brand, testing China's market for AI companion robots beyond industrial and service uses.

Megawatt AI Racks: Infrastructure Evolution & Wide-Bandgap Power Semiconductor Opportunities by 2030

DIGITIMES — Fri, 3 Jul 2026 07:24:35 GMT

Megawatt AI Racks: Infrastructure Evolution & Wide-Bandgap Power Semiconductor Opportunities by 2030

Apple plans five iPhone launches to capture market share amid component shortages

DIGITIMES — Fri, 3 Jul 2026 07:20:22 GMT

Apple is reportedly planning to launch at least five new models by this time next year, with the company expanding its foldables' production. Amid surging component prices and a weakening smartphone market, these moves may be a bid to gain market share while rivals are on the back foot.

Chinese NOR Flash supplier Giantec raises prices 25% as memory market risks persist

Scarlett Yu — Fri, 3 Jul 2026 07:12:50 GMT

China's memory price rally continues to gather momentum. Giantec Semiconductor Corporation, a Chinese NOR flash supplier, recently notified its distribution partners that prices for its entire NOR flash memory product portfolio will increase by 25% beginning July 6, 2026. The new pricing will apply to both newly signed orders and outstanding orders that have yet to be delivered.

China's polarizer makers seek price hikes as material bottlenecks bite

DIGITIMES — Fri, 3 Jul 2026 07:07:18 GMT

Chinese polarizer film suppliers are seeking higher prices from panel makers after raw-material and logistics costs rose in the second quarter, exposing a weak point in China's display-material supply chain.

Taiwan's Turvo confirms full management authority, reaffirms robotics expansion plans

Scarlett Yu — Fri, 3 Jul 2026 07:00:29 GMT

Following recent reports of significant management changes at Turvo International Co., Ltd, President Steven Tsai addressed investors ahead of the company's earnings conference on July 2. He said representatives of the company's major shareholder, ZENG HSING Industrial Co., Ltd, were not present, and therefore he could not comment on their behalf. While acknowledging that the major shareholder has the legal authority to make such decisions, Tsai said the matter should be handled in a manner acceptable to all parties in order to avoid unnecessary controversy and disruption.

Turn Cloud shifts to AI infrastructure

Rodney Chan — Fri, 3 Jul 2026 06:59:08 GMT

Turn Cloud Technology is accelerating its transformation from a solution as a service (SolaaS) provider into an AI infrastructure provider for physical spaces, as demand for digital transformation across real-world venues continues to rise. The company says its new Tomorrow Space (TSpace) architecture will anchor its next phase of growth.

China's Z.ai ramps up AI rivalry with Anthropic, OpenAI via GLM-5.2

DIGITIMES — Fri, 3 Jul 2026 06:49:45 GMT

Chinese AI company Z.ai, also known as Zhipu AI, is escalating its challenge to US leaders Anthropic and OpenAI with the release of its open-weight GLM-5.2 model and a new AI coding assistant, underscoring China's growing competitiveness in frontier AI.

South Korea bets on southwest semiconductor cluster, but key hurdles remain

Lily Hess — Fri, 3 Jul 2026 06:47:47 GMT

South Korea on June 29 unveiled a large-scale investment plan for the country's Honam region in the southwest, which mainly covers the city of Gwangju and North and South Jeolla provinces, including semiconductor clusters for Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, AI data centers, and regional infrastructure. The plan is seen as a key move by the South Korean government to respond to surging AI chip demand, excessive industrial concentration in the Seoul capital area, and pressure for balanced regional development.

Medical demand, multimedia shipments drive Sonix recovery as drone strategy gains traction

Scarlett Yu — Fri, 3 Jul 2026 06:35:31 GMT

With supply chain inventory normalization largely complete, Sonix Technology (Sonix) has seen business momentum recover. The MCU supplier is benefiting from resilient demand for microcontrollers used in medical monitoring devices and steady shipments of multimedia image-processing chips, giving it better order visibility for 2026 than in previous years. Meanwhile, the company's drone business has entered niche commercial and industrial applications, providing a stepping stone toward higher-end markets.

'Switchblade' drone maker AeroVironment deepens Taiwan supply chain ties

Kevin Wang — Fri, 3 Jul 2026 06:11:24 GMT

US drone maker AeroVironment has worked closely with Taiwan-based supply chain partners over the past three years, with the company noting that many of its product components are now co-developed and manufactured by both sides. Moreover, the defense tech company has also established a direct communication channel in Taiwan in recent years to support Taiwan's national defense resilience program.

Sharp, SES target Japan MEO satellite services as industrial connectivity demand rises

Scarlett Yu — Fri, 3 Jul 2026 05:58:39 GMT

Sharp is moving deeper into satellite communications as it seeks to extend its networking technologies beyond consumer devices and into industrial infrastructure.

Intel takes aim at TSMC's CoWoS lead with EMIB-T

DIGITIMES — Fri, 3 Jul 2026 05:44:58 GMT

As transistor density scaling slows, chipmakers are leaning on advanced packaging to keep improving accelerator performance. A SemiAnalysis roundup of this year's IEEE Electronic Components and Technology Conference described a shift in which Intel, Marvell, TSMC, and others detailed new packaging approaches as packages themselves begin hitting limits.

BOE targets AI packaging with Micro LED optical interconnect and glass substrate CPO

Levi Li — Fri, 3 Jul 2026 04:48:50 GMT

BOE, China's leading display panel maker, is accelerating its move into next-generation packaging technologies for the AI era. The company recently disclosed that it has formed a dedicated project team for Micro LED optical interconnect systems and glass substrate-based co-packaged optics (CPO), working with ecosystem partners on early-stage technology research to advance optical interconnect and glass substrate CPO development.

How TSMC quietly turned its supply chain into a 'second fleet'

Charlene Chen — Fri, 3 Jul 2026 04:46:36 GMT

TSMC has accelerated efforts to localize its supply chain in recent years, using joint development, joint validation, and long-term partnerships to help Taiwanese equipment, materials, and chemical suppliers enter the advanced semiconductor supply chain. The move is steadily building a more resilient and complete local supply system, with both CoWoS and panel-level advanced packaging (CoPoS) now spawning a "second fleet."

Microsoft launches US$2.5 B unit to guide enterprise AI adoption using embedded engineers

DIGITIMES — Fri, 3 Jul 2026 04:43:22 GMT

Microsoft unveiled plans for a new business unit called "Microsoft Frontier Company," which is aimed at helping large organizations move beyond pilot projects and turn AI investments into measurable business results. The initiative echoes new services offered by other AI firms like OpenAI and Amazon Web Services (AWS) to embed engineers within enterprises and guide their AI adoption.

Global server demand is set to stay strong through 2027 as supply chain pressure widens

Jingyue Hsiao — Fri, 3 Jul 2026 04:36:48 GMT

Global server demand is expected to stay strong through 2027, with implications for cloud operators, hardware makers, and data center customers worldwide. Large-scale buildouts, rising AI deployments, and high-performance computing demand are keeping supply chains tight, lifting prices, extending lead times, and raising the risk of fresh bottlenecks.

Wistron chair urges Taiwan to shift beyond manufacturing mindset in AI era

Eifeh Strom — Fri, 3 Jul 2026 04:35:31 GMT

Wistron chairman Simon Lin said artificial intelligence (AI) is improving the quality of professional talent, noting that tasks that previously required 100 people may now be completed by as few as four or five. As a result, AI can help address labor shortages caused by declining birth rates, while also creating value at different levels.

Xiaomi and Huawei turn phone AI into a system-level fight for user workflows

Lily Hess — Fri, 3 Jul 2026 04:32:37 GMT

A public spat between Xiaomi and Huawei over large models has exposed growing anxiety in China's phone AI market this year, while Apple, Google, and Samsung Electronics pursue different routes to seize the AI agent entry point.

Exclusive: Chinese automakers pursue overseas production to shape future vehicle standards

Jingyue Hsiao — Fri, 3 Jul 2026 04:22:37 GMT

China's automakers are pushing more aggressively into overseas manufacturing as electric vehicle (EV) growth meets weaker margins, tougher competition, and rising trade barriers. The shift could reshape where vehicles are built, who sets standards, and how quickly China's auto industry gains influence beyond its home market.

Analysis: China moves against oversized EV batteries to address fiscal and supply-chain concerns

Jingyue Hsiao — Fri, 3 Jul 2026 03:47:11 GMT

China's state media is increasingly framing large-capacity electric vehicle (EV) batteries as a policy issue, not just a market trend. The messaging points to two priorities: reducing fiscal strain from EV incentives and strengthening state control over strategic materials and pricing across the new-energy sector.

India and Japan deepen economic security ties at New Delhi summit

DIGITIMES — Fri, 3 Jul 2026 03:03:45 GMT

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi held her first summit with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on July 2, during a three-day visit that both governments framed as the next step in a long-running partnership.

SAP names Verena Siow Asia-Pacific President

Eifeh Strom — Fri, 3 Jul 2026 02:57:06 GMT

Enterprise software company SAP announced on July 2 that it has appointed Verena Siow as president of the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, effective immediately. Based in Singapore, she will be responsible for driving customer business value and helping enterprises accelerate business transformation in the artificial intelligence (AI) era.

Tsinghua chip veteran’s US$1.8bn 3D AI chip startup targets China’s GPU gap

Levi Li — Fri, 3 Jul 2026 02:53:35 GMT

China's AI chip sector has a heavyweight new entrant: veteran semiconductor figure Shaojun Wei has formally unveiled Shanghai Orient Computing Core Technology Co., a 3D AI compute chip startup now valued at CNY12.2 billion (approx. US$1.8 billion), just two years after it was founded.

DIGITIMES: News and Insight of the Global Supply Chain

Infineon wins fourth German patent ruling against Innoscience, as GaN fight flares in Shanghai

Tesla tops Taiwan imports in June 2026, cuts Supercharger rates

Machvision's June revenue hits another record due to AI demand

TSMC's median pay trails four smaller IC design houses, filings show

China's CR Micro raises power chip prices as Chinese suppliers push fresh hikes

SoftBank targets AI cloud market with 10GW US rental plan

Samsung and SK Hynix seek substrate price cuts for the second half of 2026

Anthropic tightens controls as Chinese firms route around Claude restrictions

Commentary: Korea's KRW800tn chip bet risks US fab pressure while Apple profits from memory shock

Thinking wins varistor orders as Japanese rival exits amid silver prices hikes

Infineon China pushes back after GaN products removed at Shanghai electronics show

Ubtech's U1 companion robots test whether China is ready for AI intimacy

Megawatt AI Racks: Infrastructure Evolution &amp; Wide-Bandgap Power Semiconductor Opportunities by 2030

Apple plans five iPhone launches to capture market share amid component shortages

Chinese NOR Flash supplier Giantec raises prices 25% as memory market risks persist

China's polarizer makers seek price hikes as material bottlenecks bite

Taiwan's Turvo confirms full management authority, reaffirms robotics expansion plans

Turn Cloud shifts to AI infrastructure

China's Z.ai ramps up AI rivalry with Anthropic, OpenAI via GLM-5.2

South Korea bets on southwest semiconductor cluster, but key hurdles remain

Medical demand, multimedia shipments drive Sonix recovery as drone strategy gains traction

'Switchblade' drone maker AeroVironment deepens Taiwan supply chain ties

Sharp, SES target Japan MEO satellite services as industrial connectivity demand rises

Intel takes aim at TSMC's CoWoS lead with EMIB-T

BOE targets AI packaging with Micro LED optical interconnect and glass substrate CPO

How TSMC quietly turned its supply chain into a 'second fleet'

Microsoft launches US$2.5 B unit to guide enterprise AI adoption using embedded engineers

Global server demand is set to stay strong through 2027 as supply chain pressure widens

Wistron chair urges Taiwan to shift beyond manufacturing mindset in AI era

Xiaomi and Huawei turn phone AI into a system-level fight for user workflows

Exclusive: Chinese automakers pursue overseas production to shape future vehicle standards

Analysis: China moves against oversized EV batteries to address fiscal and supply-chain concerns

India and Japan deepen economic security ties at New Delhi summit

SAP names Verena Siow Asia-Pacific President

Tsinghua chip veteran&rsquo;s US$1.8bn 3D AI chip startup targets China&rsquo;s GPU gap

Megawatt AI Racks: Infrastructure Evolution & Wide-Bandgap Power Semiconductor Opportunities by 2030

Tsinghua chip veteran’s US$1.8bn 3D AI chip startup targets China’s GPU gap