China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) has launched its largest recruitment campaign in nearly a decade, planning to add approximately sixty new officials in 2026. According to a MOFCOM announcement, the Bureau of Industry Security, Import and Export Control plans to recruit at least five new staff members in 2026, the highest number since 2022. Despite the current US-China trade war truce, MOFCOM's rare earth control division continues its expansion.

From late October to early November 2025, geopolitical tensions surrounding Dutch chipmaker Nexperia led to a chip shortage that affected European Tier 1 suppliers and Japanese automakers, prompting companies to implement emergency measures.

Continuous upgrades in memory technology have created a structural imbalance in supply and demand. Nevertheless, memory supplier Winbond Electronics delivered strong earnings in the third quarter of 2025. General manager Pei-Ming Chen stated that some customers are even seeking DDR4 long-term contracts of up to six years, and this structural shift is expected to last through 2027.

Bloomberg, citing unnamed sources, reported that Tesla had named Sharad Agarwal, former head of Lamborghini India, as its country head, signaling a shift toward a more localized strategy after a slow start in the world's most populous nation. Agarwal, who begins his tenure this week, will oversee day-to-day operations on the ground, replacing Tesla's prior approach of managing India through a small local team reporting remotely from China and regional hubs.

Taiwan's Foxconn plans to transform Sharp's Kameyama No. 2 factory in Mie Prefecture, Japan, into an AI server production facility, while also pursuing collaborations with Japan's top 10 automakers in the electric vehicle (EV) sector, according to Foxconn chairman Young Liu.

Chip supply disruptions at Nexperia continue to ripple through Japan's auto industry. Following Honda's partial production halt at some overseas plants on October 28, Nissan has become the latest automaker affected, with plans to scale back output at domestic factories.

In 2025, the autonomous vehicle industry has become the focal point of a technological cold war. The United States and China are engaged in a high-stakes competition where chips, algorithms, and geopolitical factors not only influence market share but also impact national sovereignty and industrial survival.

Taiwan's overall scooter market reached 64,723 units in October 2025, up 1.65% from September's 63,670 units and a 1.15% increase compared to 63,981 units in October 2024. Market data shows Sanyang Motor (SYM) sold 28,091 scooters in October, securing the top spot with a 43.4% market share.

South Korean electric vehicle (EV) battery maker LG Energy Solution (LGES) is facing a major security breach involving the theft of its high-density pouch-type battery technology, which reportedly ended up in the hands of Indian electric scooter manufacturer Ola Electric. The incident has raised significant concerns about the protection of South Korea's core industrial technologies.

Hinge and mechanical component manufacturer Syncmold Enterprise posted weak revenue performance in the first three quarters of 2025, mainly due to geopolitical and macroeconomic uncertainties. However, the company stated that with the gradual results from new products and new customers emerging, it remains cautiously optimistic about future development.

Taiwan recorded 34,511 new car registrations in October, marking a 7.1% month-over-month and 3.9% year-over-year increase. Although still below earlier market expectations, this was the first month since April 2025 to see both monthly and yearly growth, signaling a rebound in demand as the year-end peak season approaches.