German automotive giants Volkswagen, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz have each responded differently to fluctuating US tariffs on European automobiles. Of the three, BMW has remained notably composed, with CEO Oliver Zipse expressing optimism as early as May 2024: even though actual tariff reductions fell short of expectations, he emphasized that the market had overblown the tariff issue, suggesting the trade dispute might be exaggerated.

Cities worldwide are advancing toward the vision of net-zero emissions by 2050. In Taiwan, from the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) to local government transportation departments, efforts are fully underway to promote electric vehicles (EVs), electrification of public transport, charging station deployments, station management, intelligent traffic management systems, and green logistics. Pilot programs and innovative strategies have been launched with the aim of integrating transportation energy management, data governance, and policy tools across various sectors.

SK Innovation Co.'s battery unit plans to accelerate development of cutting-edge technologies in partnership with US and European carmakers, its R&D chief said, aiming to win back market share from peers in China and South Korea.

Onsemi flagged weak industrial and automotive demand in the second quarter of 2025 but expects modest growth ahead, with AI-related sales providing a boost. CEO Hassane El-Khoury said the company is leveraging its flexible manufacturing footprint to navigate tariff risks while preparing for a broader market recovery.

The automobile is undergoing its most dramatic transformation since the assembly line. What was once a purely mechanical machine is rapidly evolving into a complex software-driven platform, fundamentally reshaping how the automotive industry creates and delivers value. At the heart of this shift lies the rise of the software-defined vehicle (SDV).

As automakers in Europe, the US, and China race toward smarter, software-defined vehicles, a new controversy is emerging across markets: the rise of in-car subscription fees. Nowhere is the backlash more pronounced than in China, where rapid development of vehicle electrification and software capabilities has collided with a tech-savvy and vocal consumer base.

BYD has taken a commanding lead over Tesla in the global battery electric vehicle (BEV) market, reporting over 1.02 million units sold in the first half of 2025 — more than 30% ahead of Tesla's 721,000. The figures confirm BYD's position as the world's top EV maker by volume, signaling a larger shift in global automotive leadership.

Taiwan-based IC design giant Realtek held an earnings call and shared its outlook for the market. The company noted that in the short term, the market will continue to be influenced by multiple factors, including macroeconomics, exchange rates, and tariffs, resulting in limited market visibility.

ASE Holdings posted solid growth in advanced packaging and testing in the first half of 2025, fueled by robust demand for AI-related high-performance computing (HPC) chips. However, a strong New Taiwan Dollar dented second-quarter profitability.

China's government has recently imposed a series of export and overseas technology-transfer restrictions targeting lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cathode materials. Notably absent from the restrictions are ternary battery materials—a decision that has prompted speculation across the battery industry.

Japanese utility firm Kyushu Electric Power has entered a strategic partnership with Taiwan-based ProLogium to jointly develop superfluid inorganic all-solid-state lithium battery 24V modules.