During Computex 2025, NXP not only featured a keynote speech on edge AI development by Jens Hinrichsen, executive vice president and general manager of Analog and Automotive Embedded Systems, but also showcased various solutions across automotive electronics, industrial control, and AI imaging systems.

Julian Hetherington, director of Automotive Transformation at Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC), elaborated on the development of the UK's automotive and semiconductor sectors during an exclusive interview with DIGITIMES. Although the US lowered tariffs on UK cars to 10%, this preferential rate applies only to 100,000 vehicles. Could this cap become a "ceiling" for UK car exports to the US in 2025 or even in subsequent years?

US President Donald Trump's aggressive tariff policies have prompted countries worldwide to vie for priority negotiation opportunities. Among them, the UK was the first to secure a trade agreement with the US, covering sectors such as automobiles, steel, and aluminum. Julian Hetherington, director of Automotive Transformation at Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC) UK, recently visited Taiwan's industry sector and shared insights exclusively with DIGITIMES, revealing the secrets behind the UK-US consensus.

Visual AI system provider oToBrite has partnered with Sintrones to jointly introduce an AI depth imaging system based on a monocular camera module. This system achieves depth image ranging through a single camera module combined with an onboard computer, enabling advanced applications such as unmanned vehicles and autonomous mobile robots (AMRs).

Hushan Autoparts posted NT$423 million (US$14 million) in consolidated revenue for the first quarter of 2025, marking a new record high in quarterly revenue for the company. The 47% year-over-year surge came primarily from renewed demand for global aftermarket parts and continued deliveries of new product lines. Moreover, first-quarter operating net profit grew by 72% year-over-year, while net profit after tax reached NT$120 million (US$4 million), signaling stellar results for the quarter if the impact of exchange rate fluctuations is excluded.

Taiwan-based LED maker Edison Opto said customer orders and shipments remain on track despite mounting uncertainty tied to US tariff policies and currency market volatility. Automotive product lines are operating at a stable 80% utilization rate, supporting the company's full-year growth target.

At its investor conference on May 13, 2025, Wellysun Electronics announced a significant milestone, securing a coveted position in the supply chain for Japanese automakers' electronic components. This achievement underscores the company's years-long investment in integrated vehicle software and hardware systems, positioning it as a leader in the rapidly evolving automotive electronics sector.

As weaker players increasingly bow out of China's new energy vehicle (NEV) market, newcomers are now shifting their emphasis to smart platforms, the integration of battery, motor, and vehicle control systems, and supply chain resilience. In line with this trend, Xpeng, one of the three leading NEV startups in China alongside NIO and Li Auto, has recently launched its latest SEPA 3.0 platform and introduced a hybrid silicon carbide (SiC) module designed to balance efficiency and cost.

Global automotive manufacturers are converging on a hybrid domain-plus-zonal (D+Z) control architecture for next-generation vehicles, representing a significant evolution in electrification and electric (EE) architecture. This emerging standard, likely to appear in production vehicles between 2028-2029, is becoming evident at Computex 2025, where major information and communications technology (ICT) players are showcasing their automotive solutions.

Following the US automotive tariff, the industry is reassessing production line adjustments. Notably, China is experiencing rising demand in its automotive sector. In response, Hiroca Holdings Ltd., with production facilities in both Mexico and China, has provided insights on its strategic operations.

Taiwan-based optical imaging solutions provider Ability Enterprise is accelerating its diversification strategy by entering the machine vision market. The company has launched two new imaging modules, an infrared (IR)-assisted full-color wide-angle module and an active stereo 3D imaging module, to meet emerging customer needs in high-end sensing and edge computing applications.

Although the 2025 Shanghai International Auto Show has concluded, its ripple effects continue to shape the automotive landscape. Bolstered by the Chinese government's early implementation of trade-in subsidies, alongside a confluence of auto show buzz and promotional campaigns, China's passenger vehicle retail sales soared to 1.81 million units in April 2025, marking the second-highest monthly figure on record.

Although Taiwan's complete vehicle exports to the US consist mainly of a small number of ATVs, Taiwanese automotive parts firms have still felt mounting pressure from Trump's tariff policies and the ensuing global economic turbulence. In particular, SuperAlloy Industrial (SAI) has drawn significant attention, as its forged aluminum wheels are widely used by high-end automakers worldwide.

China's auto industry is accelerating, driven by soaring demand for electric vehicles (EVs). New figures from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers report a 9.8% year-over-year increase in new vehicle sales, including exports, reaching 2.59 million units in April. The growth is largely due to a sharp increase in sales of electric and other new-energy vehicles. EVs now account for 49.5% of all new cars sold in China, marking a rise of nearly 10pp from the previous year.

LG Display (LGD) is set to participate in the Society for Information Display's (SID) Display Week 2025 with a major focus on next-generation automotive displays. Highlights include a 50% stretchable display, the world's largest 57-inch full cockpit width point-to-point (P2P) panel, and an 18-inch slidable OLED.

In stark contrast to the somber tone of automotive parts giant Bosch, which recently warned that the industry's "automotive drought" may drag on, Taiwan's Foxconn has taken a decisive step forward by sealing a new electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing deal with Mitsubishi Motors. The move raises questions about a possible quiet power shift from traditional tier 1 suppliers to a rising generation of tech-driven entrants.

AUO is showcasing cutting-edge microLED display technology integrated with artificial intelligence (AI) at Display Week 2025, the global industry event hosted by the Society for Information Display.

Against a backdrop of escalating geopolitical strain and unresolved trade friction, the US and China have concluded a new round of high-level negotiations, releasing a joint statement to adjust and suspend recently imposed tariffs. Though narrow in scope, the deal signals a partial de-escalation and offers markets overdue relief after months of volatility since April 2025.

Innolux Corporation's automotive display subsidiary CarUX plans to list on the US stock market, marking the Taiwanese display manufacturer's first overseas public offering.

Since coming into effect on May 3, US President Donald Trump's automotive tariffs have hit the industry hard. At the same time, Taiwanese aftermarket (AM) parts suppliers are eyeing opportunities they must seize.

Bloomberg, citing unnamed sources, reported that Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd. (CATL), the world's largest battery maker, is seeking a US$1 billion loan to expand its investment in Indonesia. The funds will be used for a battery plant in Karawang, West Java, operated by CATL's joint venture. Sources familiar with the matter said financing negotiations are ongoing, and details may still change.

WT Microelectronics, a Taiwan-based IC distributor, reports that the impact of US tariffs on its operations remains minimal, as most components are exempt from such duties. WT Microelectronics chairman Eric Cheng notes that while certain sectors like smartphones, PCs, and servers have experienced accelerated inventory replenishment due to tariffs, the overall semiconductor industry is unmistakably emerging from its trough in the second quarter of 2025.

Over the past decade, Samsung Electronics executive chairman Lee Jae-Yong has leveraged global mergers and acquisitions (M&A) to transform Samsung into a "technology-first" company. Rather than pursuing large-scale deals, Lee has focused on strategic acquisitions that strengthen core technologies. These efforts have laid the foundation for Samsung's competitiveness in semiconductors, automotive electronics, AI, and display sectors.