The global auto industry is entering an unusual phase of expansion—one driven less by strategic ambition than by the need to survive. China's automakers have unleashed a surge of exports that, at first glance, looks like an aggressive push into overseas markets. Beneath the surface, however, lies a harsher reality: cutthroat competition at home and a deepening structural overcapacity that is leaving many firms with few viable alternatives.
China's push to dominate the future of intelligent transport reached a milestone this week as the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) granted its first approvals for the mass production of "Level 3" (L3) autonomous vehicles.
Honda Motor Company announced on Wednesday that it would suspend or reduce production at several factories in Japan and China starting late this month, the latest sign that a global scramble for automotive semiconductors continues to haunt the industry's recovery.
To help the automotive industry navigate emerging trends, DIGITIMES hosted the "AI x EV: Dual-Track Innovation in Mobility" forum on December 12, bringing together representatives from government, academia, research institutions, and industry to analyze the current state and future outlook of the smart vehicle and electric-vehicle sectors. Hung-Ching Yang, executive vice president of China Motor Corporation under the Yulon Group, spoke on behalf of the industry, sharing both opportunities and challenges for Taiwan's automotive ecosystem.
China's prolonged price war in the auto market is taking a growing toll on profitability, and even BYD, the country's dominant electric-vehicle maker, is beginning to feel the strain. At the same time, the company's latest sales figures highlight the scale of its operations and the increasingly complex dynamics shaping its growth.
The European Union's high-stakes climate battle is approaching a decisive moment. The European Commission is preparing to review its 2035 zero-CO2 emissions mandate for new cars, an exercise that was expected to be little more than routine. Instead, Germany's open opposition to a full ban on internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles has turned the process into one of the most politically sensitive fights in Europe's auto industry.
