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Wednesday 21 May 2025
UK's advanced technology cluster rises as EV empire expands
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?
Wednesday 21 May 2025
Tea, scones, or tariff? Unveiling how the UK reached a trade agreement with the US
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.
Wednesday 21 May 2025
TÜV Rheinland highlights compliance challenges in the age of intelligent vehicles

As smart vehicles shift from mechanical machines to software-defined platforms, the global auto industry is confronting structural challenges that stretch far beyond hardware. At the Smart Automotive Forum held on May 16 in Taipei, TÜV Rheinland, a leading global provider of technical testing and certification, presented a comprehensive white paper titled Driving the Future: Key Trends in Intelligent Vehicle Development (transliteration), which outlines the regulatory, technical, and validation transformations ahead.

Wednesday 21 May 2025
CATL: One in two new heavy-duty trucks in China will be electric by 2028
Robin Zeng, Chairman of CATL, announced on May 18, 2025, that electric vehicles could comprise 50% of all new heavy-duty truck sales in China by 2028, rising sharply from 10% in 2025. According to Reuters, East Money, and Gasgoo, the forecast highlights China's accelerating freight electrification and CATL's evolving multi-sector strategy.
Tuesday 20 May 2025
As Nissan falters, Toyota may offer lifeline in quiet, government-backed move
Once a pillar of Japan's automotive might, Nissan now finds itself in financial peril, with talks of potential mergers or alliances repeatedly falling through. After a failed merger attempt with Honda, Japan's second-largest automaker, reports from Japanese media suggest that Toyota—Japan's largest and most influential carmaker—may be quietly extending a helping hand. However, neither Toyota nor Nissan has confirmed the rumors through official channels.
Tuesday 20 May 2025
Xiaomi pledges CNY50 billion investment in chip design over next decade
Xiaomi founder and CEO Jun Lei announced on May 19 via Weibo that the company will unveil its first 3nm mobile system-on-chip (SoC), the "Xring O1," on May 22. He also revealed that Xiaomi plans to invest at least CNY50 billion (US$6.94 billion) in chip design over the next 10 years, beginning in 2025.
Monday 19 May 2025
Tesla sidelined in Trump's Middle East trip, as Lucid pushes for Saudi auto tariffs
US President Donald Trump's new agreement with Saudi Arabia will allow the state to procure AI chips from leading US-based chipmakers Nvidia and AMD, as part of the Saudi Vision 2030 project. HUMAIN, a new AI company held by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), a sovereign wealth fund of Saudi Arabia, will become the main beneficiary from this agreement, as it seeks to become a major force in driving the development of smart cities and buildings in the country, which will facilitate the advancement of smart mobility solutions.
Monday 19 May 2025
Pre-tariff rush leaves US car market facing cold spell

As President Donald Trump's auto tariff policy begins to take effect—levying duties on foreign-made vehicles and parts while exempting Canadian and Mexican imports—the market is already showing signs of strain.

Friday 16 May 2025
Tesla's centralized 'vehicle brain' strategy loses traction as rivals embrace domain-zonal architectures
As the global automotive industry rapidly advances toward next-generation electronic and electrical (E/E) architectures, the combined use of domain controllers and zonal controllers is emerging as a practical and strategic approach, especially for automakers targeting market opportunities in 2028 and 2029. This direction has reportedly gained favor among mainstream global brands, including many of China's top-tier carmakers.
Friday 16 May 2025
Tata Elxsi selected by Mercedes-Benz India for software-defined vehicle development
According to a press release, Tata Elxsi announced on May 14, 2025, that it has been chosen by Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India (MBRDI) to support vehicle software engineering and the development of software-defined vehicles (SDVs). The collaboration is expected to accelerate innovation and improve software scalability across vehicle models.
Friday 16 May 2025
Xpeng launches new SEPA 3.0 platform with cost-effective hybrid SiC modules
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.
Thursday 15 May 2025
L3 may be late, but automotive revolution rolls on

It's unclear how many still recall the optimism with which 2025 was once hailed—by automakers across Europe, the US, and even China—as the definitive launch year for Level 3 (L3) autonomous vehicles. Yet, as the calendar pages turn, the odds of L3 systems arriving on time—and making a triumphant debut—now seem slim.

Thursday 15 May 2025
Foxconn eyes Japan with Mitsubishi EV deal, SiC chip ramp-up
During an earnings call on May 14, Foxconn unveiled updates on its electric vehicle (EV) strategy, semiconductor ambitions, and new partnerships.
Thursday 15 May 2025
BYD's PHEV strategy accelerates in Europe, catching competitors off guard
China's new energy vehicle leader and the world's third-largest automaker, BYD, made headlines by topping plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) sales in Europe in March. This milestone signals that BYD has found a breakthrough to counterattack in the European market, drawing global attention.
Wednesday 14 May 2025
From flagship to family car: SiC drives China's EV boom amid intense price wars
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.
Wednesday 14 May 2025
Nissan set to axe 20,000 jobs worldwide in deepening restructuring drive
Nissan Motor plans to cut around 20,000 jobs worldwide—more than twice the 9,000 announced in late 2024—as part of a sweeping restructuring effort aimed at reversing declining sales and long-term underperformance. The layoffs would impact approximately 15% of its 130,000 global employees.
Wednesday 14 May 2025
Tesla reportedly eyes Western India for CKD assembly unit
Tesla is exploring land parcels in Satara, Maharashtra, to establish a completely knocked down (CKD) assembly unit for electric vehicles (EVs), a senior government official told Business Standard. The move comes after negotiations with Hyderabad-based Megha Engineering failed. Tesla is now in talks with another Indian firm for a joint venture to acquire land and set up the CKD unit, which involves assembling imported vehicle parts locally to reduce import duties.
Tuesday 13 May 2025
Tesla's futuristic trademarks 'Robotaxi' and 'Cybercab' hit snags amid legal and tech hurdles
Tesla has long been at the forefront of promoting the vision of high-level autonomous vehicles and driverless taxi services. However, its recent efforts to trademark the names "Robotaxi" and "Cybercab" have encountered legal obstacles in the US. The stories behind these names are not only futuristic in tone but also rich in cultural and technological significance.
Tuesday 13 May 2025
Chinese EV supply chain's bold expansion into Thailand raises profit concerns among local industry
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.
Tuesday 13 May 2025
From Bosch to Foxconn: is a Tier 1 power shift underway in the auto industry?
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.
Monday 12 May 2025
US-UK auto tariff deal shifts trade dynamics
The US has finalized a trade agreement with the UK, granting British car manufacturers a 10% tariff on up to 100,000 vehicles annually, lower than the 25% tariff applied to automotive imports from other countries. This deal, aligning with the 102,000 vehicles the UK exported to the US in 2024, disrupts the US tariff structure, particularly affecting Canada and Mexico under the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), where exports now face higher duties.
Monday 12 May 2025
Foxconn wins Mitsubishi greenlight, enters critical inflection point in its EV strategy
On May 6, Mitsubishi Motors signed a memorandum of understanding with Foxconn's EV arm, Foxtron Vehicle Technologies, to jointly explore EV development, design, and manufacturing. The deal signals a major milestone for Foxconn's carmaking ambitions and a telling concession by Mitsubishi as it seeks to stay competitive in the breakneck global EV race.
Monday 12 May 2025
Cheap cars, costly decisions: Taiwan struggles with price of trade access

In Taiwan, car prices have long been a hot topic among consumers. With recent debates surrounding whether or not to lower import tariffs, the pricing gap between domestic and imported vehicles has once again taken center stage.

Friday 9 May 2025
Foxtron-Mitsubishi tie-up hands Yulon Motors edge in Taiwan's EV race
Foxtron Vehicle Technologies, a joint venture between Foxconn Precision Industry and Yulon Motor Group, has signed an MOU with Mitsubishi Motors, positioning Yulon's Sanyi factory as the production hub for the Japanese automaker's electric vehicles.
Friday 9 May 2025
Ford streamlines EV and software plans, refutes claims of investment cuts

In a dramatic move reflecting the mounting challenges of the electric vehicle transition, Ford Motor Company has halted development of its FNV4 electrical and software architecture, citing ballooning losses and growing concerns over potential tariff impacts under a possible second Trump administration.