In the ongoing transformation of the global automotive industry, one shift stands above the rest: the rise of the software-defined vehicle, or SDV. More than a technological upgrade, the move toward SDVs is reshaping vehicle architecture, supply chains, and the strategic priorities of automakers and semiconductor companies alike.
Tesla said on August 27 that despite recent cuts to US auto tariffs, the pricing of its vehicles in Taiwan will remain influenced by broader supply chain dynamics, including rising raw material and international logistics costs. The company emphasized that tariffs are not the sole determinant of local pricing and pointed out that imported vehicle prices across all brands remain volatile.
As Western automakers wrestle with supply chain bottlenecks and regulatory shifts, China's electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers are rapidly carving out a dominant position on the global stage—powered by technology, pricing, and increasingly, strategy.
In a move that has reignited Taiwan's automotive and geopolitical debate, Chinese automaker BYD is reportedly seeking to enter the Taiwanese market by introducing its luxury EV brand Denza through a third-party distributor, Hong Kong-based Swire Motors. The revelation, first reported on August 5, comes weeks after earlier speculation that BYD might circumvent existing trade barriers via a third-country route.
A Florida court has ruled that Tesla must pay US$243 million in damages over a fatal crash that occurred in 2019, holding the automaker partially liable for the incident. The verdict, which assigns one-third of the responsibility to Tesla, has sent ripples through the auto industry—not just because of the hefty penalty, but because it challenges long-standing legal norms around Level 2 (L2) driver-assist technologies. Tesla has vowed to appeal.
Toyota Motor plans to begin electric vehicle (EV) production in Europe by 2028, marking a significant expansion of its global EV manufacturing strategy. The company announced that its subsidiary in the Czech Republic will produce approximately 100,000 EVs annually, making it Toyota's first EV production hub in Europe and its fourth globally, following facilities in Japan, the US, and China.
