The Chinese semiconductor industry, including the CMOS Image Sensor (CIS) segment, is finding more room for development in the domestic market with the sudden rise of the Chinese smartphone and Electric Vehicle (EV) industries.
The new head of Samsung Electronics Co.'s semiconductor division urged employees to work their way past challenges in the business, making his first remarks to staff after the surprise departure of his predecessor last week.
Samsung Electronics has recently expanded its workforce deployment at its new packaging R&D base in Yokohama, Japan, to expedite construction and support the development of next-generation semiconductor packaging technologies.
Sony's semiconductor business division, primarily focused on CMOS Image Sensors (CIS), plans to reduce its equipment investment amount in the next three fiscal years from 2024 to 2026 (April 2024 to March 2027) by about 30% compared to the previous three-year mid-term plan.
As China's automotive market plunges into intense internal price competition, Brightek Optoelectronic Co. focuses on automotive LED products as the main driver of its operational growth.
The Chinese government will likely take action to retain the country's leading position in the battery sector. State-owned media reported that China may offer CNY6 billion (US$844 million) to six major battery and EV makers to facilitate all-solid-state battery R&D.
Samsung Display (SDC) and LG Display (LGD) have reportedly received mass production approval for Apple's iPhone 16 Pro OLED panels simultaneously. This development is anticipated to assist LGD in closing the gap with SDC in the iPhone OLED supply chain.
The US Biden administration will increase the tariffs on China-made EVs from 25% to 100% on August 1. China has vowed to retaliate and could raise tariffs on cars with engines larger than 2.5 liters from 15% to 25%.
BYD Co. unveiled a new hybrid powertrain capable of traveling more than 2,000 kilometers (1,250 miles) without recharging or refueling, intensifying the EV transition war against Toyota Motor Corp. and Volkswagen AG.
Microcontroller manufacturer Nuvoton Technology held its shareholders' meeting on May 28. The company reported that the PC market performed better than initially expected, and MCU orders are gradually returning.
To establish its foothold amidst the AI wave, Samsung Electronics has been aggressively enhancing the competitiveness of its AI business through semiconductors, Generative AI, and home appliances. To do so, Samsung is adjusting its investments, recruiting talent, and restructuring its organization.
The semiconductor industry is the lifeblood of South Korea, a country that heavily depends on its exports. In 2023, South Korea exported US$131 billion of semiconductors and imported US$106 billion, raking in US$25 billion in trade surplus. For Taiwan, when there is a trade deficit, it only amounts to a fraction of its foreign reserve, but that would be a heavy burden to South Korea, which is already shouldering US$663.6 billion in foreign debt.
The competition of EUR20,000 (US$21,750) EV has mobilized the European automotive supply chain. Local automakers tend to collaborate with partners to gain a foothold in the sector. However, partnerships built across continents seem more promising than those formed within Europe.
