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Aug 18
China's Horizon Robotics sets J7 against Nvidia, Tesla

Horizon Robotics is preparing its next-generation Journey 7 (J7) automotive AI chip family for mass production in 2027, aiming to extend its lead in China's L2+ assisted-driving market into the higher end of autonomous-driving computing.

The European Union is moving to tighten recycling requirements for rechargeable batteries, including electric vehicle batteries, industrial energy storage batteries, and automotive starting batteries.

Xiaomi Corporation's second quarter showed a company being squeezed from both ends of its business at once: a surging memory-chip bill eating into its core smartphone margins, and its smart EV, AI, and other new initiatives segment still reporting a loss even as vehicle deliveries grow. Revenue for the three months ended June 30, 2026, fell 6.1% year-on-year to CNY108.92 billion (US$16.13 billion), and the company's preferred profitability gauge, adjusted net profit, nearly halved, down 42.6% to CNY6.22 billion — a far steeper decline than the top line, signaling that cost pressure, not just demand, is doing the damage.

Merida said its full-year 2026 business was still set to grow, supported by stable currency conditions, near-complete inventory reduction, and a stronger-than-expected rebound in lower-end bicycle demand in China. The bicycle maker outlined the outlook as the first-half pretax profit margin improved and product mix conditions became more balanced across key segments.

China has introduced five automotive chip certification and accreditation industry standards aimed at easing a key obstacle to domestic semiconductor adoption: getting locally designed chips qualified for production vehicles.

Rising chip and copper prices are rapidly increasing cost pressure on LG Electronics.

LED packaging maker Everlight Electronics said it will sell its Tongluo plant in Miaoli to Sinbon for NT$3.458 billion (US$108.5 million), a move expected to strengthen its capital allocation as it shifts investment toward higher-growth businesses. The company also said its new Thailand factory, built partly to reduce geopolitical risk, is scheduled to begin mass production in the second half of 2027.

Global auto sales in the first half of 2026 show Toyota still firmly in first place, while the gap between No. 2 Volkswagen and No. 3 Hyundai Motor has narrowed sharply. Volkswagen's heavy dependence on China has dragged sales lower, while Hyundai has held up through diversified geopolitical exposure, local production, and a flexible product mix. Market attention is now turning to whether Hyundai is on the verge of overtaking Volkswagen for the No. 2 spot.

Tesla's push to deepen its presence in the autonomous vehicle market through a new phase of its Robotaxi deployment has drawn renewed industry attention, as the company aims to bring fully autonomous taxis closer to commercial reality this August.

Giant said rising raw material prices and price hikes for components from Japanese supplier Shimano, starting from August 2026, will add cost pressure, prompting the bike maker to raise prices on new products to offset the impact. Even so, the company said short-term gross margins are unlikely to hold at prior levels.

China's lithium battery industry is entering a new phase of cost restructuring as falling lithium carbonate prices, uncertain supply conditions and higher taxes squeeze manufacturers' margins, according to Chinese media reports.
Unique Opto-Electronics said stronger demand tied to artificial intelligence applications lifted first-half profitability above 2025 levels, while management struck a cautious tone on growth in the second half of 2026 and 2027. The company also said its optical glass business could benefit from co-packaged optics (CPO), but the size of any contribution remains unclear.