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Aug 18, 11:55
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.

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.

Global PMX said its semiconductor business is emerging as the main growth driver and is expected to continue expanding through 2027, while automotive sales remain steady and are expected to improve as the global auto market recovers. The company also said its workforce is still rising, reflecting stronger shipments from Vietnam and Zhejiang plants.

Porsche has broken away from parent Volkswagen Group's carbon pool and teamed up with China's Xpeng, reflecting growing pressure on mainstream automakers to comply with emissions standards as they shift to multi-powertrain strategies and seek to avoid steep EU penalties.
Chinese automakers are reshaping Europe's car market, and the pressure is forcing global rivals into uneasy partnerships that could trim costs while raising strategic risks. For drivers, investors, and policymakers worldwide, the shift highlights how China's auto industry is now influencing pricing, supply chains, competition, and industrial policy beyond its home market.
Foxconn used its second-quarter 2026 earnings conference on August 12 to detail progress beyond its fast-growing AI server business, spanning cloud and data centre solutions, electric vehicles, robotics, semiconductors, satellite communications and AI platforms.
LG Energy Solution (LGES) and China's Jiangsu Lopal Tech have signed a three-year framework agreement covering up to CNY27 billion (approx. US$3.8 billion) in lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cathode material sales as the South Korean battery maker rapidly expands its energy storage system (ESS) business.

Samsung SDI is ending its battery manufacturing partnership with General Motors (GM) in Indiana, terminating a major EV joint venture — and sending ripples across the supply chain.

LG Chem has been selected as a cathode material supplier for HL-GA Battery Company, the US battery manufacturing joint venture between Hyundai Motor Group and LG Energy Solution, according to The Elec, which cited industry sources. The material accounts for roughly 40% of the cost of a battery cell, and the win is expected to help accelerate LG Chem's shift from petrochemicals toward a business focused on advanced materials.

Ledlink Optics Inc. posted consolidated revenue of NT$353 million (US$10.97 million) in the second quarter of 2026, up 16% quarter-over-quarter and 7% year-on-year, marking its second-highest result for the same period in 11 years. A ramp-up in shipments for new automotive projects, a higher mix of value-added products, and continued optimization of its product and customer order structure lifted operating profit to NT$4.24 million (US$132,000) and net profit attributable to the parent company to NT$5.65 million (US$175,000), with earnings per share (EPS) at NT$0.1, ending its five straight quarters of losses since the first quarter of 2025 and returning the company to profitability.