Taiwan scooter-sharing leader WeMo on May 12 announced a major service upgrade that introduced a new white-license model, dubbed WeMo Go, and signaled plans to integrate its platform with multiple mobility and payment services by the end of 2026. The company said the move launches a dual electric-scooter era designed to expand user choice and scale shared mobility across Taiwan.
Rising oil prices tied to Middle East tensions have accelerated a structural shift in China's auto market, even as weakening domestic demand and intensifying price competition squeeze industry profits.
IC design firm PixArt Imaging said on May 12 that its three core business areas will post strong growth in the second quarter of 2026, with revenue expected to rise by the double digits quarter over quarter. The company said better-than-expected game console shipments lifted first-quarter 2026 results above its earlier forecast, helping offset a weak PC market.
Under a new Canada-China electric vehicle (EV) agreement, Lotus, owned by China's Geely Group, has become one of the first automakers to begin shipments to Canada from Chinese ports. Other Chinese brands, including Chery and BYD, are expected to enter the Canadian market gradually before the end of the year. At the same time, market speculation has emerged that Tesla may have quietly shifted supply sources for its Model 3 in Canada to its Shanghai factory, after the model recently appeared at sharply lower prices.
Tesla is investing US$250 million to expand battery-cell production at its Berlin-Brandenburg Gigafactory, reinforcing its long-term commitment to Europe just as the company starts to regain momentum in the region after more than a year of weak sales.
Canada and industry groups pushed back against the prospect of linked concessions as the US prepared for a high-level summit with China on May 14 and North America readied for the sixth-year review of the USMCA, scheduled for July 1. Canadian officials and automotive associations insisted the US must unconditionally remove the 25% tariffs imposed under section 232 on passenger vehicles and that the tariff rollback is essential to the survival of decades of North American economic integration, a spokesperson announced.
Tesla's Electric Semi Truck (Tesla Semi) has revealed production specifications and a US-made 4680 lithium battery breakthrough, according to certification documents filed with the California Air Resources Board in May 2026 and reporting by Reuters. The disclosures showed the Semi supports megawatt-level fast charging and uses a second-generation 4680 cell called Cybercell, enabling the truck to enter mass production and compete more directly with diesel rigs on charging speed and range.
Indian conglomerates are accelerating efforts to develop domestic electric vehicle (EV) and battery technologies as access to Chinese know-how becomes increasingly uncertain.
Global electric-vehicle battery demand continued to expand in the first quarter of 2026, even as growth in several major automotive markets slowed, underscoring the industry's shifting competitive landscape and the rising importance of energy-storage and infrastructure businesses.
Rising international oil prices driven by conflict in the Middle East could further support electric vehicle sales in 2026 and boost demand for charging stations, according to charging operators. But resolving land-use and grid-construction bottlenecks has become a key challenge as operators compete for a share in Taiwan's EV charging market.
China's retail penetration rate for new-energy vehicles, including battery electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids, reached 61.4% in April, the highest on record and the first time it crossed 60%, according to the China Passenger Car Association. The surge from 52% in March coincided with rising international oil prices linked to the Middle East conflict, which supply chain sources said accelerated the shift away from gasoline cars.
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