In response to the US export control regulations introduced on December 2, China's Ministry of Finance issued a notice on December 5 regarding government procurement standards and implementation policies for domestic products, proposing to give local products a 20% advantage in bid evaluations

FuriosaAI, a Seoul-based AI chip startup founded in 2017, is making waves in the AI hardware market with its innovative accelerator chips aimed at hyperscale data centers and enterprises. In August 2024, the startup unveiled its advanced AI chip, "RNGD." The chip is positioned to challenge industry leaders such as Nvidia with a 100% power efficiency advantage over Nvidia's H100 GPUs and competitive performance metrics. Furthermore, it recently gained attention for its testing and sampling progress with global enterprises like LG AI Research and Aramco

In a significant push to support its burgeoning electric vehicle sector, China's charging infrastructure has surged to 12.35 million charging units, with silicon carbide (SiC) becoming a crucial component in the supply chain

Japanese telecommunications company KDDI and its subsidiaries KDDI SmartDrone and KDDI Research have successfully completed a fully unmanned automated logistics delivery experiment in collaboration with partners including Tier IV and Aisan Technology

The US will increase tariffs on Chinese polysilicon and silicon wafers starting January 2025, raising the rate from 25% to a staggering 50%. This move has left many companies that have established manufacturing facilities in the US feeling trapped

According to Nikkei, Rapidus chairman Tetsuro Higashi stressed in an interview that achieving the goal of producing 2nm chips involves overcoming three significant challenges- the technical feasibility of mass production, market and customer positioning, and funding issues, particularly regarding its heavy reliance on resources from the Japanese government

General Motors (GM) has ended its nearly decade-long, US$10 billion Cruise robotaxi project, a decision that has severely impacted Honda's plans for autonomous driving technology, according to reports from The New York Times and BBC

Huawei is preparing to launch its Mate 70 series amid industry skepticism over its ability to compete with mainstream rivals, despite trumpeting an all-Chinese semiconductor supply chain

At SEMICON Japan 2024, JASM president Yuichi Horita announced that TSMC's first wafer fab in Kumamoto, Japan, is on track to begin mass production within 2024, reports Nikkei. The facility, advancing as scheduled, will initially supply logic ICs to Sony and Denso. Horita highlighted that production lines at Kumamoto have been configured to meet TSMC's high-quality standards established in Taiwan

ET News highlighted challenges in South Korea's semiconductor materials industry, as sluggish markets and declining demand hit companies like LPN, Technium, and SK Enpulse. These issues have resulted in operational struggles, foreign takeovers, and market exits, endangering the semiconductor supply chain and calling for government support in research, development, and industry policies

Samsung Electronics plans to introduce samples of its next-generation LPDDR6 memory by late 2025, addressing the growing demand for on-device AI solutions. The initiative aims to enhance Samsung's technological edge and shift toward high-value-added memory products, countering declining general-purpose DRAM prices

The Biden Administration is expected to unveil new regulations by the end of the year, targeting China's acquisition of advanced AI chips through third-party nations. These measures aim to close loopholes and strengthen US control over sensitive technology exports

CATL and Stellantis have entered a joint venture to establish a EUR4.038 billion (approx. US$4.25 billion) battery plant in Zaragoza, Spain, with each party holding a 50% stake. As reported by Yicai, this will be CATL's third large-scale production facility in Europe, further expanding its global footprint

Jiyue Auto, the automotive startup co-founded by Baidu and Geely, is on the brink of collapse. CEO Joe Xia, in a letter to employees dated December 11, admitted the company faces severe challenges and requires urgent restructuring. Reports indicate that salary benefits for some employees have been suspended, fueling fears of widespread layoffs

Samsung Display (SDC) recently announced its routine personnel changes, naming Vice President Joohyung Lee as the new head of its most profitable division, the small- and medium-sized display sector. Chung Yi, the previous head of this unit, has been promoted to president and will now serve as SDC's president, as highlighted by The Korea Herald