Generative AI adoption in China continues to expand. The China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC) said in its 2026 Generative AI Application Development Report, released on September 29, that the country had more than 700 million generative AI users as of the first half of 2026, with a penetration rate exceeding 50%.
Samsung Electro-Mechanics has signed another long-term supply agreement for server components, bringing the value of its disclosed supply agreements this year to about US$2.6 billion as demand for high-performance passive components continues to rise.
DeepSeek is bringing more of the software used to develop its AI models to Huawei Technologies' Ascend 950 processors, deepening cooperation as Chinese technology companies seek to reduce reliance on Nvidia's hardware and CUDA software ecosystem.
A new partnership between Zhejiang Geely Holding Group and NIO in electric vehicle (EV) battery swapping is signaling potential consolidation in China's fragmented market. With multiple incompatible systems still competing for adoption, the deal could open a new path toward greater standardization and network integration.
China's largest dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) maker ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT) is accelerating a CNY34.9 billion (US$5.2 billion) expansion aimed at chipmaking equipment, in-house testing and tighter control of its memory supply chain.
The Washington summit between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping did not produce the speculated auto deal that would have allowed Chinese automakers to manufacture vehicles in the US. While that gave incumbent automakers in the US a temporary reprieve, analysts say Chinese cars entering the US is still only a matter of time.
With the conclusion of the summit between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump, held in Washington, DC, from September 23 to 25, attention has turned to how changes in the US-China relationship will affect geopolitics, trade measures, and industrial export controls.
Samsung Electronics expects high-performance computing (HPC) to account for 66% of its foundry business by 2029, up from 28% currently, as the company shifts its contract chipmaking portfolio beyond mobile products toward AI and HPC.
Japanese motor maker Nidec has replaced president and CEO Mitsuya Kishida with chief technology officer Michio Kaida as the company moves to overhaul its business and governance following accounting irregularities and mounting losses.
US rare-earth magnet startup Vulcan Elements has reportedly won a supply contract for the US Army's SkyFoundry drone program, underscoring Washington's push to localize drone production and reduce reliance on China's rare-earth supply chain. Vulcan will produce high-performance neodymium-iron-boron magnets for the brushless DC motors used in small drones.
TDK and Taiyo Yuden have signed a memorandum of understanding to begin discussions on a business alliance to develop electronic components, including MLCCs and inductors jointly, the two Japanese companies announced on September 29, 2026. The talks will also cover cooperation in manufacturing and procurement, and the companies will consider a future capital alliance.
Energy, AI robotics, and autonomous vehicle maker Tesla is reportedly replicating its electric vehicle (EV) playbook by turning to Chinese manufacturing to support the supply chain ramp-up for its Optimus humanoid robot. In addition to conducting factory audits at three auto parts manufacturers in East China, a Tesla delegation also inspected related suppliers in cities such as Hangzhou and Shanghai.
China's push into 3D DRAM is moving from early-stage research into wafer processes and equipment, with efforts spanning the Institute of Microelectronics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (IMECAS), the Beijing Superstring Memory Research Institute (SAMT), CXMT, and equipment maker NAURA Technology Group. The coordinated advance highlights both the momentum behind 3D DRAM and the technical hurdles still blocking mass production.
