Japanese robotics giants Fanuc and Yaskawa Electric are realigning their development strategies toward the US market amid declining demand in China. This shift is evident in their revenue breakdowns and recently announced business plans

Japanese NAND flash manufacturer Kioxia has announced plans to produce three additional types of memory, targeting next-generation products driven by artificial intelligence (AI) demand. The announcement comes as the company approaches its IPO and seeks to communicate its value to the market

The competition for advanced logic processes at the 2-nanometer level will enter its production phase in 2025. Following their absence in the 5nm and 3nm generations, both Intel and Japanese foundry operator Rapidus are positioning themselves in a transformed landscape dominated by TSMC and Samsung Foundry

Multiple delays in the production of Nvidia's flagship Thor smart driving chip have forced XPeng to reconsider its adoption for 2025 vehicle models. Wallstreetcn reports indicate that the setbacks are raising concerns about Nvidia losing key automaker partners

Zhipu AI, a Chinese artificial intelligence unicorn specializing in large language models (LLMs), has secured CNY3 billion (US$412 million) in its latest funding round—its second this year. According to Caixin, new investors include strategic and state-backed entities, alongside existing participants like Legend Capital. The proceeds will support the development of Zhipu's Generalized Language Model (GLM) series, strengthening its position in the AI industry

US-based IC backend house Amkor Technology is advancing its US$1.6 billion factory in Bac Ninh, Vietnam. However, it expects much fewer employees to be required for the facility inaugurated in October 2023

Taiwan-based Wistron, a leading electronics manufacturer and Apple supplier is set to begin operations for its US$24.5 million investment in Ha Nam Province, Vietnam

On December 17, 2024, the US Department of Defense (DoD) confirmed the removal of Advanced Micro-Fabrication Equipment Inc. (AMEC) and IDG Capital from its Chinese Military Companies (CMC) list, effective December 13

Eyeing India's potential in the notebook market amid a make-in-India push, Taiwan-based MSI launches locally-produced notebooks and plans to expand its retail presence

In a strategic move to consolidate resources against mounting competition in the electric vehicle market, Honda and Nissan have begun discussions about a possible merger, which would involve establishing a holding company to integrate both as subsidiaries, with the potential inclusion of Mitsubishi Motors

The US Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has expanded semiconductor export controls to include high bandwidth memory (HBM), a crucial component for artificial intelligence and high-performance computing. This strategic move raises concerns over the impact on Samsung Electronics, which sells specific HBM products to mainland China

Following other PCB firms' expansion moves, niche copper-clad laminate (CCL) specialist Ventec announced plans in November for a production base in Thailand, which will begin volume production in the first quarter of 2026. The expansion comes in consideration of escalating risks in the US-China trade war, aiming to enhance the company's long-term resilience through a production base in Southeast Asia

The US reportedly plans to invoke Section 301 of the Trade Act to investigate Chinese semiconductors, focusing on mature process chips in medical devices, cars, and smartphones. The probe, driven by concerns over China's dominance and low chip prices, may lead to tariffs. Findings are expected in six months

With Donald Trump ready to take office in January 2025, notebook brands are asking their upstream supply chain partners to establish plants outside Vietnam, amid growing concerns that exports from the Southeast Asian country may become the next US target for higher tariffs, according to industry sources

Memory-chip maker Kioxia rose in its debut on the Tokyo Stock Exchange on Wednesday, underscoring decent investor demand for new shares in Japan. After initially dropping, the company traded at JPY1,493, compared with its initial public offering price of JPY1,455. That valued the firm at JPY807.5 billion (approx. US$5.3 billion), a fraction of the US$18 billion that a Bain Capital-led consortium forked over in 2018