CONNECT WITH US
Jan 22, 12:49
EMS watch: Chinese EMS champions reshape their playbooks around AI hardware, autos, and global delivery
A cluster of China's leading electronics manufacturers and component suppliers is entering the new year with a clearer division of labor across the AI device wave, automotive electrification, and globalized manufacturing. Recent company filings, investor communications, and post‑autumn analyst commentary point to a common theme: growth is being pursued less through single-product cycles and more through platform capabilities—vertical integration, module-level design, and cross‑sector customer expansion—while capital market actions and overseas footprints are being positioned as strategic amplifiers.
AMI Labs, an AI startup founded by former Meta scientist Yann LeCun, is negotiating a funding round that could value the company at around EUR3 billion (approx. US$3.52 billion). The company, which focuses on developing "world models" as an alternative to large language models (LLMs), has attracted interest from multiple venture capital firms across Europe and the US.
Despite forecasts of a decline in sales of ICT products, including smartphones and notebooks, by 2026 due to memory supply shortages, China is introducing new purchase subsidies to sustain consumer demand. The government aims to bolster the market with trade-in incentives following policy measures implemented in early 2025.
Despite uncertain macroeconomic trends and rising memory prices with constrained supply, PC brands, suppliers, and research firms remain pessimistic about 2026 PC demand. However, competition in the AI PC segment is intensifying rapidly.

Sony Corporation and TCL Technology have signed a memorandum of understanding to form a joint venture that will take over Sony's home entertainment business, including TV and audio product R&D, manufacturing, operations, and after-sales services. The new entity is expected to begin operations as early as April 2027, effectively placing the future of the Bravia brand under TCL's operational control.

The humanoid robot industry experienced notable commercial growth in 2025, with an annual increase of 16,000 new units installed worldwide, according to reports from multiple research agencies. The sector remains dominated by Chinese manufacturers, who captured the majority of global market share alongside a single leading American firm.
GlobalWafers chairman Doris Hsu told the media on January 21, 2026, that the company's global expansion plans are starting to pay off, with subsidiaries in Niigata and Utsunomiya, Japan, as well as Denmark, all hitting record revenues in 2025. Niche products like gallium nitride (GaN) stood out for their strong performance. Hsu also outlined GlobalWafers' 2026 strategy and shared her outlook on market conditions.
Taiwan's government is moving its quantum technology development program into a second phase, centered on building a national-level heterogeneous hybrid computing platform that integrates high-performance computing (HPC) with quantum computing (QC). Based in southern Taiwan, the system is intended to accelerate real-world applications through international cooperation, leveraging the country's strong semiconductor manufacturing expertise.

China-based electronics manufacturing giant Luxshare Precision has been hit by a major cybersecurity incident, with a ransomware group claiming it breached the company's internal systems and stole large volumes of sensitive engineering and operational data tied to products for leading technology clients, including Apple, Nvidia, Tesla, Meta Platforms, Qualcomm, and LG Electronics. If confirmed, the incident could pose risks to the global consumer electronics supply chain.

Taiwanese electronics manufacturing services (EMS) and original design manufacturing (ODM) companies continue to dominate the global industry, with combined revenues of the world's top 20 players projected to climb sharply in 2025, according to estimates compiled by DIGITIMES.
Sino-American Silicon Products (SAS) chairwoman Doris Hsu emphasized power supply issues affecting Taiwan-US industry expansion, including Taiwan's green energy shortages and US AI data center conflicts. SAS is committing to 100% green energy for new plants and integrating green energy certificates with wafer sales.
Geopolitical uncertainty shows little sign of easing, driving continued adjustments across the global consumer electronics supply chain. In manufacturing, the industry is moving beyond simple capacity dispersion and entering a new phase marked by the geographic redistribution of engineering capabilities. Recent market reports that Google plans to relocate portions of new product introduction (NPI) work for select high-end smartphone models to Vietnam starting in 2026 have drawn close attention across the industry.