LG Energy Solution (LGES) has secured a 7.5 GWh energy storage system (ESS) supply deal with US-based Excelsior Energy Capital, with production and delivery slated to begin in 2026. The agreement underscores LGES’s commitment to expanding its footprint in the ESS market while leveraging its energy storage solutions to manage short-term demand shifts in the electric vehicle (EV) industry.

World Known Precision Industry (WKPT), Taiwan's largest supplier of metal-processed parts for commercial vehicles, is advancing its global footprint with new plants in the US, Taiwan, and China. At a recent earnings call, Chairman Kevin Lu outlined plans to gradually transform WKPT from a traditional machining specialist into a key player in the electronics supply chain.

Tesla's Shanghai "Gigafactory" is undergoing significant personnel changes as Chinese media reports indicate that Gang Song, the site's director and VP of manufacturing, has departed to pursue a position in the green energy industry with Envision Group.

The accelerating penetration of automotive electronics is driving a technological revolution in the global automobile industry, with thermal management systems playing a pivotal role. King Shing Industrial, a leading supplier of automotive cooling fans and air-conditioning blowers, has announced its strategy to expand from the aftermarket (AM) segment into original equipment (OE).

The automotive supply chain is increasingly worried about the potential expansion of US tariffs to Southeast Asia.

Rising vehicle age and repair costs in the US, the world's largest automotive aftermarket (AM) service and repair market, have created substantial opportunities for Taiwan's auto parts industry. The combination of increasing car loan interest rates and aging vehicle fleets has generated strong demand for AM parts, strengthening operations across the supply chain.

The European Union initiated a sweeping investigation into Chinese EVs in October 2023, imposing additional tariffs based on automaker compliance levels. BYD and Geely Auto face tariffs of 17% and 18.8%, respectively, while SAIC encounters a steeper 35.3% rate, according to the latest findings.

China's battery materials sector is thriving, backed by government subsidies, low electricity costs, and cheaper labor, enabling aggressive investment. In contrast, South Korean firms, lacking comparable support, are struggling with mounting losses and potential market exits, threatening the stability of South Korea's EV supply chain.

Chinese automakers, including NIO, XPeng Motors, BYD, and Taiwan's Foxconn, are reportedly exploring partnerships with cash-strapped Nissan, leveraging its global distribution networks to enter the US market, according to Japanese supplier Ibiden via Chinese media.

Taiwan's Sanyang Motor (SYM) and the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) have reached a significant milestone in their joint hydrogen fuel cell motorcycle project, successfully completing a key road test.

Nissan and Honda, two of Japan's automotive giants, are set to hold merger talks on December 23, 2024. Renault, Nissan's largest shareholder and a French automotive leader, is reportedly open to the proposed merger, signaling a pivotal moment for the Japanese automakers.