Honda is expanding its US investment with an additional US$300 million, aligning with President Donald Trump's policies and the growing demand for EVs in North America. This investment brings Honda's total funding for its three Ohio plants—Marysville, East Liberty, and Anna—to US$1 billion, a 40% increase.
The automotive industry's stringent safety and reliability requirements are presenting significant challenges to the Chinese government's ongoing push to increase the localization rate of auto parts, particularly advanced components related to semiconductors.
At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2025, DIGITIMES analyst Mark Yu provided insights into smart mobility breakthroughs and future developments, drawing from his firsthand experience at the event.
In the past two years, China's independent car brands have gained dominance in the Chinese automobile market, thanks to the rapidly rising popularity of new energy vehicles. Chinese independent brands are still expecting an increase in sales for 2025, but the outlook of China's new energy vehicle sector may not be as promising as they expect.
Nissan Motor plans to cut approximately 9,000 jobs worldwide as part of a major restructuring effort, according to reports from Kyodo and Nikkei Asia. More than 70% of the layoffs—around 6,700 positions—will impact production staff, while the remaining cuts will affect administrative roles. The job reductions are part of Nissan's strategy to scale down global production capacity by 20% by the end of fiscal 2026, which runs from April 2026 to March 2027.
Taiwan-based Global PMX, a major manufacturer of automotive powertrain and safety components, has successfully expanded its presence in AI-powered digital healthcare and other sectors while maintaining steady growth in the traditional automotive industry.
According to a report by Fortune Business Insights, the global automotive aftermarket (AM) market reached US$418.95 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.5%, reaching US$568.19 billion by 2025. North America continues to dominate as the largest market and a key focus for many Taiwanese companies.
As Donald Trump takes office with his "America First" agenda, South Korea's electronics and automotive industries are closely monitoring potential shifts in global trade policies. A major concern is the proposed 25% tariff on imports from Mexico and Canada, which could pose significant challenges for South Korean companies with manufacturing operations in Mexico.
Chinese automobiles have consecutively secured the title of the world's largest automobile exporter in 2023 and 2024. Despite being impacted by the trade war surrounding battery electric vehicles (BEVs), Chinese manufacturers have adeptly adjusted their product mix, replacing BEVs with plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), which have achieved an impressive year-over-year export growth rate of nearly 200%.
Amid cooling electric vehicle demand throughout 2024, European and American automakers are revising their strategies for 2025, moving away from an all-EV approach toward flexible multi-powertrain platforms that better address regional market needs.
President Donald Trump has returned to the White House, and in his inaugural speech, he reaffirmed his commitment to manufacturing in the US as a priority, vowing to revive the American auto industry. In response, auto component manufacturers have highlighted the challenges of establishing production facilities in the US.
The US is anticipated to impose a 25% tariff on Mexico starting February 1, 2025, as proposed by the newly inaugurated President Donald Trump, prompting automotive electronics manufacturing services (EMS) manufacturers to emphasize their need for production flexibility and mobility.
Chinese Vice President Zheng Han met billionaire Elon Musk and other US business figures, underscoring Beijing's efforts to set a positive tone in ties with the US before Donald Trump returned to office.
The global electric vehicle industry faces an immediate reset as Donald Trump returns to the White House. Markets are already reacting to his promised dismantling of key industry policies, including the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), while automotive supply chains worldwide prepare for a stark departure from the previous administration's electric vehicle agenda.
Donald Trump is set to return to the White House on January 20 and is poised to sign over 20 executive orders targeting immigration, energy, and tax policies. The actions are expected to ripple through the US, neighboring countries, and global industries.
Taiwan-based HCMF Group, a long-standing supplier of automotive parts and systems to global Tier 1 OEMs, operates nearly 30 sales, manufacturing, and R&D facilities worldwide. The company provides comprehensive automotive electromechanical system solutions and recently showcased its cross-industry collaborations at CES 2025. Partners such as AUO, AGC, Inventec, TMY Technology, BenQ Materials, and Kinpo Group contributed to HCMF's efforts to redefine intelligent mobility through groundbreaking innovations and seamless integration capabilities.
Electric vehicle charge point operator (CPO) EVGallop Mobility System, commonly known as U-Power, intends to file for an initial public offering (IPO) in Taiwan by the end of 2025.
The global automotive supply chain faced widespread layoffs as mainstream and emerging suppliers struggled with sustained low-profit margins in 2024. With no clear signs of recovery, industry analysts warn that layoffs may extend into 2025, driven by unrelenting financial pressures.
Lextar Electronics has disclosed its collaboration with European automotive brands to develop smart vehicle miniLED displays, with mass production expected to begin in the next two to three years.
The Taiwan Machine Tool & Accessory Builders' Association (TMBA) recently shared its outlook for the industry in 2025, expressing cautious optimism. While the overall economic outlook for the first half of the year remains uncertain, the upcoming Taipei International Machine Tool Show (TIMTOS) in March is expected to serve as a key indicator for order intake, providing momentum for the second half of the year.
German automakers Volkswagen, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz have monopolized the global automotive market for decades; however, in recent years, they have struggled with the shift toward electrification. Despite substantial investments, demand and performance have fallen short of expectations, forcing companies to reallocate resources and adjust strategies, driving a number of companies within their supply chains to declare bankruptcy.
In recent years, China and the United States have imposed reciprocal restrictions on critical raw materials, and with the potential for increased tariffs following Trump's return to office, new sanctions may follow. Lianyou Metals, a major player in the recycling and smelting of rare precious metals such as tungsten and cobalt, has reported a noticeable rise in orders from American customers. Under the ongoing US-China trade tensions, Lianyou expects to benefit from order shifts.
The Biden Administration planned to ban Chinese hardware and software for vehicle communication and autonomous driving systems in the US by September 2024. In addition to this, a 100% tariff on Chinese electric vehicles (EVs) has been introduced, with additional tariffs expected under a potential second term for Donald Trump. These measures reflect heightened scrutiny of Chinese technology in critical sectors.
China continues to expand its production capacity for polarizers, resulting in a market oversupply and making it hard for polarizer prices to rise. To cope, Taiwanese manufacturers such as BenQ Materials, Cheng Mei Materials Technology (CMMT), and Optimax Technology are transforming, with each taking a different path.
On January 14th, DIGITIMES held a forum titled "Insights into CES 2025: Analyzing New Trends in AI Applications," providing an in-depth analysis of the recently concluded CES 2025 exhibition. During the event, DIGITIMES analyst Mark Yu shared professional insights under the theme "Analyzing CES 2025: Key Breakthroughs and Future Developments in Smart Mobility."
