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.
Taiwan-based electronics distributor WT Microelectronics has steadily expanded its global distribution network following the completion of its acquisition of Future Electronics. The company is optimistic about a recovery in automotive and industrial applications in the first half of 2025, which, along with its sustained momentum in artificial intelligence (AI) product lines, is expected to contribute significantly to profit growth.
The automotive industry was once considered to be a key driver for Taiwan's semiconductor supply chain, prompting its makers to get in line with the global trend of regionalized production. But the automotive industry has been mired in turmoil in the past few quarters, with no improvements to be seen anytime soon. Automotive chips are expected to remain on the sidelines in the foreseeable future.
ASMedia's board of directors approved on January 15 the acquisition of Techpoint, a US-based company listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, for US$390 million. The move marks ASMedia's strategic entry into the automotive sector, according to ASMedia president Chewei Lin.
With CES 2025 just concluded, DIGITIMES hosted the "2025 CES Insights: Analyzing New Trends in AI Applications" forum on January 14, providing exclusive updates and insights from the show.
Infineon Technologies has broken ground on a new semiconductor backend production facility in Samut Prakan, south of Bangkok, strengthening its manufacturing presence.
The Biden administration is rolling out measures to bolster US automotive manufacturing and artificial intelligence (AI) development, as it looks to sharpen curbs on Chinese technology and tee up potential restrictions for Donald Trump, to enact.
The US's tightened semiconductor restrictions have propelled China's drive for self-sufficiency, spurring advancements in autonomous vehicles, AI robotics, and industrial-grade semiconductors. This development could enable China to shape global industry standards.
The prospect of software-defined vehicles (SDVs) becoming a common sight on the road in the US will still be slim in 2025. The biggest issue is: Who is going to foot the bill for such technological advancements?
The global automotive industry has experienced significant ups and downs in recent years as it strives to embrace electronic and electrification innovations. CES 2025 served as a showcase of these developments.
While China has established a leading position in global electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing and sales, the country continues to face significant hurdles in achieving self-sufficiency in automotive chips, a critical component of its automotive ambitions.
The self-driving car industry has bounced back from a Cruise incident in 2023 thanks to advancements in generative AI. These innovations in AI robotics now place the industry on the verge of potentially exceeding US$1 trillion, highlighting it as a notable force in technology.
IC inspection lab Materials Analysis Technology (MA-tek) has reported revenue increased 6.3% year-over-year to a record high of NT$5.11 billion (approx. US$155 million) in 2024, thanks mainly to a surge in demand from Japan's semiconductor industry.
Honda and Renesas Electronics have joined forces to co-develop high-performance chips for its next-generation electric vehicles (EVs), integrating advanced features like autonomous driving. Leveraging TSMC's cutting-edge 3nm process technology, these chips are designed to deliver superior performance and efficiency.
Renesas Electronics has announced plans to cut several hundred jobs across its global operations. The company informed employees of these measures before the end of 2024, while also suspending traditional spring salary increases for 2025.
At CES 2025, Nvidia announced that it will supply Toyota with the latest semiconductor technologies for autonomous driving systems for its next-generation vehicles. Toyota plans to accelerate the development of its autonomous driving technology by sourcing high-performance products from the world's leading semiconductor companies.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang believes that the development of "very useful" quantum computers may require approximately 20 more years. Speaking at CES 2025, Huang also highlighted the advanced autonomous driving technology from Chinese automakers, noting that companies including BYD, Nio, Xiaomi, and XPeng have established new benchmarks in the field.
Chipmaker NXP Semiconductors NV agreed to buy Austrian automotive software developer TTTech Auto for US$625 million in cash to build out its products for software-defined vehicle makers.
US-China trade tensions and high tariffs are reshaping the global power semiconductor industry, creating both challenges and opportunities. Taiwanese firms are adopting capacity relocation strategies and bolstering partnerships with Southeast Asia, Europe, and the US to leverage geopolitical advantages and prepare for potential tariff escalations as Trump returns to office.
Horizon Robotics, a Chinese manufacturer of intelligent driving chips, has announced its goal of shipping over 10 million chips in 2025, positioning itself to become the first Chinese company to achieve this level of mass production.
Chinese chip vendors' efforts to achieve self-sufficiency in automotive ICs have shown progress, but their advancement is hindered by a high barrier formed by European IDMs, according to industry sources.
The US Department of Commerce has launched a Section 301 investigation into China's semiconductors, particularly Silicon Carbide (SiC), highlighting growing concerns over technological competition and national security.
China's leading power semiconductor IDMs are making headlines as industry pressures mount: Hangzhou Silan Microelectronics has postponed two major projects, while Beijing Century Goldray Semiconductor, a former pioneer in SiC technology, has entered bankruptcy proceedings.
Hyundai Motor Group has reportedly disbanded its Semiconductor Strategy Group (the Group), a key division tasked with driving the company's in-house development of automotive semiconductors to reduce reliance on external suppliers. Its functions and personnel are being reassigned to other departments as part of a broader restructuring.
Japan-based Denso announced a strategic collaboration with Onsemi, aimed at advancing semiconductor technology vital for autonomous driving and advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS). As part of the partnership, Denso plans to acquire a stake in Onsemi, but the exact financial details are undisclosed.
