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.

As environmental awareness rises, consumer demand for electric vehicles (EVs) is gradually increasing, providing opportunities for the development of the EV market. The Taiwanese government is actively promoting EV development by implementing various policies and subsidy measures to encourage R&D and usage.

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.

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.

Chinese tech circles have been abuzz with news that Xiaomi is contemplating the acquisition of EV maker NIO, which will allow NIO to make major strides in battery swapping technology and operational scope, while Xiaomi can benefit from improved charging pile deployment.

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.

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.

China is reportedly planning to implement export restrictions on technologies critical for manufacturing battery components and refining key minerals such as lithium and gallium. According to Battery Tech Online, the move aims to reinforce China's dominance in the battery supply chain while bolstering its leverage in trade disputes with the US, particularly as President-elect Donald Trump prepares for his second term.

The surging demand for advanced data center expansion has brought energy stability, cost-efficiency, and safety into sharp focus. In response, Gus Technology unveiled a dual-purpose UPS energy storage module powered by lithium-titanium-oxide (LTO) technology. While primarily aimed at the uninterruptible power supply (UPS) market, the company also envisions expanding its use to backup battery units (BBUs).

The US Department of Defense (DoD) has published its annual update to the Section 1260H blacklist, which identifies Chinese companies allegedly tied to the military. The 2024 list features 134 firms, including tech powerhouse Tencent and CATL, the world's leading manufacturer of electric vehicle (EV) batteries.

At CES 2025, ProLogium introduced its fourth-generation lithium ceramic battery (LCB) system, featuring several technological breakthroughs including a five-minute fast charge that provides a range of 300km and reliable performance in temperatures as low as minus 20 degrees Celsius. The focus is on tackling the three key concerns faced by the electric vehicle (EV) market: total cost of ownership, range anxiety, and safety.

In Taiwan, the manufacturing sector generates 51.37% of the country's greenhouse gas emissions, followed by 19.87% from the residential and commercial sectors, and 12.69% from transportation. Government subsidies and incentives have spurred major automakers from Europe, the US, Japan, and South Korea to introduce electric vehicles (EVs) to Taiwan. Foxconn's entry into the electric bus market has further propelled EV adoption, with both the sales ratio of electric passenger cars and the penetration rate of electric buses surpassing government targets.

Tesla may shift its focus more towards AI robotics than automobiles by 2025. However, the rise of hybrid vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) is creating significant challenges for Tesla, as its strong growth encroaches on the territory dominated by battery electric vehicles (BEVs).

The US Department of Defense (DoD) has added Tencent Holdings, Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL), and ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT) to its blacklist of entities allegedly tied to the Chinese military. This annual update to the Section 1260H list now includes 134 companies, as published on the Federal Register's website.

China is planning tougher scrutiny on exports of technology to make battery materials, as Beijing looks to protect its grip on a crucial supply chain amid rising global trade tensions.

As 2024 comes to a close, the global technology industry is looking forward to new opportunities in 2025. The rapid implementation of generative AI (GenAI) technologies has led to an influx of new applications, while the electric vehicle (EV) market is poised for significant developments in the new year.

According to Bloomberg, Beijing is set to impose new restrictions on exports of technologies related to battery component production and the processing of key metals, as global trade frictions continue to intensify.

Market consolidation looms as Taiwan's expanding electric vehicle charging sector grapples with rising operational costs and intense competition among more than 40 operators across the island. Industry experts anticipate the emergence of several dominant players, with strategic alliances shaping the market's future development.

Taiwan plans a significant expansion of its EV charging infrastructure in 2024, aiming to boost EV adoption. While industry players see the current vehicle-to-charger ratio as favorable for growth, concerns over grid stability and misaligned growth rates between EVs and charging stations linger, risking oversupply or shortages.

Following Northvolt's bankruptcy filing, Volvo is exploring new battery partnerships in South Korea to advance the construction of the NOVO Energy battery plant.