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.

The European Union (EU) has raised carbon emission standards to 93.6g/km starting in 2025, leading to penalties that could reach EUR15 billion (US$15.6 billion), according to the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA). Despite multiple communications with the European Commission yielding no results, manufacturers are now uniting to pressure the Commission for an early revision of this regulation.

Upon taking office, US President Donald Trump swiftly targeted immigration, electric vehicles (EVs), and energy with his first executive orders. He is considering imposing a 25% tariff on imports from Mexico and Canada before February 1, prioritizing these countries over China.

On his first day back in the White House, President Donald Trump issued a series of orders, notably revoking electric vehicle (EV) subsidies and vowing to revive the glory of the American automotive industry.

Conventional automakers in Europe have faced multiple challenges as they transition to EV production. In addition to declining car sales in Europe, they must confront tough competition from Chinese EV makers and comply with the EU's stricter carbon emissions standards set to take effect in 2025.

China's domestic automakers are rapidly expanding their local market presence, creating an existential threat to foreign brands and their joint ventures. Several international manufacturers and joint venture operations have already ceased production in China, with more plant closures anticipated in 2025.

BYD has formed a strategic partnership with Grab, Southeast Asia's leading ride-hailing platform, to offer discounted rates on up to 50,000 EVs for fleets and drivers. The collaboration extends across Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, reports The Edge Singapore.

Tata Motors, India's leading electric car manufacturer, is leveraging locally produced EV batteries to maintain its competitive edge amid rising competition from new launches.

Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) has indicated that US President Donald Trump's most significant tariff policies are still pending announcement. A recent MOEA survey on Taiwanese manufacturers' export strategies revealed that only 8.9% have taken proactive measures to address potential US protectionist policies, while the majority maintain an observing stance.

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%.

Pegatron chairman T.H. Tung has expressed optimism regarding President Donald Trump's series of executive orders issued on the first day of his second term, ranging from immigration to climate and energy. Tung observed that while the actions aligned with expectations, certain aspects showed incremental improvements.

Xiaomi recently announced that the Xiaomi SU7 had surpassed the Tesla Model 3 in terms of vehicle deliveries in December 2024, thereby achieving a position among the top 5 in China's electric vehicle (EV) sedan sales list. This announcement was a challenge to Tesla. Previously, BYD's statistics indicated that its production of pure electric vehicles (BEV) had surpassed Tesla for the first time.

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.

During his campaign, Donald Trump announced the removal of the US$7,500 tax credit for consumers purchasing electric vehicles (EVs) under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). As a result, in the past few months, US EV sales have surged, reflecting a buying frenzy before the potential subsidy cuts.

Leading automakers, including General Motors, Toyota Motor, and Volkswagen AG, are challenging stringent vehicle safety rules implemented during the Biden administration. The Alliance for Automotive Innovation has filed a lawsuit in the US Court of Appeals to overturn National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) regulations issued in April 2023.

Hyundai Motor's electric vehicles (EVs) were removed from the US government's electric vehicle subsidy list in late January 2025, just weeks after being included at the start of the year. This exclusion has led the industry to speculate about the deepening of US protectionism, with attention turning to Hyundai's response strategies.

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.

Vietnamese EV maker VinFast, a subsidiary of VinGroup, has officially entered the Indian market with its debut at the Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025. Showcasing a diverse lineup led by the VF 6 and VF 7 SUVs, the company aims to drive electric mobility adoption in India while establishing a manufacturing plant in Tamil Nadu.

On his first day in office, US President Donald Trump initiated a broad rollback of Biden administration policies by signing a series of executive orders. Trump announced plans to revoke nearly 80 executive actions from Biden, targeting areas including climate policy, technology regulation, and foreign trade.

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.

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.