First-tier automotive IC IDMs in the US, Japan and Europe have reportedly approached OSATs including ASE Technology, Powertech Technology (PTI) and Greatek Electronics to book backend capacity for 2022, according to industry sources.

Taiwan-based pure-play foundries including TSMC, United Microelectronics (UMC), Vanguard International Semiconductor (VIS) and Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing (PSMC) are all gearing up for a boom in demand for automotive electronics by ramping up their output for related chips, according to industry sources.

India's largest car parts supplier Motherson Sumi Systems is riding the wave of automobile electrification. Placed 89th in DIGITIMES' Asia Supply Chain 100, Motherson Sumi might be able to reach its revenue goal of US$36 billion by 2025, despite the worldwide shortage of semiconductors and rising copper price.

Foxconn Electronics (Hon Hai), Foxtron Vehicle Technologies and Japan-based motor maker Nidec are in talks for establishing a Taiwan-based joint venture to develop, produce and market motor-based powertrains for use in electric vehicles (EVs) and automotive electromechanical products, according to Foxconn.

In light of the global semiconductor demand surges and chip companies looking to avoid the risks from the trade war and supply chain storage, the India government has recently provided new incentives to global semiconductor companies to set up fabs in the country, after a similar move failed a decade ago. But most of the global leading semiconductor companies still stay unresponsive due mainly to a lack of a complete ecosystem in South Asia.

Several Taiwan-based ICT makers and associations will participate in establishing Taiwan Advanced Automotive Technology Development Association (TADA) soon, according to the initiator Frank Huang, chairman for wafer foundry service provider Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing.

The world's largest motorcycle manufacturer Hero MotoCorp is planning to expand its business into Battery as a Service (BaaS) and Vehicle as a Service (VaaS). According to Money Control's statistics, India-based Hero MotoCorp has 37% market share of India's gas-powered two-wheeler market.

Wistron expects revenue from car electronics to double this year. After having partnered up with three Chinese car makers including NIO, Wistron is now looking to gain more tier-1 Japanese OEM partners for new energy cars, according to David Shen, president of Wistron Smart Devices.

IKKA Holdings (Cayman), a maker of precision plastic injection molded components, was successfully listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange on May 31, 2021. DIGITIMES recently talked to Vincent Hu, chairman and COO of IKKA, about why the company focuses on plastic injection and how it is going to work more closely with automakers in China, Japan and Southeast Asia.

Delta Electronics (Thailand), the subsidiary of Taiwan-based Delta Electronics, has become the regional business headquarters and manufacturing center in India and Southeast Asia for its parent company.

Tesla's new 4680-format battery cells reportedly are facing delays as competition in the electric vehicle (EV) battery sector heats up. Taiwan-based Foxconn (Hon Hai) is clearly among those who are seeking to play a major role in the EV battery sector, having just disclosed a plan to invest in Singapore-based SES, a maker of Li-metal batteries for EVs.

A total of 38 makers of EV-use batteries have been set up in recent years in Europe, which is expected to become the world's second largest EV-use battery supply chain next only to China in 2025, according to industry sources.

Foxconn Electronics (Hon Hai Precision Industry) will cooperate with CTBC Financial Holding to set up an industry fund specifically for investing in companies engaged in electric vehicles (EVs) in a bid to boost development of EV-related industry sectors in Taiwan, according to Foxconn.

With software defined vehicles emerging as a new trend for the auto industry, automotive operating systems and software programs will become a new field of competition in the market, prompting related players to step up the development of relevant solutions, according to Digitimes Research.

TSMC has reported sales growth for second-quarter 2021, and expects its sales to rise further in the third quarter. The world's top foundry house has also raised it sales growth outlook for full-year 2021. Foundry houses have had difficulties building new capacity for mature nodes, supply for which will remain tight through 2022. Foxconn has made yet another move to expand its presence in the EV sector. It has announced it will invest in Singapore-based Li-metal battery maker SES.

Foxconn (Hon Hai) has disclosed it will invest in Singapore-based SES, a maker of Li-metal batteries, a move in line with its ambitious deployments in the electric vehicle (EV) sector.

Along with fast growing demand for electric vehicles (EVs) and energy storage systems, global supply of EV batteries will become tight in the coming year and fall short of demand by at least 40% in 2025, industry sources have cited China-based battery makers as indicating.

Teco Electric & Machinery and power supply maker Phihong Technology will cooperate to produce levels 2 and 3 fast power charging piles for electric vehicles (EVs) in the US, according to Teco.

India's Tata Motors have said it will have 10 new electric vehicles (EV) models by 2025, as business of passenger cars improves, according to a local report.

Apple, which reportedly is mulling manufacture batteries for Apple Car in the US, may work with Taiwanese makers rather than Chinese ones, according to industry sources.

An abrupt top management shakeup at China's Byton Auto is casting clouds over a cooperation deal between Foxconn Technology Group and the Chinese EV startup.

TSMC is gearing up for a bigger presence in the automotive IC foundry market segment, with its newly-developed N5A process set to be available in the third quarter of 2022, according to industry sources.

Since the sudden death of former president Michael D Ruslim in 2010, PT Astra International Tbk, Indonesia's largest conglomerate, has been led by Prijono Sugiarto, formerly sales engineering manager at Daimler Benz Indonesia. The year 2013 saw the company's profits decline for the first time in seven years, encouraging Sugiarto to diversify further. The company's after-tax net income has fluctuated between US$165 million and US$524 million over the past five quarters. As of June 2021, Astra International has a market cap of US$15.12 billion, making it the 1,177th largest company in the world in terms of market cap.

Foxtron Vehicle Technologies, a joint venture established by Foxconn Electronics and Yulon Motor, will cooperate with San-Ti Group to boost use of electric buses for public transportation in Taiwan, according to Foxtron.

As a top player in the car supply chain, Huawei has established partnerships with many Chinese carmakers. However, one of the biggest carmakers in China, SAIC Motor, has said it has no intention to work with Huawei on building "soulless" automobiles.