The potential of AI in advancing smart manufacturing has been widely recognized, but deaths and injuries involving robots at factories have called attention to functional safety, of which semiconductor chips play a crucial part, according to industry sources.
The European automotive supply chain faces deepening turmoil, with industry giants like Bosch, Valeo, and Ford announcing extensive layoffs. These developments underscore the ongoing slump in market conditions and the mounting pressure on supply chain sustainability across the region.
Hotai Motor, Taiwan's automotive leader, projected Taiwan's vehicle market will reach 460,000 units in 2024, up from a prior estimate of 450,000 units, citing steady domestic demand and improved production conditions.
The Chinese electric vehicle (EV) industry is characterized by intense competition as numerous automakers aim to achieve profitability in the face of increasing sales. Xiaomi, with its substantial financial resources, has the potential to disrupt this market.
The landscape of the three key new energy vehicle (NEV) markets—China, Europe, and the US—will undergo dramatic changes in 2025. Price competition is expected to continue, driven primarily by government policies across these regions.
The automotive industry is experiencing a significant transformation with the rise of electrification and connectivity. Despite this shift, the ecosystem is still in the process of maturing. The automotive semiconductor industry continues to be largely controlled by well-established suppliers from Europe, the US, Japan, and South Korea, even as companies like Tesla and emerging Chinese players make their mark.
On November 26, BYD announced a directive requiring its suppliers to implement a 10% cost reduction starting January 1, 2025. Following this, SAIC Maxus has reportedly launched a similar initiative, also targeting a 10% cost cut across its upstream supply chain, further intensifying market-wide cost optimization efforts.
BYD moves to shield itself from looming US tariffs as President-Elect Trump threatens new import taxes on Chinese, Canadian, and Mexican goods. The China-based EV giant has reportedly ordered suppliers to slash costs by 10% starting in 2025.
Tesla's Model 3 has hit a roadblock in Germany's prestigious TÜV safety rankings, while Honda's Jazz demonstrates exceptional reliability in the latest assessment. The 2025 TÜV report, analyzing over 10.2 million vehicle inspections across 228 models between mid-2023 and mid-2024, reveals significant challenges for the American EV maker.
Kian Sheng, a subsidiary of the Yulon Group, plays a pivotal role in Taiwan's electric bus supply chain. Despite challenges, the company's operations in China achieved notable results in the first three quarters of 2024, fueled by battery box orders for new energy vehicle (NEV) models from Xiaomi and Hongqi, alongside a surge in bus chassis demand driven by tourism recovery.
China's 4S dealership model, once a cash cow in the early 2000s, is unraveling under mounting pressure. The sector, which peaked around 2017, has been hit hard by fierce price wars and a market pivot toward domestic new energy vehicles (NEVs). From 2020 to 2024, over 10,000 dealerships are expected to shut down, with losses accelerating annually, according to the China Automobile Dealers Association (CADA).
Global IDM leader Onsemi announced a cautious outlook for the semiconductor market in its third-quarter 2024 financial report. CEO Hassane El-Khoury tempered expectations for 2025 but underscored promising growth in China's new energy vehicle (NEV) and industrial energy storage markets, which remain resilient amid broader industry challenges.
On November 26, Germany's Tönnjes International Group and the German-Taiwanese joint venture Toennjes Leon unveiled an innovative AI anti-counterfeit license plate initiative at the GIS Convention Center of Taiwan's Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC). The project aims to promote German IDePlate technology while leveraging Taiwan's semiconductor and AI innovation capabilities.
Thailand's state-controlled energy conglomerate PTT has announced that due to fierce competition in the EV market resulting in a price war, the group will lower its stake in the joint venture company Horizon Plus, established in 2021 with Foxconn Technology Group.
Germany's rapid post-World War II economic growth was driven by advanced industrial technology, a robust workforce, and its globally renowned luxury car brands, which dominated the high-end automotive market for decades. However, recent years have seen this dominance wane, largely due to fierce competition from Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers. German automakers are losing their competitive edge in global markets.
India's electric vehicle (EV) market is seeing contrasting trends, with passenger EV sales declining while the commercial segment grows rapidly. Recent data shows a 9 percent year-on-year drop in passenger EV sales in September 2024, marking the lowest point in 19 months.
This year's Auto Guangzhou exhibition features more than 1,000 vehicle models and 86 auto brands, with new entrants like Maextro drawing significant attention from visitors.
VinFast, a Vietnamese automaker often referred to as the "Tesla of Vietnam," reported sales of 11,000 units in October, securing its position as Vietnam's leading electric vehicle (EV) brand. Concurrently, Nhật Vượng Phạm, chairman of parent company Vingroup and Vietnam's wealthiest individual, pledged additional personal investments to bolster the company.
Auto Guangzhou 2024, opening on November 15, stands as China's final flagship auto event of the year. It previews key trends that will shape the 2025 automotive market. With 1,171 new models showcased, including 512 electric vehicles (EVs), the event highlights the surging dominance of China's local EV brands.
MiTAC Group, a prominent technology and IT solutions provider in Taiwan, has played a significant role in supporting the local Ministry of Transportation's initiatives to advance smart cities, transportation systems, and rail networks. At its 50th Anniversary TechDay on November 18, MiTAC Information Technology and MiTAC Digital Technology showcased their latest AIoT (Artificial Intelligence of Things) innovations in smart transportation.
Taiwan's largest industrial gas manufacturer, Linde LienHwa, is shifting its focus from decades of industrial hydrogen applications to the transportation sector. The company aims to lead Taiwan's hydrogen vehicle market once its dedicated hydrogen manufacturing plant in southern Taiwan becomes operational in 2025.
The European Union's trade dispute with China over electric vehicles (EVs) took a new turn when both parties showed willingness to negotiate pricing agreements, despite the EU implementing new tariffs in November.
