With tensions between Washington and Beijing taking center stage, concerns emerged regarding the status of supply chains and the competitive landscape among various Asian countries. To gain a more profound understanding of this situation, DIGITIMES conducted the "Asia Supply Chain: ASC 250 Rankings," with a specific focus on the Asian ICT industry chain and an analysis of the operational performance of nearly 5,000 companies.
A Taiwan-US supply chain partnership forum held in Taipei alongside the US Business Day on September 19 saw delegations of government and corporate representatives from both sides exploring investment and cooperation opportunities in the fields of cybersecurity, 5G communication and electric vehicles. Key American delegates included Laurie Locascio, director of the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and concurrently the Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology, as well as Arizona governor Katie Hobbs and New Mexico governor Michelle Lujan Grisham.
Chaoji, a new EV charging standard developed by industry groups in China and Japan, has been certified by the Chinese government as a national standard.
China-based battery manufacturer Gotion High-tech is poised to gain traction in the European market. The company recently launched its first battery product at its first European factory in Germany. It also aims to build another facility in Middle Europe with battery startup InoBat.
Semiconductor manufacturers worldwide are projected to increase 200mm fab capacity by 14% from 2023 through 2026, adding 12 new 200mm fabs as the industry reaches a record high of more than 7.7 million wafers per month, according to SEMI.
Automotive LEDs became the driving force of LED deliveries in the third quarter of this year. As more new cars are poised to be launched, suppliers are ramping up more actively. LED testing and packaging companies like Brightek Optoelectronic, Everlight and Edison Opto are all optimistic that the demand for automotive LEDs will stay on the growing track in the second half of 2023.
After the operation of the indigenously developed NavIC navigation system, India is on track to encourage mobile devices, including phones and vehicles, to support NavIC with potential incentives.
China-based EV maker BYD has been scaling up in overseas markets. Besides the competition with Tesla, its entry into the Thai market has garnered much attention. Support from Taiwan-based automotive parts suppliers has become essential for the carmaker's ambition in foreign markets.
Amid a ramping up of import substitution, China may require EV suppliers to reduce sourcing of foreign-made components, a sign showing the global EV ecosystem may see a decoupling after the ICT supply chain
Chinese electric vehicle (EV) company Nio is reportedly planning to set up a joint venture with Svolt Energy Technology to jointly develop large cylindrical batteries with the aim of reaching mass production by 2025, according to industry sources.
The biggest debate for sell-side analysts covering Chinese equities these days centers around a $31 billion question: what is the outlook for XPeng Inc. The divide is sending shares on quite a roller-coaster ride.
V. Lee, the Foxconn representative in India, said in a LinkedIn post that the group aims for another doubling of employment, FDI, and business size in India. Lee did not elaborate on the timeline of Foxconn's expansion plan in India. According to Reuters, Foxconn employs 40,000 people in India.
Chinese EVs are establishing a foothold in the European market. The European Commission has said it will launch an anti-subsidy investigation on cheap EVs imported from China. EV suppliers said it is necessary for Chinese companies to develop overseas markets. However, the concern about data privacy, which has emerged in several sectors, will likely hinder their efforts.
Autonomous driving solutions developer Mobileye and China-based automaker FAW announced on September 14 that they have established a strategic partnership. Mobileye's SuperVision and Chauffeur platforms will enable advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) on FAW's vehicles starting at the end of 2024.
Tesla's Mexican plant is under construction. Besides the EV giant, emerging US carmakers like Lucid and Rivian and veteran General Motors and Ford all plan to set up a production base at the US-Mexico border. Monterrey and Juarez City host most of the companies.
Taiwanese gallium arsenide (GaAs) manufacturers are looking to capitalize on prospects in aerospace, defense, and satellite communications, according to industry sources.
After the reconfiguration of global supply chains, it will mark the beginning of Taiwan's great navigation era, and the trend of large-scale supply chain relocation has made supply chain management even more crucial, James C.F. Huang, chairman of the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA), has said.
The European Commission (EC) recently voiced their support for the anti-subsidy probe into Chinese EVs. Intense domestic price competition has propelled Chinese brands to seek overseas markets. Industry sources point out that the probe is likely due to the fact that mainstream car makers in the European Union (EU) are lagging behind Chinese brands in the EV transition and could find it hard to compete with them.
While Chinese electric-vehicle manufacturers are making some headway in Europe, their sales pale in comparison to market leaders like Volkswagen AG, Tesla Inc. and Stellantis NV.
The European Commission announced on September 13 that it will initiate an investigation to decide whether it will increase tariffs on China-made EVs. While the Chinese automotive industry has anticipated the move, it said the European Union should view the development of China-based EV makers objectively rather than increasing their operation costs.
Light electric vehicles are rising in Asia. Canadian startup Zen Energy sees the opportunity and has developed batteries with quadruple lifetime for two and three-wheelers. The company has chosen India as a launchpad to expand its business in Asia.
As the talks between Tesla and the Indian government are reportedly ongoing, Tesla has been sourcing components from India, which is expected to increase in 2023.
Taiwan-based passive component makers continue to experience sluggish demand for consumer electronics, placing their hopes on demand for automotive applications to fuel second-half revenue growth, according to industry sources.
Malaysia Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on September 11 that the country will develop a policy to ban the exports of rare earth raw materials in an effort to boost local industry, according to local news outlet New Strait Times.
As Tesla proceeds with the construction project of a gigafactory in Mexico, the total investment is said to surge, according to Mexico's Nuevo Leon governor, Samuel Garcia, who added that the EV maker and its suppliers are expected to invest a total of US$15 billion, triple the original amount.
