The European automotive supply chain encountered significant hurdles in 2024 as electrification demand fell short of expectations, leading to low investment returns and widespread cost-cutting measures. Companies have scaled back expansion plans and implemented layoffs, with uncertainty surrounding future orders and potential financing difficulties looming in 2025.

China’s market regulator launched an antitrust probe into Nvidia, marking Beijing’s first major investigation of a US chipmaker in a decade and escalating tensions in the global semiconductor battle.

On December 11, 2024, the US Trade Representative (USTR) announced modifications to tariff actions under Section 301 of the Trade Act, targeting specific Chinese products. These measures aim to address long-standing issues related to China’s technology transfer, intellectual property practices, and innovation policies. The updated tariffs, which will take effect on January 1, 2025, include new rates on tungsten products, polysilicon, and wafers.

Taiwan’s National Center for High-performance Computing (NCHC), under the National Applied Research Laboratories (NARLabs), plans to build an AI supercomputing center in Tainan by 2025, which will surpass Nvidia’s Taipei-1 in Kaohsiung in terms of computing power, according to NCHC Director General Chau-lyan Chang.

Coretronic reported a self-estimated consolidated revenue of approximately NT$3.219 billion for November 2024, representing an 8% increase compared to the consolidated revenue of NT$2.993 billion (approx. US$92 million) in October. However, this figure reflects a 3% year-over-year decline.

Apple’s Vision Pro, its first mixed-reality (MR) headset, is approaching its first anniversary in February 2025. However, projections for 2024 shipments stand at just 500,000 units, well below the company’s initial goal of one million units, indicating poor market performance.