06
Jan
06
Jan
CES 2025 pre-show insights: six key trends emerge as show embraces AI and quantum tech
CES 2025, set to launch on January 7 in the US, promises to be one of the largest tech gatherings in recent years. During a pre-show press conference on January 5, Consumer Technology Association (CTA) President Kinsey Fabrizio and CEO Gary Shapiro unveiled the event’s highlights.
06
Jan
CES 2025 pre-show insights: tech sector braces for Trump’s trade policies amid inflation concerns
With President-Elect Donald Trump’s upcoming return to the White House, the technology industry is closely monitoring potential policy shifts, particularly regarding international trade and tariffs. At the CES 2025 pre-show briefing, Gary Shapiro, CEO, and Vice Chair of the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), expressed concern about the president-elect’s stance on tariffs, noting their potential to worsen inflation.
06
Jan
Renewable energy in Taiwan faces hurdles as targets falter
Taiwan’s renewable energy ambitions face setbacks amid a government transition and policy disputes. President Lai Ching-te’s “Energy Transition 2.0” aims for diversification, but solar and offshore wind projects lag behind expectations. Geothermal, hydrogen, and small hydropower initiatives advance at a crawl, casting doubt on 2025 targets.
06
Jan
Tesla vs. BYD: close in BEV Sales, yet an unbridgeable gap remains?
The intense rivalry between BYD and Tesla in the realm of pure electric vehicles (BEVs) has garnered significant global attention. While BYD has come close to surpassing Tesla, briefly overtaking it for a single quarter, the company has ultimately struggled to maintain this lead. The challenge lies largely in the distinct preferences and demands of Chinese consumers.
06
Jan
The Kumamoto model’s potential: ex-MITI official urges Japan-Taiwan-US chip alliance
Japan’s semiconductor revival must not only involve Taiwan but also include strategic cooperation with the US, emphasized Kenzo Fujisue, a renowned Japanese scholar and former government official, in a recent interview with DIGITIMES. The discussion took place in Taipei with DIGITIMES President Colley Hwang, where they explored opportunities and challenges in global semiconductor supply chain collaboration.
06
Jan
ASML CEO leads high-level delegation to TSMC next week
Ahead of TSMC’s quarterly earnings release on January 16, 2025, the pure-play foundry is holding year-end meetings with key suppliers. ASML, a critical partner of TSMC, is showing exceptional commitment. CEO Christophe Fouquet will lead a delegation of senior executives to Taiwan next week to engage in discussions with TSMC chairman and CEO C.C. Wei, co-COO Y.P. Chyn, and other high-level executives in Taipei.
06
Jan
Fire breaks out at PCB firm Zhen Ding’s northern Taiwan plant
PCB manufacturer Zhen Ding Technology has experienced its second fire incident at its Guanyin site in Taoyuan, northern Taiwan, in five years. The origin of the fire and the precise financial damages remain undetermined; nevertheless, production will temporarily relocate to alternative sites within the group as a contingency measure.
06
Jan
CXMT begins DDR5 mass production, reportedly validated by key Chinese server makers
ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT) is leveraging China’s aggressive localization policies to advance toward mass production of DDR5 chips. Despite lingering concerns over production yields and cost disadvantages, supply chain sources report that CXMT’s DDR5 chips have passed validation from multiple leading Chinese server manufacturers. By late 2025, DDR5 could account for 50% of CXMT’s total production capacity, broadening its influence beyond consumer markets to server applications and intensifying global competition in the memory sector.
06
Jan
TSMC’s Kumamoto plant faces utilization ramp-up challenges amid automotive sector slowdown
While smartphone and PC markets show signs of AI-driven recovery, the global automotive sector’s weak outlook for 2025 is impacting major semiconductor manufacturers including TSMC, UMC, VIS, and GW. Though TSMC’s Kumamoto plant began mass production in December 2024, its capacity utilization ramp-up faces headwinds.