China’s auto market is entering a far more difficult phase. Domestic demand has slowed sharply, and for many carmakers the industry increasingly resembles a road with no visible end. Yet from the perspective of the automotive supply chain, two very different stories are unfolding inside the same market.

Taiwan’s Ministry of Digital Affairs (MODA) has revealed that three applicants have submitted bids for its AI compute center BOO (build-own-operate) program, which closed on May 14, 2026. The disclosure comes as Foxconn is widely reported to be highly interested in building a large AI compute center.

Swancor Holding and RobiChip Technology announced a strategic partnership to accelerate the adoption of advanced packaging materials and heterogeneous chip system integration in robots, robot dogs, and AI-powered platforms, the firms said at the forum on robotics and circular materials hosted by the Taiwan Composite Low-Carbon Circular Alliance. The collaboration will focus on co-developing materials and high-power-density power systems to enable the deployment of next-generation robotic and drone applications.

A South Korean court granted Samsung Electronics an injunction on May 18, 2026, limiting union dispute actions and ordering that safety protection systems and wafer anti-deterioration operations remain fully staffed and operational during any strike, according to Seoul Economic Daily. The Suwon District Court issued the decision three days before a planned general strike on May 21, 2026, and the ruling is expected to constrain the scale and methods of any walkout.