India roundup: Tesla’s long-awaited showroom in India
Tesla finally enters India with Model Y showroom but skips local manufacturing amid rising global headwinds
21
Jul
21
Jul
Amazon, Google drive HBM memory boom as custom AI chips threaten Nvidia’s lead
As demand for artificial intelligence (AI) accelerates, tech giants like Amazon, Google, and Meta are emerging as major players in the high-bandwidth memory (HBM) market. These companies are scaling up development of custom AI chips, and shipments are expected to rise sharply by 2026. The shift could threaten Nvidia’s dominance and drive fierce competition among DRAM suppliers Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, and Micron Technology.
21
Jul
Aurotek’s robot pivot drives 69% revenue surge as automation demand soars
Transforming from an automation equipment manufacturer, Aurotek has treated its integrated robot solution business as a second growth curve and has reaped the benefits reflected in its 2024 revenue. Chairman Terry Cheng stated that Aurotek’s lineup of robots for the automation business will be operational priorities.
21
Jul
Synopsys closes US$35B Ansys deal to create unified chip-to-system design powerhouse
Synopsys has finalized its US$35 billion acquisition of Ansys, uniting two global leaders in electronic design automation (EDA) and multiphysics simulation. The deal closed shortly after China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) conditionally approved the merger on July 14, removing the last major regulatory obstacle.
20
Jul
Intel CEO concedes Nvidia’s AI lead: a critical shift for the semiconductor giant
Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan has openly admitted to global employees that Nvidia has surpassed Intel in the AI chip market. This candid acknowledgment underscores the company’s dramatic fall from its former dominance in the semiconductor sector and highlights the scale of Intel’s struggles in the AI era.
20
Jul
China’s grip on cathode tech exposes fragility in U.S. and EU battery ambitions
China’s Ministry of Commerce recently announced new export restrictions on “battery cathode material preparation technologies,” along with five lithium refining technologies and overseas lithium battery technology transfers. This move effectively tightens China’s control over the lithium battery supply chains in Europe and the US.
20
Jul
Tesla ignites three-row EV showdown in China
Tesla is reinforcing its presence in China’s electric SUV segment with the upcoming Model Y L, a long-wheelbase, six-seat version positioned between the Model Y and Model X. Disclosed in filings published by China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) on July 16, the Model Y L enters a rapidly growing market for large, three-row electric SUVs amid intensifying competition.
20
Jul
Can Samsung innovate its way out of its own system?
Samsung Electronics, once the crown jewel of South Korea’s industrial might, is facing a growing crisis in its semiconductor division. A sharp downturn in high-bandwidth memory sales during the second quarter of 2025, combined with widening losses in its chip foundry operations, has raised serious questions about whether the company is losing its footing in the race to power artificial intelligence.
19
Jul
China accuses foreign spies of rare earth smuggling via small-batch shipments
China’s Ministry of State Security on July 18 accused foreign intelligence agencies of working with domestic operatives to smuggle rare earth elements out of the country. In a WeChat post, the ministry said the materials were shipped overseas in “small batches across multiple shipments,” with smugglers frequently altering delivery routes to evade detection.
19
Jul
CHT adds another submarine cable with SJC2 officially launched
Chunghwa Telecom (CHT) continues to advance its Asia-Pacific broadband network layout. Following the announcement on July 16, 2025, of its investment in the AUG East new submarine cable in Asia, CHT announced on July 18 that the Southeast Asia-Japan Cable 2 (SJC2), which was invested in and constructed in 2018, was officially completed and put into operation on the same day.