Large donations by South Korean companies to Trump inauguration seen as preemptive move ahead of tariff war

The list of donors for US President Donald Trump’s inauguration ceremony has been released, with South Korean conglomerates Samsung, Hyundai Motor, and Hanwha making large donations through US subsidiaries. Observers interpret the donations as an attempt by South Korean companies to proactively seek favorable outcomes related to US tariff policy.

Continue reading

Texas Instruments navigates uncertainty with strong results and optimistic outlook

Texas Instruments reported strong first-quarter results, with revenue of US$4.07 billion, surpassing forecasts, driven by a 13% rise in its Analog segment. The upbeat outlook signals sustained demand in automotive and industrial markets despite tariff-related uncertainties. CEO Haviv Ilan emphasized the company’s focus on reliable chip capacity amid geopolitical risks.

Continue reading

Rapid rise of Chinese cars accelerates access to European and Japanese automakers for Taiwan’s E-Lead

Chinese cars have established a significant presence in Southeast Asia and started to make inroads into Europe, thanks to their attractive price-performance ratios and smart cockpit features. The fast rise of China’s home-grown car vendors has come as a threat to their European competitors in the Chinese market. Japanese automakers, who have dominated the Southeast Asian car market for decades, are also coming under pressure.

Continue reading

Taiwan’s display sector a ‘national security’ linchpin amid US onshoring push

As the US broadens its industrial focus from semiconductors to encompass display manufacturing, Paul Peng, chairman of AUO, emphasized the importance of the display industry to national security. Peng noted that the US government’s decision to prioritize the onshoring of display technology underscores its strategic significance. He called on the Taiwanese government to accord the display sector a level of importance equivalent to that given to semiconductors.

Continue reading

Automotive industry slow to adopt AI automation due to 3 main factors, says Lionic chairman

Large language models are currently shaping the future for AI, with the automotive industry in particular seeing a range of applications, including AI robots, AI factories, and AI autonomous driving systems. As such, the implementation of automated production at mainstream carmakers has become a focus for the AI industry worldwide. According to supply chain sources, Tesla, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, and a host of Chinese automakers are now actively engaging in AI robot development, with industrial manufacturing as the priority for relevant applications.

Continue reading