China’s CATL, the world’s largest battery manufacturer, has unveiled a next-generation sodium-ion battery—nicknamed the “salt battery”—sending shockwaves through South Korea’s battery sector.

Japanese chipmaker Renesas Electronics has adopted a cautious stance on expanding its production of power semiconductors for electric vehicles (EVs). During its earnings briefing on April 24, company president Hidetoshi Shibata revealed that the planned mass production at the Kofu plant in Yamanashi Prefecture, initially expected to begin in 2025, will move forward without a set schedule due to significant uncertainty in market demand.

Universal Scientific Industrial (USI) posted a flat first-quarter profit for 2025, as weakening cash flow and margin compression continued to weigh on performance.