As electric vehicles and autonomous driving technologies spread rapidly, and as automotive electrical and electronic (E/E) architectures grow more centralized, the value of semiconductors embedded in each vehicle is rising sharply. According to an analysis by DIGITIMES, the average semiconductor content per car is expected to increase from about US$759 in 2024 to US$1,332 by 2030.

The recent Taiwan-US tariff agreement, establishing a reciprocal 15% tariff rate under the most-favored-nation (MFN) principle without stacking, marks a significant development for Taiwan’s traditional manufacturing sectors, particularly the machinery industry. The resolution has been welcomed as a move toward restoring fairer competition with key rivals like Japan and South Korea, although concerns about exchange rate volatility persist.

Eutelsat, the satellite operator backed by the French and British governments, announced this week that it has placed an additional order for 340 next-generation OneWeb satellites with Airbus Defence and Space. Combined with a previous order of 100 satellites placed in December 2024, the total procurement now stands at 440 low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellites, with deliveries expected to begin in late 2026.