China revs up on auto chips and HBM shakes up memory

Hi everyone! This is Cheng Ting-Fang, your #techAsia host for this week. Despite being based in Taipei, I can feel the U.S. presidential race heating up thousands of miles away. China is one of the top themes of the Biden campaign, and on Tuesday his administration slapped significantly higher tariffs on multiple Chinese imports. Two… Continue reading China revs up on auto chips and HBM shakes up memory

China asks carmakers to use up to 25% local chips by 2025

TAIPEI/BEIJING — China is urging the country’s top automakers to source up to a quarter of their chips locally by 2025 as the world’s biggest car market looks to build a competitive and self-reliant semiconductor supply chain amid escalating tensions with the U.S. The Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has asked automakers including… Continue reading China asks carmakers to use up to 25% local chips by 2025

China EV makers rush cars to Mexico and Brazil amid tariff concerns

PALO ALTO, California/TAIPEI/TOKYO — Chinese EV makers including BYD are rushing to ship vehicles to Mexico and Brazil in preparation for tariff hikes and other trade restrictions, Nikkei Asia has learned. That comes as Washington announced 100% tariffs on Chinese EVs on Tuesday, a move that is expected to be followed by more trade actions aimed at… Continue reading China EV makers rush cars to Mexico and Brazil amid tariff concerns

Honda and IBM team up on next-gen chips for software-defined vehicles

TOKYO — Honda Motor and IBM said on Wednesday that they have signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on long-term research and development for next-generation computing technologies such as chips and software for future vehicles. The Japanese and American companies said in a joint statement, “The application of intelligence/AI technologies [for vehicles] is expected… Continue reading Honda and IBM team up on next-gen chips for software-defined vehicles

Malaysia overtakes Thailand as ASEAN’s second-biggest auto market

TOKYO/KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia has overtaken Thailand to become Southeast Asia’s second-largest auto market, after Indonesia, a major shift in a region that has become a key battleground for Asian automakers. Nikkei Asia compiled sales data released by industry groups in those three countries plus the Philippines and Vietnam and found that Malaysia’s sales figures,… Continue reading Malaysia overtakes Thailand as ASEAN’s second-biggest auto market

China’s BYD launches hybrid pickup in Mexico as U.S. hikes EV tariffs

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) — Chinese automaker BYD unveiled the Shark, a midsize hybrid-electric pickup truck, in Mexico on Tuesday as its regional chief brushed off new U.S. tariff hikes on Chinese EVs, saying the company was not eyeing an entry to the U.S. market. The Shark strengthens BYD’s foothold in the North American market with… Continue reading China’s BYD launches hybrid pickup in Mexico as U.S. hikes EV tariffs

Honda scales down production workforce in China as sales slump

GUANGZHOU — Honda Motor is scaling down its full-time production workforce in China as sales slump, with about 1,700 workers having agreed to leave so far, Nikkei has learned. GAC Honda Automobile, a joint venture between Honda and Chinese state-owned automaker GAC Group, began seeking employees this month to leave the company. Go to Source

EU carmakers confront China’s growing EV dominance

Tech Latest by Nikkei Asia brings you the newest updates from Asia’s technology industry. In this episode, Alice French is catching up with correspondents in London and Paris, Rhyannon Bartlett-Imadegawa and Mailys Pene-Lassus, to find out how Europe’s carmakers are responding to China’s dominance in the electric vehicle sector. Listen to our latest podcast on… Continue reading EU carmakers confront China’s growing EV dominance

Nissan and others eye mass-producing solid-state batteries

TOKYO — Nissan Motor and others in Japan are pouring millions into developing solid-state batteries that they believe can replace the lithium-ion versions that currently power almost all of the world’s electric vehicles. But while some breakthroughs have been achieved in basic development, skeptics say the world is still decades away from unlocking the level… Continue reading Nissan and others eye mass-producing solid-state batteries

Honda speeds up EV push with record R&D spending

TOKYO — Honda Motor plans to pour a record 1.19 trillion yen ($7.6 billion) into research and development this fiscal year as it steps up the development of electric vehicles to catch up to Tesla and Chinese players. The R&D budget, announced Friday, represents a 23% increase on the year and exceeds 1 trillion yen… Continue reading Honda speeds up EV push with record R&D spending