Electronics

Investments in factory automation drove demand for sensors, measurement systems and other equipment for unmanned production lines. (Image from Keyence social media post)
Companies

Keyence surges to record profit, spurred by factory automation

Japan sensor maker finds success abroad with same-day shipping and high pay

28 April 2022
All Vietnamese citizens 14 and older are required to hold national ID cards, which are now linked to biometric data.
Electronics

Vietnam adopts NEC's biometric ID system, registering 50m

Japan electronics group taps experience in emerging nations to take system global

28 April 2022
Taiwan's AU Optronics will face a weaker market for LCD panels in the second quarter due to the fallout from the war in Ukraine. (Photo by Cheng Ting-Fang)
Electronics

Taiwan LCD maker AUO's profit plunges 56% as inflation cools demand

Q1 earnings slammed by weaker consumer confidence and falling panel prices

26 April 2022
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. is expected to expand its share of the global contract chipmaking market to 56% this year.
25 April 2022
Fujitsu is selling 80% of its imaging business to Ricoh to focus on software development in response to strong demand for digitization of business processes. (Source photo by Reuters and Kaisuke Ota)
Business deals

Fujitsu to sell scanner business to Ricoh for $625m

Japanese company to divest 80% of unit to focus on software development

25 April 2022
The Nikkei, in collaboration with research specialist Fomalhaut Techno Solutions, took apart the Honor's latest smartphone model X30.
China tech

Teardown of China budget smartphone Honor reveals rise in U.S. parts

Former Huawei brand relies heavily on Qualcomm and Micron components

25 April 2022
Foxconn aims to recycle 60% of plastic across all its sites worldwide, and set up monitoring systems for wastewater discharge and air quality. (AFP/Jiji)
Environment

Foxconn pledges 20% emissions cut by 2025 in Earth Day goals

Apple supplier's environmental road map calls for 50% green energy by 2030

23 April 2022
US investment fund KKR will buy a stake in Hitachi Transport System for more than 600 billion yen as the company focuses on the IT business. (Source photos by AP and Hitachi Transport System) 
Business deals

Hitachi in talks to sell $1.56bn stake in Hitachi Transport to KKR

Deal would advance Japanese industrial group's efforts to focus on tech

21 April 2022
The LG-Magna joint venture will supply GM with motors and other components from the Mexico plant. (Photo courtesy of Magna International)
Automobiles

LG-Magna venture breaks ground on EV motor factory in Mexico

Plant to go online in 2023, supplying components to GM

21 April 2022
Nidec will boost production of gear reducers used in joints for robot arms. (Image courtesy of the company)
Electronics

Nidec to triple output of robot arm component as automation soars

Japan motor maker expands Philippine plant, aiming to double sales by fiscal 2025

16 April 2022
Wu Po-hsuan holds his maiden news conference as Sharp's CEO on April 12. (Photo by Arisa Moriyama)
Electronics

Sharp to pursue overseas growth with wellness solutions: new CEO

Wu tasked with charting future path after company's return to profit

13 April 2022
Samsung renamed phones including the Galaxy Z Flip in some markets after the letter "Z" became associated with support for the invasion of Ukraine.
Electronics

Samsung caught between rock and a hard place on Russia

Withdrawing would risk losing smartphone lead to China after years of investment

8 April 2022
China's BOE Technology Group looks to expand supplies of OLED panels for Apple's iPhones.
Electronics

Apple supplier BOE goes full throttle on OLED offensive

Chinese manufacture to ramp up shipments 70%, plans new facility

8 April 2022
Once one of Japan's most respected companies, Toshiba has faced financial setbacks and friction with shareholders in recent years.
Toshiba in turmoil

Toshiba to consider going private under new review panel

Group suspends sales of elevator and lighting operations

8 April 2022
SK On has an automotive battery plant in the U.S., which it operates as a joint venture with Ford. (Photo courtesy of the company)
Automobiles

South Korea-U.S. EV battery alliances spark discord

Carmakers, power cell manufacturers in technology-sharing tug of war

25 March 2022
Foxconn Chairman Young Liu next to a EV prototype. The company plans to offer basic software and chassis designs for carmakers.
Electronics

Foxconn to enlist 100 Japanese companies in EV drive

Toyota supplier Denso and Asahi Kasei among those climbing aboard

13 March 2022
China's sluggish housing market prompts white goods makers to accelerate diversification. (Photo by Yusuke Hinata)
Electronics

Chinese home appliance makers focus on diversification

Government moves to rein in housing market dampen demand for white goods

9 March 2022
Komatsu will stop shipping its products to Russia.
Ukraine war

Komatsu and Hitachi Construction halt shipments to Russia

Duo join Panasonic in ceasing operations, citing supply chain issues

5 March 2022
CEOs Kenichiro Yoshida of Sony, left, and Toshihiro Mibe of Honda say the joint venture will be open to other partners. (Photo by Karina Nooka) 
Automobiles

Sony, Honda in EV partnership, aiming to launch first car in 2025

Both say still open to links with other companies and industries

4 March 2022
Huawei Technologies will build an energy storage system at the Red Sea Project, a massive tourism complex under construction on the coast of Saudi Arabia. (Photo courtesy of Red Sea Development Co.)
China tech

Huawei pivots to renewable energy as smartphones slump

U.S. sanctions force Chinese company to pursue solar power and storage projects

3 March 2022
Toshiba CEO Satoshi Tsunakawa, left, is stepping down from his position and Senior Vice President Taro Shimada, right, is taking over. (Screenshot from Toshiba's website) 
Toshiba in turmoil

New Toshiba CEO vows to 'see things' from activist investors' view

Self-claimed digital native to refocus company on technology services

1 March 2022
LG Electronics says it will withdraw from solar panel business as it cannot compete with cheaper Chinese versions in the market.
24 February 2022
Sony Group Chairman and CEO Kenichiro Yoshida announces the launch of electric vehicle unit Sony Mobility at the CES 2022 consumer tech show in Las Vegas during January. (Photo by Kazuyuki Okudaira)
Comment

Sony chases Amazon's platform growth while Toshiba shrinks

Entertainment-driven group succeeds by breaking free of hardware cycle

24 February 2022
Luxshare both supplies parts for and assembles iPhones in China.
Companies

Apple supplier Luxshare to fund output boost with $2bn stock issue

Chinese manufacturer expected to build new lines for AirPods and EV parts

23 February 2022
Tai Jeng-wu will leave the CEO post at Sharp at the end of March but stay on as chairman. (Photo by Wataru Ito)
Electronics

Sharp CEO Tai steps down after 6-year turnaround under Foxconn

New boss Wu tasked with boosting growth and deciding fate of LCD unit

19 February 2022