Electronics

Samsung is Vietnam's biggest foreign investor and exporter.
Technology

Samsung injects $920m into Vietnam factory

Funds will be used to build mobile components, local government says

17 February 2022
Auto parts maker Denso is expected to contribute tens of billions of yen to the construction of TSMC's new plant in Kumamoto Prefecture in Japan. (Source photos by Kai Fujii, Reuters and Kyodo) 
Semiconductors

TSMC lifts Japan chip plant investment, with Denso following Sony

Additional funding will help pay for 12-to-16-nm semiconductor line

15 February 2022
Toshiba expects its key industrial customers to post lower operating figures and cut capital investment due to the pandemic and chip shortages.
Toshiba in turmoil

Toshiba lowers profit forecast amid higher prices, chip shortages

Industrial conglomerate to call shareholders' meeting March 24 for spinoff plan

14 February 2022
A NXP Semiconductors facility in Arizona: Chipmakers are responding to boost supplies, with wafer shipments increasing 14% in 2021.
Semiconductors

Chip backlogs stretch to 2 years, vexing Sony and electronics makers

Shipment delays cut into production of digital cameras, air conditioners

13 February 2022
In addition to the new venture, PTT is installing chargers at its gas stations across Thailand to promote EVs in the country.
Automobiles

Foxconn to produce EVs with Thai energy group from 2024

PTT sets up new rental service to promote electrics

9 February 2022
Toshiba CEO Satoshi Tsunakawa speaks during an online conference on Monday. The Japanese conglomerate is revamping its plan to reorganize. (Screenshot from Toshiba's YouTube page) 
Toshiba in turmoil

Toshiba CEO says two-way split 'best' for shareholders

Industrial conglomerate triples shareholder return

7 February 2022
Toshiba is set to sell Toshiba Carrier, a 60% owned air-conditioning subsidiary to its U.S. counterpart, Carrier Global Corporation. (Photo by Shuhei Yuzawa)
Toshiba in turmoil

Toshiba to sell Toshiba Carrier stake for $869m to U.S. partner

Company opts to break up into 2 parts instead of 3, enlarging shareholder profit

4 February 2022
Toshiba's new fabrication facility will be built on the grounds of a chipmaking subsidiary in Ishikawa Prefecture. (Image courtesy of Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage)
Semiconductors

Toshiba to double power chip production with new plant in Japan

$870m fab set to debut by 2025 as part of broader capacity boost

4 February 2022
A robot at an Iris Ohyama factory in Dalian, China. Robots will be a major roll in solving pandemic-related labor shortages, Iris Ohyama CEO Akihiro Ohyama says. (Photo by Manami Sakai)
Technology

Robots take center stage in SoftBank tie-up, Iris Ohyama chief says

$87m investment to boost collaboration as home goods maker expands

3 February 2022
A production line worker examines a silicon wafer at a factory in Zhejiang Province, China.
Electronics

China to launch chipmaking platform as it targets Intel and AMD

U.S. likely to object to Beijing's efforts for independent supply chain

2 February 2022
Panasonic faces tough competition in the global AC market.
Electronics

Panasonic cranks up AC business with $870m investment in 5 years

Japanese manufacturer to lean on disinfecting tech and energy efficiency

1 February 2022
An employee checks Vivo X series smartphones at a store in Guangzhou, China. (Photo by Takashi Kawakami)
Electronics

China's smartphone market grows for 1st time in 5 years

Vivo snags crown as Huawei drops out of top 5

1 February 2022
Nidec founder and Chairman Shigenobu Nagamori stressed on Wednesday "it's risky to buy all semiconductors from other companies." (Screenshot from Nidec's website)
Electronics

Japan's Nidec makes foray into robot business

World's largest motor maker mulls in-house chip production amid supply crunch

26 January 2022
Meizu is a midtier smartphone maker based in Zuhai in southern China.
Business deals

Geely in talks to buy smartphone brand Meizu

Chinese automaker's move in telecommunications sector reported by local media

22 January 2022
The Sony Vision-S 02, a concept electric SUV, was shown at the influential Consumer Technology Association's CES 2022 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in early January. 
Automobiles

Sony's EV project is driven by software, not mechanics

Japanese tech giant seeks to repurpose its strengths

18 January 2022
Chinese sales of passenger cars in 2021 rose 4.4% from a year earlier, helped by strong sales of electric vehicles. Nidec seeks to capitalize on the market's growth by providing machine tools used for production. 
Electronics

Japan's Nidec rides China EV boom by expanding machine tool output

Motor maker plans new gear equipment plant to tap surging demand

12 January 2022
U.S. electric vehicle maker Rivian, which counts Amazon.com as its top shareholder, builds cars at a former Mitsubishi Motors factory. (Photo courtesy of Rivian Automotive)
Automobiles

Apple and other EV hopefuls chip away at auto industry pyramid

iPhone maker wooed Japanese A/C parts supplier for its car project

10 January 2022
A man and his child stand in flood water in Shah Alam, Selangor state after exceptionally heavy rains caused flash flooding over the weekend.
Natural disasters

Panasonic, Daihatsu halt Malaysian plants after flash floods

Production at Panasonic plant will cease for a week, Daihatsu uncertain

22 December 2021
Established 10 years ago, battery maker CATL has grown into the third-most valuable publicly traded company in China. 
Caixin

How China EV battery king CATL is defending its throne

Company keeping pressure on upstart rivals by investing billions of dollars

21 December 2021
An store selling Apple products in Mumbai: India's government aims to move the country up the electronics value chain.
Technology

India fights for bigger piece of tech supply chain with $10bn in incentives

Government competes against China, Southeast Asia for manufacturing investment

16 December 2021
China's Oppo joins a string of global smartphone makers releasing foldable handsets in hopes of stimulating a mature market. (Photos courtesy of Oppo) 
China tech

China's Oppo debuts foldable smartphone to compete with Samsung

Phone makers hoping foldable handsets will stimulate mature market

15 December 2021
Shin-Etsu Chemical's device uses lasers to streamline production of microLED panels. (Photo courtesy of Shin-Etsu Chemical)
Electronics

Toray and Shin-Etsu take microLED production to the next level

Devices by Japanese companies slash hours from costly display-making

10 December 2021
Panasonic will continue to make high-end TVs for its home market of Japan. (Photo by Tomoki Mera)
Electronics

Panasonic pares TV business to bone with TCL outsourcing

Former giant down to 5% of peak production after years of decline

10 December 2021
A hat lined with with a Flexible+ display made by Chinese manufacturer Royole is seen at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, in 2019.
Caixin

Chinese flexible-screen maker Royole delays employee salaries

Questions raised over whether STAR market listing requirements are too lax

9 December 2021
Samsung Electronics is facing competitive challenges in computer chips and smartphones.
Technology

Samsung replaces CEOs as Vice Chairman Lee seeks new direction

South Korean giant merges mobile, consumer electronics divisions to stay on top

7 December 2021