“China to withdraw 125% tariff on US semiconductors… Considering exemption for ethane and medical equipment as well”
Foreign media outlets have reported that China has withdrawn retaliatory tariffs on some American products. There are speculations that the ‘tariff war’ between the two countries, which has been waged through repeated retaliatory measures, may enter a negotiation phase.
On the 25th (local time), CNN reported, citing importers in Shenzhen, China, that “China appears to have quietly withdrawn a 125% retaliatory tariff on some semiconductors produced in the United States.” An importer from China told the broadcast, “We learned that tariffs were exempted for eight types of integrated circuits, which include most semiconductors except for memory chips.” He continued, “We learned of this during the regular customs clearance process for our customers.”
Taiwan’s TSMC, one step ahead: “1.4nm semiconductor mass production within 3 years”
Taiwanese semiconductor company TSMC will release a semiconductor based on a 1.4㎚ (nanometer) process in three years. 1㎚ is about 1/100,000th the thickness of a human hair, and is called the dream process.
On the 24th, TSMC announced the detailed specifications of the 1.4㎚ process at the ‘2025 North American Tech Conference’. TSMC named the 1.4㎚ process ‘A14’. The key point of this announcement is that it does not use the previous process. It uses the so-called ‘new node’ strategy that completely redesigns the line and technology.
Japan, All-out Support for Semiconductor Company Rapidus… “Revise Laws to Invest 1 Trillion Won”
Kyodo News reported that a revision to the Information Processing Promotion Act, which aims to support semiconductor companies in Japan, was passed in the plenary session of the House of Councilors (upper house) on the 25th.
Based on this law, the Japanese government will invest in companies through the Information Processing Promotion Agency (IPA), an independent administrative agency. Some of the funds may be raised by issuing new government bonds.
Japan plans to invest 100 billion yen (about 1 trillion won) in Lapidus through this law in the future, the Asahi Shimbun reported. The Japanese government has so far decided to support the company with up to 1.72 trillion yen (about 17.2 trillion won).
Hanwha Semitec sends certified letter to Hanmi Semiconductor… ‘TC Bonder dispute’ intensifies
Hanwha Semiconductor sent a certified letter to Hanmi Semiconductor demanding that it stop spreading false information about its semiconductor equipment.
According to industry sources on the 24th, Hanwha Semiconductor recently appointed Pacific Law Firm and sent a certified letter to A, a senior executive at Hanmi Semiconductor, demanding an immediate cessation of spreading false information and a notice of correction.
Person A is reported to have appeared on an economic broadcasting program in March and said, “It’s not a TC bonder, it’s a flip chip bonder” regarding a photo of a ‘thermocompression bonding equipment (TC bonder)’ officially distributed by Hanwha Semitec. Hanwha Semitec claims that he also spread false information about the company’s business history and development personnel.
Kairos Lab Attracts Investment with AI-Based New Material Development Technology
Kairos Lab, an AI-based new material discovery platform company, announced that it has attracted a total of KRW 3.2 billion in Pre-A investment from SK Securities, Aon Investment, and Korea Credit Guarantee Fund.
Kairos Lab is complementing the limitations of existing material development methods through its self-developed AI-based new material discovery platform, ‘AIMI’. Instead of the traditional approach that requires numerous experiments and time, AIMI can significantly reduce development costs and periods by proposing optimal material combinations through data-driven analysis. This helps to accelerate the commercialization of new materials in various industries.
Sijitronics-L&D Electronics Sign Business Agreement for GaN Semiconductor Commercialization
On the 24th, Sijitronics signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with L&D Electronics for cooperation in the development and business of gallium nitride (GaN) semiconductors.
Sijitronics owns a fab (M-FAB) and is responsible for manufacturing semiconductor devices, while L&D Electronics is responsible for manufacturing GaN epi substrates based on high-temperature aluminum nitride (AlN). The two companies agreed to cooperate in business development and the development of new markets. L&D Electronics has secured unique intellectual property (IP) for its metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) equipment technology that grows high-temperature AlN epi layers at 1200℃ or higher and its epi growth technology for 4-inch diameter substrates, which have been verified as useful.
Intel Continues to Post Deficits in Q1… Large-Scale Reductions
American semiconductor company Intel posted better-than-expected results for the first quarter of this year, but is lowering earnings expectations and embarking on large-scale layoffs due to weak demand and tariff uncertainty.
Intel announced on the 24th (local time) that it recorded sales of $12.667 billion (USD 18.16 trillion) and an operating loss of $301 million (KRW 430 billion) in the first quarter of this year under generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).
In the foundry business, sales increased 7% year-over-year to $4.667 billion, but operating loss decreased 5% to $2.32 billion. Intel’s second-quarter performance is expected to be worse than the first quarter.
SK On to Supply Batteries to U.S. Electric Vehicle Startup
SK On announced on the 25th that it signed a battery supply contract with U.S. electric vehicle startup Slate. The supply volume is approximately 20 gigawatt hours (GWh), equivalent to about 300,000 mid-sized electric vehicles. The contract amount is undisclosed, but the industry estimates it to be around 4 trillion won. The contract period is six years from 2026 to 2031.
Slate is a new electric vehicle startup founded in Michigan, USA in 2022. It recently gained attention after it was revealed that Amazon founder Jeff Bezos had invested in it. Slate announced its full-scale market entry with a two-door electric pickup truck scheduled for release in 2026.
Shinsung ST Selected as Supplier for Global Electric Vehicle Manufacturer ‘Boosba’
Shinsung ST, a secondary battery component specialist, announced on the 24th that it has been registered as an official partner of a global electric vehicle manufacturer and has succeeded in receiving an order for parts for its first mass-produced model.
Shinsung ST has grown by supplying key electric vehicle components, such as busbars that stably transmit internal power to secondary batteries and battery module cases that protect batteries from external impacts, to major cell makers such as LG Energy Solution and SK On.
In particular, this first direct transaction order with a global electric vehicle manufacturer is an unusual achievement for a secondary battery parts company and is a case that proves Shinsung ST’s product and technological competitiveness.
CATL unveils new sodium-ion battery… Technology for ‘5-minute charge, 520 km driving’
According to AFP, Reuters, and other news agencies on the 22nd, CATL announced at a ‘Tech Day’ event held in Shanghai ahead of the opening of the Shanghai Motor Show (April 23-May 2) that its second-generation sodium-ion battery ‘Naxtra’ is ready for commercialization and plans to begin mass production in the second half of the year.
Naxtra is a second-generation product following the first-generation sodium-ion battery first announced by CATL in 2021.
CATL explained that the energy density is 175 Wh per kg, similar to that of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, with a driving range of approximately 500 km, and that there is no significant power loss, as it maintains more than 90% of the charge even at -40 degrees Celsius.
Hyundai and Kia Invest 5 Billion Won in Developing Core Battery Technologies in India
According to Hyundai Motor Group on the 24th, the previous day (local time), it signed a contract with three IIT (Indian Institute of Technology) universities to jointly establish the ‘Hyundai Future Mobility Innovation Center’ (Hyundai Innovation Center).
IIT is India’s top engineering education institution established in 1951. It operates 23 campuses across India and is recognized worldwide for its innovative technology research and nurturing of excellent talent.
Following the MOUs signed with the top three universities of ▲IIT Delhi, ▲IIT Bombay, and ▲IIT Madras in December last year, Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Motors have officially launched the Hyundai Innovation Center, a research base specializing in electrification technology in India, with this contract. The Hyundai Innovation Center will be jointly operated by professors from Hyundai Motor Company, Kia, and IIT.
BYD challenges Japan’s light car market… Will it surpass Galapagos?
According to the Nihon Keizai Shimbun on the 22nd, BYD is developing a new platform that complies with Japanese light vehicle standards and is pushing for a launch in late 2026. It plans to produce in China and export to Japan with the goal of selling at the lowest price possible, and to also have rapid chargers that meet Japan’s own standards.
Japan has adopted its own kei car standard of 3.4m in length, 1.48m in width, and 660cc or less. Even the Casper, which is 3.595m in length, 1.585m in width, and 998cc, is not a kei car in Japan. However, from the perspective of a global automaker, creating a Japan-only platform to attack the Japanese market is bound to be a huge investment burden.
Tesla Q1 net profit plummets 71%…automobile sales down 20%
According to Tesla’s performance report on the 22nd (local time), total sales for the first quarter (January to March) amounted to $19.335 billion (approximately KRW 27.6336 trillion), a 9% decrease from the same period last year. The average Wall Street estimate compiled by financial information company LSEG was $21.11 billion in sales.
Tesla’s first-quarter net income was $490 million (about 584.5 billion won), down 71% from the same period last year (1.39 billion dollars), and its earnings per share (EPS) also fell 40% from the same period last year to $0.27 (about 386 won). The average EPS estimate on Wall Street was $0.39.
By segment, Tesla’s core automotive business recorded sales of $13.967 billion (about 19.9616 trillion won), down 20% from the same period last year.
Lithium Price Drops by 1/10 in 2 Years… Will Electric Cars Become Cheaper?
The decline in lithium prices is not stopping. The price of lithium, which reached 600 yuan per kilogram at the end of 2022 when the battery investment frenzy was in full swing, has now fallen to one-tenth of that level. As battery material companies and lithium developers are becoming increasingly concerned, there are predictions that this will lead to a decline in electric vehicle prices.
According to the Korea Mining and Energy Corporation on the 23rd, the price of lithium carbonate on the Shanghai Stock Exchange on the 22nd was 68 yuan per kg. The price of lithium, which peaked at 581.5 yuan in November 2022, began to fall due to oversupply caused by excessive investment in the first half of 2023. It fell to the $100 level last year due to concerns about the electric vehicle chasm (temporary decline in demand before popularization). Analysis suggests that the price decline will continue this year as the global battery market has not recovered.
Trump Administration: “Relaxing Autonomous Vehicle Regulations… Promoting Federal Standards”
The U.S. Department of Transportation announced on the 24th (local time) that it is “disclosing a new framework for automated vehicles as part of the innovation agenda,” adding that “this framework aims to promote innovation in American automobile technology, strengthen domestic manufacturing, and maintain safety.”
“This administration knows we are in an innovation race with China, and the stakes have never been higher,” Transport Secretary Shaun Duffy said in a statement. “Our framework will bring us one step closer to a single national standard that cuts through regulation, fosters innovation, and puts safety first.”
The Department of Transportation explained that a single federal standard would “prevent a proliferation of harmful state-by-state regulations.”
Clavill to Supply Autonomous Driving Solutions to SK NamuX
Clevil, an autonomous driving robot technology company, announced on the 25th that it has applied its indoor autonomous driving solution to the wellness robot of SK Group’s robotics brand NAMUHX.
On the 23rd, NamooX unveiled its first AI autonomous driving service robot, ‘A1’. Air solution, vital sign check, and voice control technology were applied. Kleville has been jointly developing the product as an SK partner. It has been participating in the development of AI autonomous driving technology since the end of last year.
Clavill collaborated on the development of an indoor autonomous driving solution that enables robots to move safely. Using sensor fusion technology, it implemented functions that can identify the optimal path indoors, detect obstacles, and prevent falls.
Optrontec Starts Supplying High-Definition Lenses for Autonomous Driving to U.S. Automakers
Optrontec, a company specializing in optical filters and lenses, announced on the 23rd that it will begin supplying high-definition lenses for autonomous driving to American automakers.
Optrontec entered the electric vehicle market as part of its future growth engine from its existing main business of smartphone camera modules. As a result, it has successfully signed a series of parts supply contracts with global electric vehicle companies and Hyundai Motors.
The product being supplied this time passed the high-difficulty quality and reliability verification process of the American automaker after a development period of approximately 3 years and 6 months starting in 2021. Optrotek has started full-scale mass production of high-definition lenses for autonomous driving starting this month.
TI Launches Integrated LiDAR Chip for Automotive… “Improves ADAS Performance”
American semiconductor company Texas Instruments (TI) is expanding its automotive chip portfolio by unveiling the industry’s first integrated LiDAR chip.
On the 23rd, TI held a press conference to launch the integrated high-speed lidar laser driver ‘LMH13000’ chip at the TI Korea office in Gangnam-gu, Seoul.
Lidar is a core sensor that acts as the eyes of an autonomous vehicle body and is a technology that precisely recognizes three-dimensional space. The company explains that the LMH13000 can further enhance the performance of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), one of the autonomous driving functions being introduced by automakers.
Jeong Ji-seong, CEO of SOS Lab, inaugurated as the 3rd President of the Artificial Intelligence Industry-Academia-Research Association
LiDAR leader SOS Lab announced on the 24th that CEO Jeong Ji-seong has been inaugurated as the 3rd Chairman of the Artificial Intelligence University-Industry Research Association (AIURI).
The Artificial Intelligence Industry-Academia-Research Association is a non-profit corporation launched in July 2021 with the participation of approximately 140 artificial intelligence (AI)-related companies, universities, and research institutes in the Gwangju area.
Under the vision of ‘building a global cooperation platform leading the AI industry,’ we are carrying out projects such as ▲ policy establishment, ▲ training of professional personnel, and ▲ support for companies to develop the domestic AI industry.
Solus Advanced Materials to Supply New OLED Materials ‘ETL·HBL’
Solus Advanced Materials announced on the 24th that its newly developed electron transport layer (ETL) and hole blocking layer (HBL) materials for IT devices such as laptops and tablets have received customer approval and are preparing for mass production.
ETL is a light-emitting layer that moves electrons quickly, and has a long-life structure with excellent electrical stability and low-voltage characteristics with power consumption reduction technology applied. HBL is the only one of the three light-emitting materials of RGB (red, green, blue) that uses fluorescent materials, and plays a role in maximizing the light-emitting efficiency of blue without energy loss.
Samsung Venture Investment, ‘New Technology Fund’ Significantly Increased… Samsung Display 99.9% Support
According to the Financial Supervisory Service’s electronic disclosure system on the 25th, Samsung Venture Investment signed a contract for a profit-making securities transaction with Samsung Display for the ‘SVIC 67 New Technology Business Investment Association’ worth 188.1 billion won. The purpose of this transaction is to establish a Samsung Venture Investment Fund worth 190 billion won. Samsung Venture Investment will invest the remaining 1.9 billion won on its own.
The two companies originally planned to establish the SVIC67 fund worth 50 billion won in September of last year. Samsung Display was to invest 49.5 billion won and Samsung Venture Investment was to invest 500 million won in the fund. Then, this year, they decided to increase the amount by 140 billion won, and the total fund size was confirmed to be 190 billion won, which is 280% more than the initial target amount.
Source: kipost.net