Nvidia Invests 7 Trillion Won in Intel, Strengthening US Semiconductor Alliance
According to Reuters and other news agencies on the 18th (local time), Nvidia purchased Intel common stock at $23.28 per share, owning more than 4% of the company’s shares and becoming a major shareholder.
Intel’s strategy is to strengthen its competitiveness by incorporating NVIDIA’s graphics technology into its next-generation PC chips. Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA, said, “This historic collaboration closely connects artificial intelligence (AI) and accelerated computing technologies with Intel’s central processing units (CPUs) and the x86 ecosystem. Together, we will broaden the ecosystem and lay the foundation for the next generation of computing.”
Hanmi Semiconductor to Apply AI Technology to New Equipment Products and Establish AI Research Center
Hanmi Semiconductor announced on the 18th that it has completed the development of artificial intelligence (AI)-based semiconductor equipment technology and plans to incorporate AI technology into all future equipment releases. Last year, Hanmi Semiconductor filed a patent for its AI-based equipment auto-setting technology, FullSelf Device Setup (FDS).
FDS is a technology that allows equipment to perform setups without human assistance. It allows the equipment to perform tasks that previously took a skilled technician eight hours in just 35 minutes. This recently completed technology has been applied to the Micro Saw and Vision Placement 6.0 Griffin, a semiconductor equipment manufactured by Hanmi Semiconductor.
Construction begins on a 10 billion won power semiconductor plant in Gijang, Busan, to be completed next year.
Busan City announced that it held a groundbreaking ceremony for Nature Flower Semiconductor (NFS) at the Imrang-ri site in Jang-an-eup, Gijang-gun on the morning of the 16th and began construction.
Founded in 2022, NFS is considered a promising company poised to lead the SiC (silicon carbide) power semiconductor market. It plans to expand its business by specializing in core areas such as ultra-high-purity silicon wafer production, next-generation power semiconductor device design, and packaging. Notably, NFS has received approval to use the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute’s Hanaro Research Reactor, manufacturing ultra-high-purity silicon wafers. Once the new export-oriented research reactor currently under construction in Gijang is completed, the company plans to significantly expand its production capacity.
AI system semiconductor company Meta C&I relocates its headquarters to Jeju.
According to the Jeju Special Self-Governing Province on the 17th, Meta C&I, previously headquartered in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, has relocated its headquarters to Jeju. Meta C&I is a semiconductor fabless company that ranked eighth on Forbes Korea’s “Korea’s 30 Power Innovators – Semiconductor Sector” list in October of last year, following Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix.
MetaC&I is recognized as a leading company possessing AI system semiconductors used in smartphone displays and low-power design technology for ultra-high-resolution microdisplays.
Qualitas Semiconductor Signs Agreement to Supply PCIe Gen 4.0 PHY IP to a Chinese Company
Qualitas Semiconductor, a company specializing in ultra-high-speed interface IP, announced on the 16th that it has signed a contract to supply PCIe Gen 4.0 PHY IP worth approximately KRW 1.1 billion to a fabless customer in the Greater China region.
This contract provides PCIe Gen 4.0 PHY IP based on the 8nm (nanometer, one billionth of a meter) process, and Qualitas Semiconductor’s high-performance, low-power interface technology will be applied to the customer’s next-generation SoC (system-on-chip) design.
Padu signs a 10.5 billion won contract to supply SSD controllers to an overseas NAND flash manufacturer.
Padu, an SSD controller design company, has signed a 10.5 billion won contract with an overseas NAND flash memory manufacturer to supply enterprise SSD controllers. Padu announced in an electronic disclosure on the 18th that the contract will run from September 18, 2025, to March 19, 2026, with a total contract value of approximately 10.5 billion won.
The name of the contracting party and specific sales information were kept confidential at the request of the client. However, Padu explained that it had experience executing similar contracts with the client over the past three years.
SSD prices are bound to rise due to HDD shortages.
On the 16th, market research firm TrendForce predicted that contract prices for enterprise SSDs in the fourth quarter of this year would rise 5-10% compared to the previous quarter. This is because production capacity cannot keep pace with demand for high-capacity enterprise SSDs.
As AI-generated data grows significantly, demand for devices to store it has also increased. Enterprise “nearline” HDDs are facing a severe supply shortage. As the HDD shortage worsens, SSDs, which offer higher performance but are more expensive, are gaining market attention.
TrendForce said, “In particular, shipments of high-capacity QLC (Quad Level Cell) SSDs may see explosive growth next year.”
Xiaomi Recalls 117,000 Electric Vehicles Following Fatal Accidents Due to Defective Driver Assistance Features
Chinese company Xiaomi has decided to recall about 117,000 of its electric vehicles that were involved in a fatal accident in March due to a defect in their autonomous driving function.
China’s State Administration for Market Regulation announced on the 19th that Xiaomi Motors, Xiaomi’s electric vehicle business unit, decided to recall 116,887 SU7 sedans in accordance with the “Regulations on the Management of Recall of Defective Automobile Products.”
The recall covers the SU7 standard model produced between February 6th of last year and August 30th of this year.
BASF Launches Low-Conductivity Coolant for Electric Vehicles, Targeting the Chinese Market
BASF announced on the 18th that it has launched “Glisantin Electrified,” a low-conductivity coolant that meets China’s new industrial standards, which will take effect in October. This coolant prevents excessive current flow when in contact with high-voltage components, thereby reducing hydrogen generation. It is claimed to reduce the risk of battery overheating and fire, while also ensuring long-term stability. It has also received certification from external testing agencies, including those under the Chinese Ministry of Transport.
Production takes place at the Pudong factory in Shanghai, China.
Hyundai Motor Company to Invest KRW 77.3 Trillion Over Five Years, Strengthening Eco-Friendly Vehicle Lineup with 18 Hybrid Electric Vehicles
Hyundai Motor Company will invest 77.3 trillion won over the next five years to overcome complex crises, including the electric vehicle chasm (a temporary slowdown in demand) and tariffs. It also aims to achieve a global sales target of 5.55 million units by 2030, with 3.3 million units, or 60%, to be eco-friendly vehicles such as electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs).
To this end, the number of hybrid vehicle models will be expanded to a total of 18, including Genesis, and the global production capacity will be increased by 1.2 million units, including increasing the production capacity of Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) to 500,000 units.
On the 18th (local time), Hyundai Motor Company held the ‘2025 CEO Investor Day’ for global investors, analysts, and credit rating agencies at The Shed in Manhattan, New York, USA, and announced its mid- to long-term strategy and financial plan.
Moderntech Acquires Green Technology and CE Certifications Simultaneously, Targeting Global Market with Ultra-Fast Electric Vehicle Chargers
Moderntech, a company specializing in electric vehicle chargers, has obtained the ‘Green Technology Certification’ from the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology based on its original patented technology.
The “Green Technology Certification” system, established under the Framework Act on Carbon Neutrality, is awarded to promising eco-friendly technologies. It is expected to foster the creation of new industries, address climate change, and facilitate the market entry of fine dust reduction technologies, while also boosting corporate sales and job creation, thereby enhancing industrial competitiveness.
The technology Moderntech recently received certification for is “power distribution and simultaneous/sequential charging control.” Its unique feature is its structure, which separates the power and charging units, enabling efficient simultaneous charging of multiple vehicles even with limited power capacity.
POSCO International to Build Rare Earth and Permanent Magnet Production Plant in the US
POSCO International announced on the 19th that it signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with US-based Reelement Technologies (Reelement) on the 18th at the POSCO Center in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, to strengthen the rare earth supply chain.
In this agreement, the two companies agreed to explore ways to cooperate to build an integrated production complex for rare earth elements and permanent magnets in the United States.
POSCO International will be responsible for the supply of rare earth intermediate materials and permanent magnets, while Reelement will provide separation, refining, and recycling technologies.
SK Innovation Enters the Used Battery Recycling Market
SK Innovation announced on the 17th that it signed a ‘business agreement for battery recycling technology (BMR) licensing’ with global engineering company KBR at the ‘Fast Market Conference’, the world’s largest lithium and battery raw material conference held in Portugal on the 16th (local time).
Under this agreement, KBR will combine SK Innovation’s BMR technology with its own high-purity crystallization technology to sell the product to global markets, with SK Innovation receiving royalty income. BMR technology is a proprietary process for directly recovering lithium hydroxide from spent batteries, utilizing a proprietary process that first recovers the lithium.
Panasonic develops ‘silent battery’ with significantly increased driving range, with plans for application in 2027.
According to Reuters on the 18th (local time), Panasonic announced that it is developing a next-generation battery that can increase the driving range of the Tesla Model Y by 90 miles (about 145 km).
Panasonic claims that a battery pack of the same size can extend the Tesla Model Y’s range to approximately 724 km. This is the result of a 25% improvement in energy density compared to conventional cells.
Panasonic is developing technology that eliminates the cathode to increase energy density, freeing up space for more cathode active material.
Google Waymo’s self-driving car. /Photo = Waymo
Qualcomm Advances Autonomous Driving Platform, Expands Customer Base Following BMW
Qualcomm is targeting the autonomous driving market with a platform that integrates cutting-edge automotive semiconductors and AI software. Following its initial application in BMW’s latest electric vehicle, the company plans to expand its application to other countries and customers. Rajat Sagar, vice president of product management at Qualcomm, announced the company’s autonomous driving technology and business strategy in a video media briefing on the 18th.
Qualcomm has been developing and mass-producing its Snapdragon Digital Chassis platform for the autonomous driving and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) market. The platform encompasses four key areas: auto connectivity for vehicle communication, digital cockpits focused on infotainment, car-to-cloud, and Snapdragon Ride for autonomous driving systems.
HL Group and Korea Automotive Research Institute Take the Lead in Autonomous Driving Technology Development
HL Group announced on the 17th that its autonomous driving solution subsidiary HL Clemuv and the Korea Automotive Research Institute signed a business agreement for ‘future mobility technology cooperation and creation of an innovative industry ecosystem.’
This collaboration focuses on five key tasks: research on software-defined vehicles (SDVs), development of artificial intelligence (AI) control technology, and establishment of a cybersecurity system.
Specifically, the five major tasks are ▲mobility platform ▲mobility environment sensor ▲mobility intelligence control ▲mobility safety design ▲mobility certification testing and education.
Etifos Receives C-ITS Certification for All V2X Products, Securing a Bridgehead for Global Expansion
Etiforce, a vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication specialist, announced on the 17th that it has received Cooperative Intelligent Transport Systems (C-ITS) certification for its entire product line. This certification, granted by the Korea Intelligent Transport Systems Association (ITS Korea), is a system that verifies the interoperability and performance of V2X equipment.
With the certification of the OBU, following its lightweight OBU (AVD) and RSU, Etiphos now has a full lineup ready for immediate deployment to major domestic projects. C-ITS certification is a prerequisite for domestic C-ITS projects, autonomous driving infrastructure, and smart city construction.
SOS Lab supplies lidar to Hyundai’s Mobed, anticipating Boston Dynamics supply.
SOS Lab, a LiDAR sensor specialist, is supplying LiDAR sensors for Hyundai Motor Company’s next-generation compact mobility platform, “MobED,” and is expanding its business into the robotics sector. This supply is expected to fuel expectations for collaboration with Boston Dynamics, a Hyundai Motor Group affiliate.
According to the securities industry on the 17th, SOS Lab is known to be supplying the 3D high-resolution lidar ‘ML-X’ to Mobed, developed by Hyundai Motor Group’s Robotics Lab. The model is scheduled for release at the end of the year.
Google’s Waymo is on the verge of entering San Francisco Airport, receiving approval for test operations.
Google’s self-driving robotaxi, Waymo, is on the verge of launching full-scale operations at San Francisco International Airport. Waymo announced on the 16th (local time) that it has received permission to begin testing robotaxi services at San Francisco International Airport.
Waymo already operates paid services in areas near airports, including San Francisco, but has not yet received a permit to operate at airports. Waymo plans to collaborate with airports to gradually roll out a commercial robotaxi service, starting with a pilot program for employees.
A heat sink board produced by LX Semicon. /Photo = LX Semicon
Display Industry News – LX Semicon Invests 14.5 Billion Won to Develop Semiconductor Startups
LX Semicon invests 14.5 billion won to discover semiconductor startups.
LX Semicon announced on the 19th that it will invest approximately 14.5 billion won in the ‘Startup Korea LX-BSK Open Innovation Investment Association’.
The fund will operate for eight years, and LX Ventures and BSK Investment will be in charge of managing the fund. LX Semicon announced that it is looking forward to collaborating with venture companies and startups in areas such as system semiconductors, including artificial intelligence, as well as heat dissipation substrates and heat dissipation solutions.
The OLED MacBook Pro will feature a touchscreen display.
Apple’s first OLED MacBook Pro, scheduled to enter mass production next year, will feature a touchscreen display, foreign media outlets including MacRumors reported on the 17th (local time).
Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said through X that “the OLED MacBook Pro, which is scheduled for mass production at the end of next year, will be equipped with a touch panel using on-cell touch technology.” On-cell touch technology is a method of integrating touch sensors directly into the top layer of the display panel, without a separate dedicated touch layer.
Korea dominates OLED light-emitting material purchases, while China makes strides in the smartphone market.
According to market research firm UBI Research on the 18th, Korean panel manufacturers’ purchases of luminescent materials in the first half of this year amounted to approximately 36.7 tons, accounting for 59.9% of the total, while China accounted for the remaining 40.1%, at 24.6 tons. By company, Samsung Display accounted for approximately 40% of the market share, followed by LG Display, and China’s BOE and Tianma.
However, in the smartphone luminescent materials market, China has surpassed Korea. China has maintained a market share exceeding 50% for two consecutive quarters.
Source kipost.net
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