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US Micron Invests 10 Trillion Won to Build HBM Factory in Singapore

‘Semiconductor Inspection’ Reno Industrial breaks ground for Busan Eco Delta City plant
According to Busan City on the 9th, the city held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Reno Industrial Plant at Eco Delta City in Myeongji-dong, Gangseo-gu.

Reno Industrial is the only company in Busan that manufactures semiconductor inspection-related products. Since its establishment in 1978, it has continued to innovate and has grown into a global company with a current KOSDAQ market capitalization of over 3 trillion won.

With the goal of starting operation in the second half of 2026, Reno Industrial will invest 200 billion won to build a factory with a total area of ​​69,525 m2 on a site of 72,519 m2, which is twice the size of the existing factory. It also plans to create about 200 new jobs.

Japanese Semiconductor Rapidus to Enter 2nm War… to Supply Prototype Chips to Broadcom
The Japanese newspaper Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei) reported on the 9th that Japanese semiconductor conglomerate Rapidus has agreed to supply 2nm (1nm is one billionth of a meter) semiconductor prototypes to Broadcom, the world’s fifth-largest semiconductor company in the U.S., by June. Rapidus is a semiconductor company established in 2022 with investments from eight major Japanese companies, including Toyota, Sony, and Kioxia.

According to Nikkei, Rapidus aims to start trial production of 2nm products in April and begin full-scale mass production in 2027. Rapidus’s 2nm trial production timing is similar to that of Taiwan’s TSMC and Samsung Electronics, the top foundries. The Japanese semiconductor industry, known to be relatively behind in ultra-fine processes, is quickly narrowing its technological gap and starting to enter the advanced market.

“Softbank, Arm Consider Acquiring U.S. Semiconductor Design Firm”
Bloomberg News reported on the 9th, citing anonymous sources, that SoftBank, controlled by Chairman Son Jeong-ui, and Arm, a British semiconductor design company in which SoftBank owns a 90% stake, are considering acquiring Ampere Computing LLC (hereinafter referred to as Ampere), a semiconductor design company in the United States.

Ampere was founded in 2017 by former Intel executive Rene James, and is 29% owned by U.S. software company Oracle. It specializes in designing central processing units (CPUs) for servers and data centers. Arm creates basic blueprints, and then designs CPUs based on those.

Sources said Ampere received an acquisition offer from Arm as it explored strategic options following its failed initial public offering (IPO).

Baekkwang Industry Purchases Land to Expand Semiconductor and Display Material Production Capacity
Baekkwang Industry announced on the 10th that it plans to purchase the Saemangeum National Industrial Complex, which has a land area of ​​338,133㎡, from the Korea Rural Community Corporation. The purchase price is 51.1 billion won, which is 11.7% of total assets.

A company official said, “We plan to strengthen our market competitiveness and lay the foundation for business diversification by expanding the production line for our main products,” and added, “We will strengthen our ability to pursue new businesses by establishing a business foundation for electric vehicle battery materials and semiconductor/display specialty gases and materials.”

Baekkwang Industry is a basic chemical materials development and manufacturing company established in 1954, and succeeded in producing high-purity chlorine and hydrogen chloride for the first time in Korea. 

Micron to Invest 10 Trillion Won in Singapore to Build HBM Factory

Micron’s 5th generation high bandwidth memory (HBM3E) semiconductor from the US

According to major foreign news agencies such as Bloomberg on the 8th, Micron announced that it would invest approximately 7 billion dollars (approximately 10.22 trillion won) in the Woodlands region in northern Singapore to build an HBM packaging facility.

Micron has a NAND flash semiconductor production facility in Singapore, but this is the first time it is building a dedicated HBM factory. The factory broke ground today with the goal of starting operation next year. It is scheduled for completion in 2027. The HBM produced here will be supplied to Nvidia, Broadcom, and others.

“Demand for artificial intelligence (AI) is skyrocketing,” Micron CEO Sanjay Mehrotra said at the groundbreaking ceremony, adding that “the robust growth of the HBM market is a testament to the critical role advanced semiconductor technologies play in enabling AI.”

Qualitas Semiconductor Signs Multi-Licensing Agreement with Chinese SoC Fabless Pansemi
Qualitas Semiconductor, a company specializing in the development of ultra-high-speed interface IP, announced on the 7th that it signed a licensing agreement with Pansemi, a Chinese SoC (system-on-chip) design company, including three projects in December of last year.

Through this contract, Qualitas Semiconductor will supply MIPI D-PHY IP to Pansemi, which will be applied to the next-generation security camera solution that Pansemi is developing. Qualitas Semiconductor’s MIPI D-PHY IP provides ultra-high-speed data transmission and excellent reliability, and is positioned as an essential core technology for cutting-edge IoT (Internet of Things) devices such as security cameras.

Alpha Holdings, which has reorganized non-core businesses, is pursuing normalization of management centered on semiconductors
Alpha Holdings, whose largest shareholder has changed, is reorganizing its non-semiconductor businesses and is pushing for management normalization by February.

Alpha Holdings plans to submit a report on the implementation of its improvement plan to the Korea Exchange on the 6th. The Korea Exchange KOSDAQ Market Headquarters will hold a corporate review committee meeting by early February to make a final decision on whether to resume trading.

Alpha Holdings, a KOSDAQ-listed company, has been suspended from stock trading since April 2023 after receiving a ‘limited’ audit opinion from the auditor on its 2022 fiscal year financial statements. In response, Alpha Holdings pursued the sale of its largest shareholder’s stake, and Ensnet participated in a paid-in capital increase of 5 billion won along with the acquisition of existing shares, becoming the largest shareholder at the end of last month. Alpha Holdings plans to complete the additional paid-in capital increase of 5 billion won by the 24th to secure operating funds for normalizing management.

Evesys, Solum and MOU… Cooperation to conquer US electric vehicle charging market
Lotte Innovation (286940) subsidiary EVSIS announced on the 9th (local time) at ‘CES 2025’ held in Las Vegas, USA that it signed a business agreement (MOU) with SoluM for overseas electric vehicle charging market business expansion.

The two companies have designated the United States as the first stage for cooperation. With this agreement, EVSIS will install Solum’s power module in its chargers and pursue certification and application in the US market. The strategy is to focus on strengthening local production capabilities in consideration of the uncertain external environment.

BYD in China has started production in Japan… Toyota overtakes for the first time

BYD’s LFP battery cell

According to the Nihon Keizai Shimbun on the 9th, electric vehicle sales in Japan last year were tallied at 59,736 units, a 33% decrease from the previous year. 

Nissan Motor Co. maintained its top spot in electric vehicle sales in Japan. However, sales fell 44% year-on-year to 37,490 units. This is the lowest level since 2021. Toyota also performed poorly. It sold only 2,038 units, down 30%. Its first mass-produced electric vehicle, the bZ4X, sold only 1,012 units, up 10%. 

The Japanese electric vehicle market is led by Chinese and Korean companies. BYD, which entered Japan in 2022, achieved the highest sales ever by selling 2,223 units. This is a 54% increase. It still falls short of Nissan and others, but it has grown to 40% of the level of Tesla, the number one imported electric vehicle in Japan.

CATL ranks first in electric vehicle battery market outside China from January to November
In the global electric vehicle battery market excluding China, China’s CATL maintained its top spot in terms of market share. The three domestic battery companies, LG Energy Solution, SK On, and Samsung SDI, recorded a market share of 45.6%, down 2.7%p from the same period last year.

On the 8th, market research firm SNE Research announced that the total amount of batteries installed in global electric vehicles (EVs, PHEVs, HEVs) sold worldwide excluding China from January to November last year was approximately 325.6 GWh, a 13.3% increase over the same period last year.

During this period, the market share of the three domestic battery companies decreased, but battery usage recorded growth compared to the same period last year.

LNF “Preparing for Mass Production of LFP Cathode Materials by 2026”
LNF announced on the 10th that it is preparing for full-scale mass production of cathode materials for lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, targeting 2026.

Based on its experience in operating a pilot line, LNF is preparing for mass production of LFP cathode materials and will present related technology at the ‘InterBattery 2025’ exhibition in March.

On this day, L&F announced a new year management strategy containing these contents and declared a ‘breakthrough’ to overcome the electric vehicle chasm (temporary stagnation in demand). The plan is to make 2025 the first year of technological innovation and strengthening organizational capabilities and to move forward to achieve sustainable growth.

China to Control Exports of ‘Lithium Iron Phosphate’ Cathode Technology That Dominates 90% of the World
According to China’s Jiemian Newspaper on the 6th, on the 2nd, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce announced a legislative notice on the adjustment of the ‘Chinese Export Prohibited and Restricted Technology List’. In this adjustment, one technology item was added, one item was revised, and three items were deleted.

In particular, ‘battery cathode material manufacturing technology’ has been added to the export restriction list, and in detail, it includes: △battery lithium iron phosphate (LFP) manufacturing technology △battery lithium manganese iron phosphate (LMFP) manufacturing technology △carbonate cathode material manufacturing technology. Technologies subject to export restrictions can only be exported with the approval of the foreign trade department under the State Council of China. 

Liu Yanrong, former secretary-general of the China Chemical, Physical and Power Industry Association, said, “The lithium iron phosphate (LFP) manufacturing technology and lithium manganese iron phosphate (LMFP) manufacturing technology that have been restricted for export this time have both set specific technical indicators, mainly restricting the next-generation advanced lithium iron phosphate manufacturing technology.” 

Electric Vehicle ‘Chasm Shock’… Operating Profits of 10 Battery Companies Cut in Half
The 2024 operating profit performances of leading domestic battery companies are all ’emergency’. The 2024 operating profit of LG Energy Solution, the No. 1 domestic battery manufacturer, is expected to plummet to about KRW 698.4 billion, one-third of the previous year’s KRW 2.1632 trillion, and Samsung SDI is also expected to reach about KRW 769.2 billion, half of the previous year’s KRW 1.6334 trillion. SK Innovation, which includes SK On, also fell to KRW 213.6 billion, one-ninth of the previous year’s KRW 1.9039 trillion.

The electric vehicle and battery industry ecosystem that led Korean industry even during the semiconductor recession is rapidly collapsing. The operating profit of the top 10 companies has been cut in half compared to the previous year, and excluding the subsidy effect, about 7 out of 10 companies are at risk of deficit.

Pino, L&F sign 5.4 billion won precursor supply contract
Secondary battery material company Pino announced on the 9th that it signed a contract to supply 380 tons of nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM) precursors worth 5.4 billion won with cathode material manufacturer L&F. The cumulative order amount for precursors since the fourth quarter of last year is approximately 16.4 billion won. 

The two companies signed a business agreement (MOU) for the supply of precursors in September of last year. After signing the MOU, they signed a supply contract worth about 11 billion won in four installments in the fourth quarter of last year alone. They plan to supply about 60,000 tons of precursors by 2028.

Hyundai Motor Group and Nvidia to Create Robots and Autonomous Vehicles Together

NVIDIA Drive Orin

Hyundai Motor Group has joined hands with NVIDIA, the leader in the artificial intelligence (AI) semiconductor market, to develop next-generation mobility. As it has formed an alliance with NVIDIA, it is expected that Hyundai Motor Group’s future core businesses, such as autonomous driving and robotics, will gain momentum.

Hyundai Motor Group announced on the 10th that it has formed a strategic partnership with NVIDIA for mobility innovation in Las Vegas, USA. Hyundai Motor Group is the first time that NVIDIA, which has over 90% of the AI ​​accelerator market, which is essential for improving AI performance, has formed an alliance with a corporate group rather than an individual company.

Hyundai Motor Group plans to use computing and infrastructure built by Nvidia to increase the training speed of existing AI models and upgrade autonomous driving software. 

SOS Lab Collaborates with ‘Viewerun’ to Obtain US Autonomous Driving License
SOS Lab, a lidar specialist, announced on the 10th that it has signed a business agreement (MOU) with LiDAR solution specialist Viewrun Technology (Viewrun) for cooperation on lidar-based autonomous driving solutions.

With this agreement, the two companies plan to advance lidar and cognitive algorithms based on their respective technological strengths. Through this, they plan to provide differentiated services in various fields such as autonomous vehicles and robots, and to cooperate closely in various aspects such as discovering new demand sources and expanding the market.

MC Nex Unveils Next-Generation Autonomous Vehicle Camera at CES
MC Nex announced on the 10th that it had showcased next-generation mobile technology and battlefield solutions at ‘CES 2025’, the world’s largest IT and home appliance exhibition.

According to MC Nex, the ultra-slim high-resolution camera module exhibited this time has been significantly thinner than existing products to fit the trend of increasingly thin smartphones. By applying a periscope structure to the camera, the thickness was reduced while maintaining image quality.

A two-channel ToF (time-of-flight) camera that can be used in autonomous vehicles was also exhibited this time. The two-channel ToF camera is a device that MC Nex is developing, and it can measure long distances compared to existing technology. The existing technology had a guaranteed accuracy distance of 3m, but the two-channel ToF camera has a guaranteed accuracy distance of 7m.

US investigates Tesla’s 2.6 million ‘smart summon’ accidents
According to CNN and other sources on the 7th (local time), the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced that it will begin a preliminary investigation of 2.6 million Tesla vehicles in the U.S. equipped with the Smart Summon (ASS) autonomous driving function.

Launched in September of last year, ASS is a remote control function that allows the vehicle to move to a specific location via a smartphone app. NHTSA explained the background of the investigation, saying that reports were received that when the ASS function was used, the vehicle did not detect poles or parked vehicles, leaving the user with insufficient time to avoid a collision.

In 2023, a Tesla Model 3 vehicle crashed into a parked car while using Smart Summon in Houston, and in September last year, a Model Y vehicle suddenly made a left turn and crashed into a parked car in Henderson, Nevada.

Driving information and maps on the windshield of the car… Hyundai Mobis unveils transparent display
Hyundai Mobis unveiled its ‘holographic windshield transparent display’ technology that can implement various driving information on a vehicle’s windshield at ‘CES 2025’, the world’s largest information technology (IT) and home appliance exhibition, on the 8th (local time). After joint development with German global optics company ZEISS, it plans to enter mass production starting in 2027. 

According to Hyundai Mobis, the special feature of Hyundai Mobis’ transparent display technology is that it can use the car window as a screen without a physical display device. Driving information, maps, and music lists necessary for vehicle use can be implemented under the window. When viewed from the outside, it is just a transparent glass window, but when viewed from the inside, various information appears on the windshield.

Corning Precision Materials Invests in Next-Generation Process Introduction Facilities at Asan Plant

South Chungcheong Province Governor Kim Tae-heum (center) is signing an investment memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Corning Precision Materials President Van Hall and Asan City Mayor Cho Il-gyo at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, USA on the 9th

Corning Incorporated has promised to invest in facilities to introduce next-generation advanced materials processes at its Asan, South Chungcheong Province, plant. 

On the 9th (local time), Governor Kim signed an investment memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Corning Precision Materials President Van Hall and Asan City Mayor Cho Il-kyo at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2025 in Las Vegas, USA. Corning Precision Materials promised to invest in advanced production facilities for the purpose of introducing next-generation process technology for advanced materials. The investment amount and products produced were not disclosed at the company’s request.

Corning Precision Materials also works to promote regional development, including employment for local residents.

Source: kipost.net