Market Overview: Total new vehicle registrations in January reached 35,073 units, representing a 25.9% decline compared with December last year, but remaining flat compared with January last year. As the first month of 2026, major automotive brands showed a mixed performance of gains and declines. Among them, Ford recorded the largest increase at 115.3%, mainly driven by the Territory, which alone registered 1,333 units and contributed as much as 41.4% of the brand’s month-on-month growth. Among the major brands, Mercedes-Benz saw the most severe decline, falling 31.7% compared with December last year. The main reasons were the model-year transition of its core model GLC, while the all-new, fully redesigned CLA has yet to be launched. Looking ahead to the overall market in 2026, greater challenges are expected compared with last year. However, the domestic economy is likely to be supported by the AI and semiconductor industries, keeping related exports on a growth trajectory. Coupled with policy incentives such as trade-in programs and excise tax rebates, surpassing the 2025 total of 414,436 units is considered highly achievable.

"Weekly car news " is a recap of some of the major stories in Taiwan car market last week.

Tesla, long known for maintaining strong profitability in the electric vehicle industry, saw its performance slip for the first time in 2025. Fourth-quarter deliveries and adjusted profit are expected to decline year-on-year by 3.6% and as much as 40%, respectively. Clearly, Tesla’s EV business is facing mounting pressure from intensifying competition and ongoing brand controversies. Investors, meanwhile, are increasingly focused on whether CEO Elon Musk’s long-promised vision for autonomous driving and artificial intelligence is finally beginning to translate into tangible, verifiable commercial results. This expectation stands in stark contrast to the strain currently weighing on Tesla’s core EV operations.

"Weekly car news " is a recap of some of the major stories in Taiwan car market last week.

Against the backdrop of rising geopolitical risks and growing supply chain uncertainty, Japan’s automotive industry is seeking to strengthen its control over key components through more institutionalized and data-driven approaches. According to disclosures by Nikkei, major Japanese automakers are set to work with semiconductor manufacturers to establish an information-sharing mechanism for automotive chips. By leveraging a centralized database, the initiative aims to enhance overall supply chain visibility and risk responsiveness, and is widely viewed as a significant strategic shift for Japan’s automotive sector in terms of economic security.

Against the backdrop of the rapid evolution of intelligent driving technologies in mainland China, Huawei is expanding the penetration of its driver assistance systems across the broader automotive market with a clear and increasingly aggressive pace. According to recently disclosed plans, Huawei aims to deploy its Qiankun ADS driver assistance system in more than 80 vehicle models within this year. This represents a significant increase from approximately 30 models as of November 2024, underscoring that Huawei’s strategic focus in automotive technology is steadily taking shape.

"Weekly car news " is a recap of some of the major stories in Taiwan car market last week.

Tesla, long known for maintaining strong profitability in the electric vehicle industry, saw its performance slip for the first time in 2025. Fourth-quarter deliveries and adjusted profit are expected to decline year-on-year by 3.6% and as much as 40%, respectively. Clearly, Tesla’s EV business is facing mounting pressure from intensifying competition and ongoing brand controversies. Investors, meanwhile, are increasingly focused on whether CEO Elon Musk’s long-promised vision for autonomous driving and artificial intelligence is finally beginning to translate into tangible, verifiable commercial results. This expectation stands in stark contrast to the strain currently weighing on Tesla’s core EV operations.

Against the backdrop of rising geopolitical risks and growing supply chain uncertainty, Japan’s automotive industry is seeking to strengthen its control over key components through more institutionalized and data-driven approaches. According to disclosures by Nikkei, major Japanese automakers are set to work with semiconductor manufacturers to establish an information-sharing mechanism for automotive chips. By leveraging a centralized database, the initiative aims to enhance overall supply chain visibility and risk responsiveness, and is widely viewed as a significant strategic shift for Japan’s automotive sector in terms of economic security.

CES 2026 has concluded in Las Vegas, marking a milestone where the event is no longer just a stage for unveiling new models or features, but a critical compass for the global automotive industry to define the next decade. As "electrification" becomes the baseline market requirement, this year’s exhibition sent a clear and powerful signal: the core of automotive competition has shifted entirely from "mechanical performance" to the "digital soul." Through the deep integration of Agentic AI, the commercial realization of Software-Defined Vehicles (SDV), and breakthroughs in integrated land-air mobility, the automobile is transforming from a mere transportation tool into a physical AI partner—one that possesses reasoning capabilities, evolves continuously, and transcends spatial limitations.

Against the backdrop of the rapid evolution of intelligent driving technologies in mainland China, Huawei is expanding the penetration of its driver assistance systems across the broader automotive market with a clear and increasingly aggressive pace. According to recently disclosed plans, Huawei aims to deploy its Qiankun ADS driver assistance system in more than 80 vehicle models within this year. This represents a significant increase from approximately 30 models as of November 2024, underscoring that Huawei’s strategic focus in automotive technology is steadily taking shape.

As trade tensions over electric vehicles between Mainland China and the European Union remain elevated, both sides announced this week that they have taken a step forward toward resolving disputes over imports of Mainland China–made electric vehicles. The two parties agreed to adopt a “price undertaking” mechanism to replace, or partially replace, existing anti-subsidy tariffs. This move not only has significant implications for the long-term positioning of Mainland Chinese EV brands in Europe, but also reflects the EU’s policy balancing act between industrial protection, supply-chain dependence, and adherence to international trade rules.

In an era when autonomous driving is highly dependent on digital and electrical infrastructure, Waymo’s recent experience during a large-scale power outage in San Francisco unexpectedly became a real-world test of how driverless systems respond to extreme scenarios. The outage, triggered by a fire at a power substation, disrupted the daily lives of up to 130,000 customers and directly impacted Waymo’s autonomous ride-hailing service. Multiple vehicles came to a halt mid-journey at intersections or in the middle of roadways, causing tangible disruptions to urban traffic and the passenger experience.

The European Commission has recently put forward a proposal to adjust its automotive decarbonization policy, seeking to relax the rule that would have fully banned the sale of new combustion-engine vehicles from 2035 and replace it with more flexible emissions targets. This move can be seen as the EU’s most significant retreat from its green transition policies over the past five years. Shaped under sustained pressure from Germany, Italy, and Europe’s automotive industry, the proposal reflects the practical challenges and structural pressures European carmakers face in the global electrification race.