The Japanese government has recently announced a new subsidy program aimed at hydrogen fuel cell commercial vehicles, offering a subsidy of ¥700 (approximately NT$145) per kilogram of hydrogen. This move underscores the growing importance of hydrogen energy in the global clean energy transition, especially as it faces challenges such as high costs, infrastructure limitations, and technological maturity.

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

Rare earth metals play an indispensable role in modern automobiles. From the permanent magnets inside electric motors, to the sensor modules essential for ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems), and even to the charging and energy management systems, rare earths are critical materials. However, since April this year, China, the dominant supplier of rare earths, has imposed export restrictions on several rare earth metals and related magnets. This move has quickly caused upheaval across global industries. Amid the rapid growth of electric vehicles, the tightening of rare earth supplies not only delays production schedules but also drives up overall costs, putting pressure on both pricing and delivery timelines.

Market Overview: In May, the total market registration volume was 31,910 units, marking a slight 2.9% decline from April and a significant 23.1% drop compared to May last year. Among major brands, only Lexus, Hyundai, Mazda, and Mitsubishi showed growth over April, while other major brands experienced varying degrees of decline. Mercedes-Benz saw the sharpest drop at 22.1%, primarily due to a model year transition for the GLC, which resulted in only 515 units registered—a 26% decrease. As of the end of May, the cumulative registration volume for the year was 164,647 units, down 2.9% year-over-year. Although the impact of the U.S. Trump administration's retaliatory tariff policy has subsided this month, the automotive industry is now facing speculation over potential reductions in import duties and commodity taxes. This has caused many consumers to adopt a wait-and-see attitude or delay their purchase plans, resulting in a weakened overall market performance. A return to stability is expected only after the government makes an official announcement. Consequently, our market forecast for the year has been revised downward and is now expected to reach around 425,000 units.

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

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

As autonomous driving technology moves steadily toward commercialization, Alphabet’s self-driving unit Waymo has taken another critical step forward. According to a recent announcement, Waymo has received approval from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to expand its robotaxi operations across a broader area of the San Francisco Peninsula, extending further south to include the tech hub of San Jose. This decision reflects the California government’s growing confidence in the safety and market potential of autonomous services, and it further consolidates Waymo’s dominant position in the U.S. robotaxi landscape.

The Japanese government has recently announced a new subsidy program aimed at hydrogen fuel cell commercial vehicles, offering a subsidy of ¥700 (approximately NT$145) per kilogram of hydrogen. This move underscores the growing importance of hydrogen energy in the global clean energy transition, especially as it faces challenges such as high costs, infrastructure limitations, and technological maturity.

Rare earth metals play an indispensable role in modern automobiles. From the permanent magnets inside electric motors, to the sensor modules essential for ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems), and even to the charging and energy management systems, rare earths are critical materials. However, since April this year, China, the dominant supplier of rare earths, has imposed export restrictions on several rare earth metals and related magnets. This move has quickly caused upheaval across global industries. Amid the rapid growth of electric vehicles, the tightening of rare earth supplies not only delays production schedules but also drives up overall costs, putting pressure on both pricing and delivery timelines.

This week, Ford Motor Co. announced the layoff of approximately 350 employees from its North American connected vehicle software team, accounting for about 5% of the department’s workforce. This decision highlights the challenges faced by automakers at a critical juncture in the transition to the Software-Defined Vehicle (SDV) era. Even though connected functions and digital experiences have become the core battlegrounds for product development and brand transformation, car manufacturers continue to face multiple hurdles, including talent integration, resource allocation, and adjustments to technical architecture.

As autonomous driving technology moves steadily toward commercialization, Alphabet’s self-driving unit Waymo has taken another critical step forward. According to a recent announcement, Waymo has received approval from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to expand its robotaxi operations across a broader area of the San Francisco Peninsula, extending further south to include the tech hub of San Jose. This decision reflects the California government’s growing confidence in the safety and market potential of autonomous services, and it further consolidates Waymo’s dominant position in the U.S. robotaxi landscape.

Nissan recently announced the cancellation of its plan to build its first electric vehicle battery plant in Kitakyushu, Japan. Meanwhile, Toyota is also planning to postpone the construction schedule of its battery plant in the Shin-Matsuyama Coastal Industrial Zone near Kanda Port in Fukuoka Prefecture. These developments represent not only strategic adjustments for the two major automakers but also deal a significant blow to Japan’s broader industrial policy. At a time when the global EV industry is developing at high speed, Japan’s original plan to accelerate the construction of a domestic battery supply chain — aimed at preserving the international competitiveness of its auto industry — is now facing serious challenges.

On 30th April, Toyota and Waymo officially announced that they have reached a preliminary agreement to collaborate on accelerating the development and application of autonomous driving technologies. The partnership will also include Woven by Toyota, the automaker’s strategic subsidiary, to further integrate advanced software development and mobility innovation resources—demonstrating a strong commitment by both industry giants to advancing the future of self-driving mobility.

On 21st April 21, at its inaugural CATL TECH DAY, Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited (CATL) unveiled three groundbreaking battery technologies: the Second-generation Shenxing Superfast Charging Battery, the Naxtra (Sodium-ion) Battery, and the Freevoy Dual-Power Battery. These innovations not only reaffirm CATL’s global leadership in battery technology but also mark major advancements in charging efficiency, extreme temperature adaptability, and multi-chemistry integration. Each of these technologies offers stark contrast to current mainstream solutions and has the potential to reshape the trajectory of the electric vehicle (EV) industry.