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.

In the fiercely competitive global electric vehicle (EV) market, Foxtron Vehicle Technologies, a subsidiary of Hon Hai Technology Group (Foxconn), once again demonstrates its ambition for expansion. The company has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Japan's Mitsubishi Motors, aiming to launch an electric vehicle specifically designed for the Australian and New Zealand markets in the second half of 2026. This EV model will be designed and managed by Foxtron and manufactured in Taiwan by Yulon Motor. It will be sold under the Mitsubishi brand through an OEM agreement, representing a concrete realization of Foxconn’s MIH platform strategy successfully attracting global automakers.

U.S. President Donald Trump recently announced a steep 25% tariff on imported cars, shaking up the global automotive industry. Major car manufacturers and dealerships reacted swiftly to this policy, as it increases pressure on car prices, disrupts supply chains, and strains trade relations between the U.S. and its key allies. The market's reaction highlights the high level of uncertainty facing the automotive industry. Following the announcement, the stock prices of major European car brands plummeted, with companies like BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Porsche collectively losing €5.5 billion (approximately NT$197.58 billion) in market value in a single day. Meanwhile, American automakers such as General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis also saw their stock prices decline, with Tesla being the only exception, as it relies less on imported vehicles and instead saw its shares rise.

Since Donald Trump resumed office as the President of the United States on January 20 this year, his trade policies have once again become a focal point of global attention. In particular, for the automotive industry, Trump recently announced a plan to impose tariffs on imported cars, which could take effect as early as April 2. The goal is to address trade imbalances between the U.S. and other countries in a way that he believes is fairer while also strengthening the global competitiveness of American manufacturing. But what impact will Trump’s proposed automobile tariffs have on the global automotive industry?

The much-anticipated merger between Honda and Nissan, which made headlines across the global automotive industry, has recently been officially called off. This historic negotiation, which had the potential to form the world’s third-largest automotive group, came to an abrupt halt as Honda and Nissan failed to reach a consensus. As a result, Nissan once again finds itself in a survival crisis, urgently needing to seek new partners to stay competitive in the rapidly evolving global electric vehicle market, especially amid the rise of Chinese domestic brands.

Recently, the Gartner Digital Automaker Index released its second annual report on automotive digitalization. Covering 13,919 data points across nine major domains, the report evaluated 22 automakers. The results show that EV startups, led by Tesla, continue to dominate the digitalization trend, while traditional manufacturers such as Toyota face significant challenges.