7-20 #Typhoon : Robert Bosch GmbH is considering closing a plant in Munich that makes components for cars powered by internal combustion engines; SK Innovation will receive subsidies worth EUR90M (USD106.2M) from the European Union for its second battery factory in Hungary; etc.
GlobalFoundries (GF) CEO Tom Caulfield has announced that the company is set on expansion. At the heart of this new initiative is a doubling of Fab 8, GF’s leading manufacturing facility, at the cost of around USD1B. Accompanying this is the disclosure that GF is going to build another manufacturing facility close to Fab 8, in Malta NY, as part of a Private-Public partnership. Details of the new facility were not given. (CN Beta, AnandTech, Barron’s, Yahoo, GF)
GlobalFoundries’ CEO Thomas Caulfield has shot down reports that Intel was in talks to buy the company in a USD30B deal. The company, which is owned by an investment arm of the Abu Dhabi government, is sticking with its plan for an initial public offering in 2022. (CN Beta, Seeking Alpha, Yahoo, Bloomberg)
As early as May 2020, vivo applied for two chip trademarks, named “vivo SOC” and “vivo chip”. It is rumored the chip would be applied on its next flagship vivo X70 series. The chips are rumored to be focused on improving the imaging capabilities of the company’s handset devices. (CN Beta, IT Home, Pandaily)
Robert Bosch GmbH is considering closing a plant in Munich that makes components for cars powered by internal combustion engines. Germany’s coming transition from combustion to electric cars will lead to “considerable overcapacity and the need for adjustment”. (CN Beta, Automotive News, Bloomberg, Muenchner Merkur)
Samsung Display (SDC) 120Hz low-temperature polycrystalline oxide (LTPO) reportedly will drive most of the foldable smartphones launched in 2021. LTPO backplane technology is preferred to coventional display tech as it is less power hungry, especially when switching screen referesh rates. (Twitter, Pocket-Lint)
Apple reportedly would bring always-on display (AOD) functionality to its next generation of iPhone. The only sensible reason why Apple is so late to bring AOD to its iPhones is power management. (Mac Rumors, GSM Arena, Mahsable)
Samsung Electronics has launched the 2021 model of its boundary-pushing modular display The Wall (Model Name: IWA) globally. With the new AI processing technology, upgraded 120Hz frame rates, and versatile installation options, The Wall once again reimagines display technology to give businesses boundless flexibility to showcase content. (The Verge, CN Beta, Samsung)
The in-vehicle lens of Lianchuang Electronics (LCE) passed the vehicle regulatory certification in 2015, entered the Tesla supply chain in 2016, and mass-produced in 2017. In 2018-2019, the company passed the Mobileye EyeQ4-EyeQ6 certification; LCE has stated that the company is expected to become the first supplier of Tesla’s automotive lens in 2022. (Laoyaoba, 163, iFeng)
According to SK hynix Wuxi, as of 2020, SK hynix has invested more than USD20B in China, has more than 4,000 employees in Wuxi, and completed the construction of the second factory C2F in 2019, and continues to increase Investment, rooted in Wuxi. So far, the Wuxi plant will assume nearly half of the total production of SK Hynix DRAM storage semiconductors. (CN Beta, Sohu)
SK Innovation will receive subsidies worth EUR90M (USD106.2M) from the European Union for its second battery factory in Hungary. The state aid will take up roughly 8% of the total investment worth KRT945B (USD827.1M) required for the 10-gigwatt-hour battery factory under construction in the northwestern Hungarian city of Komarom. The facility is set for completion this year and commercial operation in 2022. (CN Beta, Electrive, Korea Herald)
Australian lithium miner Vulcan Energy Resources has said it signed an agreement with LG Energy Solution (LGES) to supply lithium hydroxide for at least 5 years, a first of its kind for its European lithium project. Vulcan, which operates in Germany’s Black Forest area, said LGES would buy 5,000 metric tonnes (mt) of battery grade lithium hydroxide for the first year of the deal, and subsequently ramp it up to 10,000 mt per year. (CN Beta, Reuters, Mining)
Earlier 2021, Redmi launched the Redmi 9 Power and Redmi 9A smartphones in India at affordable prices. These phones have got a price hike in both online and offline Xiaomi stores across India. The Redmi 9 Power has received a INR500(~USD7) price hike, now retailing at INR13,499(~USD181) from its original INR12,999(~USD174) pricing. On the other hand, the Redmi 9A, which used to retail for INR7,499(~USD101)is now available for INR7,799(~USD107). (Gizmo China, 91Mobiles, BGR)
Apple reportedly is set to roll out its third-generation iPhone SE series in 1H22, providing new business opportunities for chip probing specialists including TSMC subsidiary Xintec, according to Digitimes. TF Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has also said that the new iPhone SE will be “Apple’s cheapest 5G phone ever” and hopes to consolidate Apple’s position in the increasingly competitive 5G market. (Apple Insider, GizChina, Digitimes, Mac Rumors)
Tencent has agreed to acquire British video game developer Sumo Group for GBP919M (USD1.26B). Tencent, the world’s largest video game publisher, has acquired stakes in several gaming companies. It is the owner of League of Legends developer Riot Games and Finnish mobile games maker Supercell. It also holds a 40% stake in Epic Games, the company behind Fortnite. (Engadget, London Stock Exchange, Kotaku, CNBC)
OPPO A16 is launched Indonesia – 6.52” 720×1600 HD+ v-notch, MediaTek Helio G35, rear tri 13MP-2MP macro-2MP monochrome + front 8MP, 3+32GB, Android 11.0, side fingerprint, 5000mAh 10W, IDR1.9M (USD138). (GSM Arena, OPPO, Gizmo China)
Redmi Note 10T 5G is launched in India – 6.5” 2400×1080 FHD+ HiD 90Hz, MediaTek Dimensity 700, rear tri 48MP-2MP macro-2MP depth + front 8MP, 4+64 / 6+128GB, Android 11.0, side fingerprint, 5000mAh 18W (22.5W charger), INR13,999 (USD187) / INR15,999 (USD214). (Gizmo China, Android Central, Live Mint)
OPPO Reno6 Z is launched in Vietnam – 6.43” 1080×2400 FHD+ HiD AMOLED 60Hz, MediaTek Dimensity 800U 5G, rear tri 64MP-8MP ultrawide-2MP macro + front 32MP, 8+128GB, Android 11.0, fingerprint on display, 4310mAh 30W, VND9.4M (USD412). (Gizmo China, 91Mobile)
Maimang 10 SE 5G is launched in China – 6.52” 720×1600 HD+ v-notch, Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 5G, rear tri 13MP-2MP macro-2MP depth + front 8MP, 6+128GB, Android 11.0, side fingerprint, 5000mAh 22.5W, CNY1,699 (USD262). (Gizmo China, GSM Arena, JD.com)
Baidu has revealed that the current Apollo urban road success rate has reached 99.99%. Baidu officially launched the research and development of autonomous driving technology in 2013, and released the Apollo open platform in 2017. (CN Beta, Sina, Sohu)
Amazon-backed Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe has indicated that Rivian is delaying deliveries of its long-awaited R1T pickup until Sept 2021 and the R1S SUV until an unspecified date in 2021 fall. He has blamed a number of pandemic-related issues, “from facility construction, to equipment installation, to vehicle component supply (especially semiconductors). (Laoyaoba, CNBC, Reuters)
UC Riverside has unveiled an air-powered computer memory that can be used to control soft robots. The innovation overcomes one of the biggest obstacles to advancing soft robotics: the fundamental mismatch between pneumatics and electronics. Pneumatic soft robots use pressurized air to move soft, rubbery limbs and grippers and are superior to traditional rigid robots for performing delicate tasks. (Engadget, UCR, PLOS One)
A total of 1,069 units of bitcoin mining machines worth MYR5.3M were seized in a joint operation carried out by police and Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB) in Miri in Feb-Apr 2021. Miri police chief ACP Hakemal Hawari said 8 individuals were also arrested for being involved in mining activities using electricity stolen from SEB’s electricity supply lines during the period. (CN Beta, Engadget, My Drivers, Vice, Dayak Daily, The Star)
