IF / News

The impact from a global semiconductor shortage on Stellantis’ Italian car production this year will be worse and longer-lasting than the damage to output caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, according to Italy’s FIM-CISL union. A global microchip shortage is pushing automakers to slow down production, with Stellantis halting operations at several facilities across Europe and the United States. The carmaker forecast it would make 1.4M fewer vehicles in 2021. (CN Beta, Reuters, Auto News)

Li Xiang has officially stated that due to the shortage of chips from millimeter-wave (mmWave) radar suppliers, it expects 3Q21 car deliveries to drop to 24,500 from the previously estimated 25,000-26,000. At the same time, in order to minimize the impact of chip shortages on the delivery of new cars, Li Xiang ONE has now begun to deliver “core-deficient” vehicles. It has introduced this special delivery plan to deliver users a three-radar model equipped with a front forward 1 + rear 2 angle mmWave radar, and provide users with free supplements from Dec 2021 to 2020 Spring Festival. (CN Beta, My Drivers, Sina)

Huawei will allegedly exclusively use the 4G version of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 898 platform. Prior to this, there were reports that Huawei Mate 50 engineering model was testing the Snapdragon 898 platform. Huawei may launch Mate 50 in 1Q22 at the earliest, most probably in Mar 2022. Huawei’s rotating chairman, Xu Zhijun, has indicated that it may take a few years to work hard to allow users to buy Huawei 5G smartphones. (GizChina, My Drivers)

The sales volume of Galaxy Z Fold3 and Flip3 has surpassed 1M units in South Korea, 39 days since their debut on 11 Aug 2021, according to Samsung Electronics. Of the 1M units, about 70% are clamshell-type Z Flip3 models. Approximately 54% of Flip3 buyers are millennials or Generation Z consumers. Android Headlines, Korea Herald)

TCL CSOT’s India module factory is established in Andhra Pradesh Tirupati, India on 10 Oct 2018. On 9 Jul 2019 TCL CSOT module factory broke ground; On 30 Dec 2019 the first phase of the main plant has completed; On 5 Jan 2021, the plant reached the conditions for moving in; on 24 Aug 2021, the first equipment of TCL CSOT’s India module factory is successfully moved in with only one equipment engineer. On 1 Oct 2021 the first product of TCL CSOT India module factory is successfully lit. TCL CSOT will continue to challenge the formal mass production in mid-Nov 2021. (Digitimes, OfWeek, IT Home)

LCD panel prices are expected to fall at a slower pace in 4Q21 and become relatively stable in 1Q22 as China power restrictions will help the panel segment get back on an orderly development, according to Innolux. (Digitimes, Digitimes, press)

DIGITIMES Research observes that although the Covid-19 pandemic is slowing down, the shortage of key components such as panel driver ICs has hindered the shipments of mobile phones. Additionally, AMOLED panels continue to replace TFT LCDs. Global small- and medium-sized TFT LCD shipments are estimated in 2021 stay flat. Digitimes estimates that the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of TFT LCD from 2021 to 2026 is only 1%. (Digitimes)

US electric vehicles company Rivian Automotive is reportedly planning to build lithium-ion battery cells in-house to ensure security of supply for its vehicles. Rivian focuses on vertical integration, which already includes in-house developed things like electric powertrain (electric motors, inverters and gearboxes), battery modules and packs, as well as electronic control units (ECUs) and software. In Aug 2021, Rivian has planned to invest approximately USD5B to build a new factory near Fort Worth, Texas, USA. At the same time, Rivian is also considering building a second factory east of Mesa, Arizona. Rivian’s CEO RJ Scaringe has reportedly discussed the project with Arizona Governor Doug Duce. This Arizona plant will be used to produce batteries and complete vehicles. (CN Beta, World Battery News, IT Home, Inside EVs, Inside EVs)

SK Innovation’s standalone battery unit SK On is considering developing lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries targeting lower-priced electric vehicles as part of efforts to diversify its product portfolio amid growing concerns over tight global battery supplies. LFP technology is gaining traction despite low energy density because LFP batteries boast of better thermal stability. (CN Beta, Pulse News)

In the fall 2021 edition of Piper Sandler’s “Taking Stock with Teens” survey, the firm asked approximately 10,000 teenagers about their buying habits, aspirations, and the tech they use. Approximately 87% of respondents say they have an Apple iPhone, a figure that’s just below the 88% record seen in the spring survey, but above the 86% observed in fall 2020. That figure is set to rise, as 88% say they have an intention to buy an iPhone. (Piper Sandler report, Apple Insider)

SellCell’s survey shows that purchase intent dropped 20% as Apple users are underwhelmed by iPhone 13 series. Over 5,000 iPhone users based in the US were interviewed, and they are not happy about the iPhone 13 lineup. For example, 64.1% of them have said the new iPhones are “not very” or “not at all” exciting, followed by 21.5% that have said it is “somewhat exciting,” and 14.4% of Apple users that have said it is “extremely” or “very exciting”. (CN Beta, MacRumors, 9to5Mac, SellCell)

India’s per capita income is far lower than China’s. Raw materials such as steel, coal and cotton are produced in India and shipped to China with processed products sold back to India. China’s mobile phones, TVs and various commodities are sweeping the Indian market, with a trade deficit of more than USD50B a year in favor of China, partly fueling the tensions between the two countries. DIGITIMES Research undertakes research on EVs to explore strategies of penetrating the Indian market, studying how business opportunities could be available to foreign enterprises in the field of smart applications. Digitimes divides the Indian EV market into 3 market segments: two-wheeled, three-wheeled and four-wheeled vehicles. They explore various modes of cooperation and business opportunities possible for telecommunications and information service providers. (Digitimes, press)

India’s Reliance Group might have to increase subsidies for its low-cost smartphone JioPhone Next more than it has previously estimated due to shortages of semiconductors and higher costs of components. The global chip shortage has impacted the entry level price of the components by up to 20%, apart from increasing the availability time for procurement. India has 850M mobile phone users, out of which around 550M are smartphone users, while the rest 300M are feature phone users. For the new Jio device, the potential market stands at 300M with the addressable market expected to be at 140-150M. (Digitimes, Hindustan Times, India Today, 91Mobiles, India Times)

Notebook ODMs saw their shipments disappoint for China’s just-ended National Day holiday, which may indicate a particularly weak 4Q21 with the year-end Christmas shopping season likely to see lower sales momentum than the past years, according to Digitimes. Digitimes Research has estimated global notebook shipments to grow 17.4% on year to 235M units in 2021, and also projected shipments to slip 4.6% on year to 224M units in 2022 due mainly to an expected decline in pandemic-driven notebook demand for remote work and learning applications. (Digitimes, press, Digitimes, CNYES, UDN)

Samsung has announced that the Bixby voice assistant will land on Microsoft Windows 11. Bixby will be pre-installed in the upgraded Galaxy Book, and users can search for files or launch applications just by using voice commands. (CN Beta, Samsung, Beebom, Ubergizmo)

In the fall 2021 edition of Piper Sandler’s “Taking Stock with Teens” survey, the firm asked approximately 10,000 teenagers about their buying habits, aspirations, and the tech they use. Smartwatch ownership is up to 35% from 30% in fall 2020. Apple Watch ownership was up to 30% from 25% in fall 2020. Among upper-income teens, Apple overtook Rolex as the top watch brand in the fall 2021, with a 39% share versus 35%. (Piper Sandler report, Apple Insider)

China’s antitrust regulator has fined the food delivery group Meituan CNY3.4B (USD530M) for abusing its market position and has ordered the company to “comprehensively rectify” its operations. The State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) said that since 2018 Meituan has forced merchants into exclusivity agreements by charging higher commissions to those who resisted, and slowing down their approvals to list on its app. (CN Beta, My Drivers, NY Times, FT, Forbes)