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Toyota to Launch World’s First Solid-State Battery EV by 2027 Toyota Motor Corporation has officially declared that it will launch the world’s first electric vehicle powered by solid-state batteries as early as 2027, signaling a major technological leap that could redefine the global EV industry. Partnership With Sumitomo Metal Mining for Breakthrough Cathode Material Toyota announced on October 10 that it has co-developed a durable cathode material for solid-state batteries with Sumitomo Metal Mining, aiming for commercial rollout between 2027 and 2028. While companies such as Samsung SDI and QuantumScape are also racing toward commercialization—Samsung SDI operating the world’s largest solid-state pilot line (“S-Line”) since 2023 with a 2027 target, and QuantumScape developing ceramic-based solid electrolytes for a 2026 debut—Toyota is the first automaker to commit to launching a production EV equipped with solid-state batteries. Overcoming Durability and Efficiency Challenges ...

Samsung and OpenAI Partner to Build the Future of AI Infrastructure

Samsung Partners With OpenAI to Build Global AI Infrastructure Under ‘Stargate Project’ Samsung has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with OpenAI to collaborate on the construction of next-generation global AI infrastructure, marking a major step in the group’s commitment to artificial intelligence at the corporate level. The partnership centers around OpenAI’s ambitious “Stargate Project” — a massive initiative to develop hyperscale AI data centers and supercomputers. Group-Wide Collaboration for the Stargate Project Four Samsung affiliates — Samsung Electronics, Samsung SDS, Samsung C&T, and Samsung Heavy Industries — will participate in the collaboration. The signing ceremony held at Samsung’s headquarters in Seoul was attended by Jun Young-hyun, Vice Chairman of Samsung Electronics; Choi Sung-an, Vice Chairman of Samsung Heavy Industries; Oh Se-chul, President of Samsung C&T; and Lee Joon-hee, President of Samsung SDS. Under the LOI, Samsung and OpenAI will form a strat...

China’s Figurobot to Launch AI-Powered Doll Robot ‘NIA-F01’ in Korea Next Year

‘FIGUROBOT, ‘念NIA-F01’ Chinese AI startup Figurobot has announced plans to enter the Korean market in 2026 with its first consumer product, a compact humanoid doll robot called “NIA-F01 (念)”. According to Chinese media reports, Figurobot began pre-orders for the model at a price of 9,999 yuan (about ₩1.94 million), with the first deliveries scheduled for late 2025. Standing 56cm tall and weighing 1.2kg, the NIA-F01 resembles a motionless Barbie doll at first glance but is actually a companion robot equipped with artificial intelligence. It can engage in free-flowing conversations, while users can also customize it with interchangeable faces, wigs, and outfits. The robot incorporates 35 ultra-compact digital servos (each 6mm in diameter) within its joints, enabling fluid, lifelike movements. Figurobot claims these are the smallest servo joints in the world, yet capable of mimicking human-like motion with remarkable accuracy. Powered by a multi-modal AI model, the robot...

BYD Atto 3 Now Half Price in Japan: A Turning Point for Chinese EVs?

BYD SEAL BYD Slashes EV Prices by Up to 50% in Japan Amid Weak Sales Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD has launched an aggressive discount campaign in Japan, cutting prices by up to 50% in an effort to boost sluggish sales in one of the world’s toughest auto markets. Struggling in Japan Despite Global Growth Although BYD entered Japan in January 2023, its sales have remained underwhelming. As of June 2025, total cumulative sales reached just 5,300 units, and the company has yet to surpass 1,000 units in monthly sales. The automaker currently offers four EV models in Japan — the Atto 3, Seal, Sealion 7, and Dolphin — through a network of 45 dealerships nationwide. In contrast, BYD is seeing explosive growth elsewhere. In August 2025, the company sold over 13,500 vehicles across Europe, a 200% year-on-year increase, and continues to post strong results in China, Southeast Asia, and Latin America. Korea Shows Similar Pattern BYD’s performance in neighboring South Korea has also bee...

BYD Overtakes Hyundai in Global Sales with Strong August Performance

Chinese automaker BYD has surpassed Hyundai Motor in global sales, cementing its position as one of the fastest-growing players in the global automotive market. In August, BYD sold 373,626 vehicles worldwide, up 0.17% year-over-year and 8.93% from July. This brought the company’s cumulative sales from January to August to 2,863,876 units, a 23% increase compared to the same period last year. Passenger vehicles: 2,825,802 units (+21.9% YoY) Commercial vehicles: 38,074 units (+294.5% YoY) BYD’s international expansion continues to gain momentum. In August alone, overseas sales reached 80,464 units, a 146% surge compared to last year. From January through August, BYD exported 630,728 units, marking a 136% increase year-over-year. By contrast, Hyundai Motor reported 2,738,841 vehicles sold globally between January and August, up only 0.2% year-over-year. Hyundai’s domestic sales grew 2.1% to 469,457 units, but overseas sales slipped 0.1% to 2,269,384 units. The figures underscore a s...

Trump Lowers Tariffs on Korea to 15% After $350B Investment Deal

Trump Announces Trade Deal with Korea: Tariffs Cut to 15%, $350B Investment Agreed U.S. President Donald Trump announced on July 30 (local time) that the United States and South Korea have reached a new trade agreement , reducing reciprocal tariffs from 25% to 15% . In a post on his social media platform Truth Social , Trump stated that Korea had agreed to invest $350 billion (₩487 trillion) in the United States and that the two countries had reached a broader trade pact. Key Points of the Deal Tariffs reduced: Reciprocal tariffs lowered from 25% to 15% Investment: Korea pledges $350 billion in U.S. investments , slightly below Washington’s initial request of $400 billion Energy purchases: Korea to import $100 billion worth of U.S. LNG and other energy products Market access: Korea agreed to fully open its markets for U.S. cars, trucks, and agricultural products Future Bilateral Meeting Trump added that the official announcement of Korea’s massive invest...

Samsung Q2 Profit Plunges 55%, Memory Business Faces Ongoing Slump

Samsung Electronics Reports 55% Drop in Q2 Operating Profit Amid Semiconductor Weakness Samsung Electronics has announced its second-quarter 2025 financial results , posting ₩74.6 trillion in revenue and ₩4.68 trillion in operating profit , representing a 0.67% year-on-year revenue increase but a 55.23% decline in operating profit . For the first half of 2025 , Samsung recorded ₩153.7 trillion in revenue and ₩11.4 trillion in operating profit , with its semiconductor division contributing ₩53 trillion in sales and ₩1.5 trillion in operating profit . Semiconductor Business Under Pressure Samsung’s Device Solutions (DS) division continued to face challenges. Its operating profit has dropped sharply from ₩6.45 trillion in Q2 2024 to just ₩400 billion in Q2 2025 , marking a steep decline over consecutive quarters. While DS revenue increased 11% quarter-on-quarter to ₩27.9 trillion , operating profit fell due to inventory write-downs in the memory business and non-memory operation...

NVIDIA Picks Micron Over SK hynix for Next-Gen SOCAMM Memory Supply

NVIDIA Selects Micron as First SOCAMM Supplier for Next-Gen Blackwell AI Chips NVIDIA has officially chosen Micron Technology as its first supplier of SOCAMM (System-on-Chip Attached Memory Module) , a next-generation semiconductor memory module poised to replace high-bandwidth memory (HBM) in future AI systems. This marks the first time NVIDIA has opted for Micron over its long-time partners SK hynix and Samsung Electronics for a next-gen memory solution. SOCAMM: The Future Beyond HBM SOCAMM is a low-power DRAM (LPDDR) -based memory module designed for higher energy efficiency and faster I/O performance compared to traditional DDR DRAM. It promises significant improvements over HBM in both bandwidth and power consumption. According to Wccftech and industry sources, NVIDIA will integrate SOCAMM into its upcoming GB300 “Blackwell” AI platform as well as the Digits AI PC , which was unveiled in May. NVIDIA has reportedly informed major memory and substrate suppliers of ...

China’s Gotion Challenges NCM Batteries With Low-Cost, High-Density LMFP Tech

Gotion HighTech LMFP Battery Volkswagen-Backed Gotion High-Tech to Begin Mass Production of LMFP Batteries in 2026 Gotion High-Tech, a Chinese battery manufacturer backed by Volkswagen, announced that it will begin mass production of next-generation LMFP (Lithium Manganese Iron Phosphate) batteries in 2026 — achieving an energy density of 260 Wh/kg, high enough to replace conventional nickel-based lithium-ion cells. World’s First Passenger Car-Grade LMFP Battery The LMFP chemistry is an upgraded version of LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate), which currently powers over 60% of EVs produced in China. Gotion’s LMFP batteries will be the first in the world to enter mass production for passenger vehicles, offering a major leap forward in both performance and cost-efficiency. Compared to standard LFP batteries, Gotion’s LMFP packs deliver 20% higher energy density, while production costs are only 5% higher. In contrast, the nickel-based lithium-ion batteries (NCM/NCA) used by companies such ...

Tesla’s Korean Boom: EV Maker Tops Import Sales Amid Global Slowdown

While Tesla struggles in its home markets of the U.S. and Europe, the EV giant is experiencing a dramatic sales surge in South Korea, where it has now become the top-selling imported car brand. According to the July new car registration data from the Korea Automobile Importers & Distributors Association (KAIDA), Tesla Korea sold 7,357 vehicles, up 15.4% from the previous month. This performance allowed Tesla to surpass both BMW (6,490 units) and Mercedes-Benz (4,472 units) to take the top spot in the imported car market. This marks Tesla’s second time ranking No. 1 in three months—previously leading the market in May (6,570 units), and placing second in June (6,377 units). With an average of over 6,400 units sold per month over the past quarter, Tesla’s momentum in Korea continues to build rapidly. For the period from January to July 2025, Tesla Korea’s cumulative sales reached 26,569 units, reflecting a 32.4% year-on-year increase. While this figure still t...