Electronics Supply Chain Weekly Digest 5-16-25.
DATAPOINT OF THE WEEK: Passenger car retail sales in China declined to 1.79M in April, down 7.7% M/M, but up 16.7% Y/Y, marking the third month out of the last four to record sequential declines according to the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA).
NEV retail sales reached 905k units, below preliminary estimates of 922k, and represents a 34% Y/Y increase, but a decrease of 8.7% M/M. A Government NEV trade in program has supported NEV sales and is attributed to 2.71M of NEV sales YTD as of April 24th. BEV sales totaled 559k units, up 38% % Y/Y, but down 13.5% M/M.
PHEV was the only segment to see both Y/Y and M/M growth with an increase of 0.3% M/M and 29% Y/Y. NEV penetration stood at 51.5%, up 7 percentage points Y/Y and 0.4 percentage points M/M. NEV exports totaled 189K units, up 44.2% Y/Y and 31.6% M/M, aligning with Chinese OEMs’ goal to grow their global presence.
Headlines:
Auto/Transportation
- Baidu to launch Apollo Go robotaxi service in Europe, starting with Switzerland
- BYD becomes Europe’s top PHEV brand in March, accelerates local production amid tariff risks
- CAAM data shows China NEV sales rise 44% Y/Y in April, reach 47% share of total auto market despite slight M/M decline
- Daimler Truck cuts 2025 outlook on weak NA demand, tariff uncertainty
- Ford workers strike in Germany as EV shift and tariffs drive job cuts
- Global EV sales rise 29% in April, led by China and Europe amid tariff headwinds, according to Rho Motion
- Honda forecasts 59% profit drop, delays Canada EV plans amid tariffs and China pressure
- Automakers to adopt hybrid domain-plus-zonal architecture by 2028–2029
- Mercedes-Benz to move GLC SUV production to Alabama by 2027 amid US tariffs
- Nissan warns of $3.1B tariff hit, urges US-Japan trade progress amid turnaround plan
- Tesla to restart China-US component shipments for Cybercab and Semi, targeting 2026 mass production, says Reuters
- US new-vehicle affordability declines in April as rising prices and loan rates outpace income gains, according to Cox
- Gravity to launch eight ultra-fast EV charging sites in LA in 2025
- Xiaomi sees 55% drop in SU7 electric sedan orders after fatal accident raises smart driving safety concerns
Industrial
- Boeing delivers 45 jets in April, marking fourth consecutive month above 40 despite US-China tensions
- US mfg output dips 0.4% in April, led by 1.9% decline in vehicle production amid tariff pressures and rising costs
IP&E
- April China copper imports hit record 3M tons, easing smelter supply pressures
Semiconductors
- AI server demand accelerates US and China ASIC development amid export controls
- BYD unveils megawatt flash charging with in-house SiC chips, aiming for EV efficiency and supply chain independence
- China accelerates push for local automotive semiconductors as domestic players gain share
- GlobalWafers opens first high-volume 12-inch silicon wafer plant in US, backed by $406M CHIPS Act funding
- Huawei’s expanding semiconductor supply chain and fab footprint in China
- Intel CFO announces foundry’s path to break even by 2027 and advanced node strategy
- Murata to invest $19.3M in new Vietnam production facility for automotive and electronics demand
- Nvidia’s planning for new Shanghai R&D center and strategic focus on China amid export restrictions
- SiC penetration rising in China’s auto market; overcapacity and pricing pressure raising doubts about market stability
- US-Saudi $600B AI business commitments and strategic investments
- Wistron’s new US manufacturing facilities to support Nvidia’s $500B AI server initiative
- Wolfspeed facing financial struggles and restructuring amid automotive demand downturn and tariffs
- Xiaomi’s launch of self-developed advanced mobile chip XringO1 to boost high-end device ecosystem
Consumer/Other
- US-China tariff pause eases pressure on China layoffs amid slowing manufacturing and cautious recovery efforts
- China’s smartphone market grows 3.3% in 1Q25 led by Xiaomi amid trade tensions and cost pressures
- China’s trade-in subsidies lose momentum amid fading consumer electronics demand and tariff uncertainties
- China and US agree to reduce tariffs and ease trade tensions with ongoing negotiations
- China to ease rare earth export permit approvals to US amid trade deal but controls remain
- US smartphone imports surge 30% Y/Y in March amid tariff pause and supply diversification