Hardware supply chains are emerging as a key battleground as vehicles electrify and become more intelligent, humanoid robots move toward mass production and AI data centres raise power density. Demand is rising for power semiconductors, sensors, connectors, materials and thermal management. Electronica Shanghai 2026, running July 1 to 3 in Shanghai, will bring together global and Chinese suppliers. Korean component and semiconductor firms are also set to participate.

The European Union is considering imposing a record fine under the Digital Markets Act on Google over suspected self-preferencing in its search service, a report said. Regulators are examining whether Google used its search dominance to display its own services more prominently than rivals and designed results to funnel traffic to its services. A final decision is said to be with Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The Commission says talks with Google continue and further steps could follow.