The episode opens with news about Tesla CEO Elon Musk announcing Terrafab in Austin, Texas, for semiconductor manufacturing involving Tesla, SpaceX, and XAI. SpaceX's FOPLP and PCB factories are experiencing yield issues, with PCB yields around 60% compared to Taiwan's over 90%, delaying mass production to mid-next year. SpaceX executives are scheduled to visit Taiwan in late April to meet with PCB and packaging suppliers. MediaTek is expanding its influence in Wi-Fi chips, entering telecom markets and launching Wi-Fi 8 technology that integrates 5G and Wi-Fi. MediaTek collaborates with subsidiary Dafa Technology for fixed and wireless integration, supported by power management and RF front-end components. Networking is seen as a growth driver after computing chips and AI servers. The U.S. is considering banning Chinese labs from testing electronics for export to America, which could shift orders to Taiwanese companies. Previously, only Chinese state-backed labs were restricted, but companies like HP, Dell, Microsoft, and Sony are reducing testing in China. Taiwanese firms need to increase testing capacity to handle the potential shift. EU-U.S. trade negotiations face challenges due to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling and EU tariff measures. The EU is adjusting import rules for large pickup trucks, affecting Detroit automakers GM, Ford, and Stellantis. U.S. automakers view this as a non-tariff barrier, risking zero tariffs but zero sales, indicating ongoing trade friction.
