In February 2026, reports surfaced indicating that Chinese chips are garnering growing acceptance among international companies. Toyota and Suzuki have announced plans to incorporate SoC chips developed by Horizon Robotics, a burgeoning Chinese automotive semiconductor firm, into vehicles marketed outside of China. Traditionally, leading automakers have predominantly sourced semiconductors from Japan, the United States, and Europe, rendering Toyota and Suzuki's decision to adopt Chinese chips a notable departure from the norm.
Reports suggest that Chinese chips not only offer significant cost advantages but also maintain reliable quality standards. Amid escalating Chinese automobile exports and heightened competition from Chinese vehicles, Japanese automakers have concluded that leveraging Chinese chips is essential to remain competitive. By the end of September 2024, Horizon's SoC chips had been integrated by 27 automakers across 285 vehicle models.
