By Junko Yoshida

What’s at stake?
Lidar startups that developed new and innovative technologies once appeared to be ushering in the robotaxi era. But the automotive industry’s demands, coupled with geopolitics, have transformed the market, forcing lidar startups to fight for survival. Who should merge with whom, and which companies are acquisition targets?  

Ouster and Velodyne are the first two lidar companies to announce a merger among a wave of anticipated consolidations. The pair declared they were joining forces in early November.

By Sufia Tippu

What’s at stake?
India has been trying unsuccessfully for decades to create strategic alliances for semiconductor manufacturing. Now, amid the confluence of geopolitics, economic uncertainty and supply chain disruptions, India’s best shot may be in chip assembly, test and packaging. 

An oft-repeated joke in Silicon Valley goes something like this: What comes first, Middle East peace or a fab in India?

By George Leopold and Junko Yoshida

What’s at stake:
All eyes are on China as the nation mulls its response to the latest U.S. technology export controls. China will no doubt retaliate – but how? Its options appear limited, but so do the options for de-escalation. At stake is whether the tech industry may find itself in a world split in two: China and the rest of the world.