NXP Semiconductors achieved a 14.2% share of the US$27.4 billion automotive semiconductor market in 2015, four-percentage points ahead of its nearest rivals Infineon and Renesas, according to Strategy Analytics.

In 2015, NXP acquired Freescale Semiconductor - both major auto chip suppliers. The combined entity had automotive semiconductor sales of US$3.9 billion, giving it a leading market share of 14.2%, Strategy Analytics said.

Infineon retained its number two position with a 10.4% share while Renesas fell to third with a 10.3% share, Strategy Analytics indicated. Renesas led the global auto semiconductor market in 2014.

Demand for auto-grade semiconductors continues to grow driven particularly by applications such as ADAS (advanced driver assistance systems), display-based infotainment, advanced powertrain and wireless connectivity. In 2015, however, vendors overall faced some short-term currency and supply-chain headwinds which negatively impacted revenue growth.

"Despite growth in annual vehicle production and ever increasing electronics penetration automotive semiconductor vendors faced a variety of challenges to US dollar revenue growth in 2015, in particular significant weakening of both the yen and the Euro," said Chris Webber, VP of Strategy Analytics' global automotive practice. "With total revenues already boosted by the acquisition, NXP was less exposed to the negative currency shifts than its nearest rivals undoubtedly thanks to Freescale, which previously had around a third of its automotive business coming directly from North America, whereas Infineon and Renesas had just 17% and 12% respectively coming from that region."

Webber added "China already accounts for 26% of global light vehicle manufacturing but the gradual expansion of localized automotive electronics manufacturing has now reached a point where semiconductor vendor revenues from China have overtaken those from the mature Japanese market."

Also, IC packaging and testing company Powertech Technology (PTI) has announced the acquisition of a factory building and related facilities from LED chipmaker Epistar for a total of NT$620 million (US$19 million).

Located in Hsinchu, northern Taiwan, the factory building will be used for both production and R&D, PTI said in a company filing with the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TSE).

PTI previously disclosed the company's capex for 2016 will reach NT$12 billion. compared with the NT$7-8 billion allocated in 2015. Capex for 2016 will be used mainly to expand production capacity for advanced, high-end packaging services.

What's more, PCB maker Apex International has reported revenues of NT$693 million (US$21.4 million) for April 2016, up 9.4% on month and 9.4% on year. Revenues totaled NT$2.53 billion for the first four months of 2016, rising 6.9% from a year earlier.

Apex generated revenues of NT$1.84 billion in the first quarter of 2016, up about 6% on year but down 13.4% sequentially. Gross margin slid 2.06pp on quarter but climbed 2.26pp from a year ago to 17.34% during the period.

Apex posted net profits of NT$101 million in the first quarter of 2016, down 28.3% sequentially but up 56.8% on year. EPS for the quarter came to NT$0.82.

In addition, Apex has decided to hand out a cash dividend of NT$2.50 for 2015. Apex reported net profits increased 7.5% on year to NT$532 million for 2015 while revenues soared 17.1% to NT$8.63 billion. Gross margin climbed to 19.01% from 17.95% in 2014.