Track manufacturing news alongside market analysis, provider activity, and connected mobility intelligence from PAVE Insight.
Powerstar showcases trucks and tests Euro 5 prototypes in South Africa
Powerstar distributor Ever Star Industries showcased construction and mining trucks at Electra Mining Africa, while testing new 6×4 Euro 5 manual and automatic prototypes. The company also highlighted local assembly, expanded production and demand for water tankers in South Africa.
Volvo starts FH Aero Electric production and unveils 80-tonne electric truck
Volvo Trucks has started series production of the 700-kilometre FH Aero Electric and unveiled an electric truck-and-trailer combination for gross combination weights of up to 80 tonnes. The combination targets European markets and supports megawatt or CCS2 charging.
Maserati plans Huawei-JAC partnership for new electric models
Maserati is reportedly planning two electric models with Huawei and JAC Motors, using Huawei technology and JAC manufacturing in China. Semi-knocked-down production would see bodies shipped to Italy for final assembly, with initial target markets including Europe and the Middle East.
GM plans US sodium-ion battery production with Peak Energy
General Motors is developing sodium-ion battery cells with Peak Energy for energy storage, targeting commercial production around 2029. It is also investing $900m in US battery laboratories and aims to build domestic cell supply for future electric vehicles.
ZF expands North American commercial-vehicle technology and production
ZF is expanding its North American commercial-vehicle business, bringing its PowerLine transmission to more applications and localising production of electric axles and trailer systems. The supplier is also developing hybrid technology and autonomous-truck solutions.
Ford invests $1bn in new paint shop at Kentucky Truck Plant
Ford will invest $1 billion to replace and modernise the paint shop at its Kentucky Truck Plant, which produces Super Duty trucks and large SUVs. Construction is due to begin later this year.
US battery funding faces China's supply-chain lead
The US has awarded $500 million to seven battery-minerals, materials, manufacturing and recycling companies, but analysts say far greater investment is needed to challenge China's dominance of refining, battery materials and cell production.
Sany ships 603 electric construction vehicles in one month
Sany shipped 603 electric construction vehicles from its Chinese factories in August, comprising 200 electric dump trucks and 403 wheel loaders. The equipment was supplied to customers globally as demand for lower-emission machinery grows.
Jaguar Land Rover to cut 4,000 jobs in £1.7bn savings drive
Jaguar Land Rover plans to cut about 4,000 jobs globally over two years and reduce break-even production to 300,000 vehicles, targeting £1.7bn in savings amid Chinese competition, a cyberattack and US tariffs.
Advanced materials could improve electric-motor efficiency
EU-funded researchers have developed cobalt-free metallic-glass alloys and a laser 3D-printing process for electric-motor components. The work could cut energy losses, reduce critical-material use and eventually improve motor efficiency by up to 5%, although industrial-scale production remains challenging.
GM and Ford pursue defence vehicles and energy-storage growth
GM and Ford are expanding into military vehicles and energy storage to diversify beyond slowing vehicle sales and repurpose underused EV-battery capacity. GM has secured US defence contracts, while Ford plans a $2bn energy business and a UK defence partnership.
Volkswagen approves plan for 100,000 job cuts and factory restructuring
Volkswagen has approved its Future Plan 2030, including 50,000 additional job cuts, a 50% reduction in model variants and potential alternative uses for four German plants. The carmaker plans to invest billions as it responds to tariffs, excess capacity and Chinese competition.
CATL warns rapid Chinese EV launches are driving battery quality risks
CATL chairman Robin Zeng said compressed development schedules and price pressure in China had contributed to batch-level battery failures. He outlined a one-defect-per-billion-cell target and adversarial testing, while stressing that the cited failures were not attributed to specific suppliers or models.
Kapsch reaches 115 million toll-transponder milestone in North America
Kapsch TrafficCom has produced 115 million electronic toll transponders at its Mississauga, Canada facility. The site manufactures devices for North American tolling programmes and also refurbishes units to reduce electronic waste.
Ford increases F-Series production despite 10.3% August US sales decline
Ford is raising F-Series pickup production after supplier fires disrupted output, with August F-150 production reaching a two-year high. The move comes as Ford’s US vehicle sales fell 10.3% year on year and F-Series sales remained 10.9% lower through August.
China-led solid-state EV battery standard process advances as pilot lines scale
The IEC has approved a China-led proposal to develop an international solid-state EV battery standard. New Chinese tax rules, pilot-line activity and prototype testing show technical progress, but commercial-scale production remains several years away.
Safety violations delay CATL battery-cell production in Hungary
Hungarian regulators have suspended CATL’s planned battery-cell production in Debrecen over nickel-exposure risks and other safety failures. Environmental-permit breaches and tighter oversight of major investments are adding to delays, while the company sources batteries elsewhere to supply Mercedes-Benz.
E-Con Systems gains automotive quality certification for camera portfolio
E-Con Systems has achieved IATF 16949:2016 certification covering its forward-, rear-, surround-view and driver-monitoring cameras. The certification strengthens quality and manufacturing controls as the company develops ISO 26262-compliant cameras for automotive and mobility applications.
Hyundai develops faster-charging cells ahead of EREV and EV launches
Hyundai says its new battery cells deliver more than twice the output of its previous high-nickel cells and cut charging times by 40%. The cells will debut in a 2027 Santa Fe EREV, while Hyundai plans new EVs, expanded production and higher electrified-vehicle sales.
Goodyear extends turnaround plan as cash burn and debt remain high
Goodyear has extended its Goodyear Forward turnaround plan after missing its 10% operating-margin target. The tyre maker is restructuring, refinancing and cutting costs while cash burn is expected to continue into 2027, including after the planned closure of its Fayetteville, North Carolina plant.
Chinese regulator flags Geely and BYD models in conformity inspection
China’s MIIT has disclosed production-conformity discrepancies in sampled Geely EX2 and BYD Qin L DM-i vehicles. The findings concern wheelbase and declared fuel consumption, with measures possible against the manufacturers’ catalogue entries; no recall or production halt was announced.
Canadian tariff threat clouds North American vehicle production and fleet planning
A threatened 50% US tariff on Canadian vehicles and parts could affect automaker sourcing, plant investment, vehicle availability and fleet replacement decisions, although uncertainty makes immediate production changes unlikely.
Hyundai plans $26bn US expansion and higher Georgia plant capacity
Hyundai Motor Group plans to invest $26bn in the US by 2028, potentially raising its Georgia plant’s capacity to 700,000–800,000 vehicles. It aims to produce at least 80% of vehicles sold in the US domestically by the end of the decade.
US awards $500m for critical-mineral and battery supply-chain projects
The US Department of Energy has selected seven projects for $500m in funding to expand domestic critical-mineral processing, battery manufacturing and recycling capacity, including lithium, cobalt and advanced anode-material facilities.
Hyundai plans to raise Georgia plant capacity to 800,000 vehicles by 2028
Hyundai plans to increase annual capacity at its Georgia Metaplant from 500,000 to 700,000–800,000 vehicles by 2028. The expansion forms part of a $26bn US investment plan and will support hybrid and electric vehicle production.
Chinese battery makers target 2027 solid-state battery trials
Farasis Energy, CALB, Gotion High-Tech and other Chinese battery makers plan solid-state battery trial production and EV road testing in 2027. EVE Energy and Dreame also outlined development and commercialisation timetables for higher-energy-density cells.
Genesis unveils flagship GV90 electric SUV for US launch
Hyundai has unveiled the all-electric Genesis GV90, a seven-seat luxury SUV producing up to 490kW and offering an estimated 310-mile range. Production will take place at a new facility in Ulsan, South Korea, ahead of its expected US launch in 2027.
Hongqi to adopt BYD’s second-generation Blade Battery technology
FAW’s Hongqi has secured a nomination to use BYD’s second-generation Blade Battery and megawatt fast-charging technology in its next-generation electric platform. The FAW-FinDreams battery plant is entering stable mass production and is planned to reach 45GWh capacity.
Europe’s semiconductor strategy faces capacity, skills and supply-chain constraints
Europe’s semiconductor output is forecast to reach only 8% of global capacity by 2030, well below the EU’s 20% target. A proposed Chips Act 2.0 seeks to strengthen production, but the region faces investment, workforce and raw-material dependencies, despite automotive-focused projects such as ESMC’s Dresden plant.
Geely plans luxury-car production at Volvo’s European plants from 2028
Geely plans to begin producing high-end vehicles at Volvo’s European plants from 2028. The strategy could involve Zeekr and Lynk & Co models, with facilities in Sweden, Belgium and Slovakia under consideration.
CATL achieves operational carbon neutrality and targets value chain by 2035
CATL says it achieved carbon neutrality in core operations by the end of 2025, using 100% zero-carbon electricity. It will target value-chain neutrality by 2035 through supplier collaboration, carbon-data traceability, greener procurement, lower-carbon logistics and battery recycling.
European electrolyser capacity outpaces near-term hydrogen demand
A new Energy Industries Council report says European electrolyser manufacturing capacity can meet expected orders through 2028, but weakly funded hydrogen projects could leave factories underused. Capacity may tighten from 2029 if more projects reach final investment decisions.
Ford to increase US Lincoln production and end China imports by 2030
Ford will increase US production of Lincoln vehicles by 2030 and phase out Chinese imports for the US market, creating thousands of direct and indirect jobs. Navigator and Aviator production will continue in Kentucky and Illinois.
SOLiD advances pilot-scale solid-state battery manufacturing in Europe
EU-funded SOLiD has advanced pilot-scale production of solid-state lithium-metal batteries, including solvent-free dry coating, thin lithium-metal anodes, polyester electrolytes and AI-enabled quality control. The project aims to transfer safer, recyclable battery manufacturing to European industry.
CATL targets small-scale solid-state battery production in 2027
CATL plans to begin small-scale solid-state battery cell production on pilot lines in China in 2027, targeting higher technology readiness for real-world validation. The battery maker says mass-market adoption will remain years away, with early use likely limited to premium new-energy vehicles.
Volkswagen assesses bringing China-developed EVs to Europe
Volkswagen is assessing whether to import or locally build China-developed electric models for Europe, with the ID. Era 9X the leading candidate and Zwickau a possible production site. The move could reverse the traditional direction of VW vehicle development.
China-made Mercedes-Benz VLE enters homologation with two electric powertrains
Mercedes-Benz’s China-made VLE has entered homologation, with seven-seat configuration and VLE 300 and VLE 400 electric powertrains. Fujian Benz will manufacture the MPV, using ternary NMC battery cells from the CATL-Benz joint venture.
CALB tightens battery quality controls after GAC EV failures
Chinese battery maker CALB is introducing tighter electrode, electrolyte and materials controls after LFP cell failures affected GAC electric vehicles. It is also expanding quality teams, granting batch veto powers and jointly monitoring BMS data with customers.
DTNA Evaluates Sites for New US Truck Assembly Plant
Daimler Truck North America is evaluating US sites for its largest truck assembly plant, due to open in 2029. Construction is expected to start in late 2026 as the company expands capacity and prepares to close its Portland factory.
Ford names $28,350 Fathom electric pickup for 2027 launch
Ford has named its new Fathom midsize electric pickup, priced from $28,350 before delivery charges. Pre-orders are due to open in early 2027, with production at Louisville Assembly Plant using Ford’s new Universal Electric Vehicle platform and assembly process.
BYD files six solid-state battery patents, targets pilot production in 2027
BYD has filed six further patents covering dual-electrolyte solid-state battery chemistry, interfaces and quality control. The company reportedly aims to begin small-scale production of the cells in 2027, with testing in camouflaged vehicles.
International expects 1,341 layoffs after Ohio plant sale
International Motors expects to lay off 1,341 workers after agreeing to sell its Springfield, Ohio, assembly plant and Truck Specialty Center to Roshel. The buyer plans to use the facilities for defence-vehicle production after International’s GM contract ends.
MG 07 draws 21,000 China reservations as SAIC prioritises capacity
SAIC says the electric MG 07 received more than 21,000 refundable reservations within 20 hours of pre-sales opening in China. The company is prioritising production-capacity expansion ahead of the model’s August launch.
Tesla produces its 10 millionth electric vehicle at Fremont
Tesla has produced its 10 millionth electric vehicle at its Fremont factory in California, reaching the milestone six years after building its first million. The latest production milestone followed the company’s rapid global manufacturing expansion.