Manufacturing News, Analysis and Market Intelligence
SearchTrack manufacturing news alongside market analysis, provider activity, and connected mobility intelligence from PAVE Insight.
China exempts sodium-ion batteries as Hina plans 10 GWh factory
China will exempt qualifying sodium-ion batteries from consumption tax through 2028, while Hina plans a 10 GWh production base in Wuhan and is developing electric sanitation trucks. Tests also reported strong cold-weather performance in a heavy truck.
BYD’s Fang Cheng Bao passes 600,000 sales amid production delays
BYD’s Fang Cheng Bao has sold more than 600,000 vehicles since launching in 2023, but production ramp-up issues put October deliveries below target. The China brand plans to launch its six-seat Ti 9 plug-in hybrid SUV after 15 November.
Automakers expand 3D printing to cut costs and speed production
Rivian, Ford and GM are expanding additive manufacturing for vehicle parts, tools and plant operations. The automakers say 3D printing can reduce costs and shorten lead times, with Ford planning labs at more than 23 plants by year-end.
Lexus plans China-made electric SUV for 2027
Lexus plans to build its first China-made vehicle, a battery-electric SUV, at a new Toyota-owned Shanghai plant from 2027. The factory is expected to use aluminium gigacasting and conveyor-free assembly; the vehicle’s specifications and pricing have not been disclosed.
EU grants Infineon €319m for GaN semiconductor production in Austria
The European Commission has awarded Infineon €319m to help fund a €1.1bn upgrade of its Villach factory. The investment will scale up production of gallium nitride power semiconductors on 300mm wafers, including chips used in electric vehicles.
US DOE sets battery strategy and launches manufacturing consortium
The US Department of Energy has set goals for a domestic battery supply chain by 2030 and US leadership in battery technology and manufacturing by 2035. Its BattMan consortium will work to reduce production costs and scale new battery technologies.
Inpow starts battery-pack production at new Thailand facility
GAC Group battery arm Inpow has begun production at its new Thailand facility, rolling off its first locally made power battery pack. The plant supports the company’s expansion of its manufacturing capabilities in Southeast Asia.
Great Dane Wayne completes its 150,000th refrigerated trailer
Great Dane’s Wayne, Nebraska, plant has completed its 150,000th refrigerated trailer, a milestone that coincides with the facility’s 40th anniversary and a recent industry safety award. Opened in 1986, the 257,000-square-foot site produces Everest single-temperature trailers.
Magnet recycling routes target usable components and feedstocks
The article compares alloy-preserving, powder-based and chemical routes for recovering permanent magnets. It reviews European facilities, pilots and reported trials, highlighting feedstock quality, processing, product qualification and customer acceptance as key to building circular supply chains.
ACEA urges procurement action to support Europe’s bus manufacturing industry
ACEA says public procurement should better account for industrial value and innovation as Europe’s bus market shifts towards zero emissions. It warns that procurement decisions over the next two years could shape the region’s manufacturing capacity for the following decade.
Battery recycling needs stronger links to manufacturing demand
The article argues that recycling capacity alone does not secure battery materials: recovered output must meet manufacturers’ specifications, arrive at the right time and connect across processing stages. It draws on research covering China, Europe and shared electric mobility.
Svolt starts mass production of 100 kWh semi-solid battery
Svolt has begun production in Changzhou of its 100 kWh Dragon Armor semi-solid battery. The 900V pack supports 6C charging and is claimed to add 500 km of range in 12 minutes; the company has not yet named vehicle customers.
New Nissan Patrol production begins ahead of Australian fleet deliveries
Right-hand-drive Patrol production has started at Nissan Shatai Kyushu in Japan, with Australian deliveries due in early 2027. The SUV gains a revised ladder-frame chassis, more high-strength steel and a maximum braked towing capacity of 3,700kg.
Audi plans $4bn Georgia plant with annual capacity of 200,000 vehicles
Audi says its planned first US factory will build Q7, Q8 and Q9 SUVs from the early 2030s, with capacity for up to 200,000 vehicles a year. The $4bn investment is intended to grow US sales and reduce tariff exposure.
EU clean corporate vehicle rules could create €48bn and 344,000 jobs
Fraunhofer ISI modelling commissioned by T&E estimates that strong implementation of the EU Clean Corporate Vehicles Regulation could generate up to €48bn in value creation and 344,000 jobs by 2030, with gains linked to faster electrification and EU-based production.
Chery targets 2027 operation for solid-state battery pilot line
Chery says its Rhinoceros S solid-state battery pilot line is scheduled to begin operating in 2027. The company reports 400 Wh/kg energy density for the cell and separately lists 12C peak charging for its liquid-electrolyte cells; neither figure signals production-vehicle availability.
Geely EX2 reaches one million cumulative production units
Geely says cumulative production of its electric EX2 hatchback has reached one million units, two years after launch. The model is assembled in Indonesia, with production in Brazil scheduled to start in December 2026.
Repair and remanufacturing can extend industrial and automotive product life
The article examines how diagnosis, component access, core returns and qualification affect repair and remanufacturing. Automotive examples include Michelin’s automated tyre regrooving system and environmental assessments of remanufactured parts.
XPENG unveils three-row G9L for Europe, with production planned in Austria
XPENG’s electric G9L SUV is being introduced in Europe as a three-row flagship, with production planned in Graz, Austria. The article details its features, price and specifications, and compares it with rival premium SUVs.
T&E warns Franco-German deal could weaken EU car and battery industries
T&E says a proposed Franco-German agreement to loosen EU car CO₂ standards and Made-in-EU requirements could slow EV uptake and undermine European battery manufacturing. It warns that low sourcing thresholds could put 164 GWh of battery capacity at risk in 2027 and 254 GWh in 2030.
ZF validates stabiliser link made from recycled transmission oil pans
ZF, BASF and Mercedes-Benz have tested a stabiliser link made with polyamide 6 recovered from end-of-life transmission oil pans. Near-series trials confirmed the material’s processability and quality, earning the project a 2026 MATERIALICA Award for CO₂ efficiency.
BMW starts production of sixth-generation batteries in China
BMW has begun mass production of its sixth-generation battery technology at a CNY10bn facility in Shenyang. To demonstrate the platform, a China-market i3 covered 1,213km on a charge, averaging 8.8kWh/100km in an endurance test.
Changan and CATL plan 75 GWh battery expansion and cell collaboration
Changan and CATL plan to add 25 GWh of battery capacity through a 5 billion yuan expansion of their Times Changan joint venture in China. They will also collaborate on solid-state and sodium-ion cells, with the new facility expected to begin operations in 2027.
Hyundai plans $15.5bn investment in India through 2032
Hyundai Motor Group plans to invest $15.5bn in India from 2026 to 2032, covering manufacturing expansion, R&D infrastructure, local supplier development and future technology. It will establish a dedicated investment entity in the country.
Stellantis CEO calls for incentives for carmakers manufacturing in Europe
Stellantis chief Antonio Filosa urged European regulators to reward and protect carmakers that design and build vehicles in the region, backing proposed EU local-content rules as Chinese rivals gain market share.
Renault Trucks marks 70 years of production at its Blainville-sur-Orne plant
The French plant makes cabs and assembles medium-duty diesel and electric trucks. It began series production of electric trucks in 2020 and has since built more than 3,000 E-Tech D and D Wide vehicles.
Sydney retires K Set trains as NSW commits $12bn to local manufacturing
Sydney’s K Set trains have completed 45 years of service. The NSW Government has committed $12bn over 15 years to rebuild local passenger-train manufacturing, with a 50% minimum local-content target and new trains expected in the early 2030s.
Lucid Q3 deliveries fall 6.7% after production cuts
Lucid delivered 3,806 vehicles in the third quarter, down 6.7% year on year, and produced 2,954. The EV maker cut output at its Arizona plant from two shifts to one to align production with demand.
T&E says EU battery-cell capacity can meet 2030 demand under local-content rules
T&E analysis finds Europe could supply enough battery cells by 2030 for eligible EU-built electric vehicles, if planned projects proceed. It says local-content requirements could strengthen demand and investment in European cathode materials and other battery components.
BYD’s Dynasty series reaches 10 million cars produced
BYD says its 10 millionth Dynasty-series car, the Da Han flagship sedan, has rolled off the production line in China. The plug-in hybrid and battery-electric range has taken 13 years to reach the milestone.
EOI opens for NSW suburban train fleet and Hunter manufacturing facility
The NSW Government has opened an expression of interest to design and build its next suburban train fleet, as part of a programme to establish a state-owned manufacturing facility in the Hunter. The first trains are expected to enter service in the early to mid-2030s.
Tesla begins high-volume production of Semi electric trucks
Tesla says its Nevada factory can produce up to 50,000 Semi trucks a year. The heavy electric truck features 4680 battery cells, and Tesla reports year-to-date uptime above 98% in 2026.
Tesla opens Nevada factory to scale production of electric Semi trucks
Tesla has opened a factory in Sparks, Nevada, for high-volume production of its battery-electric Semi. The company aims to ramp up output by next year and has secured fleet orders, while planning to add its automated driving systems to the truck.
GM and Cirba Solutions complete closed-loop EV battery recycling pilot
GM and Cirba Solutions have completed a pilot that recovered nickel, cobalt and manganese from end-of-life GM EV batteries and used them to produce cathode material and new cells. The recycled-content cells now power EVs assembled in the US.
CATL begins trial production at 100 GWh Hungarian battery plant
CATL has started trial production at its Debrecen cell plant in Hungary. The first two lines have a 34 GWh phase capacity, while the facility is planned to reach 100 GWh. Production follows regulatory clearance after occupational-safety rectifications.
Samsung Texas fab prototypes Tesla’s 2nm AI5 chip
Samsung’s Taylor, Texas fab has reportedly begun prototyping Tesla’s 2nm AI5 chip for Full Self-Driving vehicles, the Optimus robot and Cybercab robotaxi. Final production verification is targeted by year-end, with supplies expected from 2027.
Nissan considers higher US production as Rogue hybrid launches
Nissan is considering adding production shifts at its US plants as it launches the 2027 Rogue hybrid. The e-Power series hybrid will initially be imported from Japan, with US production expected to begin next year.
Premcar marks 30 years of Australian vehicle engineering
Premcar is marking 30 years of Australian vehicle engineering and secondary manufacturing. The company says it has supported more than 200,000 vehicles and is expanding specialised programmes, including the Mitsubishi Triton Raider and EV conversion work.
Tariffs and higher costs squeeze US automotive suppliers
Tariffs, fuel prices and higher interest rates are squeezing automotive suppliers. Lucerne International halted US manufacturing and cancelled a planned Michigan plant, while Grupo Antolin cited tariffs, energy costs and supply-chain disruption in its US bankruptcy filing.
Hyundai partners with UEFA as IONIQ 3 leads European EV expansion
Hyundai has agreed a multi-year partnership with UEFA’s Champions League from 2026/27 to 2030/31. The arrangement will promote its technology strategy, while the all-electric IONIQ 3 leads five planned European launches and is now being built at Hyundai’s İzmit plant in Türkiye.
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.