EU proposes revision to car CO2 standards
The European Commission has proposed revisions to EU car CO2 rules, replacing the 2035 zero‑emission mandate with a 90% target and introducing averaging, credits and fuel allowances, which have increased projected emissions and reduced expected BEV market shares.
EV pullback's impact on Southern US factories and jobs
Automakers and suppliers have reduced EV commitments in the Southern US, have halted projects and recorded impairments, and have shifted production towards hybrids and internal combustion to preserve asset utilisation and limit workforce losses.
Volkswagen starts China production of CEA platform
Volkswagen Group China has started series production of the China Electronic Architecture (CEA) in the ID. UNYX 07, developed with VCTC, CARIAD China and XPENG, and has announced plans to deploy CEA across joint ventures in 2026.
Tesla shifts investment to AI and robots with $20bn plan
Tesla has announced a $20 billion capex plan and has ended production of the Model S and Model X, signalling a strategic pivot towards AI, driverless services, humanoid robots and expanded chip and battery manufacturing capacity.
XC Technology and Photon Automation form ESS partnership
XC Technology and Photon Automation have signed a strategic collaboration to support Photon Energy in offering turnkey energy storage system contract manufacturing, covering design, prototyping, production, precision laser welding and battery process optimisation.
Volvo A45 Supporting Kühtai 2 Power Plant at 2,100 metres
Volvo A45 articulated haulers have been deployed at the Kühtai 2 site to transport 42-tonne loads up to 2,100 metres, supporting reservoir, dam and tunnel construction, and on-site dealer service has been maintaining operational readiness.
National Reconstruction Fund invests in Australian EV maker
The National Reconstruction Fund has invested A$30.7m in Applied Electric Vehicles, which has accelerated production of its Blanc Robot autonomous chassis, expanded manufacturing capacity and has supported the company’s Series B round and planned recruitment.
GM aims to lead US vehicle assembly amid tariff costs
General Motors has signalled a target to lead US vehicle assembly, has forecast $3–4bn in tariff costs and has outlined plans to raise domestic production to about two million units to mitigate import-related levies.
Octillion reports single-day EV battery production record
Octillion has reported a single-day output of 3,653 EV battery systems across nine factories, totalling about 114 MWh, and has delivered approximately 20 GWh in 2025 and has forecast higher production in 2026.
LS Cable expands Mexican plant with $156m investment
LS Cable and System will invest $156 million to expand production at its Querétaro, Mexico plant, adding automotive cable lines and busduct capacity to support North American supply chains.
GM to onshore Buick compact SUV production
General Motors has announced relocation of next-generation Buick compact SUV production from China to its Fairfax Assembly plant in Kansas City, effective 2028, and has said the move has reinforced its US manufacturing footprint and has supported jobs.
China scales automated dark factories for vehicle production
China is progressing towards highly automated dark vehicle factories, leveraging EV platforms, robotics and AI; this may lower production costs, improve quality consistency and alter global manufacturing competitiveness.
Audesse Automotive scales vehicle control solutions
Audesse Automotive has developed embedded vehicle controllers, has expanded globally through customer-driven product refinement and consultancy, has adapted to tariff shifts, and has formalised its sales processes via the AC:RevLab programme to support production scaling.
Birmingham opens rare earth magnet recycling facility
University of Birmingham opened a scaled hydrogen-based facility to recycle rare earth magnets, producing sintered magnets and reducing import reliance while supporting low-carbon supply-chain resilience and domestic manufacturing capacity.
Ford negotiates battery supply with BYD
Ford is negotiating with BYD to source batteries for hybrid models; terms, logistics and manufacturing locations remain under discussion as Ford rebalances electric-vehicle and hybrid strategies.
Energy Fuels dysprosium oxide qualifies for EV magnet use
Energy Fuels dysprosium oxide met initial automotive QA/QC; pilot output reached about 29 kg at 99.9% purity, with plans to scale dysprosium, terbium, gadolinium and samarium production.
US automakers expand into energy-storage market
US automakers are converting battery capacity to grid and residential energy storage, leveraging factory investments amid uncertain EV sales and rising electricity demand from data centres.
PFAS-free polysilazane coatings for metals, plastics, glass
Nanize has developed patented PFAS-free polysilazane coatings that cure in under one minute below 70°C, covalently bond to varied substrates and target multiple industrial applications.
GreenPower to establish EV plant in New Mexico
GreenPower will locate a 135,000 sq ft EV manufacturing plant in Santa Teresa's foreign-trade zone; operations are due Q1 2026 and the state has committed US$14.6m in incentives.
Svolt introduces 3.5-generation charging technology
Svolt Energy said its 3.5-generation ion oscillation pulse charging method reduces full charging time by 25% without increasing system costs; mass-market deployment is scheduled for Q3 2026.
Ashok Leyland opens EV manufacturing plant in Uttar Pradesh
Ashok Leyland opened an EV plant in Lucknow on 9 January 2026 with initial capacity up to 5,000 vehicles and expected to create 1,000 direct and 2,000 indirect jobs.
PFAS AI platform addresses PFAS visibility in manufacturing
A specialised AI platform creates continuous, auditable PFAS inventories to help manufacturers meet tightening regulatory, customer and investor requirements across complex supply chains.
Hylic opens liquid-solid state battery plant in Jiangsu
Hylic began operations of a 10 GWh liquid-solid state battery plant in Jiangsu in Q4 2025, a 5 billion yuan investment built in three phases with varied product specifications.
Donut Lab to supply SSBs for Verge Motorcycles
Donut Lab says its all‑solid‑state batteries will be used by Verge Motorcycles and other partners, claiming high energy density, wide temperature tolerance and lower cost; independent verification remains pending.
EcoPro begins commercial production at Hungarian plant
South Korea’s EcoPro has begun commercial cathode production at a Debrecen plant with 54,000‑tonne capacity, lithium hydroxide and industrial gas facilities; the company targets European markets and plans expansion.
Tailan raises US$57m to scale solid-state production
Tailan New Energy raised US$57m in a B+ round to fund its first mass-production line, expand automotive solid-state battery R&D, and recruit technical staff; Changan is a strategic investor.
Aclara and VAC to integrate mine-to-magnets supply chain
Aclara and VAC are developing an integrated mine-to-magnets rare earth supply chain; Aclara produced 150kg of mixed rare earth carbonate and plans a Louisiana separation plant by Q4 2027.
NEO receives first order for silicon-enhanced battery cells
Canada-based NEO received its first commercial purchase orders for silicon-enhanced lithium-ion cells from an unnamed Asian automotive OEM, with production underway at its Gimje, South Korea, facility.
Automakers highlight vehicle intelligence at CES 2026
Major automakers and suppliers showcased AI-driven vehicle systems, software-defined architectures and production-ready autonomous technologies at CES 2026, signalling expanded deployment across models and global markets in 2026.
Hyundai unveils AI robotics strategy at CES 2026
Hyundai Motor Group announced an AI robotics strategy at CES 2026 to deploy human-centred robots, build an end-to-end value chain and scale manufacturing pilots via strategic partnerships.
Kodiak AI and Bosch to scale autonomous truck platform
Kodiak AI has partnered with Bosch to scale manufacturing and integration of a safety-redundant autonomous truck platform, targeting commercial upfitter and factory installations and driverless highway operations by H2 2026.
Markus Siegner appointed CEO of Kögel Trailer
Markus Siegner will become CEO of Kögel Trailer GmbH on 1 January 2026, overseeing operations, supply chain, development and logistics, focusing on digitalisation, productivity and sustainable growth.
Hongqi Tiangong 06 begins all-solid-state battery testing
Hongqi has fitted its first independently developed all-solid-state battery pack into a Tiangong 06 prototype, initiating vehicle-level testing ahead of planned limited deployment in 2027; technical metrics remain undisclosed.
Nexeon commissions silicon-carbon plant in South Korea
Nexeon has commissioned a silicon-carbon plant in Gunsan, South Korea, supplying battery materials with pipeline monosilane access, proximity to Asian cell manufacturers, scalable reactor capacity and entering automotive production qualification.
Autonomous Trucking, EV Charging and Logistics News
Multiple developments across autonomous trucking, EV charging, logistics and fleet operations, including financing, partnerships, regulatory updates and infrastructure deployments affecting commercial transport and supply‑chain efficiency.
China reaches parity with South Korea in technology
South Korea's president said China has advanced to parity or beyond in technology and capital, prompting emphasis on more balanced industrial and automotive cooperation amid intensifying competition.
IonicRE and USSM to develop rare-earth recycling plant
IonicRE and US Strategic Metals will develop a Missouri recycling facility using Ionic Technologies' magnet-recycling process to produce separated rare-earth oxides, aligning with the US–Australia supply framework.
China urges more recycled materials in auto manufacturing
Plan seeks expanded recycled-material supply, standards and adoption across vehicle production, batteries and recycling chains to improve material recovery and reduce reliance on primary raw inputs.
Trucking technology industry developments and partnerships
Compilation of recent trucking-technology developments: partnerships, funding, product launches, autonomous and electric vehicle deployments, infrastructure projects, regulatory issues and commercial milestones affecting fleet operators and suppliers.
Honda to Acquire Full Ownership of Ohio EV Battery Plant
Honda will acquire factory buildings and assets from LG Energy Solution for about $2.9bn; the joint venture will lease and operate the facility, with closing expected by February 2026.
Changan exports Deepal S05 SUVs from Thailand to Europe
Changan exported 500 Deepal S05 SUVs from its Rayong EV plant, which opened with 100,000 annual capacity (1.9bn yuan investment); European pricing set at €38,990–€44,990.
China publishes 2025 hydrogen fuel cell vehicle report
Report assesses China’s hydrogen fuel cell vehicle industry, citing about 30,000 vehicles, over 70% component localisation, production declines and persistent cost, technology and infrastructure constraints.
Sunwoda and Zhongwei to develop 60 Ah solid-state EV cells
Sunwoda and Zhongwei signed a framework agreement to co-develop cathode materials and 60 Ah solid-state EV cells, aiming to integrate resources and accelerate commercialisation; financial terms were not disclosed.
Nissan starts production of third-generation LEAF in UK
Nissan has begun production of the third-generation LEAF at its Sunderland plant; the model features a 75 kWh battery, qualifies for a £3,750 grant and follows a £450m manufacturing investment.
DLA grants $1.9m to 6K Energy for NMC721 development
Defence Logistics Agency awarded 6K Energy $1.9m to scale single‑crystal NMC721 cathode production using UniMelt; 12‑month programme includes synthesis, optimisation and cell performance validation with a US manufacturer.
Automakers recalibrate EV strategies amid market shift
US automakers are reducing EV investment, reallocating capacity to trucks, hybrids and SUVs after incentive changes and weaker EV demand; significant write-downs and strategy adjustments are underway.
