Pure Lithium scales to 500 MWh and plans GWh plant
Pure Lithium has reached full production at a 500 MWh all‑solid‑state battery line, has completed Pre‑A+ financing, and has announced plans for a GWh‑scale plant in 2026 and has deployed storage and battery‑swap pilot projects.
Lotus CEO: solid-state batteries a decade from production
Lotus CEO Qingfeng Feng has said that solid-state batteries have remained years away from mass production and that technical and performance trade-offs have not yet been resolved, despite industry claims of imminent commercialisation.
Henkel Battery Application Centre in Michigan
Henkel has opened a Battery Application Centre in Madison Heights that has replicated production dispensing with six‑axis robotics and heated pump systems, has supported co‑engineering on adhesive and de‑bonding solutions, and has used digital twin modelling for scale‑up.
Stellantis expands partnership with Leapmotor
Stellantis has expanded its strategic partnership with Leapmotor, has planned production of a model for Europe in 2028 and has agreed joint development of an Opel electric SUV to be built in Zaragoza, Spain.
Endeavour Awards 2026 supported by industry sponsors
Manufacturers’ Monthly has presented the 2026 Endeavour Awards, which have been supported by industry sponsors and a collaboration with Australian Manufacturing Week, and organisers have reported increased industry engagement and sold-out attendance in Brisbane.
Tesla Semi features 822 kWh pack and 800 km range
Tesla has disclosed production Semi specifications with 822 kWh and 548 kWh packs, has reported up to 800 kilometres range with a 37-tonne load and has cited 1.2 MW peak charging capacity from its Nevada Gigafactory.
Versa and AUMUND to develop cathode calcination equipment
Versa and AUMUND have signed an exclusive MOU to adapt conveying and thermal equipment for cathode calcination; the collaboration has targeted 50% lower capital expenditure, 20% lower operating costs and no process wastewater, and AUMUND has entered battery materials.
Mercedes-Benz unveils reECONIC with recycled materials
Mercedes‑Benz has presented the reECONIC, an electric waste‑collection concept that has demonstrated approximately 80% recycled, natural or bio‑based material use across its body and components, excluding the powertrain, and has scheduled real‑world testing for H2 2026.
WA invests in prefabrication to increase housing capacity
The WA Government has committed $48 million to prefabrication facilities to expand local housing production and has provided incentives and utility support to two manufacturers to accelerate delivery of medium- and high-density projects.
Built and Wesfarmers form modular housing joint venture
Built and Wesfarmers have launched Built Living, an offsite manufacturing joint venture in Western Australia that has been established to scale modular apartment production, has aimed to reduce construction costs and has set initial output for 2028.
Lucid to align production amid elevated inventories
Lucid has announced measures to align production with customer demand after identifying elevated inventories, has reported first-quarter production and delivery figures and missed revenue and EPS expectations, and has attributed delivery shortfalls to a supplier issue affecting its Gravity SUV.
Ford's Universal Electric Vehicle platform unveiled
Ford has revealed the Universal Electric Vehicle (UEV) platform, has prepared a roughly $30,000 midsize electric pickup, has opened a Long Beach centre and has said the UEV has been central to Model e reaching breakeven by 2029.
Geely presence in United States via investments and assets
Geely has established a presence in the United States through stakes in Volvo, Polestar and Lotus and has secured potential access to dealer networks and US manufacturing capacity via Volvo's Charleston plant.
ZF PowerLine for Capacity TJ Terminal Tractors
ZF and Capacity Trucks have announced that ZF’s PowerLine transmission has been selected for integration into the TJ Series terminal tractors, and production has been scaled at ZF’s US facility to meet anticipated OEM demand.
Morrow begins LFP cell deliveries to Proventia
Morrow has begun delivering prismatic LFP cells to Proventia under a supply agreement through 2031, and the firms have established technical collaboration as Morrow has scaled production at its Arendal factory to serve industrial battery module programmes.
Volkswagen considers China-developed EVs for Europe
Volkswagen has said it has considered bringing China-developed electric vehicles to Europe, has presented several China-only models and has reported a drop in first-quarter operating profit amid intensified competition and weaker demand.
Hormuz disruptions strain base oil supplies for luxury cars
Strait of Hormuz disruptions have triggered a global shortage of Group III base oils and have driven record price rises, which have constrained synthetic lubricant production for high‑performance automotive engines and have prompted export limits.
BYD in talks to use part of Volkswagen’s Dresden plant
BYD has held talks with Volkswagen to take over part of the Dresden Transparent Factory and has proposed investing to manufacture electric vehicles, while Volkswagen and regional partners have planned an innovation hub on the remaining site.
Rivian reduces DOE loan to $4.5bn, revises plant capacity
Rivian has renegotiated its Department of Energy loan to $4.5bn, has accelerated drawdown to 2027 and has revised Georgia plant capacity to 300,000 vehicles, and has confirmed R2 production is on track for late 2028 amid uncertain EV demand.
BYD Yangwang U9 Xtreme sold for US$2.76m
BYD has sold a Yangwang U9 Xtreme for over 20m yuan (US$2.76m) at the 2026 Beijing Auto Show, has delivered at least one unit and has established the model as the company’s most expensive production vehicle.
Schaeffler launches MultiMode DHT into volume production
Schaeffler has launched its MultiMode DHT into volume production with multiple manufacturers, has presented hybrid components including a spoke damper and camshaft phasing in production, and has projected hybrids will represent about 30% of global output by 2035.
Bollinger Motors assets and 20 B4 trucks to be auctioned
Bollinger Motors has scheduled the sale of manufacturing assets and 20 2025 B4 Class 4 electric trucks at a public auction on 13 May, with equipment at Oak Park, Michigan and Tunica, Mississippi.
OCSiAl expands TUBALL SWCNT portfolio; doubles capacity
OCSiAl has launched a TUBALL SWCNT dispersion portfolio, has expanded synthesis capacity and has targeted silicon‑rich anodes, Li‑CMC binders, high‑energy cathodes and solid‑state batteries; it has also scaled dispersion production across Europe and Asia.
EU reviews BYD labour allegations at Hungary plant
European institutions have raised scrutiny after a watchdog has alleged extended work hours and labour abuses at BYD's Hungary factory, prompting MEPs to query the European Commission; BYD's rapid expansion in Europe has been noted amid ongoing inquiries.
CATL and HyperStrong sign 60 GWh sodium‑ion battery deal
CATL and HyperStrong have signed a three‑year agreement for 60 GWh of sodium‑ion batteries, have positioned the technology for commercial deployment and have cited manufacturing advances and supply‑chain compatibility to support large‑scale energy‑storage applications.
Toyota and CATL to Produce Hybrid Batteries in Indonesia
Toyota has partnered with CATL to produce hybrid battery cells and modules in Indonesia and has announced that exports of complete packs and components have been scheduled to begin in the second half of 2026.
PLS to trial electric kiln for low-emissions lithium
PLS has secured a $38 million ARENA grant and has announced a demonstration plant to test electric-kiln processing for low-emissions lithium phosphate, has signed an offtake with Ningbo Ronbay and has targeted 3,000 tonnes per year.
Supply chain disruption: Effects on fleet management
Global supply‑chain disruptions have hampered OEM production, increased vehicle and repair costs, and constrained fleet procurement. Manufacturers and fleet operators have responded by diversifying suppliers, raising inventory buffers, elevating supply‑chain governance, and adopting AI‑enabled forecasting.
Rivian begins R2 production at Normal plant
Rivian has begun production of its R2 electric SUV at Normal, Illinois, with customer deliveries scheduled this spring; the initial $58,000 Launch Package has been offered, while a $45,000 variant has been deferred to late 2027.
CATL to mass-produce sodium-ion batteries by 2026
CATL has announced that its sodium-ion batteries have been slated for mass production by 2026, has reported resolution of core manufacturing challenges and has initiated commercial deployment while noting energy density has remained about 175 Wh/kg.
CIRAMM expands applied research in aerospace and defence
CIRAMM has enhanced applied research capacity in aerospace, defence and manufacturing, has established five specialised laboratories, has formed industry and NATO DIANA partnerships, and has pursued ISO accreditation to support testing, materials development and AI‑enabled manufacturing.
Construction begins on Nowra electric bus facility
Construction has begun on a 6,000-square-metre Nowra facility by Foton, which has been contracted to deliver 128 electric buses for Transport for NSW’s Zero Emissions Bus programme and has projected employment to rise to 127.
Mapei starts A$60m Truganina manufacturing plant
Mapei has commenced construction of an A$60m manufacturing facility in Truganina, Melbourne, to supply high-performance materials to Victorian infrastructure projects; commissioning, recruitment and training have been initiated ahead of a planned 2026 opening.
John Deere awards $2.7m grant to FIRST
John Deere has awarded FIRST a $2.7m, three‑year grant, has mobilised over 500 employee volunteers and has expanded robotics programmes that have aimed to develop technical and collaborative skills for agriculture, manufacturing and construction careers.
Tornado damages Rivian factory in Normal, Illinois
Rivian has said a tornado has damaged part of its Normal, Illinois, factory used for R2 parts storage; Building 2 has been closed for assessment, other plant operations have continued and no injuries have been reported.
Rivian and Redwood deploy 10 MWh second-life battery storage
Rivian and Redwood have deployed a 10 MWh second‑life battery system at Rivian’s Normal, Illinois factory, integrating more than 100 retired packs to supply on‑site peak demand, reduce grid purchases and enable scalable reuse before recycling.
Lightship expands Colorado manufacturing facility
Lightship has begun expanding its Colorado manufacturing footprint from 32,000 to about 76,000 sq ft, has announced measures to quadruple production capacity by the end of 2026, and has introduced a simplified AE.1 model with a standard 77 kWh battery.
BYD hits 16m NEV milestone, Denza D9 enters production
BYD has recorded its 16 millionth NEV as the first second-generation Denza D9 has entered production, featuring an updated Blade Battery, flash-charging and God’s Eye 5.0, and has been positioned for premium domestic and overseas expansion.
XCharge opens assembly plant in Valencia, Spain
XCharge North America has opened a 3,000-square-metre assembly and testing plant in Valencia, Spain, to produce its C7 and GridLink hardware and to diversify its global supply chain, supporting North American operations.
Svolt begins mass production of 80 kWh PHEV battery
Svolt has started mass production of an 80 kWh plug-in hybrid battery, has reported a capacity increase from 59 kWh to 80 kWh, has positioned it for large SUVs, and has remained a mid‑tier supplier in China's battery market.
Ammann displays roadbuilding equipment at SMOPYC 2026
Ammann has showcased paving machines, adjustable tamper screeds, rollers and asphalt-mixing and drying technologies at SMOPYC 2026, and has highlighted RAP-capable plants, EU Stage V engines and features designed to improve efficiency and material sustainability.
Slate closes $650m Series C for electric pickup
Slate has closed a $650 million Series C to advance production of its low-cost electric pickup, has taken over 160,000 reservations and has projected first deliveries for late 2026 and has announced plant investment and service partnerships.
Platinum constraints and cost challenges in hydrogen
Market analysts have reported that high green hydrogen production costs and platinum supply constraints have limited PEM fuel cell deployment, have created regional market divergence and have slowed project implementation despite technological improvements and varying policy support.
Greater Bay Technology produces A-sample solid-state cells
Greater Bay Technology has produced A-sample all-solid-state cells using a composite deep-eutectic electrolyte and has reported advances in safety, energy density, charging rate and cycle life, and has targeted GWh-scale production and vehicle installations in 2026.
Fire at BYD Pingshan parking garage contained
Authorities and BYD have confirmed the fire at the Pingshan facility has been contained and has caused no casualties. The affected multi-level parking garage has been reported to store test and scrapped vehicles, and no production impact has been disclosed.
Ineos Automotive plans US production and breakeven
Ineos Automotive has produced over 35,000 off-road vehicles since 2022, has said it has been considering US production, has targeted break-even this year and has forecast a 30-35% rise in US sales.
Chery outlines joint-venture globalisation with Freelander
Chery has said Chinese automakers have entered a new era of joint ventures, shifting from export-led growth to locally produced, technology-led globalisation; the Freelander joint venture with Jaguar Land Rover has been launched and risks have been noted.
China shifts sodium-ion cathodes towards polyanion NFPP
Shanghai Metals Market has reported that polyanion NFPP cathodes have accounted for over 70% of output in late 2025 and early 2026, while layered oxide share has declined as energy-storage demand and cost considerations have driven material selection.