SK On Takes Full Control of Its Tennessee Battery Plant
SK On has taken full ownership of its Tennessee EV‑battery plant, ending the BlueOval SK joint venture with Ford. The Kentucky facilities were transferred to Ford, while SK On rebranded the Tennessee site as SK On Tennessee. The restructuring is expected to cut SK On’s debt by roughly KRW 5.4 trillion (about $3.6 billion) and lower interest costs. With autonomous operations, SK On aims to serve a broader customer base, including energy‑storage developers.
NTN Starts China Push for EV Bearing Production
NTN announced the start of prototype production for its resin‑mold insulated bearings in China, targeting e‑axle applications for electric and hybrid vehicles. The company previously began mass production in Japan in 2025 and now plans a staged rollout in China...
South Korean Auto Exports Fall 5% in April
South Korea’s vehicle exports slipped 5.5% in April, falling to $6.17 billion, as shipments to the Middle East collapsed nearly 39% amid heightened US‑Iran tensions. Exports to North America rose modestly by 2.4%, while Latin America and Oceania saw sharp gains...
GM to Shift some Production From Asia to Mexico From 2027
General Motors announced that it will begin assembling the Chevrolet Groove and Aveo at its Ramos Arizpe complex in Coahuila starting in 2027, moving production out of its China joint‑venture plants. The shift is part of a $1 billion investment aimed...
Global Light Vehicle Production Forecast for 2026 Gets a Downgrade
Oxford Economics cut its 2026 global light‑vehicle (LV) production outlook to 93.3 million units, reflecting a broader downgrade of world GDP growth to 2.4%. The forecast assumes Brent oil will average $113 per barrel in Q2 before falling to about $80...
Stellantis Taps Accenture and Nvidia for AI Factory Push
Stellantis has formed a three‑way partnership with Accenture and Nvidia to roll out AI‑powered digital twin technology across its factories. The collaboration will use Nvidia’s Omniverse platform and Accenture’s physical‑AI expertise to create high‑fidelity virtual replicas of plants that can...
BMW Addresses Home Energy Opportunity with Neue Klasse and Partner
BMW and German solar firm SOLARWATT are deepening their collaboration to offer fully integrated home energy solutions. Starting with the Neue Klasse iX3 and i3, the automaker will pair its bidirectional Wallbox Professional with SOLARWATT’s Home Energy Management System, allowing...
Nissan Weighs EV Exports to Canada From Chinese JV – Report
Japanese automaker Nissan is evaluating the export of electric vehicles built with its Chinese joint venture partner Dongfeng Motor to Canada, following the country's recent removal of a de facto ban on China‑made EVs. The automaker has set an initial...
How Humanoid Robots Will Enter Automotive Production — and Why Their Success Depends on Enterprise Integration
SAP’s global automotive head Nadine Kanja argues that the true value of humanoid robots in car manufacturing hinges on seamless integration with enterprise data and workflow systems. Automakers such as BMW and Hyundai are already piloting unified AI‑driven production platforms...
Nidec to Dissolve E-Axle JVs in China, Europe – Report
Nidec announced it will dissolve its e‑axle joint ventures in China and Europe as part of a structural reform drive. The move follows a ¥87.7 bn ($629 m) loss in the e‑axle segment for the fiscal half ending September and a recent...
Honda Establishes Digital Subsidiary to Unify India Mobility Services
Honda Motor has created a new Indian subsidiary, Honda Digital Innovation India (HDII), to consolidate its motorcycle and automobile digital services. HDII will build a unified platform that leverages customer and mobility data to deliver seamless digital experiences and expand...
Honda Reports Losses in FY25 Due to Overhaul of BEV Business
Honda Motor Co. posted a 2.2% revenue decline to ¥21.8 trillion (≈$138 billion) for FY25, slipping into a ¥414 billion (≈$3 billion) operating loss after a ¥1.2 trillion profit year. The loss stems from large accounting charges and restructuring tied to a U.S. BEV strategy...
Focusing on Fleets: Discussing AI Technology and Safety with Nauto
Nauto, founded in 2015, has rolled out its AI‑driven safety platform to more than 1,000 commercial fleets, analyzing over six billion miles of driving data. The system combines computer‑vision monitoring of drivers and surroundings with predictive risk fusion, delivering up...
Bridgestone to Close Its Taiwanese Tyre Plant
Bridgestone announced the closure of its Hsinchu County tyre plant, which has operated since 1982. The decision aligns with a global operational overhaul and a shift toward a sales‑and‑service‑centric model in Taiwan. Over 500 employees will receive transition assistance under...
Vietnam Vehicle Market Expands by 6% in April – VAMA
Vietnam's new vehicle market expanded 6% in April 2026, reaching 24,479 units, while the first four months saw a 23% year‑over‑year increase to 101,269 units. Light passenger vehicle sales rose 22% to 68,772 units and commercial vehicles jumped 25% to...