Mercedes-Benz proposes tariffs to be waived on car-for-car basis Mercedes-Benz is looking to help the U.S. and EU work out a deal that would avoid it paying tariffs on most of its popular cars and SUVs like the GLC-Class. A proposal where tariffs and duties are waived on a car-for-car basis, instead of hefty fees on both vehicles, could help the automaker (and the industry) hammer out a new deal in an increasingly stressful environment. While Mer...

News  Updated at: 2025/06/10

Major breakdown halts production at Stellantis Sochaux plant, France On June 4, multiple sources reported that a serious mechanical failure has hit the Stellantis factory in Sochaux, France, affecting the main stamping press. The issue began on June 2 and the plant is expected to resume on June 6, 2025. Due to the breakdown, most work sessions have been canceled across the plant, except for the rework quality and vehicle reception units. Producti...

News  Updated at: 2025/06/05

Stellantis Brazil announces upgrades in Fiat Titano 2026 On May 29, Fiat unveiled the 2026 lineup of the Titano pickup, featuring major upgrades in performance, technology, and safety. The most notable update is the new 2.2 Multijet engine paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission, delivering 200 hp and 450 Nm of torque. This results in a 20% faster acceleration, going from 0 to 100 km/h in 9.9 seconds, and improved fuel efficiency: 9.9 km/l ...

News  Updated at: 2025/05/31

Jatco workers in Mexico halt production due to low utility profit-sharing protest On May 26, it was reported that workers at Jatco’s Site 1 transmission plant in Aguascalientes, Mexico, halted production to protest receiving low utility profit-sharing. The payments were as low as MXN 1,000 after taxes, less than half of what they received last year. The strike halted most production lines, with around 30 workers protesting at the factory gates,...

News  Updated at: 2025/05/29

Stellantis Goiana plant in Brazil achieves highest-ever April exports On May 26, Stellantis reported record-breaking results for April 2025, with its Goiana Automotive Hub in Pernambuco achieving its highest-ever monthly export volume since its 2015 inauguration. The plant exported 7,194 vehicles in April alone, totaling 17,479 units from January to April. The Jeep Compass led exports, accounting for 36% of April shipments, followed by the Jeep R...

News  Updated at: 2025/05/27

Kumho Tire suspends Gwangju Plant operation due to fire Several South Korean media sources reported that Kumho Tire Co., Ltd. stopped its operation on May 17, 2025, at its factory in Gwangju, South Korea, due to a fire. The fire broke out at 7:11 a.m. on May 17. It is believed to have been caused in an industrial oven in the plant’s rubber mixing section. The Gwangju Plant is Kumho Tire’s largest production base in South Korea and can produce...

News  Updated at: 2025/05/26

Volvo Cars CEO says customers will pay for rising U.S. tariff costs On May 23, Volvo Cars CEO Hakan Samuelsson said that its customers would have to pay a large part of tariff-related cost increases, and that it could become impossible to import one of its most affordable cars to the U.S. if levies increase. U.S. President Trump said on May 23 that he was recommending a straight 50% tariff on goods from the EU starting June 1. Samuelsson said tha...

News  Updated at: 2025/05/24

Nissan starts hiring to boost production at Resende plant in Brazil On May 20, it was reported that Nissan is preparing to boost production at its Resende plant in Rio de Janeiro ahead of the official launch of the second-generation Kicks model. Currently operating two shifts, the plant produces 24 vehicles per hour, but Nissan aims to increase output to 32 units per hour by enhancing automation from 55% to 84% and hiring 400 new employees. These...

News  Updated at: 2025/05/22

Cadillac launching all-new electric 2026 Vistiq three-row SUV On May 12, GM presented the all-new Cadillac Vistiq all-new three-row electric SUV, which arrives at dealers with new Super Cruise enhancements, including integration with Google Maps, an expansive 33-inch diagonal touchscreen, and a custom-tuned 23-speaker AKG Studio sound system.  Built at GM’s Spring Hill plant, Vistiq debuts Cadillac’s first augmented reality head-up display, ...

News  Updated at: 2025/05/14

VW resumes exports to Africa from Brazil On May 8, it was reported that Volkswagen do Brasil resumed vehicle exports to Africa with an initial shipment of 200 units of the New T‑Cross SUV to Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Madagascar, Rwanda, and Senegal. The T‑Cross is produced at the São José dos Pinhais plant and shipped through the Port of Paranaguá, where Volkswagen operates its own terminal. The automaker's exports have surged by 78% i...

News  Updated at: 2025/05/09

Volvo Cars to cut South Carolina plant workforce by 5% amid trade tensions On May 7, Volvo Cars said it will make production changes and cut 5% of the workforce at its U.S. plant due to changing market conditions and evolving trade policies, including tariffs. A Volvo spokesperson said the changes would affect 125 of the 2,500 employees at its plant in Ridgeville, South Carolina. It was not immediately clear which positions would be affected or h...

News  Updated at: 2025/05/08

n of forged aluminum wheels in Türkiye in the second half of 2025. In 2022, Maxion Wheels announced a USD 150 million expansion of its global steel truck wheel portfolio to include forged aluminum wheels, through a joint venture with Türkiye’s Inci Holding. Construction of a 24,500-square-meter plant in Manisa is nearly complete. The facility will initially produce around 350,000 forged aluminum wheels annually, with the capacity to double in...

News  Updated at: 2025/04/29

iscal year ended March 31, 2025. Announcements from Hino Motors, Ltd., Toyota Group medium-sized parts suppliers, and Nidec Corporation are scheduled on April 24, and announcements from Toyota Group major parts suppliers such as Denso Corporation and Aisin Corporation are scheduled on April 25. The most controversial point is the impact of new automotive tariffs imposed by the U.S. Trump administration on vehicles and auto parts. Subaru Corporati...

News  Updated at: 2025/04/23

Honda denies moving production to U.S. from Mexico and starts 2025 Acura ADX production at Celaya plant On April 16, Honda has officially denied reports suggesting a potential shift of its Mexican operations to the United States. The automaker reaffirmed its commitment to its current manufacturing structure in Mexico, countering claims made by Japanese media outlet Nikkei. Mexican authorities, including Secretary of Economy Marcelo Ebrard, also c...

News  Updated at: 2025/04/22

se. The government also said it will provide a tariff reprieve for six months on imports of components or goods from the U.S. that are used in Canadian manufacturing, processing, and food and beverage packaging, as well as for certain items related to public health and national security objectives. Most of the cars and trucks made in Canada are shipped to the U.S., and U.S.-made vehicles currently dominate sales at Canadian auto dealers. The Carn...

News  Updated at: 2025/04/16

Nissan to consolidate production of new Leaf to Tochigi Plant Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. (Nissan) announced that its new Leaf electric vehicle (EV) that will be fully redesigned for release in the fiscal year that ends in March 2026 (FY 2025) will be produced at its Tochigi Plant (Kaminokawa Town, Tochigi Prefecture). Its Oppama Plant (Yokosuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture) has ended production of the current Leaf. Nissan intends to improve production e...

News  Updated at: 2025/04/14

BMW considers increasing output at Spartanburg plant by up to 80,000 units On an April 10 analyst call, BMW executives said the company is considering adding shifts to its Spartanburg plant in South Carolina to boost output by up to 80,000 units (approximately 20%), in part to appease the Trump administration and ward off a mounting trade war. The plant produced 396,117 vehicles in 2024. BMW had around 30 days' worth of inventory in the U.S. as w...

News  Updated at: 2025/04/12

Chevrolet starts production of Canadian-market Silverado HD ZR2 at Oshawa plant Chevrolet recently began production of the ZR2 version of the Silverado HD pickup it builds in Oshawa, Ontario in the new tariff environment. “Our Oshawa Assembly Plant has started production of the Chevrolet Silverado HD ZR2 Edition!” GM Canada declared on social media. “Canada loves trucks, and our manufacturing team is ready to meet the demand.” While GM ha...

News  Updated at: 2025/04/09

Astana Motors increases automation at Hyundai Trans Kazakhstan Plant On April 7, Astana Motors announced that it had installed new equipment at the Hyundai Trans Kazakhstan plant. It has invested KZT 8.5 billion in structural changes. The plant can now produce cars using the small-knockdown method. In 2025, the number of Hyundai Trans Kazakhstan employees will grow to 1,600 due to the increase in small-unit production volumes.  An automatic conv...

News  Updated at: 2025/04/08

Stellantis Tychy plant begins production of Alfa Romeo Junior Ibrida Q4 On April 7, Stellantis Poland announced that the Alfa Romeo Junior Ibrida Q4 is now in production at Stellantis' Tychy plant, featuring all-wheel drive with automatic rear axle activation. Powered by a 48V hybrid system, it combines a 1.2L turbo engine of 136 hp with two 21 kW electric motors—one on the front axle (integrated with a 6-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox) an...

News  Updated at: 2025/04/07