Category Archives: manufacturing

U.S. November New Vehicle Sales Forecast Down

Posted on 25 November 2025 by Ken Zino

November’s new-vehicle sales, when posted next week, are expected to fall in both volume and pace from last year’s levels. The November new-vehicle sales pace, or seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR), is forecast today by Cox Automotive to reach 15.7 million. This is up slightly from October’s 15.3 million pace, but significantly down from last year’s 16.5 million level. Through October, the monthly SAAR has averaged 16.2 million.*

“The new-vehicle sales pace had been expected to slow in the fourth quarter, and that’s what we are seeing,” said Cox Automotive Senior Economist Charlie Chesbrough. “The headwinds from higher prices and fewer government subsidies for electric vehicles are finally slowing the market after a surprisingly strong previous six months. Continue reading →

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ACEA – EU October Car Sales Flat. Tesla Tumbles

Posted on 25 November 2025 by Ken Zino

During October 2025 year-to-date (YTD), new EU car registrations increased by 1.4% compared to the same period last year, the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association said today, aka ACEA at AutoInformed after its original French name.* Tesla in particular demonstrated once again how damaged its brand is. [Tesla in October was down -48% at 5647 units compared to 10,867 units in 2024. Market share plummeted from1.3% to 0.6%. For October 2025 YTD, Tesla sales dropped -39.2% at 117,000 (192,439) units for a market share of 1.3% compared to 2.2% in 2024. – AutoCrat]

“This is the fourth consecutive month of modest growth, ACEA said. “Despite this recent positive momentum, overall volumes remain far below pre-pandemic levels. The battery-electric car market share reached 16.4% YTD, yet it is still below the pace needed at this stage of the transition. Hybrid-electric vehicles lead as the most popular power type choice among buyers, with plug-in hybrids continuing to gain momentum.”** Continue reading →

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Milestones – Porsche Factory in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen

Posted on 24 November 2025 by Ken Zino

In 1937, the first sketch for the Porsche factory in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen was drawn up.

“In the 1930s, the Porsche engineering office at Kronenstrasse 24 developed into an innovative actor in the automotive industry. However, the garages at the Porsche villa on Feuerbacher Weg were still being used to develop the first customer-commissioned vehicles. So in 1937, they decided to build a new factory in Zuffenhausen. Ferry Porsche acquired the land from the Wolff entrepreneur family, and architect Richard Pfob was responsible for the design,” said Matthias Kriegel, writing in the Porsche magazine Christophorus 416. Continue reading →

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Magna Expanding EV Powertrain Production in China

Posted on 21 November 2025 by Ken Zino

Magna (TSX: MG; NYSE: MGA)* said this week that it is increasing its presence in China with a new facility in the Jiujiang Economic Development Zone, Wuhu to support the growing demand of electric drive systems—starting with Chery but ultimately capable of supplying additional automakers in the future.

“This expansion reflects Magna’s commitment to supporting our customers’ electrification strategies and advancing sustainable mobility,” said Diba Ilunga, President Magna Powertrain. “Wuhu offers a strong industrial foundation and an environment conducive to innovation. We are excited to bring our world-class electric drive technologies closer to Chery and other partners in China.” Continue reading →

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November U.S. and Global New Vehicle Sales Forecast Down

Posted on 20 November 2025 by Ken Zino

Total new-vehicle sales for November 2025, including retail and non-retail transactions, are estimated to reach 1,255,900, a 5.2% decrease year over year, according to a joint forecast from J.D. Power and GlobalData released today. The seasonally adjusted annualized rate (SAAR) for total new-vehicle sales is expected to be 15.4 million units, down 1.2 million units from November 2024. Global November sales are expected to decrease 3.9% from November 2024. The global selling rate is expected to reach 92.7 million units in November, down from a rate of 95.8 million units in November 2024.

“November’s results reflect another notable—yet anticipated—decline in the [U.S.] new-vehicle sales pace, driven largely by the pull-ahead of electric vehicle (EV) purchases prior to the expiration of federal EV tax credits on Sept. 30. That expiration prompted many shoppers to accelerate buying decisions, resulting in a surge in EV sales that temporarily inflated the overall industry sales pace. Now, two months after the credit expired, the industry continues to feel the effect of those accelerated purchases. In November, EVs are expected to account for just 6.0% of new-vehicle retail sales, consistent with October but well below the 12.9% recorded in September,” said Thomas King, president of OEM solutions at J.D. Power. Continue reading →

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UAW Visiting Capitol Hill on 2026 USMCA Renewal

Posted on 14 November 2025 by Ken Zino

This week, UAW members from the Agricultural Implements sector went to Capitol Hill to talk about “the devastating impact of bad trade deals, and fight layoffs and plant closures across the agricultural implements and construction equipment sector.” “The American taxpayer … Continue reading →

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Trump Tariffs – Toyota to Invest ~$10 Billion In U.S. Ops

Posted on 13 November 2025 by Ken Zino

Toyota Motor Corporation has announced an additional investment of up to $10 billion in the United States during the next five years. This will bring the company’s total U.S. investment to ~$60 billion since beginning operations in the U.S. about … Continue reading →

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Tariff Chaos – Honda All-Terrain Factory to Build More Parts

Posted on 11 November 2025 by Ken Zino

Today Honda announced a $9.658 million investment to modernize its North Carolina Manufacturing (NCM) plant to let build more parts. The new investment is likely to exceed $9.6 million and create 18 new non-union jobs.*

“By equipping Honda North Carolina Manufacturing with important new capabilities to build key parts for our products right here at the facility, we can continue growing our ATV business in North Carolina,” said Lynne Hedrick, site lead at NCM. “We are grateful for the continued support from Alamance County and look forward to the benefits this investment will provide to our associates and the region.”** Continue reading →

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Takata Recall Haunts BMW X5 SUVs

Posted on 10 November 2025 by Ken Zino

BMW of North America (BMW) is recalling more than 5000 model year 2000-2001 X5 SUVs that may be equipped with a sport steering wheel containing a Takata PSDI-4 air bag inflator (TK Global LLC). The inflator may explode during deployment due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

“Certain vehicles may contain a sport steering wheel equipped with a Takata driver’s front air bag module that contains a PSDI-4 inflator that could have been installed as a replacement / spare part. The originally equipped did not contain an inflator with ammonium nitrate,” BMW said in the mandatory safety defect recall filing made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration this morning (NHTSA). Continue reading →

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Battery Fire Recalls – ~320,065 Jeep Wrangler and Grand Cherokee 4Xe Models

Posted on 10 November 2025 by Ken Zino

Chrysler (FCA US) is recalling more than 320,000 2020-2025 model year Jeep Wrangler 4Xe and model year 2022-2026 Grand Cherokee 4Xe plug-in hybrid vehicles. The high voltage battery may fail internally and lead to a vehicle fire while parked or driving. Samsung SDI America supplied the defective batteries.

In the mandatory safety defect recall filing made public today by the National Highway Traffics Safety Administration (NHTSA), Chrysler said “In rare circumstances, a battery pack may contain cells with separator damage. Separator damage, combined with other complex interactions within the cells, may lead to a vehicle fire.” Continue reading →

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Nissan Posts ¥27.7 Billion Loss for First Half FY 2025

Posted on 7 November 2025 by Ken Zino

Nissan Motor (7201T and NSANY ADR) posted First Half results for the Japanese FY 2025 ending 31 March 2026 this week. I also estimated (guesstimated given global financial chaos? – AutoCrat) a stronger second-half in fiscal 2025. Nissan’s global sales were 1.48 million units and consolidated net revenue totaled ¥5.6 trillion with an operating loss of ¥27.7 billion. The company recorded a net loss of ¥221.9 billion, largely due to lower income from equity-method companies’ impairments and restructuring costs.*

“Our first-half results reflect the challenges we face, yet they confirm that Nissan is firmly on the path to recovery. The second half will bring its own hurdles, but with focus, discipline, and the actions underway, I am confident we will deliver stronger results,” said Ivan Espinosa, Nissan’s president and chief executive. Continue reading →

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BMW Group Posts Q3 €8B in Pre-Tax Earnings

Posted on 5 November 2025 by Ken Zino

“In the third quarter, we once again proved that our business model is robust and resilient”, said Oliver Zipse, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG. “We have all the right factors for continued success: a technology-neutral approach, exciting products, a strong global presence and outstanding innovation capabilities throughout the entire value chain. Thanks to our broad model and drive train portfolio, we were able to increase our global sales – with BMW M and our electrified vehicles as the main growth drivers. At the same time, we remain fully on track to meet Europe’s ambitious CO2 targets for 2025 – without relying on flexibility mechanisms or pooling. This demonstrates that our technology-neutral approach is working and delivering strong results.” Continue reading →

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Michigan – Tariffs Cause Higher Grocery Prices, More Expensive Housing, Put Jobs at Risk

Posted on 5 November 2025 by Ken Zino

In response to Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s executive directive to gauge the impact of federal tariffs on Michigan’s economy, several State of Michigan departments submitted reports pointing to higher prices and costly delays that would ultimately impact Michiganders. Today, the U.S. … Continue reading →

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Toyota Motor Q2 FY 2026 Net Income Drops 7%

Posted on 5 November 2025 by Ken Zino

Today, Toyota Motor Corporation (NYSE: TM, 7203T) posted FY 2026 Q2 [1 April 2025 through 30 September 2025- AutoCrat] results that showed total consolidated vehicle unit sales increased globally by 227,000,+ 5.0% to 4,783,000. However, net income attributable to Toyota Motor Corporation was 1,773.4 billion yen, a decrease of 133.6 billion yen or -7.0% compared with FY2025 first half. Nonetheless, Toyota increased its fiscal-year profit forecast. Toyota maintains that its products and sales outside the United States would counter the negative effects of  of U.S. President Donald Trump’s import tariffs. The world’s largest automaker forecasts an operating profit of 3.4 trillion yen (~$22.6 billion) for the financial year ending March 26, a jump of +6% from the 3.2 trillion yen it formerly forecast. Continue reading →

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Stellantis Factory Booster Day Held in Detroit

Posted on 4 November 2025 by Ken Zino

Stellantis (NYSE: STLA. STLAM.MI)* held today the 10th annual edition of its Factory Booster Day at the Conner Center – aka Conner Avenue Assembly – in Detroit. This year’s event saw 80 invited participants showing more than 100 “solutions” aimed at transforming the future of industrial operations.

“Factory Booster Day is not just an event, it’s a reflection of our manufacturing culture and global collaboration,” said Tim Fallon, Senior Vice President, Global Head of Stellantis Production Way. “By empowering our teams and partnering with startups and suppliers, we co-create smart solutions that drive quality, agility and sustainability across Stellantis.

“Together, we are building the future of manufacturing. Through an Open Challenge process, plant leaders invited suppliers and startups to pitch ideas for improving manufacturing processes, making Factory Booster Day a global showcase for practical, forward-thinking solutions delivered through both physical and virtual demonstrations,” said Fallon. Continue reading →

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