Tesla has officially launched mass production of its Semi electric trucks at a dedicated plant in Nevada, which, according to the company, has the capacity to produce 50,000 trucks per year. The Class 8 Semi was unveiled in 2017, and production was promised to begin in 2019. Well, I guess better late than never, since […] Post Tesla Finally Began Mass Production of the Semi: What’s New with the Electric Truck at Root-Nation.com.

PowerCo, the Volkswagen subsidiary responsible for constructing a $7-billion electric vehicle battery plant in St. Thomas, Ontario, has announced a delay in the facility's opening from 2027 to 2029. The decision, cited as necessary to accommodate next-generation battery technology and evolving market conditions, was communicated in a news release following the selection of EllisDon Corporation as the general contractor for construction. Originally slated for completion in 2027, the project had been supported by up to $13 billion in federal subsidies and promised 3,000 direct jobs plus tens of thousands of indirect positions. Construction began in October 2025, with foundations laid and a temporary office established in downtown St. Thomas. Mayor Joe Preston expressed confidence in the project, noting the ongoing construction and the selection of a local contractor. Provincial officials welcomed the contractor selection, emphasizing the project's potential to create thousands of jobs across the supply chain. However, Conservative MP Andrew Lawton raised concerns about the delay, questioning Volkswagen's commitment and the use of federal subsidies. The delay aligns with broader shifts in the EV market, as other automakers like General Motors and Honda have adjusted their EV production plans due to changing demand. Despite a 20% increase in Canadian EV sales in early 2026, the industry continues to face challenges in scaling production. The St. Thomas plant remains a key component of Ontario's strategy to position itself as a leader in battery and automotive production, with infrastructure projects already underway to support the anticipated economic boom. PowerCo has been actively hiring in the region since August 2025, with approximately 500 employees currently working in the area. The company's focus on next-generation technology and market flexibility underscores the evolving nature of the EV industry in North America.

Morocco overtook South Africa as Africa’s largest vehicle manufacturer in 2025 after crossing 1mn units, powered by export growth of about $14bn and early EV investment.

BMW announced that it has added a third shift at its new plant in Debrecen for the production of the iX3. This follows the introduction of a second shift in February. The plant is now producing the iX3 continuously on a 24/7 schedule, marking the fastest ramp-up of production among all new BMW Group plants. […] Post BMW Switches iX3 Production to a 24-Hour Schedule Due to Overwhelming Demand at Root-Nation.com.

South Korean automaker Kia Motors will invest $649mn in Mexico between 2026 and 2028 to expand electric vehicle production, the government said on Wednesday, as the country seeks to shore up investor confidence amid uncertainty over US tariffs.

South Korean automaker Kia Motors will invest $649mn in Mexico between 2026 and 2028 to expand electric vehicle production, the government said on Wednesday, as the country seeks to shore up investor confidence amid uncertainty over US tariffs.

Nissan & Foxconn are discussing a collaboration to produce EVs at Nissan's Oppama plant in Japan. T...

Hyundai Motor India (HMI), the country’s second largest carmaker, has drawn up ambitious expansion plans for making India a production hub that will also cater to the rising export demand for its vehi...

NEW DELHI (Reuters) -Maruti Suzuki has cut near-term production targets for its maiden electric vehicle e-Vitara by two-thirds because of rare earths shortages, a document showed, in the latest sign of disruption to the auto industry from China’s export curbs. India’s top carmaker, which said on Monday it had not seen any impact yet from the supply crisis, now plans to make about 8,200 e-Vitaras between April and September, versus an original goal of 26,500, according to a company document seen by Reuters. It cited "supply constraints" in rare earth materials that are vital in making magnets and other components across a range of hi-tech industries. Maruti still plans to meet its output target of 67,000 EVs for the year ending March 2026 by ramping up production in subsequent months, the document said. China’s curbs on some rare earth exports have rocked the global auto industry, with companies warning of severe supply chain disruptions. While some companies in the United States, Europe and Japan are seeing supplies easing as they secure licences from Beijing, India is still waiting for China’s approval amid fears of production stoppages. Launched amid much fanfare at India’s car show in January, the e-Vitara is crucial to Maruti’s EV push in the country, marking its entry in a segment that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government wants to grow to 30% of all car sales by 2030 from about 2.5% last year. The setback could also hurt parent Suzuki Motor, for which India is the biggest market by revenue and a global production hub for EVs. The bulk of the made-in-India e-Vitaras are earmarked for export by Suzuki to its major markets like Europe and Japan around summer 2025. Maruti told reporters last week the rare earths issue had no "material impact" on the e-Vitara’s launch timeline. Chair RC Bhargava said there was "no impact at the moment" on production, local media reported on Monday. Maruti and Suzuki did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Tuesday. Maruti is yet to open bookings for the e-Vitara with some analysts warning it is already late to launch EVs in the world’s third-largest car market where Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) is also expected to begin sales this year. Under its previous plan "A", Maruti was to produce 26,512 e-Vitaras between April and September - the first half of the fiscal year. Under the revised plan "B", it will manufacture 8,221, the document showed, indicating a two-thirds cut in its production schedule. However, in the second half of the financial year - between October and March 2026 - Maruti plans to ramp up production to 58,728 e-Vitaras, or about 440 per day at its peak, versus a previous target of 40,437 for those six months under plan A. Two supply chain sources confirmed Maruti’s plan to scale back e-Vitara production because of rare earth magnet shortages but were not privy to the exact numbers. The rare earths crisis comes as Maruti is already grappling to recover market share lost to Tata Motors (NYSE:TTM) and Mahindra & Mahindra (NSE:MAHM)’s feature-rich SUVs. These companies also lead India’s EV sales. Maruti’s share of India’s passenger vehicle market is down to 41% from a recent peak of about 51% in March 2020. Suzuki has trimmed its sales target for India to 2.5 million vehicles by March 2031 from 3 million previously, and scaled back its lineup of EV launches to just four, instead of the six planned before, as competition in the South Asian nation intensifies.

UK EV production rises despite overall car manufacturing decline