Operations


  • 2026 Toyota Tacoma SR5, in motion
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    Courtesy of Toyota
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    Toyota plans Tacoma production in Texas with $3.6B expansion

    The automaker won’t yet say what portion of U.S.-bound Tacomas will shift from Mexico after the buildout, but the company plans to double its San Antonio factory footprint by 2030.

    By July 7, 2026
  • Toyota Auris Hybrid Burnaston UK
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    Courtesy of Toyota Motor UK
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    EV transition challenges auto supply chain resilience, Moody’s says

    Legacy automakers have the added complexity of having to run different supply chains, for ICE, hybrid and EV powertrains.

    By July 7, 2026
  • Trendline

    Automotive Manufacturing

    Production strategies are changing rapidly as tariffs and shifts in consumer buying patterns affect the industry.

    By WardsAuto staff
  • Serra Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, in Southfield, Michigan
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    Courtesy of Serra Automotive Group
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    Serra Automotive Group grows with decentralized management

    A dealer partner across the street from the auto group's latest CDJR acquisition made the store attractive, said president Matt Serra.

    By July 6, 2026
  • Nissan Sunderland Assembly SMMT
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    Courtesy of SMMT
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    UK auto leaders call for reform of government emission targets

    Industry representatives' survey warns emission targets, "Made in EU" uncertainty and energy costs threaten disaster.

    By July 1, 2026
  • Rendering of Ford World Headquarters South
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    Courtesy of Ford Motor Company
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    Ford has entered a new phase of world HQ development

    The automaker is renovating its 73-year-old Product Development Center into its new World Headquarters South.

    By June 30, 2026
  • A 2.7 liter engine at GM's manufacturing plant in Spring Hill, Tennessee.
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    Courtesy of General Motors
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    GM supporting new Cadillac model with $275M investment in Spring Hill plant

    The company said it will spend approximately $9 billion across its U.S. manufacturing footprint this year alone.

    By June 29, 2026
  • Qashqai E Power Drive UK
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    Courtesy of Nissan Motor UK
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    Nissan refocuses EV strategy on entry-level vehicles, sources say

    The automaker does not deny reports it is shelving plans for an electric SUV at its Sunderland plant set to be an EV production hub for Europe.

    By June 29, 2026
  • Ford CEO Jim Farley speaking to workers at the automaker's Kentucky Truck Plant in April 2025 with a large blue display screen behind him.
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    Courtesy of Ford Motor Co.
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    Ford named top mainstream brand in initial quality by JD Power

    Executives said the company is moving from a “find and fix” mentality for addressing quality issues to preventing them before they occur.

    By June 25, 2026
  • A Lucid Gravity electric SUV parked outdoors with greenery in the background.
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    Courtesy of Lucid Group
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    Lucid Motors laying off 18% of US workforce, COO resigns

    The layoffs follow a 12% reduction of the company’s workforce in February following the launch of the Gravity SUV, its second model.

    By June 24, 2026
  • Paragon Honda in Queens, New York.
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    Permission granted by Brian Benstock
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    New York dealer boosts customer convenience with mobile service

    Software provider Curbee claims almost 40% of repair orders can be done off-site.

    By June 17, 2026
  • Dodge Charger Daytona EV 2027
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    Courtesy of Stellantis
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    Dodge brings its next-gen Charger muscle car to Europe

    Priced from 66,000 euros ($76,206), the first deliveries of the all-electric Dodge Charger Daytona and ICE-powered Charger are set for September.

    By June 16, 2026
  • Toyota Motor Europe Production Plant
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    Courtesy of Toyota Motor Europe
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    Toyota Europe CEO views company as a ‘European OEM’

    Yoshihiro Nakata says its manufacturing partners in the U.K., Japan and Turkey should be recognized as “Made in EU” under a legislative proposal.

    By June 15, 2026
  • Aluminum sheet coil at Novelis' Oswego, New York, production facility.
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    Courtesy of Novelis
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    Novelis restarts Oswego hot mill months after fires

    The supplier said it will work closely with customers to ramp up supply, after Ford and other automakers suffered losses from the hot mill outage.

    By Nathan Owens • Updated June 11, 2026
  • A Ford worker installing parts on a white Ford Expedition SUV at the automaker's Kentucky Truck Plant.
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    Courtesy of Ford Motor Co.
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    How Ford flags assembly line defects with IBM’s AI-powered inspection tools

    The automaker has installed computer vision-based inspection technology at 17 of its North American manufacturing facilities.

    By June 10, 2026
  • Volvo EX40 BEV 2026
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    Courtesy of Volvo Cars
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    Robust demand for Volvo Cars’ EVs eases global sales slump

    Fully electric models are the automaker’s only growth segment, amid early signs of a recovery in the U.S.

    By June 8, 2026
  • BYD Dolphin Surf, side view
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    Courtesy of BYD
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    Column

    Automakers: Catch up to China Speed!

    Once again, Detroit needs to swallow its pride and go back to school, John McElroy writes. 

    By John McElroy • June 8, 2026
  • Nissan Motor Co UK Sunderland
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    Courtesy of Nissan Motor Corp
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    Nissan UK in talks to build China’s Chery brand passenger cars

    The MoU between the automakers could help Nissan use excess U.K. production capacity, as a contract manufacturer for Chery.

    By June 5, 2026
  • A U.S. Toyota dealership
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    Courtesy of Toyota
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    Big auto retailers’ growth strategy includes selling dealerships

    Penske, Group 1 and Lithia have shown it isn't just acquisitions that drive shareholder performance.

    By June 4, 2026
  • A blue and green graphic of a software-defined vehicle with pieces coming off the back.
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    Courtesy of Arm
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    Why Western OEMs are falling behind China in SDV development

    Automakers' decision to keep software defined vehicle architecture in-house or outsource it is only part of "a really strategic decision."

    By June 4, 2026
  • A vessel docked at an ocean port in South Carolina.
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    Courtesy of South Carolina Ports Authority/Matthew Peacock
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    Port of Charleston to increase automotive cargo capacity

    The port plans to enhance its rail infrastructure and vessel parking areas to support automakers moving parts for just-in-time supply chains.

    By Alejandra Carranza • June 4, 2026
  • A Hyundai mobile service van is photographed in New Port Richey, Florida, on May 12, 2026.
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    Courtesy of Hyundai
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    Hyundai is helping set dealers up for mobile service

    The automaker sees mobile service vans as a way of extending the dealership experience — and potentially expanding service capacity.

    By June 3, 2026
  • Peugeot 408 Production Mulhouse France
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    Courtesy of Stellantis
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    Stellantis pumps over $1B into Peugeot production in France

    French brand is the first of automaker's four global brands to get the new STLA One platform for EV and hybrid models.

    By June 2, 2026
  • 2026 Ford F-150 Raptor R
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    Courtesy of Ford
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    Pickups are behind a surge in high auto loan payments

    Nearly a fifth of new-vehicle loans topped $1,000 in Q1 2026, hitting an all-time quarterly high, according to Experian.

    By May 29, 2026
  • Nissan Leaf Production Sunderland
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    Courtesy of Nissan Motor
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    Nissan scraps UK’s $65M EV powertrain production plan

    The reversal is part of the automaker's global turnaround strategy, which includes reduced EV investments.

    By May 29, 2026
  • Stellantis EV Production Tremery Plant Near Metz France.jpg
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    Courtesy of Stellantis
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    Stellantis announces second JV with Dongfeng as Jeep, Peugeot go to China

    Two major deals between the automakers aim to make the most of their existing vehicle manufacturing facilities.

    By May 28, 2026