Author: Clara Weiss

Volkswagen’s assembly plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, is celebrating its 15th anniversary after producing more than 1.85 million vehicles since operations began in May 2011. The facility, which represents Volkswagen’s only vehicle assembly plant in the United States, has received approximately $4.3 billion in investment over the past 15 years and currently employs more than 4,000 workers. The anniversary comes shortly after the plant achieved a major production milestone. In April 2026, Volkswagen assembled its one-millionth Atlas-family vehicle, including both the Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport models. Production of the Atlas began in December 2016, and the SUV lineup has become…

Ford Motor and SK On are restructuring part of their North American battery partnership as Ford pivots toward energy storage and away from some planned electric vehicle battery production. SK Innovation said this week that SK On has completed the restructuring of BlueOval SK, the companies’ battery joint venture. Under the new structure, the Tennessee battery facility will now operate independently under the name SK On Tennessee, ending the original joint venture arrangement for that site. While SK On takes direct control of the Tennessee operation, Ford confirmed that its former BlueOval SK facility in Glendale, Kentucky, will transition into…

Nissan has abandoned plans to produce electric vehicles at its factory in Canton, Mississippi, according to a report by Nikkei, marking a major reversal in the company’s U.S. electrification strategy. Nissan North America confirmed that the automaker had discontinued the project following a strategic review, citing a sharp slowdown in U.S. electric vehicle demand after government EV incentives expired. See also: Nissan LEAF Robotaxi Pilot Planned in Tokyo Through Wayve and Uber Partnership The company had already suspended production of a new model year of the Japan-built Nissan Ariya for the U.S. market due to current market conditions. Nissan originally…

Rivian has started series production of its mid-size electric SUV, the R2, at its plant in Normal, Illinois, the company said, with first customer deliveries expected later this spring. Initial customer-specification vehicles have rolled off the production line but are still undergoing final quality checks and internal validation before being handed over to buyers. “We are on track to begin handing over keys to our first customers later this spring,” Rivian said in a statement, without specifying an exact delivery date. The R2 marks Rivian’s entry into a more affordable segment compared to its earlier R1 models, following a strategy…

Volkswagen will halt production of its ID.4 electric sport utility vehicle at its Chattanooga Plant in the coming days, shifting the facility’s focus to production of the second-generation Atlas combustion-engine SUV. The move comes as Volkswagen prioritizes higher-volume models in the U.S. market, where the Atlas remains one of the brand’s best-selling vehicles. The three-row Atlas is currently Volkswagen’s second-best-selling model in the United States after the Tiguan. Volkswagen said the Chattanooga plant will stop ID.4 production by mid-April, with remaining 2026 model year inventory expected to meet customer demand through 2027. “The Chattanooga plant has been, and will continue…

The Government of Canada has announced C$10.6 million in funding to expand electric vehicle charging infrastructure nationwide, as part of its broader push to accelerate adoption of zero-emission transport. Natural Resources Canada said the investment will support 14 projects expected to deliver more than 1,600 new EV chargers across the country. The announcement was made in Toronto during the EV & Charging Expo. While specific deployment locations and charger types were not disclosed, the funding level suggests most installations will likely be Level 2 chargers, with a smaller portion allocated to DC fast-charging units. The initiative forms part of Canada’s…

Volvo Cars has opened order books in Canada for its all-electric EX60, marking the brand’s entry into the mid-size electric SUV segment in the market. The automaker said customer deliveries of the P10 all-wheel-drive variant are scheduled to begin in late 2026, with a starting price of 77,500 Canadian dollars. The model was first unveiled in January and is produced at Volvo’s main plant in Torslanda, alongside combustion-engine and hybrid models such as the Volvo XC60 and Volvo V60. Volvo has positioned the EX60 as a key step in its electrification strategy, describing it as a “game changer.” It is…

Rivian Automotive reported first-quarter vehicle deliveries above analysts’ expectations, suggesting stabilizing demand for its electric pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles following a slowdown last year. The company delivered 10,365 vehicles between January and March, exceeding estimates of 9,678 units compiled by Visible Alpha. Rivian also reiterated its full-year delivery forecast of between 62,000 and 67,000 vehicles. Production in the first quarter reached 10,236 vehicles, also above analyst expectations of 9,852 units. Rivian’s performance follows a decline in deliveries in the fourth quarter of last year, when the expiration of a $7,500 U.S. federal electric vehicle tax credit reduced incentives…

US electric vehicle maker Lucid Group reported a decline in first-quarter deliveries for 2026, citing a supplier-related issue that temporarily disrupted shipments of its Gravity SUV. The company said it delivered 3,093 vehicles during the January–March period, down 42% from the previous quarter and slightly below the same period last year. Production, however, remained higher at around 5,500 units, reflecting a gap between output and deliveries. Lucid attributed the decline to a quality issue involving second-row seats in the Lucid Gravity, which halted deliveries for 29 days. The issue also led to a recall of more than 4,000 vehicles after…

Honda Motor said seven of its manufacturing plants in the United States have received the 2025 ENERGY STAR certification for Outstanding Energy Efficiency from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The recognition highlights energy efficiency improvements across Honda’s manufacturing operations as the company works to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions as part of its broader decarbonization strategy. See also: Honda, DriveOhio Pilot Shows AI Can Detect Road Defects With High Accuracy Facilities receiving the certification for 2025 include the Marysville and East Liberty auto plants in Ohio, which earned the designation for the 20th consecutive year. The Indiana Auto…

Rivian appears set to discontinue the Dual Standard variants of its R1 lineup as the company prepares for the debut of its next-generation model, the Rivian R2. The automaker recently sent customers an email stating that the “Dual Standard is ending,” indicating that the entry-level battery configurations of both the Rivian R1S and Rivian R1T will soon be phased out. Seee also: Rivian Targets Rapid U.S. Launch for R2 Electric SUV The R1S Dual Standard currently starts at $76,990 and offers an estimated 270 miles (435 km) of range. The higher-spec R1S Dual begins at $83,990, featuring a larger battery…

Lawmakers in Washington State are moving forward with legislation that could allow electric vehicle manufacturers Rivian and Lucid Motors to sell vehicles directly to customers, following a similar exemption previously granted to Tesla. The proposal, known as Senate Bill 6354, would modify existing state law that generally requires automakers to sell vehicles through franchised dealerships. Tesla remains the only manufacturer currently exempt from the rule in Washington. Under the proposed legislation, Rivian and Lucid—which already operate showrooms in the state—would be allowed to complete vehicle sales directly to consumers. The bill advanced quickly after being introduced on Feb. 19 and…