Global Scans · Manufacturing · Weekly Summary

• [New] Toyota Motor announced plans to invest $10 billion more than previously expected in the U.S. over the next decade, including a $912 million investment in manufacturing plants across five southern states and an $88 million investment to boost hybrid vehicle production at its West Virginia factory. The White House
• [New] Chobani, a Greek yogurt giant, announced $1.7 billion to expand its U.S. operations, including $1.2 billion to build its third U.S. dairy processing plant in New York, which is expected to create more than 1,000 new full-time jobs, and $500 million to expand its Idaho manufacturing plant. The White House
• [New] Shintech announced it will invest $3.4 billion to expand production capacity at its existing Louisiana polyvinyl chloride facility. The White House
• [New] General Motors announced it will invest $4 billion in U.S.-based manufacturing as it shifts more vehicle production from Mexico to the U.S., including in Michigan, Kansas, and Tennessee - including an $888 million investment at its propulsion plant in Tonawanda, New York. The White House
• [New] Merck & Co. announced it will invest a total of $9 billion in the U.S. over the next several years after opening a new $1 billion North Carolina manufacturing facility - including in a new state-of-the-art biologics manufacturing plant in Delaware, which will create at least 500 new jobs. The White House
• [New] Nippon Steel announced it will invest $14 billion in U.S. Steel's operations, including a $4 billion new steel mill. The White House
• [New] In Europe, the European Chips Act is mobilizing USD 50 billion in public and private semiconductor investment through 2030, targeting broader chip manufacturing capability, including next-generation power devices vital for EVs and smart grids. MarkNtel Advisors
• [New] In Europe, the European Chips Act aims to double the EU's share of global semiconductor production to 20% by 2030. Velox Consultants
• [New] U.S. crude oil production will average 13.6 million barrels per day in 2026 and rise to 13.8 million b/d in 2027. EIA - Energy Information Administration
• [New] Global industrial robotics installations are forecast to surpass 700,000 units in 2028 - representing a compound annual growth rate of about 7%. IFR International Federation of Robotics
• [New] If AI-native robotics startups can show measurable gains in Japanese manufacturing, that could become one of the strongest real-world cases for physical AI beyond flashy humanoid demos. Tech Startups - Tech News, Tech Trends & Startup Fundin
• [New] Tesla has indicated that Cybercab production could begin as soon as April, though Elon Musk has noted that early production will likely be slow before ramping over time. TESLARATI
• [New] Musk has previously stated that Tesla could eventually produce millions of Cybercabs annually if demand and production capacity scale as planned. TESLARATI
• [New] Between unpredictable raw material prices, consumer demands that shift faster than a trend cycle, and the growing pressure to run an ethical, sustainable operation, apparel manufacturing challenges in 2026 are piling up from every direction at once. OCNJ Daily
• [New] Nanotechnology has the potential to promote global partnerships for sustainable manufacturing practices. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] Recent geopolitical tensions, trade disputes, and supply chain disruptions have accelerated efforts to diversify production, another key dimension of textile industry trends 2026. TLD apparel
• [New] Asia-Pacific, led by China, will remain the undisputed center of global silicon metal production and consumption through 2035. IndexBox Inc.
• [New] PEM technologies are expected to support substantial growth in platinum demand across the hydrogen production and heavy-duty mobility sectors. Persistence Market Research
• By strengthening domestic component manufacturing, India will gain greater control over the technological infrastructure that powers essential sectors such as smartphones, drones, robotics, artificial intelligence, smart infrastructure and advanced defence systems. Organiser

Last updated: 15 March 2026