General Motors (GM) matched its rival Ford with robust US third quarter sales, with both gas-powered and electric vehicles driving the gains. The largest big three automaker by volume said Q3 sales hit 710,347, an 8% jump compared to a year ago. GM said it was number one in overall sales in the US, and snagged its best market share since 2017. GM said gas powered vehicles like its pickup trucks like the Chevrolet Silverado and full-size SUVs like the GMC Yukon drove the gains, with both categories poised ...

Group 1 - General Motors (GM) will move production of a gas-powered SUV to Michigan and increase manufacturing of pickup trucks in the state to meet strong customer demand [1][2] - The Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Silverado, and GMC Sierra light-duty pickups will begin production at the Orion Assembly plant in early 2027 [2][3] - The Orion Assembly plant is being retooled for gas products, and this move is part of GM's $4 billion investment in U.S. facilities announced in June [4] Group 2 - The Silverado and Sierra trucks will continue to be produced in Fort Wayne, Indiana, while additional production will occur at the Orion Assembly plant due to high demand [3][4] - GM's previous commitment to exclusively offer electric vehicles (EVs) by 2035 has been adjusted due to slower-than-expected customer demand for EVs [5]

Group 1 - General Motors Company (GM) is temporarily halting production at its pickup truck plant in Silao, Mexico, affecting the output of its highest-selling models, the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra [1][9] - The planned downtime at Silao is part of GM's standard operations aimed at optimizing manufacturing efficiency, with the facility offline for the first two weeks of July and again during the weeks of Aug. 4 and Aug. 11 [2][9] - In the first half of 2025, GM sold 278,599 Silverado trucks, up 2% year over year, and 166,409 Sierra trucks, up 12% from the same period in 2024 [3] Group 2 - Automakers often suspend production for maintenance or to reconfigure assembly lines, but extended shutdowns for critical products like pickup trucks are rare [3] - Trade tensions, particularly under the Trump administration, have disrupted automotive supply chains, with manufacturers restructuring production in response to tariff-related challenges [4] - The U.S. auto industry is heavily dependent on Chinese-sourced rare earths, as highlighted by a recent U.S.-China agreement allowing exports to resume [5]

Core Insights - General Motors is set to introduce a new lithium manganese-rich (LMR) prismatic battery technology aimed at reducing costs and enhancing profitability for its electric SUVs and trucks [1][2] - The new battery technology is expected to be implemented in full-size electric vehicles like the Chevrolet Silverado and Escalade IQ starting in 2028 [2] - The LMR batteries will utilize more abundant and less expensive minerals such as magnesium, reducing reliance on cobalt and nickel, which are currently used in GM's EV batteries [2] Group 1 - The LMR battery technology is anticipated to improve range, safety, energy efficiency, and charging capabilities of electric vehicles [3] - GM's vice president of battery, propulsion, and sustainability, Kurt Kelty, described the LMR battery as a "game-changing" solution for electric trucks, offering premium range and performance at an affordable cost [3] - GM aims to be the first to market with this technology, following Ford Motor's announcement of similar LMR battery plans before 2030 [3]

Core Viewpoint - Honda Motor Co., Ltd. has denied reports about relocating vehicle production from Canada and Mexico to the United States in response to potential tariffs, asserting that no changes are currently being considered for its Mexican operations [1][2]. Group 1: Production Strategy - Honda aims to manufacture 90% of vehicles sold in the United States domestically and plans to increase its U.S. production capacity by nearly 30% over the next two to three years [2]. - Honda Canada stated that while it regularly assesses future production strategies, it remains confident in managing market challenges without any immediate changes [3]. Group 2: Market Performance - The United States is Honda's most critical market, with approximately 1.4 million vehicles sold in 2024, accounting for nearly 40% of its global sales, and about 40% of those vehicles are imported from Canada and Mexico [4]. - In the first quarter of the current year, Honda's U.S. sales increased by 5% to nearly 352,000 units [4]. Group 3: Industry Context - Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. plans to reduce Japanese production of its top-selling U.S. model, the Rogue SUV, while reviewing its manufacturing strategies to enhance efficiency [5]. - Recent comments from President Trump indicated a potential delay in new auto tariffs, allowing automakers more time to adapt, with General Motors and Nissan announcing plans to increase U.S. production [6]. - Nissan has decided to maintain two shifts at its Smyrna, TN, plant to strengthen its U.S. manufacturing presence amid rising tariffs on imported vehicles [7]. - Hyundai has opened a new electric vehicle plant in Ellabell, GA, with plans to produce 500,000 EVs annually and invest $21 billion in U.S. operations by 2028 [8].

Core Viewpoint - Honda is planning to significantly expand its manufacturing operations in the US in response to new auto tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, aiming for 90% of its US sales to be produced domestically [1][4]. Group 1: Manufacturing Expansion - Honda intends to increase its US production capacity by up to 30% over the next two to three years [2]. - The company plans to shift production of key models, including the CR-V SUV from Canada and the HR-V SUV from Mexico to US facilities [6]. - Honda is also set to manufacture the next-generation Civic hybrid in Indiana instead of Mexico [6]. Group 2: Market Importance - The US market is crucial for Honda, accounting for approximately 40% of its global sales, with around 1.4 million vehicles sold in the US last year [5]. - In the first quarter of this year, Honda's US sales increased by 5% to nearly 352,000 vehicles [5]. Group 3: Industry Response - Honda's strategy reflects a broader trend among automakers to adjust production plans due to the 25% tariff on imported vehicles, with other companies like General Motors and Nissan also ramping up US production [4][7]. - The reshuffling of production is part of a larger reshoring trend in the US manufacturing sector, driven by rising costs and supply chain concerns [14][15].

Core Insights - General Motors (GM) and Nissan are increasing production in the U.S. due to President Trump's tariffs, while Stellantis is offering larger discounts to counteract the impact of these tariffs [1][9][10] Group 1: General Motors - GM is shifting more production of its light-duty trucks to Fort Wayne, Indiana, to avoid tariff-related costs [1][3] - The company plans to create 225 to 250 new jobs at the Fort Wayne facility as a result of increased production [4] - GM will hire temporary workers and schedule additional overtime shifts to support the increased output, aiming to speed up the assembly line to about nine or ten vehicles per hour [5][6] Group 2: Nissan - Nissan has reversed its decision to cut down on shifts at its Smyrna, Tennessee plant, opting to maintain two production shifts to bolster domestic output amid tariffs [5][8] Group 3: Stellantis - Stellantis is launching a new sales initiative that extends employee-level pricing to all U.S. customers on most of its vehicle lineup to stimulate demand [9][11] - The company is expected to offer substantial discounts on popular models like the Jeep Wrangler and Ram 1500 pickup [10][11] - Stellantis has announced plans to close plants in Canada and Mexico, indicating a shift in production strategy [11]