manufacturing

Dutch chip-equipment maker ASML has said it is not selling its chipmaking machines in Europe, warning that the region risks falling behind the United States, China and India in the semiconductor industry. The remarks have drawn attention in India and China, where ASML's role in global chip supply chains is a sensitive topic amid ongoing export-control tensions and competition to build domestic chip manufacturing capacity.

Two of China's electric vehicle manufacturers have announced a deal, a sign that the country's crowded EV sector is beginning to consolidate. The New York Times reports the agreement comes as intensifying competition, price wars and overcapacity push China's auto industry toward mergers and consolidation.

The Trump administration has moved to roll back US fuel economy standards, arguing the change will make cars more affordable for American buyers. The question of whether vehicles will actually get cheaper remains open, with analysts weighing lower compliance costs for automakers against higher fuel spending for drivers over time. The rollback unwinds emissions and efficiency rules that had pushed manufacturers toward more fuel-efficient fleets.

The Trump administration is moving to roll back fuel economy standards for automakers, loosening federal requirements on vehicle efficiency. The change would give car manufacturers more flexibility but is likely to draw criticism from environmental groups and states that back stricter emissions rules. Details on the scope and timing of the rollback remain limited.

Experts say a plan backed by Donald Trump to license production of Patriot missiles to Ukraine could take years to implement, according to ABC News. The assessment tempers expectations that the arrangement would quickly boost Ukraine's air defenses, as setting up licensed manufacturing involves lengthy negotiations, industrial preparation and regulatory steps.

Singapore is increasing its investment in the semiconductor sector, according to a Financial Times report. The city-state has long been a key hub for chip manufacturing and packaging, and the move signals its intent to deepen that role amid global competition for semiconductor supply chains. The report is drawing attention from industry watchers tracking how countries position themselves in the global chip race.

An ASML executive has said the Dutch chip equipment maker currently sells none of its lithography machines in Europe, despite being the continent's most valuable tech company. The remark underscores how Europe hosts little advanced chip manufacturing, with ASML's customers concentrated in Asia and the United States, and fuels debate about Europe's push to build domestic semiconductor capacity.

An American startup has moved its operations from Kentucky to China, according to Reuters. The relocation highlights the pull of China's manufacturing ecosystem, supply chains and costs for early-stage companies, even as US politics push firms to stay onshore. The report is drawing wide attention as debate continues over reshoring versus offshoring.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says Donald Trump has approved the production of Patriot missiles in Ukraine. The claim, if confirmed, would mark a significant step in US military cooperation with Kyiv, potentially allowing Ukraine to manufacture the sought-after air defense systems domestically. The announcement is drawing attention amid ongoing debate over Western air defense support for Ukraine's war effort.

The Trump administration has moved to weaken fuel efficiency standards for new cars sold in the United States, rolling back requirements that automakers improve the average fuel economy of their fleets. The change relaxes emissions and mileage rules on manufacturers, a decision likely to draw criticism from environmental groups and praise from parts of the auto industry.

Ukraine struck a Russian facility linked to the production of Kh-101 cruise missiles and the Oreshnik ballistic missile, with newly released satellite images showing visible damage at the site. The strike targets a key node in Russia's long-range weapons manufacturing, and observers are sharing imagery to assess how badly production capacity was affected.

The Council of the European Union has identified the first five projects of common interest for the European defence industry, a step meant to boost cooperation between member states' defence manufacturers and strengthen Europe's capacity to produce military equipment collectively. The move is part of broader EU efforts to deepen defence integration in response to security concerns on the continent.

Donald Trump has announced plans for a $15 billion steel plant in Iowa, framing the project as a major investment in American manufacturing. The announcement comes as the president seeks to shore up support for his party ahead of midterm elections, with commentators reading the move as a political effort to revive flagging enthusiasm among voters.

The Trump administration is moving to loosen vehicle mileage standards in the United States, easing fuel economy requirements for carmakers. The rollback of emissions-related rules is being reported by US outlets and is likely to draw criticism from environmental groups while being welcomed by auto manufacturers facing compliance costs.

Vanguard International Semiconductor, a smaller affiliate of TSMC, is considering building a second chipmaking plant in Singapore through its joint venture to meet growing demand for chips. The move would expand Singapore's role in global semiconductor supply at a time when manufacturers are investing heavily in new capacity worldwide.

Nvidia is reportedly pursuing glass substrate packaging for its AI chips, a manufacturing shift that could improve performance and density as conventional materials hit physical limits. The move could reshape how advanced semiconductors are packaged and give Nvidia an edge in the race to power large AI systems, though details of timing and partners remain unclear.

TSMC is increasingly dictating pricing across the AI chip industry, as the Taiwanese foundry remains the dominant manufacturer of advanced chips for companies like Nvidia, AMD and countless AI startups. With demand for leading-edge fabrication capacity outstripping supply, TSMC's pricing power shapes costs and margins across the entire AI hardware ecosystem.

Volkswagen has announced a partnership with Chinese battery manufacturer Gotion High-Tech to supply batteries for its electric vehicles. The deal deepens the German automaker's ties with Chinese suppliers as it scales up its EV production and secures battery capacity. The announcement drew attention from industry and market watchers tracking VW's electrification strategy and its reliance on Chinese battery technology.

A defense minister says NATO must learn to break up and disperse its weapons manufacturing before it enters a major conflict, warning that concentrated defense production is a vulnerability. The comments add to ongoing debate within the alliance about whether European and NATO defense industries can produce ammunition and equipment fast enough, and safely enough, in the event of a large-scale war.

The United States is set to finalize vehicle fuel economy standards that are sharply lower than previously planned, according to Reuters. The rollback would ease efficiency requirements for automakers, reversing stricter targets and easing pressure on manufacturers of gasoline-powered vehicles while drawing criticism from climate and environmental advocates.

The Trump administration has officially reduced the federal fuel economy standard, rolling back requirements that automakers improve the average efficiency of new vehicles. The move, reported by transport industry outlets, is expected to ease regulatory pressure on car manufacturers but draw criticism from environmental and climate advocates concerned about higher emissions and fuel costs for consumers.

Elon Musk has been shifting his companies' footprint toward the US Sunbelt, moving Tesla's headquarters to Texas and concentrating operations in states like Texas and Nevada. The Wall Street Journal examines how this southward expansion is changing the structure and priorities of his business empire, from manufacturing to his broader corporate strategy.

China's automotive market, crowded with dozens of competing manufacturers locked in a price war, is reportedly moving toward consolidation as weaker automakers are expected to merge, exit, or be absorbed by larger rivals. The shift would reshape one of the world's largest car markets, where overcapacity and fierce discounting have squeezed margins across the industry.

The Trump administration has completed its rollback of federal fuel-economy standards, weakening requirements that auto manufacturers improve the average fuel efficiency of new vehicles. The move reverses stricter rules adopted under the Biden administration, which were aimed at cutting gasoline consumption and greenhouse-gas emissions. The change is expected to draw legal challenges from states and environmental groups, while automakers weigh how the looser standards affect their production plans.

Donald Trump has announced plans for a steel mill in Iowa, framing the project as a boost for American manufacturing and industrial jobs in the Midwest. The announcement is drawing attention from business observers and political commentators, with debate over whether the facility will materialise and what it would mean for the state's economy and the broader US steel industry.

The UK government is convening defense industry chief executives for a closed-door security briefing focused on Russia. The meeting signals Whitehall's effort to align arms manufacturers with national security planning amid ongoing concern over Russian aggression. Details of the briefing have not been disclosed, and it remains unclear what specific intelligence or policy priorities will be shared with the executives.