J&J Invests Over $1 Billion to Boost Vision Care Manufacturing in Florida 

New Brunswick-based Johnson & Johnson recently announced an investment of more than $1 billion in Jacksonville, Florida to strengthen its Vision operations by scaling its U.S. manufacturing, packaging and distribution capabilities. 

The investment includes construction of a new state-of-the-art distribution facility by 2028, alongside advanced manufacturing and packaging technologies to meet growing demand for Johnson & Johnson’s Acuvue brand contact lenses. The company currently manufactures more than 1.7 billion Acuvue contact lenses for U.S. patients. 

“This investment reinforces our long-standing conviction that advanced manufacturing in the United States is essential to delivering innovative, high-quality healthcare solutions to patients at home and around the world,” Johnson & Johnson Chair and CEO Joaquin Duato said June 15. 

Since establishing its Jacksonville presence in 1981, Johnson & Johnson has built a strong foundation for economic growth in the region. The latest $1 billion investment supports 3,500 Jacksonville employees and strengthens Johnson & Johnson’s $6 billion annual economic impact in Florida, the company said. 

The Jacksonville facility is part of Johnson & Johnson’s previously announced $55 billion U.S. investment in manufacturing, research and development, and technology through early 2029. Other new manufacturing facilities include a $2 billion biologics plant in North Carolina, and a $1 billion next-generation cell therapy manufacturing facility in Pennsylvania. 

“I am thrilled to see this major $1 billion investment in our state, funding new state-of-the-art facilities and supporting jobs in the Jacksonville area,” said U.S. Senator Ashley Moody (R-FL). “Companies are moving to Florida in droves, and massive investment such as this highlights Florida as the nation’s top state to grow your family and your business.”  

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Bosch Posts $18.8 Billion in 2025 Sales in North America, Marks 120 Years in the US

As it continues to invest for growth in the North American region, Bosch announced its final 2025 results, achieving $18.8 billion USD (16.6 billion euros) in sales. This represents a slight year-on-year increase of approximately 4%.

Despite global economic challenges, the North American market once again posted growth and continues to be a focus market for growth at Bosch, particularly in the United States, company officials stated in a press release. Bosch has a long-standing commitment to the U.S. and is celebrating its 120th anniversary in the country in 2026.

“Our 2025 performance demonstrates the dedication of our team in the region and the economic resilience of our market,” said Paul Thomas, president and CEO of Bosch in North America and president of Bosch Mobility Americas. “We continue to aim for the North American region to represent 20% of the global turnover of Bosch as part of our global 2030 strategy.”

Bosch ended the 2025 year with around 41,000 associates in North America across all its operations.

Bosch Operates 20 US Manufacturing Sites Across 14 States

A major part of the commitment to the U.S. is in manufacturing, where Bosch manages 20 sites with manufacturing operations supporting all four of its business sectors: Mobility, Consumer Goods, Energy and Building Technology, and Industrial Technology. U.S. manufacturing for Bosch expanded in 2025 as the company closed a major acquisition. Bosch currently maintains manufacturing locations in Arkansas, California, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, North Carolina, Michigan, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Tennessee. In 2025, several key manufacturing milestones occurred:

• Bosch Mobility launched production on a new, high-tech line in its Charleston, South Carolina, facility to produce the 10th generation of electronic stability control, known as ESP.
• Bosch Power Tools opened the $130 million USD expansion of its facility in Lincolnton, North Carolina, for the manufacturing of power tool accessories.
• Prominent manufacturing locations in Norman, Oklahoma, and Wichita, Kansas, were added as Bosch Home Comfort closed a major acquisition.
• Construction continued for the planned $1.9 billion USD transformation of the Bosch site in Roseville, California, into a facility that produces and tests silicon carbide (SiC) semiconductors with state-of-the-art processes and equipment.

AI, Software & Powertrain Options Fuel Mobility Business Sector

The Mobility business sector achieved $11.4 billion USD in sales in North America in 2025, demonstrating nominal growth ($10.8 billion USD in 2024) despite market headwinds. The company continues to develop software and artificial intelligence-enabled solutions for customers tied to the needs of the local market, particularly in the United States, noted the release.

In December 2025, Bosch Mobility introduced two new features showcasing AI as an enabler. The AI extension platform extends the capabilities of existing cockpit systems, bringing advanced AI functions into the vehicle. This allows OEMs to quickly and easily retrofit existing hardware or system architecture without costly redesign, the company said.

“The AI extension platform helps to provide the features that consumers are looking for while also keeping an eye on vehicle affordability since it doesn’t require significant shifts at the system level and in the vehicle architecture,” Thomas said.

The company continues to see growth in solutions to support hybrid vehicles, where the rich history and system-level expertise of Bosch in powertrain is highly applicable. Bosch Mobility integrates and modularizes a variety of components backed by development teams for both internal combustion and electrification.

The company recently introduced a next-generation synchronous motor designed for traction and generation applications from hybrid through battery-electric and fuel cell powertrains that delivers a world-record gain in efficiency, with only 0.85 kWh/100 km losses in the WLTC (Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicles Test Cycle), representing up to a 30% reduction from the previous generation.

“The U.S. market will continue to be a multi-lane highway of powertrain options,” Thomas said. “We are supporting a broad range of hybrid, internal combustion, battery-electric and hydrogen solutions so that we can help our OEM customers provide consumers with options based on the vehicle use case.”

Consumer Goods Sector

The Consumer Goods business sector, comprised of Home Appliances and Bosch Power Tools, registered third-party sales of $3.5 billion USD in 2025, up from $3.4 billion USD in 2024. Home Appliances reported strong 2025 performance, outpacing the market with a more than 5% increase in turnover.

Major Portfolio Shifts in Energy & Building Technology

The Energy and Building Technology business sector posted $2.5 billion USD in sales in 2025 as it underwent fundamental shifts in its portfolio. In August, Bosch closed the acquisition of the residential and light-commercial heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) business from Johnson Controls. This significantly expanded the presence of Bosch Home Comfort in the North American market, where the brand portfolio now includes YORK, Hitachi and more alongside the Bosch brand.

In October 2025, the Bosch Home Comfort Group completed another acquisition in the North American market: US Air Conditioning Distributors LLC, which has 52 locations and almost 500 employees in California, Arizona, Utah and Idaho. The company’s factory-direct sales model provides the Bosch Home Comfort Group with direct customer access.

In October 2025, Bosch announced it would unify its global building technologies integrator operations under the unified name Bosch Building Technologies. Beginning in January of 2026, the brands Climatec and Paladin Technologies combined their branch networks under the Bosch brand. The Building Technologies business now features a wide-ranging portfolio of integrated, digital and cross-domain solutions, positioning it to expand in the areas of Building Automation, Security, Fire Life Safety, and Energy Solutions.

At the end of June 2025, Bosch completed the sale of its security and communications technology product business, now named KEENFINITY Group, to Triton as Bosch Building Technologies focuses on its system integrator business.

Industrial Technology Grows Despite Market Challenges

The Industrial Technology business sector faced continued market headwinds, posting a nominal gain in sales of $1.4 billion USD, up from $1.3 billion in 2024. The Industrial Technology business in the U.S. includes Bosch Rexroth, which has been part of the Bosch family for 25 years, and Hydraforce, which joined the Bosch family in 2023.

Bosch Group: Outlook for 2026 & Strategic Direction

In the face of geopolitical tensions and trade barriers, the Bosch Group says that it intends to exploit the growth prospects in its global markets with full innovative strength in the 2026 business year. The necessary upfront investments in areas of future importance are set to remain at the high level of previous years. In 2025, Bosch devoted some 12 billion euros to investments in research and development and to capital expenditure. The supplier of technology and services is planning sales growth of 2%–5% and an EBIT margin from operations of 4%–6% for 2026.

“As a global technology leader, we are committed to shaping the trends of automation, digitalization, electrification and artificial intelligence, as this also paves the way for profitable growth in our business,” said Stefan Hartung, chairman of the board of management of Robert Bosch GmbH.

Despite considerable challenges, Bosch was able to achieve sales revenue of 91.0 billion euros ($102.8 billion USD) in the 2025 business year, slightly up on the previous year (2024: 90.3 billion euros). After adjusting for exchange-rate effects, this was equivalent to 4.1% growth. At 2%, the EBIT margin from operations was below the previous year’s figure (2024: 3.5%). Necessary structural and personnel adjustments to increase future viability had a considerable negative impact on the result in the form of provisions of 2.7 billion euros.

“Bosch can deliver the future—even under unfavorable conditions. 2026 will be a year of progress,” said Hartung. When it comes to innovative strength, Bosch is one of the strongest industrial companies in the world and, with around 6,300 patents in 2025, one of the most prolific patent applicants in Europe. Hartung sees the expansion of innovation leadership as a key success factor for expanding business and implementing the company’s Strategy 2030.

For more details on Bosch’s annual report for 2025, visit bosch-press.com.

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Johnson & Johnson Raises U.S. Vision Manufacturing Capacity With More Than $1 Billion Jacksonville Investment

Johnson & Johnson announced an investment of more than $1 billion to expand its Vision operations in Jacksonville, Florida, strengthening the company’s U.S.-based manufacturing, packaging, and distribution capabilities for its ACUVUE-brand contact lenses.

The investment includes the construction of a new distribution facility and the addition of advanced manufacturing and packaging technologies designed to increase capacity and meet growing demand for the company’s contact lens products. The expansion is intended to support eye health solutions used by more than 40 million patients in the United States and globally.

The project is part of Johnson & Johnson’s previously announced $55 billion commitment to U.S. manufacturing, research and development, and technology through early 2029. Construction of the new Jacksonville facility is already underway, and the site is expected to become fully operational in 2028.

Johnson & Johnson said the expansion builds on its approximately $6 billion annual economic impact in Florida and supports continued growth for its Jacksonville operations. The company currently employs about 3,500 people in the area.

Jacksonville has served as a key center for the company’s vision business for more than 40 years. Since establishing operations there in 1981, Johnson & Johnson has expanded to more than 1.5 million square feet of manufacturing, research, distribution, and operations facilities. The company currently manufactures more than 1.7 billion ACUVUE contact lenses annually for U.S. patients.

Local, state, and federal officials said the investment will strengthen healthcare manufacturing capabilities, create jobs, and reinforce Northeast Florida’s role in the life sciences and advanced manufacturing sectors.

KEY QUOTES:

“This investment reinforces our long-standing conviction that advanced manufacturing in the United States is essential to delivering innovative, high quality healthcare solutions to patients at home and around the world. By further strengthening our Vision operations in Jacksonville with next-generation manufacturing, packaging and distribution capabilities, we are enhancing the resilience of our U.S. supply chain while helping more people see better and live better. This commitment reflects the confidence we have in our people, our technology, and our more than 40-year legacy of advancing eye health globally.”

Joaquin Duato, Chairman And Chief Executive Officer, Johnson & Johnson

“Johnson & Johnson’s commitment is a strong vote of confidence in Jacksonville, our workforce, and our future. Jacksonville continues to lead in advanced manufacturing and life sciences innovation. This expansion strengthens our high-tech footprint while creating quality jobs and long-term opportunities for our community.”

Donna Deegan, Mayor Of Jacksonville

“Florida continues to play a leading role in strengthening America’s healthcare supply chain to better serve patients. The billion-dollar investment in Jacksonville will help expand the domestic capacity and strengthen America’s healthcare infrastructure. That means more jobs in Florida, a stronger national economy, less reliance on foreign healthcare products, and better results for our nation’s long-term health and competitiveness.”

Rick Scott, U.S. Senator

“I am thrilled to see this major $1 billion investment in our state, funding new state of the art facilities and supporting jobs in the Jacksonville area. This is more than simple investment – this represents a down payment on the future of Jacksonville and the state of Florida. Companies are moving to Florida in droves, and massive investment such as this highlights Florida as the nation’s top state to grow your family and your business.”

Ashley Moody, U.S. Senator

“Johnson & Johnson’s continued investment in Jacksonville reflects the region’s strength in advanced manufacturing and critical healthcare production. It supports a skilled workforce, strengthens domestic capacity, and reinforces Northeast Florida’s role in keeping America economically competitive.”

John Rutherford, U.S. Representative

“Johnson & Johnson’s $1 billion investment in Jacksonville will strengthen the supply chain for critical vision products while creating high-quality jobs and generating significant economic benefits for Northeast Florida. The project reinforces Jacksonville’s status as a premier destination for healthcare manufacturing and innovation, helping ensure the region remains at the forefront of supporting patients and advancing medical technology.”

Aaron Bean, U.S. Representative

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Novartis Finalizes $23 Billion U.S. Investment Plan with Seventh New Manufacturing Facility

Novartis has reached the final milestone of its $23 billion domestic investment strategy, announcing a seventh new facility in Morrisville, North Carolina. The 56,200-square-foot plant will focus on active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) manufacturing for solid dosage forms and RNA therapeutics. This addition completes a one-year expansion cycle aimed at establishing a fully autonomous, end-to-end supply chain within the United States. By localized production, the Swiss drugmaker seeks to insulate its American patient base from global logistics volatility and potential pharmaceutical import tariffs.

The expansion marks the first time in Novartis’ history that all its advanced technology platforms—including radioligand, cell and gene therapies, and small molecules—will be manufactured domestically. Over the past 12 months, the firm has broken ground on research centers in San Diego and flagship hubs in the Research Triangle, while also building a coast-to-coast radioligand therapy (RLT) network with new sites in Texas, Florida, and California. CEO Vas Narasimhan noted that the connected footprint allows the firm to “locally develop, produce, and deliver medicines at scale.”This surge in infrastructure is designed to provide “timely access to innovation for patients in the U.S.”

Since launching the initiative in April 2025, Novartis has committed to manufacturing all its key medicines for U.S. patients within the country. The Morrisville site specifically complements existing North Carolina facilities focused on biologics and sterile packaging, creating a regional hub for oncology, immunology, and cardiovascular treatments. This infrastructure push coincides with a broader industry shift toward regionalized manufacturing as a hedge against geopolitical uncertainty. As the company nears full operational status for its new sites, it remains on track to integrate discovery and production more tightly than ever before across its 10-site U.S. network.

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Mexican manufacturing: US$46 billion in European investment

According to an analysis by the Mexican Institute for Competitiveness (IMCO), the manufacturing sector attracted US$46.9 billion in investment from the European Union between 2015 and 2024, equivalent to 53% of the total European capital received by the country.

The study highlights that Mexican manufacturing established itself as the primary destination for European investment thanks to logistical integration, proximity to the United States, and the strength of industrial ecosystems located in regions with high export capacity.

The IMCO report notes that German investment played a significant role in this trend, driven by companies such as the Volkswagen Group, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Bosch, and Continental AG.

In addition, European investment expanded into areas related to infrastructure, energy, services, and construction. The report indicates that construction accounted for US$3.6 billion.

The agency also recommended strengthening partnerships between companies, universities, and technology centers to develop specialized talent and take advantage of the relocation of production chains.

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U.S. Battery Manufacturing Construction Hits $45 Billion Amid Energy Storage Shift

U.S. Battery Manufacturing Construction Reaches $45B as Automakers Shift Toward Energy Storage

Battery manufacturing construction activity across the United States has reached unprecedented levels, with approximately $45 billion worth of projects currently under construction as automakers and energy companies pivot toward energy-storage technology.

Courtesy: photo by Julia on Pexels

According to new data released by Industrial Info Resources (IIR), the U.S. has roughly $63 billion in active and planned battery-manufacturing projects underway, with the majority of spending tied to facilities already being built.

The construction boom reflects a significant shift in strategy among automotive manufacturers and battery suppliers as demand growth for fully electric vehicles slows and companies increasingly focus on battery energy storage systems, or BESS.

“Rollbacks on energy transition funding — including the expiration of the federal $7,500 consumer EV tax credit — and slower-than-expected market adoption — are leading domestic automakers to shift production from full EVs, leaving some U.S. battery-manufacturing capacity underutilized,” the report stated.

Industry analysts say the transition is also being fueled by growing electricity demand from data centers and renewable energy infrastructure.

Automakers Reconfigure Facilities for Energy Storage Production

Major automakers including Ford and General Motors are investing billions to convert or expand facilities capable of producing lithium-iron-phosphate batteries for energy-storage applications.

Ford recently launched its new Ford Energy division and is investing approximately $2 billion to convert a former EV battery plant in Glendale, Kentucky, into a commercial BESS manufacturing facility. The plant is expected to produce at least 20 gigawatt-hours annually and begin operations in 2027.

Another Ford battery project under construction in Marshall, Michigan, is expected to begin production later this year and will focus on smaller residential battery units.

General Motors and Samsung SDI are also constructing a $3.5 billion battery facility in Indiana designed to support both EV and energy-storage battery production. Construction is expected to conclude by the end of 2027.

Meanwhile, GM’s Ultium Cells joint venture with LG Energy Solution is retooling its Spring Hill, Tennessee, facility to shift manufacturing toward lithium-iron-phosphate battery cells for energy storage.

Battery-storage technology is becoming increasingly important for utilities and data centers seeking alternatives to diesel-powered backup systems during grid disruptions.

Suppliers Expand U.S. Battery Investments

Battery manufacturers and suppliers are continuing to invest heavily in U.S. production capacity tied to Tesla and hybrid vehicle demand.

LG Energy Solution recently signed a deal to provide Tesla with $4.3 billion worth of lithium-iron-phosphate battery cells from its Lansing, Michigan, facility for use in energy-storage systems. The agreement is driving plans for a multibillion-dollar retooling and expansion of the plant.

Panasonic is also moving forward with a $4 billion expansion of its De Soto, Kansas, facility near Kansas City to increase production of battery cells for Tesla electric vehicles. Full-scale production is expected to begin in 2027.

Toyota is simultaneously expanding battery production at its Liberty, North Carolina, campus, the company’s only battery plant outside Japan. The project includes a new building with two production lines and eight additional lines dedicated to plug-in hybrid vehicles.

Industrial Info Resources said the rapid expansion of battery manufacturing construction demonstrates how energy storage is becoming a critical component of the nation’s evolving power infrastructure and industrial economy.

The report also highlights how data center growth and grid reliability concerns are reshaping investment priorities across the automotive and manufacturing sectors.

Originally reported by Danny Levin, Deputy Editor for IIR News Intelligence (Sugar Land, Texas) in Industrial Info. Com.

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Indian Companies Pledge Record $20.5 Billion Investment in US

3 min readMay 7, 2026 08:40 AM IST

Indian companies have pledged to invest a record $20.5 billion in the United States, which includes $19.1 billion in pharmaceuticals, the US embassy said on Wednesday.

The commitments were made during an investment summit in Maryland, US.

According to the US embassy, the commitments span key sectors including pharmaceuticals, advanced manufacturing, energy infrastructure, and emerging technologies, and are expected to create thousands of jobs in both countries while expanding US production and joint innovation capacity.

The US embassy statement quoted Ambassador Sergio Gor saying, “I am proud to advance our goal to double US-India bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030. Through fair, balanced, and mutually beneficial trade, we’re attracting world-class investment to the United States and creating shared prosperity for both nations.”

It said that a significant share of the investment is driven by India’s pharmaceutical sector, with more than $19.1 billion in planned investments in US manufacturing, research and development, and new facilities.

In addition, 12 Indian companies announced more than $1.1 billion in new greenfield and expansion projects across multiple states, supporting jobs in manufacturing, technology, and engineering.

Pharmaceuticals & industrial capacity

Indian pharmaceutical companies announced plans to invest more than $19.1 billion in the US, anchored by Sun Pharmaceutical’s planned $11.75 billion acquisition of New Jersey-based Organon & Co. Participating companies include Aurobindo Pharma Ltd, Biocon Group, Cipla Ltd, Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Granules India Ltd, Jubilant Group, Lupin Ltd, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd, Piramal Pharma Ltd, and Zydus Lifesciences Ltd, the statement said.

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These investments will support manufacturing and network expansions, new greenfield facilities, and increased research and development, helping expand the supply of essential medicines, address drug shortages, and strengthen the resilience of the US healthcare supply chain.

JSW Steel affirmed plans for commissioning $255 million in modernisation projects at its facilities in Ohio and Texas.

Manufacturing

Abhyuday Group (Ahmedabad) will invest over $900 million across five US sites, creating 1,500 American jobs. Jindal Pipe and Jindal Tubular USA (PR Jindal Group) will invest $87 million to expand in Texas and Mississippi, creating 140 jobs. Jivo Wellness (Delhi) will invest $15 million, creating 50 direct jobs and up to 150 indirect jobs.  Polyhose Inc. will invest $2 million in Los Angeles to support the US shipbuilding industry.

Technology, AI, and digital infrastructure

Mumbai-based Sterlite Technologies Ltd will invest $100 million, creating up to 500 jobs and supporting AI and telecom infrastructure.

Techdome Solutions (Indore) will invest $7.5 million, creating 100 jobs.

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Kerala’s RoshAi will invest $5 million in Texas, creating 20 jobs. Chennai’s Atri AI will invest $2 million in Menlo Park, California. Kissflow will invest $2 million in Houston. SatoriXR will invest $1.5 million in Michigan, creating 25 jobs.

Energy, research & innovation

MagnoInnovation Lab (Kerala) will invest $2 million to establish US field operations and support energy sector applications. Indian Institute of Technology Madras Global Research Foundation will invest $4.5 million to establish a US research and collaboration hub in California, with plans for an additional East Coast.

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Shubhajit Roy, Diplomatic Editor at The Indian Express, has been a journalist for more than 25 years now. Roy joined The Indian Express in October 2003 and has been reporting on foreign affairs for more than 17 years now. Based in Delhi, he has also led the National government and political bureau at The Indian Express in Delhi — a team of reporters who cover the national government and politics for the newspaper. He has got the Ramnath Goenka Journalism award for Excellence in Journalism ‘2016. He got this award for his coverage of the Holey Bakery attack in Dhaka and its aftermath. He also got the IIMCAA Award for the Journalist of the Year, 2022, (Jury’s special mention) for his coverage of the fall of Kabul in August 2021 — he was one of the few Indian journalists in Kabul and the only mainstream newspaper to have covered the Taliban’s capture of power in mid-August, 2021. … Read More

© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd

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GM just boosted its U.S. manufacturing spend to $6 billion in one year

General Motors has now committed more than $6 billion to U.S. manufacturing in just 12 months—and the latest installment, an $830 million infusion across three propulsion plants announced Wednesday, is starting to look less like a spending spree and more like a strategic homecoming.

The new funding includes flows to Romulus Propulsion Systems in Michigan ($300 million, its second such investment after an identical commitment last year) to expand 10-speed transmission capacity for full-size trucks and SUVs; Toledo Propulsion Systems in Ohio ($40 million, also a second tranche) for light-duty truck transmissions; and Saginaw Metal Casting in Michigan ($150 million) to boost production of heads for sixth-generation V-8 engines destined for next-generation pickups and Corvettes.

In an interview with Fortune, GM’s manufacturing chief Mike Trevorrow said the company made sure the workers heard about it first. UAW representatives joined plant managers on the floor at all three facilities to deliver the news in person. “We were fortunate enough to have them at a couple of our plants today to help with the rollout to the employees,” said Trevorrow, senior vice president of global manufacturing. “It’s fun.”

A century-old idea, quietly revived

The shape of GM’s current manufacturing portfolio—full-size trucks, sixth-generation V-8s, 10-speed transmissions, a broad EV lineup maintained even as battery capacity was trimmed—bears a striking resemblance to a strategy that is literally over 100 years old.

Alfred P. Sloan built GM into the world’s largest automaker in the 1920s through the 1950s on a single organizing idea: offer a vehicle for every person, at every price point, under a stable of distinct brands. He immortalized this with the 1925 advertising slogan, “A car for every purse and purpose.”

When Fortune raised the comparison, Trevorrow paused. “I think it’s always been in our DNA, but I‘ve never heard it referenced specifically.” Then, almost as an aside, he noted: “We have a wide variety of vehicles for everyone.”

The fact that it was Fortune’s question may be the most revealing thing about how GM is operating right now—not as a company consciously invoking its storied past, but as one that has quietly re-internalized it.

‘Fast, flexible, and frugal’

The modern translation of Sloan’s philosophy, in Trevorrow’s telling, is three words: “Fast, flexible, and frugal.” It’s GM’s internal manufacturing mantra, part of CEO Mary Barra’s broader embrace of agility. In an environment where trade policy, consumer demand, and technology are all shifting at once, the ability to pivot is worth more than any single strategic conviction.

That flexibility is why, when EV demand grew more slowly than expected, GM didn’t dismantle its electric vehicle lineup. “We didn’t cut any vehicles,” Trevorrow clarified to Fortune when asked about how this investment reflects the EV focus. “We just cut a little bit of the battery capacity.” The company currently offers more than a dozen EV models and ranks second in U.S. EV sales—while simultaneously pouring hundreds of millions into sixth-generation V-8 infrastructure. Both things coexist, by design.

Trevorrow was careful not to let tariffs take full credit for the investment wave. “Tariffs might be involved only because of the timing,” he said. “When you know the rules, you know the guidelines—how you play that to the benefit of … the country, the consumer, and your company is key.”

What $6 billion looks like on the ground

The roughly 3,000 workers across Romulus, Toledo, and Saginaw are the most concrete expression of what this strategy looks like in practice, and Trevorrow said he thinks GM is in a good place with its workers right now. When asked what changed, he said it’s simple: a lot of surveys.

“We survey our employees,” he said. “In fact, they’ll say we survey too much, and I always say, ‘Remember the time when we didn’t ask?’” Sharing that it’s been in place for a little over five years, and that GM is now in the top quartile of all companies worldwide as a workplace of choice, Trevorrow said, “People like working here. We get that feedback, and we make changes according to it.”

Trevorrow noted this data drives real changes: shift-hour adjustments, lighting improvements on the plant floor, tools designed or 3D-printed based on worker suggestions. “The more we communicate,” he said, “the better we can problem-solve and root-cause things together. That’s the joy, I would say, every day of manufacturing.” GM’s view on continuous improvement, he said, is that everything can be improved.

The manufacturing chief allowed that he’s aware of anxiety, even angst, across the workforce over automation, especially when it comes to artificial intelligence. On AI specifically, he takes the long view. GM has invested more than $250 million over the past five years to upskill workers alongside new technology—setting aside a percentage of every new launch budget to bring plant floor employees up to speed before new automation goes live.

“What I emphasize is we’ve always led in implementation of automation, and we continue to do it,” he said, adding that GM believes in its people. “The investment in bringing our people along on this journey is key. Automation doesn’t work without people … Nothing’s worse than having new automation that sits because nobody knows what to do with it.” The goal isn’t replacement, in his telling. It’s fluency: “We’ll find out how to use our people best, and how to use automation best, and continue to drive both for safety, quality, and efficiency.”

Trevorrow said he sees AI himself daily and describes his own adoption curve in terms that plant workers might recognize. “It takes some getting used to,” he said. “But doesn’t everything? My cell phone took some getting used to. Now, if somebody was to take it away, I would think I’m missing an arm.”

Trevorrow reframed the debate around geopolitical uncertainty, shifting trade patterns, and employee anxiety: “Uncertainty is opportunity, too.”

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General Motors invests $6 billion into U.S. manufacturing

DETROIT, Mich. — General Motors has invested over $6 billion into its U.S. manufacturing footprint over the past year, with hundreds of millions dedicated towards projects in Michigan.

The company recently announced $830 million in investments towards projects that will support the launch of GM’s next generation full-size trucks and SUVs.

The sites benefiting from the total investment include:

• Romulus Propulsion Systems, receiving $300 million to increase the facility’s capacity to produce 10-speed transmissions, which are used in GM’s next-generation full-size trucks and SUVs. This is a further capacity increase for production at Romulus, which initially received $300 million late last year to support this work. Romulus has about 1,000 employees.
• Saginaw Metal Casting Operations (Michigan) recently announced to its approximately 350 employees a $150 million investment to increase head casting volume for Gen 6 engines, supporting next-generation full-size pickup trucks and Corvettes.

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The company says these investments show the strength of GM’s current operations and its focus on positioning its U.S. manufacturing base for continued leadership in full-size truck and SUVs segments.

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AI drone company Skydio announces $3.5 billion investment in technology race

Artificial intelligence-powered drone manufacturer Skydio on Friday announced a $3.5 billion investment to expand its domestic production and supply chain as the technology race against China intensifies.

The investment, unveiled during a press conference with local law enforcement in Fairfax County, Virginia, will be deployed over the next five years to scale U.S.-based manufacturing, develop critical components, and create thousands of jobs. 

“This is going to go squarely into the U.S. drone ecosystem,” Skydio CEO Adam Bry said, adding that the company plans to “5x the size of our own factory” and dedicate roughly $1 billion toward sourcing key components domestically.

The announcement comes amid heightened warnings from U.S. officials about foreign threats to American innovation. 

A memo circulated this week by White House technology adviser Michael Kratsios warned that China has been actively attempting to steal United States advances in AI, raising concerns about supply chain vulnerabilities.

Bry emphasized that the global drone market has been dominated by foreign manufacturers, many based in China.

“It’s just untenable to be dependent on our adversaries for technology this important,” he said. 

A central component of the investment is a new initiative aimed at “onshoring” production of drone parts, including motors, batteries, and microchips. The effort seeks to build a fully domestic supply chain for robotics and AI-enabled systems, reducing reliance on overseas manufacturing hubs. 

“It’s not a mystery that right now, the world-leading manufacturing ecosystem for electronics is in China,” Bry said. “But there’s no law of physics that says it has to be that way.” 

Bry said the investment will create thousands of jobs, primarily in California, where the company is based, but will also look nationally.

Kratsios, who attended the announcement event, called the announcement “a real turning point” for U.S. industrial policy, tying it to broader federal efforts to secure supply chains and strengthen domestic manufacturing. 

“We are going to ensure that the most advanced, most reliable and most trusted systems in the world are built here in the United States,” he said, describing domestic production as a “national security imperative.” 

Drone technology is increasingly linked to broader geopolitical competition with China, particularly as AI-driven systems become integral to military, infrastructure, and public safety operations. 

Skydio drones are already used by U.S. military branches, law enforcement agencies, and infrastructure operators, driving demand for expanded domestic production.

US MILITARY SITES DEPLOY DRONES FOR SECURITY AS RECRUITMENT FLUCTUATES

President Donald Trump has pushed for what he has dubbed “drone dominance,” signing an executive order that seeks to build a strong domestic drone sector. 

Skydio is already part of the administration’s movement, as it secured a record-breaking contract with the Department of War in March, making a $52 million sale of its drones to the agency, the largest small drone procurement from a single manufacturer.

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