The ongoing housing slump is negatively affecting manufacturers, though executives are beginning to observe indicators of a potential market turnaround.

Revelations about foreign battery manufacturers in Hungary ignoring safety and environmental regulations, and alleged government cover-ups, are dominating news ahead of April's election, though their impact on the vote remains uncertain.

Chinese gear manufacturers shine on global stage with tech prowess  China Daily - Global Edition

Two Austrian eyewear companies, Schau Schau and Andy Wolf, are highlighted for transforming glasses from a simple visual aid into a fashionable cult object.

Google's AI boss Demis Hassabis said the memory market came down to "a few suppliers of a few key components." PONTUS LUNDAHL/TT NEWS AGENCY/AFP via Getty Images Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis said that the "whole supply chain" for memory chips is constrained. "You need a lot of chips to be able to experiment on new ideas," Hassabis told CNBC. Google produces its own TPUs, but Hassabis said that there were still "key components" that were supply-constrained. The memory shortage takes no prisoners. Even Google isn't immune. AI companies are duking it out for greater and greater quantities of memory chips. The problem? The industry is heavily supply-constrained. Costs have skyrocketed, products have been tied up, and some companies — especially those in consumer electronics — are increasing prices. On the AI front, Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis told CNBC that physical challenges were "constraining a lot of deployment." Google sees "so much more demand" for Gemini and its other models than it could serve, he said. "Also, it does constrain a little bit the research," Hassabis said. "You need a lot of chips to be able to experiment on new ideas at a big enough scale that you can actually see if they're going to work." Researchers want chips, whether they work at Google, Meta, OpenAI, or other Big Tech companies, and memory is a key component. Mark Zuckerberg said that AI researchers demanded two things beyond money: the fewest number of people reporting to them, and the most chips possible. Hassabis said that wherever there was a capacity constraint, there was a "choke point." "The whole supply chain is kind of strained," Hassabis said. "We're lucky, because we have our own TPUs, so we have our own chip designs." Google has long built TPUs — Tensor Processing Units — for internal use. The company also leases them to external customers through its cloud, which has also put Nvidia on edge. But even access to their own TPUs won't save Google from having to navigate the highly competitive memory market. "It still, in the end, actually comes down to a few suppliers of a few key components," Hassabis said. Three suppliers dominate memory chip production: Samsung, Micron, and SK Hynix. These companies are struggling to meet demand for chips from AI hyperscalers without dropping their longtime electronics customers. It doesn't help that AI companies mainly want a different type of memory chip than PC manufacturers do. Large language model producers want HBM (high-bandwidth memory) chips. Don't expect Google's spending on AI infrastructure and chips to go down anytime soon. On its fourth-quarter earnings call, the company projected capital expenditures of $175 billion to $185 billion for 2026. Read the original article on Business Insider

Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff has accused rival manufacturers of ganging up on Mercedes to pressure the FIA into changing engine rules, calling the situation 'total bulls**t'.

Aerospace firm proposes two separate warplanes amid dispute over who leads €100bn project Airbus has suggested splitting Europe’s faltering future fighter jet programme into two separate warplanes, amid a dispute between manufacturers over who leads the €100bn (£87bn) project. The company’s defence arm – which represents Germany and Spain – and the French partner, Dassault Aviation, are locked in a battle over the jet part of the Future Combat Air System (FCAS), a wide-ranging project that will also include autonomous drones and a futuristic “combat communications cloud”. Continue reading...

Alpine is walking away from the World Endurance Championship’s Hypercar class after 2026. And for a series still celebrating its resurgence, that is not a footnote. It is a warning. This is not happening during a downturn. WEC has full grids, major manufacturers and renewed global attention. Ferrari, Toyota, Cadillac, BMW, Peugeot, Aston Martin, Genesis and Alpine have filled the top class with credibility. On paper, it looks like stability has finally arrived. Alpine’s decision shatters that il

Team bosses in Formula 1 anticipate a swift resolution regarding the compression ratio saga, as F1 and power unit manufacturers prepare to vote on additional engine tests.

Sentiment among Japanese manufacturers rebounded in February, though underlying conditions remain soft.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has called on courts to stop releasing phone thieves who repeatedly reoffend and urged phone manufacturers to enhance security features to prevent resale.

‘Buy Canadian’ strategy will raise military spending to 5 per cent of GDP and boost economy, new plan says

Automotive industry CEOs are voicing strong concerns, from a 'slippery slope' to an 'existential threat,' regarding the increasing competition from Chinese manufacturers.

How the Frozen Housing Market Is Battering U.S. Manufacturers  WSJ

European car production is showing signs of recovery, with forecasts predicting over 2% growth by 2026, primarily fueled by the rise of electric vehicles and the influence of Chinese manufacturers, though still below pre-COVID levels.

The stagnant U.S. housing market is severely affecting American manufacturers, leading to challenges and reduced demand for their products.

European sales for Dacia and Tesla saw a significant decline in January, indicating a challenging start to the year for some automotive manufacturers.

Lucid launched its latest EV, the Gravity SUV, last year. Josh Lefkowitz/Getty Images EV startup Lucid Motors is cutting 12% of its US employees as demand for electric vehicles plummets. CEO Marc Winterhoff told staff on Friday that the cuts were necessary as Lucid attempts to become profitable. The US is facing an EV winter as sales plummet and manufacturers pull back their electric vehicle plans. Tesla rival Lucid is slashing its workforce as the EV winter tightens its grip. EV startup Lucid is cutting 12% of US employees, according to an email interim CEO Marc Winterhoff sent to unaffected employees on Friday, which Business Insider has seen. Winterhoff said the cuts would exclude hourly production employees in manufacturing, logistics, and quality. "This difficult but necessary decision was made to improve organisational effectiveness and optimize our resources as we continue on our path toward profitability," he wrote. It comes as Lucid faces a difficult environment for EV makers amid an industry-wide downturn, with sales plummeting following the end of the $7,500 tax credit in September. In its most recent earnings report in November, the company reported a net loss of nearly $1 billion. Lucid reports Q4 earnings next week. A Lucid spokesperson told Business Insider the cuts would not impact the company's hourly production workforce in Arizona, adding that the cuts were designed to "streamline" the organisation as it seeks long-term growth and margin improvement. "We are grateful for the contributions of all impacted employees and are providing resources, benefits, and support to assist them through this transition," they said. Read Lucid CEO Marc Winterhoff's full memo: Team; Today I want to share an important business update. We have implemented a 12% reduction of our U.S. workforce, excluding hourly production employees in manufacturing, logistics, and quality. This difficult but necessary decision was made to improve operational effectiveness and optimize our resources as we continue on our path toward profitability. If you are receiving this message, your role is not impacted. We are streamlining our organization so we can operate with greater efficiency and deliver on our commitments to gross margin improvement and long-term growth. We will continue to evaluate our day-to-day work to ensure that our time, energy, and resources remain focused on the initiatives that drive the greatest impact. This disciplined approach to execution is a core operational imperative for Lucid. Importantly, today's actions do not affect our strategy. Our core priorities remain unchanged, and we continue to focus on the start of production of our Midsize platform. With disciplined execution, we are also focused on further expansion into the robotaxi market, continued ADAS and software development, and growth in sales of Lucid Gravity and Air across existing and new geographies. Saying goodbye to colleagues is never easy. We are grateful for the contributions of those impacted by today's actions, and we are providing severance, bonus, continued health benefits, and transition support to help them through this period. As we move through today, I ask everyone to treat one another with empathy, professionalism, and respect, recognizing the personal impact these changes have on our teammates. To sustain and build on progress made in 2025, we must remain focused, operate with discipline, and execute with urgency. I know we are asking a great deal of our team, and I sincerely appreciate your continued commitment, resilience, and professionalism. I will address today's actions and answer questions during Monday's Town Hall. As always, you may presubmit your questions on The Hub. Warm regards, Marc Are you a Lucid employee or former employee with a story to share? Get in touch with this reporter at tcarter@insider.com. Read the original article on Business Insider

Honda announced it will begin selling a new electric scooter next month that can be operated with a moped license. This move comes as major manufacturers increase focus on electric motorcycle development due to stricter emission regulations, intensifying competition in the market.

Orders for durable goods at US manufacturers surged by 7.8% in 2025, reaching a record high driven by investments in AI infrastructure and civilian aircraft.

China's new pricing guidelines are expected to push original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) towards innovation-led competition.

What manufacturers want - Egypt - Al-Ahram Weekly  Ahram Online

The Trump administration has revoked a credit that allowed car manufacturers to meet vehicle emissions standards by installing engines with automatic start-stop features at red lights.

The initial enthusiasm for electric vehicles is waning, resulting in a $65 billion financial impact on car manufacturers who are now re-evaluating their US strategies. This pivot suggests a renewed focus on petrol and hybrid models in response to changing market demands.

India approved a massive US$40 billion defense equipment purchase, including 114 French-made Rafale fighter jets, which is expected to benefit local fighter jet manufacturers.

Poland's president has approved a law, dubbed 'Lex Huawei,' which will allow the government to exclude risky telecommunications equipment manufacturers. Thousands of businesses will need to prepare for its implementation in about a month.

Police in Anambra State, Nigeria, in collaboration with the Beer Sectoral Group, have raided illegal factories accused of destroying returnable beverage bottles and plastic crates belonging to major manufacturers.

Formula E will scrap mid-cycle Evo updates in favour of a token-based development system that will allow manufacturers to introduce controlled upgrades throughout the Gen4 era

Major tech companies are increasing their investments in AI, which is affecting stock buyback programs and creating a looming memory crunch for hardware manufacturers, though Apple remains a bullish exception.

Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff says the team will accept the result of a vote by the power unit manufacturers regarding a possible change to compression ratio rules.

The head of Nissan Americas discussed the competitive landscape, acknowledging and embracing the challenge posed by Chinese car manufacturers.

A new analysis reveals that plug-in hybrid electric cars use significantly more fuel than manufacturers claim, consuming an average of six litres per 100km compared to the advertised one to two litres.

Major Japanese automobile manufacturers' labor unions have submitted their demands for this year's spring wage negotiations, with a noticeable reduction in requested wage and bonus increases due to a challenging business environment, including US tariff measures.

An article from Al-Ahram Weekly discusses the demands and concerns of manufacturers in Egypt.

A new trade agreement between the EU and India is expected to open the Indian market for German car manufacturers, who have historically struggled to gain traction there.

Which US States Are Seeing Incomes Rise The Fastest (And Slowest) Since 2019, U.S. household incomes have surged - rising from $68,700 to $83,730 nationally, a 21.9% increase in just five years. But where you live matters a lot. While some states tracked close to the national average, others saw incomes climb at nearly double the pace, driven by booming local industries and major investment. States like Colorado posted outsized gains, while Georgia’s expanding EV industry brought billions in investment and rising paychecks. The map, via Visual Capitalist's Dorothy Neufeld, shows which states saw the fastest growth in median household income from 2019 to 2024, using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Trends in Median Income by State Below, we show the change in median household income for all 50 U.S. states and D.C. between 2019 and 2024 using nominal figures (not adjusted for inflation): Rank State Change in Median Household Income Median Household Income 2019 Median Household Income 2024 1 Colorado 46.9% $72,500 $106,500 2 Georgia 43.4% $56,630 $81,210 3 Maine 36.3% $66,550 $90,730 4 Montana 36.1% $60,190 $81,920 5 Tennessee 34.0% $56,630 $75,860 6 Rhode Island 31.6% $70,150 $92,290 7 Massachusetts 29.9% $87,710 $113,900 8 Florida 29.6% $58,370 $75,630 9 Iowa 29.4% $66,050 $85,480 10 Missouri 29.4% $60,600 $78,390 11 California 28.8% $78,100 $100,600 12 New Hampshire 28.7% $86,900 $111,800 13 North Dakota 25.8% $70,030 $88,080 14 Mississippi 25.0% $44,790 $55,980 15 Ohio 24.5% $64,660 $80,520 16 South Dakota 24.3% $64,260 $79,850 17 Michigan 23.9% $64,120 $79,460 18 South Carolina 23.8% $62,030 $76,780 19 Idaho 23.7% $65,990 $81,650 20 Utah 23.0% $84,520 $104,000 21 Wisconsin 22.6% $67,350 $82,560 22 New York 20.8% $71,850 $86,830 23 Texas 20.8% $67,440 $81,490 24 Wyoming 20.8% $65,130 $78,680 25 New Mexico 20.8% $53,110 $64,140 26 Oregon 20.5% $74,410 $89,700 27 Virginia 20.2% $81,310 $97,720 28 Kansas 19.9% $73,150 $87,690 29 Arizona 19.9% $70,670 $84,700 30 Arkansas 18.9% $54,540 $64,840 31 Washington 18.3% $82,450 $97,500 32 New Jersey 18.0% $87,730 $103,500 33 Nebraska 17.9% $73,070 $86,140 34 West Virginia 17.6% $53,710 $63,150 35 Louisiana 17.5% $51,710 $60,740 36 Alabama 16.7% $56,200 $65,560 37 Alaska 16.4% $78,390 $91,260 38 Kentucky 16.4% $55,660 $64,790 39 Delaware 15.7% $74,190 $85,860 40 Indiana 15.0% $66,690 $76,710 41 Maryland 14.8% $95,570 $109,700 42 Vermont 14.7% $74,310 $85,260 43 Connecticut 13.7% $87,290 $99,240 44 Nevada 13.7% $70,910 $80,590 45 Pennsylvania 13.4% $70,580 $80,060 46 Minnesota 13.4% $81,430 $92,350 47 Illinois 13.2% $74,400 $84,210 48 District of Columbia 12.6% $93,110 $104,800 49 Hawaii 11.6% $88,010 $98,240 50 Oklahoma 9.9% $59,400 $65,310 51 North Carolina 9.9% $61,160 $67,220 Colorado’s thriving tech industry helped push median income up 46.9%, the fastest rise across states. With $165,606 in average earnings across the sector in 2023, Colorado ranked sixth-highest nationally. From software to renewable energy, employment growth has expanded by double- or even triple-digit percentages across various roles since 2018. Georgia ranks in a close second, with median incomes climbing 43.4%. In particular, the EV and aerospace sectors are playing a key role in job creation. Since 2018, the state has seen $27.3 billion in investment across EV, aerospace, and battery manufacturers including Rivian and SK Battery America. Maine, meanwhile, saw wages rise 36.3%. In 2024, wages across the tech sector saw the steepest jump of 11.4% while those in the construction sector saw strong gains of 8.5%. Other factors, such as its older population and tight labor market, have further boosted wages. Falling near the middle of the pack were New York and Texas, each with wage gains of 20.8% between 2019 and 2024. By contrast, North Carolina and Oklahoma saw only 9.9% cumulative wage growth, the weakest performance nationwide. Median household income in both states remains well below the U.S. average and still trails pre-pandemic levels. To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on average hourly earnings by state in 2025. Tyler Durden Sat, 02/14/2026 - 22:45