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BERLIN (AP) — A group of dozens of companies pledged Monday to invest at least 631 billion euros ($733 billion) in Germany over the next three years, sending a signal of confidence in Europe's biggest economy as the new government tries to breathe new life into it.
The economy has shrunk for the past two years and is expected to stagnate this year. Chancellor Friedrich Merz's administration has made revitalizing it a top priority since it took office May 6.
It has launched a program to encourage investment and set up a 500 billion euro fund to pour money into Germany's creaking infrastructure over the next 12 years. It is promising to cut red tape and speed up the country's lagging digitization.
On Monday, Merz welcomed representatives of an initiative titled "Made for Germany" to the chancellery to send a signal of confidence from and to private investors. The group currently includes 61 companies from across the economy, among them industrial conglomerate Siemens and financial giant Deutsche Bank.
"The investments by the initiative are a very powerful signal that we are now experiencing a shift in sentiment and consolidating it," Merz said. "The message ... is very clear: Germany is back. It's worth investing in Germany again. We are not a location of the past, but a location of the present and above all the future."
He stressed that private investment is crucial to encouraging growth.
The overall figure pledged Monday includes at least some already planned investments. Merz said the plans include investments in new facilities and in modernizing infrastructure, in research and development.
Deutsche Bank CEO Christian Sewing praised the new government as being "determined to end the reform backlog that has slowed us down for too long." But he said that it still needs to do more, and the companies "encouraged" the government "to continue the course of reform."
"Our priorities are clear: We want economic growth, we want to strengthen Germany's competitiveness, we want to defend or further expand our technological leadership and we want to bring our infrastructure into the digital age," Siemens CEO Roland Busch said.
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Stellantis Warns Of $2.7 Billion LossStellantis, the maker of Jeep and Ram vehicles, says its preliminary estimates show a 2.3 billion euros ($2.68 billion) net loss in the first half of the year due to U.S. tariffs and some hefty charges.
The automaker anticipates an impact of about 300 million euros for net tariffs incurred, and also expects planned production losses related to implementing its response plan.
Stellantis also expects approximately 3.3 billion euros ($3.84 billion) of pre-tax net charges mostly related to program cancellation costs and platform impairments, restructuring and the net impact of recent legislation eliminating the CAFE penalty rate. Automakers have been penalized if the average fuel economy of their annual fleet of vehicle production exceeds a certain level.
Two months ago Stellantis named Antonio Filosa as its new chief executive officer. He replaced Carlos Tavares, who resigned under pressure last year.
Stellantis, which was created from the 2021 merger of France's PSA Peugeot with Italian-U.S. carmaker Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, is the world's fourth-largest car manufacturer. It is based in the Netherlands.
The automaker provided preliminary financial figures on Monday in the absence of financial guidance, which it suspended in April.
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21 July 20251 min readStellantis Warns Of $2.7 Billion Loss
Manufacturing Net
21 July 2025
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Siemens Among Companies Pledging To Invest $700 Billion In Germany Over Next 3 YearsBERLIN (AP) — A group of dozens of companies pledged Monday to invest at least 631 billion euros ($733 billion) in Germany over the next three years, sending a signal of confidence in Europe's biggest economy as the new government tries to breathe new life into it.
The economy has shrunk for the past two years and is expected to stagnate this year. Chancellor Friedrich Merz's administration has made revitalizing it a top priority since it took office May 6.
It has launched a program to encourage investment and set up a 500 billion euro fund to pour money into Germany's creaking infrastructure over the next 12 years. It is promising to cut red tape and speed up the country's lagging digitization.
On Monday, Merz welcomed representatives of an initiative titled "Made for Germany" to the chancellery to send a signal of confidence from and to private investors. The group currently includes 61 companies from across the economy, among them industrial conglomerate Siemens and financial giant Deutsche Bank.
"The investments by the initiative are a very powerful signal that we are now experiencing a shift in sentiment and consolidating it," Merz said. "The message ... is very clear: Germany is back. It's worth investing in Germany again. We are not a location of the past, but a location of the present and above all the future."
He stressed that private investment is crucial to encouraging growth.
The overall figure pledged Monday includes at least some already planned investments. Merz said the plans include investments in new facilities and in modernizing infrastructure, in research and development.
Deutsche Bank CEO Christian Sewing praised the new government as being "determined to end the reform backlog that has slowed us down for too long." But he said that it still needs to do more, and the companies "encouraged" the government "to continue the course of reform."
"Our priorities are clear: We want economic growth, we want to strengthen Germany's competitiveness, we want to defend or further expand our technological leadership and we want to bring our infrastructure into the digital age," Siemens CEO Roland Busch said.
Manufacturing Net
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21 July 20252 min readSiemens Among Companies Pledging To Invest $700 Billion In Germany Over Next 3 Years
Manufacturing Net
21 July 2025
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Bahrain Reveals $17 Billion In Us Investment Drive Across Five Key SectorsSubscribe to our free newsletter today to keep up to date with the latest manufacturing today industry news.
Bahrain’s Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa arrived in Washington with more than diplomatic intent. His visit included a slate of announcements totaling over $17 billion in planned investments across several US sectors. The agreements, signed during discussions with President Trump, signal a deeper realignment between the Gulf kingdom and American economic priorities.
The deals span aviation, energy, advanced manufacturing, digital infrastructure, and nuclear cooperation. The announcement reflects growing interest among Gulf states in building long-term economic anchors in the United States, particularly as they seek to diversify revenue streams and reduce dependence on regional hydrocarbons.
The investment portfolio comes at a time when the US administration has prioritized bilateral economic diplomacy, positioning Bahrain’s involvement as part of a broader Gulf–US partnership.
At the center of the package is a $7 billion aviation order. Gulf Air, Bahrain’s national carrier, will purchase 12 Boeing aircraft, with an option for six more, and 40 GE engines. The order is expected to support approximately 30,000 US jobs across aerospace manufacturing and supply networks.
The alignment with Boeing and GE suggests a growing strategic preference for US logistics and defense infrastructure. With ongoing geopolitical tensions, Bahrain is modernizing its aviation sector to enhance regional mobility and operational resilience.
Bahrain’s investment in US energy and manufacturing marks a shift from short-term capital flows to longer-term industrial collaboration. Among the announced deals is a $2 billion commitment from Mumtalakat, the Bahraini sovereign wealth fund, toward aluminum and manufacturing projects.
These investments are tied to demand for sustainable infrastructure and regional supply chain development. The aluminum initiative aligns with Bahrain’s strategy to move beyond extraction toward value-added production.
Simultaneously, Bahrain will participate in US liquefied natural gas projects, supporting energy diversification and providing insulation from regional supply disruptions.
A significant component of the investment package involves advanced digital infrastructure and artificial intelligence. Bahrain will invest in chip manufacturing and secure data centers through partnerships with Oracle and Cisco. This pivot aligns with broader efforts in the Gulf to reduce reliance on Chinese digital hardware.
Bahrain had previously committed over $200 million to AI and data platforms through regional vehicles. These new agreements deepen ties with US firms, embedding American technology into Bahrain’s next generation of digital infrastructure.
As Gulf economies adapt to global data governance standards, Bahrain’s shift toward US tech partners reinforces its evolving digital alignment.
The signing of a memorandum on civilian nuclear cooperation adds a new layer to the relationship. The agreement, signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, enables Bahrain to explore non-military nuclear energy options with US partners.
While still preliminary, the agreement points to Bahrain’s intent to expand into alternative energy sectors, positioning itself alongside larger Gulf economies that have pursued similar frameworks.
If developed further, the pact could lead to collaboration on reactor safety, regulation, and technical education, areas where the United States brings institutional expertise.
The announcement highlights a shift in how smaller Gulf nations approach international investment. While Saudi Arabia and the UAE continue to draw attention with large-scale initiatives, Bahrain’s strategy is more focused and implementation-driven.
Sources:
Manufacturing Today
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18 July 20253 min readBahrain Reveals $17 Billion In Us Investment Drive Across Five Key Sectors
Manufacturing Today
18 July 2025
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Chevron Gets Go Ahead For $53B Hess Deal, Access To One Of The Biggest Oil Finds This DecadeHOUSTON (AP) — Chevron has scored a critical ruling in Paris that has given it the go-ahead for a $53 billion acquisition of Hess and access to one of the biggest oil finds of the decade.
Chevron said Friday that it completed its acquisition of Hess shortly after the ruling from the International Chamber of Commerce in Paris. Exxon had challenged Chevron’s bid for Hess, one of three companies with access to the massive Stabroek Block oil field off the coast of Guyana.
Guyana is a country of 791,000 people that is poised to become the world’s fourth-largest offshore oil producer, placing it ahead of Qatar, the United States, Mexico and Norway. It has become a major producer in recent years.
Oil giants Exxon Mobil, China’s CNOOC, and Hess squared off in a heated competition for highly lucrative oil fields in northern South America.
With Chevron getting the green light on Friday, it is now one of the major players in the Stabroek.
“We disagree with the ICC panel’s interpretation but respect the arbitration and dispute resolution process,” Exxon Mobil said in a statement on Friday.
Chevron announced its deal for Hess in October 2023, less than two weeks after Exxon Mobil said that it would acquire Pioneer Natural Resources for about $60 billion.
Chevron said at the time that the acquisition of Hess would add a major oil field in Guyana as well as shale properties in the Bakken Formation in North Dakota.
“Given the significant value we’ve created in the development of the Guyana resource, we believed we had a clear duty to our investors to consider our preemption rights to protect the value we created through our innovation and hard work at a time when no one knew just how successful this venture would become,” Exxon Mobil said Friday. “We welcome Chevron to the venture and look forward to continued industry-leading performance and value creation in Guyana for all parties involved.”
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18 July 20252 min readChevron Gets Go Ahead For $53B Hess Deal, Access To One Of The Biggest Oil Finds This Decade
Manufacturing Net
18 July 2025
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Chinese Pv Industry Brief: Zhejiang Bangjie Drops 18 Gw Factory PlanZhejiang Bangjie Holding Group has announced the termination of its large-scale PV manufacturing project in the Jiangshan Economic Development Zone, citing changes in the solar market environment. The project, launched in 2023, was planned to include annual production of 16 GW of high-efficiency n-type solar cells and 16 GW of large-size silicon wafer slicing capacity. The total planned investment stood at CNY 8 billion ($1.10 billion), with the first phase accounting for CNY 6 billion and the second for CNY 2 billion. Under an agreement with local authorities, the company will pay CNY 15 million in compensation to the local government to address the impact of the cancellation.
Arctech Solar has signed a deal with Shanghai Electric for the Sadawi solar project in eastern Saudi Arabia, with a planned capacity of 2.3 GW over a 40 square km desert site. The project will exclusively deploy Arctech’s Skyline II tracker system, engineered to withstand wind speeds of up to 55 m/s and integrate with high-efficiency bifacial modules and robotic cleaning systems. Arctech expects the project to generate more than 6 TWh of clean electricity per year, or enough to power over 700,000 households.
The China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association said six manufacturers signed new polysilicon orders this week. N-type reprocessed polysilicon traded at CNY 40,000 to CNY 48,000 per ton, with an average price of CNY 41,700, up 12.4% from last week. N-type granular polysilicon rose 15.17% to an average of CNY 41,000 per ton. With domestic monthly demand around 110,000 metric tons and August production expected to match, the industry faces no immediate inventory pressure. The association expects prices to stabilize as downstream supply-demand conditions improve. It also recorded sharp increases in wafer prices across all major specifications. N-type G10L wafers (182×183.75mm, 130μm) surged 22.09% to CNY 1.05 per piece. N-type G12R wafers (182 mm × 210 mm, 130 μm) rose 15.00% to CNY 1.15, while G12 wafers (210 mm ×210 mm, 130 μm) climbed 13.45% to CNY 1.35. Analysts linked the gains to upstream silicon price hikes and easing oversupply concerns. Prices are now beginning to transmit downstream, with several cell and module manufacturers reportedly preparing to raise their prices.
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18 July 20252 min readChinese Pv Industry Brief: Zhejiang Bangjie Drops 18 Gw Factory Plan
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18 July 2025
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Pacific Fusion Pursues $1 Billion Research Facility In New MexicoALBUQUERQUE — Pacific Fusion has signed a memorandum of understanding with the state of New Mexico to pursue a new R&D facility in Albuquerque.
The company intends to build a state-of-the-art research facility, known as the Demonstration System, that would prove a critical fusion milestone called net facility gain, where more energy is produced from a fusion reaction than the total energy stored in the system. Demonstrating these conditions is an essential step toward eventually delivering carbon-free electricity to the grid.
The project would represent a capital investment of some $1 billion and bring more than 200 long-term jobs to the state, along with hundreds more construction jobs, workforce development programs, and regional economic activity.
The company expects to make a final decision in late September 2025, contingent upon successful site selection and finalization of state incentives. The project will undergo environmental and planning reviews as part of the approval process.
Keith LeChien, co-founder and CTO at Pacific Fusion said, “New Mexico is a natural fit for this project. The Z Machine at Sandia National Laboratories helped lay the foundation for our approach, and the state’s legacy of applied physics innovation, deep talent pool, and business-friendly environment put it in a unique position to become a national leader in fusion energy innovation.”
Founded in 2023, Pacific Fusion is a fusion energy company building directly on breakthrough innovations from Sandia National Laboratories to deliver the world’s most affordable on-demand power source.
Pacific Fusion has raised more than $900 million in private capital from General Catalyst, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, and other investors.
According to the company, the Demonstration System would be a research facility, not a power plant, and would operate safely and quietly.
Manufacturing Net
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17 July 20252 min readPacific Fusion Pursues $1 Billion Research Facility In New Mexico
Manufacturing Net
17 July 2025
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Volvo Cars Takes $1.2 Billion Hit From Us Tariffs, Product DelaysVolvo Cars said on Monday it is booking a $1.2 billion charge because of U.S. tariffs and production delays that are hitting its two latest electric-powered cars.
"Due to import tariffs the company is currently unable to sell the Volvo ES90 profitably in the United States, while ES90 margins are also under pressure in Europe for the same reason," the carmaker said in a statement to investors.
In the United States, Volvo has to grapple with a 25% import tariff decided by U.S. President Donald Trump in April.
Volvo Cars -- owned by China's Geely automotive group -- had planned to sell its ES90 luxury sedan in the United States from next year for a price starting around $75,000.
It was to join the Volvo EX90 all-electric SUV that it started selling this year from $81,000.
But the company said EX90 launch delays and additional development costs, and the tariff barriers to selling the ES90, meant "we have reassessed volume assumptions for these two cars" and would have to take a non-cash impairment charge.
The one-off non-cash impairment charge of SEK 11.4 billion (US$1.2 billion) will be booked in the second quarter of 2025.
The carmaker's chief financial officer, Fredrik Hansson, said the tariffs and the production delays have "resulted in a lower than planned lifecycle profitability."
Volvo makes cars in several plants around the world, including in South Carolina, as well as in Sweden and in China.
The company's CEO, Hakan Samuelsson, said in early April that Volvo would increase auto production in the U.S. plant and would likely move ES90 manufacturing there.
In late May, the company announced it was cutting 3,000 jobs, around 15% of its office-based workforce, nearly half of them in Sweden.
2025 © Agence France-Presse
Industry Week
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14 July 20252 min readVolvo Cars Takes $1.2 Billion Hit From Us Tariffs, Product Delays
Industry Week
14 July 2025
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Afghanistan And Kazakhstan Sign $500M Herat Railway DealAfghanistan and Kazakhstan have finalized a significant deal to invest $500 million in the Herat-Torghundi railway's development, a key infrastructure initiative designed to enhance regional connectivity and trade.
The formalization of the agreement took place on Thursday at the Presidential Palace in Kabul during a high-level meeting between Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar Akhund, Afghanistan’s Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, and Murat Nurtluyev, Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister.
In the meeting, both parties reaffirmed their dedication to enhancing bilateral trade, transit collaboration, and economic alliances. Deputy PM Baradar referred to the strengthening relations between Afghanistan and Kazakhstan as optimistic and future-oriented, highlighting Afghanistan’s distinctive role as a possible transit route for Kazakh energy shipments to South Asia.
The Herat-Torghundi railway, upon completion, is anticipated to act as a crucial connection in the area’s transport system, aiding cargo transport and boosting commerce between Central and South Asia. Both governments consider the project a foundational element of sustained regional economic integration.
Along with the railway investment, officials talked about various joint venture possibilities in the areas of mining, transportation, energy generation, telecommunications, and overall infrastructure advancement.
To enhance economic relations, both parties examined new agreements related to the protection of agricultural products, international freight transport, and decreased transit fees. These measures aim to raise the bilateral trade volume to a lofty $3 billion in the years ahead.
Kazakh Deputy PM Murat Nurtluyev reiterated Kazakhstan’s ongoing support for Afghanistan in global forums and expressed his country's readiness to boost electricity exports to Afghanistan. He emphasized Kazakhstan’s desire to import Afghan agricultural goods, thereby generating additional market prospects for Afghan farmers and exporters.
Also Read: Azerbaijan, China Boost Rail Links With New Cooperation Deal
The accord is regarded as a crucial move for economic recovery and regional integration for Afghanistan, particularly in the current situation where the advancement of infrastructure is essential for internal security and economic independence.
The $500 million agreement for the Herat-Torghundi railway signifies increasing regional interest in collaborating with Afghanistan as a connection between Central Asia and South Asia, and further. Representatives from both parties praised the accord as a reflection of shared trust, economic aspirations, and strategic foresight.
The railway initiative, once completed, is anticipated to boost commerce, create employment opportunities, and provide a more effective pathway for the movement of products across the area, highlighting Afghanistan's growing significance in the wider Eurasian economic environment.
Asia Manufacturing Review
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11 July 20252 min readAfghanistan And Kazakhstan Sign $500M Herat Railway Deal
Asia Manufacturing Review
11 July 2025
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Eu To Provide Six Battery Projects With 852-Million-Euro FundingThe European Commission has selected six projects focusing on the production of battery cells for electric vehicles to receive a total of 852 million euros from its Innovation Fund. Financed by revenues from the EU Emissions Trading System, the goal is to increase battery production in Europe and to contribute to decarbonization while strengthening the industry.
The projects to receive funding are “ACCEPT” by ACC and “AGATHE” by Verkor, both in France, as well as “CF3_at_Scale” by Cellforce Group and “WGF2G” by Leclanché in Germany, “NOVO One” by NOVO Energy in Sweden, and “46inEU” by LG Energy Solution in Poland. According to the Commission, all of the funded facilities must be operational by 2030 at the latest. The total planned capacity is approximately 56 gigawatt-hours per year. Based on the Commissionʼs forecast, the six projects are expected to reduce carbon emissions by around 91 million tons over a span of ten years.
According to the Commission, independent experts evaluated the projects based on criteria such as degree of innovation, greenhouse gas reduction, maturity, transferability, contribution to security of supply, and cost efficiency. The six winning projects were ultimately selected from 14 proposals submitted by eight countries. Agreements on funding will be concluded with the EU executive agency CINEA in the third quarter of 2025. Other projects that are not yet sufficiently developed can receive planning support from the European Investment Bank. This targeted funding is part of a broader initiative that aims to strengthen the European battery value chain with up to three billion euros.
Source:https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_25_1727
Battery News
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09 July 20252 min readEu To Provide Six Battery Projects With 852-Million-Euro Funding
Battery News
09 July 2025
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€250 Million Siemens Train Factory Officially Opened In Munich-AllachSiemens has marked a significant milestone by opening its newly expanded train factory in Munich-Allach, a move set to redefine rail manufacturing in Europe. Since 2023, the company has invested approximately 250 million euros into constructing modern buildings, state-of-the-art production facilities, and scaling up AI-based solutions. This investment underscores Siemens Mobility’s commitment to strengthening its European service network and maintaining its competitive edge in the global rail market. Notably, the expansion will generate over 500 new jobs, bringing the workforce to about 2,500 employees. As a result, the factory now stands among the most advanced train production sites on the continent.
Also Read Siemens Gamesa Signs Agreement for Establishing 500MW Gulf of Suez Wind Power Project
Moreover, this growth doubles the facility’s workspace from 47,000 to more than 100,000 square meters. For the first time, all products based on the Vectron locomotive platform, including the new Vectouro passenger cars, will be manufactured under one roof. This integration aims to boost efficiency and foster innovation across the production line. In addition, the site will triple its capacity for modern services and become the new headquarters for Siemens Mobility, consolidating research, development, production, and management. According to Roland Busch, CEO of Siemens AG, the factory embodies the future of networked mobility, blending automation, digitalization, and artificial intelligence.
Also Read U.S. Nears $500 Million Deal to Fund Africa’s Lobito Corridor Railway Project
Equipped with cutting-edge technologies such as laser-guided installation, robotics, AI-enabled quality management, digital twins, and AI-driven software development, the expanded facility can now produce up to 385 Vectron locomotives and 180 passenger cars annually. Meanwhile, the Rail Service Centre will significantly ramp up its operations, increasing locomotive overhauls and accident repairs from 25 to 80 per year. Four additional service tracks, along with specialized workshops for bogies and wheelsets, will support this growth. Furthermore, around 70 data and software experts will join the Munich-Allach team to provide modular services and deploy the Railigent X application suite, enhancing support for international clients.
Interestingly, the Munich-Allach site carries a rich legacy that dates back over a century. Originally established in 1841, the facility was once a modest locomotive workshop. Over time, it has evolved into a global hub for rail technology, mirroring the transformation of the rail industry itself. Today, with Siemens’ continued investment, the factory symbolizes a perfect blend of heritage and innovation. By merging “heavy metal” manufacturing with “heavy AI,” Siemens is not only securing its position in the market but also shaping the future of sustainable rail transport across Europe and beyond.
Total Investment: €250 million invested since 2023 in new buildings, high-tech production facilities, and AI-based software solutions
Facility Size Doubled: Factory footprint expanded from 47,000 m² to over 100,000 m², nearly doubling usable space
Production Integration: For the first time, Siemens will manufacture both Vectron locomotives and Vectouro passenger cars on a single site
Enhanced Manufacturing Capacity: Annual production capacity increased to 385 Vectron locomotives and 180 passenger cars
Cutting‑Edge Tech: Adoption of advanced technologies including laser-guided installation, robotics, AI-enabled quality control, digital twins, and AI software development
AI‑Powered Maintenance: Service center capacity to triple, from 25 to 80 locomotive overhauls/repairs per year, supported by modular services and Railigent X solutions
Infrastructure Upgrades: Addition of four new service tracks and specialized workshops for wheelsets and bogies, strengthening heavy-maintenance operations
Software & Data Talent: Approximately 70 data and software specialists will join on‑site to support digital service delivery, including Railigent X
Job Creation: More than 500 new jobs created, bringing the total workforce to around 2,500 employees by 2028
Global HQ Consolidation: The site now houses Siemens Mobility’s global headquarters, bringing R&D, production, service, and management under one roof
Legacy and Innovation: Located on a historic site dating back to Krauss-Maffei’s locomotive production; now transformed into a modern, high-tech rail competence center
Future‑Ready Strategy: With this “heavy‑metal to heavy‑AI” shift, Siemens strengthens Germany’s position as a hub for competitive, digitized, sustainable rail manufacturing
Construction Review
factory
09 July 20254 min read€250 Million Siemens Train Factory Officially Opened In Munich-Allach
Construction Review
09 July 2025
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Ge Appliances To Invest $490 Million In Louisville Assembly PlantGE Appliances will invest $490 million at its Appliance Park manufacturing campus in Louisville, KY, to create an advanced assembly line for clothes washers. Photo courtesy GE Appliances
LOUISVILLE, KY—GE Appliances, a Haier company, will invest $490 million at its Appliance Park manufacturing campus here to create an advanced assembly line for clothes washers. The project will bring production of the GE Profile UltraFast combo washer-dryer and the GE Profile UltraFresh front-load washer lineup to Kentucky, creating 800 new, full-time jobs.
This investment positions the company to become the biggest American washer manufacturer and builds on GE Appliances’ 10-year, $3.5 billion investment in U.S. manufacturing.
“We are bringing laundry production to our global headquarters in Louisville because manufacturing in the U.S. is fundamental to our ‘zero-distance’ business strategy to make appliances as close as possible to our customers and consumers,” said Kevin Nolan, president and CEO of GE Appliances. “This decision is our most recent product reshoring and aligns with the current economic and policy environment.”
This investment will move production of more than 15 models of front-load washers to Building 2 at Appliance Park, bringing the total area dedicated to production of washers and dryers to the equivalent of 33 football fields. Next door, Building 1 at Appliance Park produces top-load washers and front-load dryers.
Building 2 will be redesigned as a model factory, showcasing the latest in automation, robotics, and material-handling technologies, including automated guided vehicles and autonomous mobile robots. The plant is vertically integrated and will include in-house manufacturing of critical parts, such as stainless-steel baskets and cabinets, high-precision metal stamping and forming, and injection-molding and production equipment. The new manufacturing lines will open in 2027.
“Manufacturing in Louisville puts production closer to our designers, engineers and consumers so that together we can create our most innovative laundry platforms,” said Lee Lagomarcino, vice president of clothes care at GE Appliances. “The team has already developed new solutions for American households and can’t wait to get started making them.”
The Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority preliminarily approved performance-based incentives in support of the project under the Kentucky Business Investment program, workforce training grants through the Kentucky Skills Network, and funds to support the modernizing the building. Final amounts will be determined upon GE Appliances meeting job retention and investment targets.
GE Appliances’ work to design, manufacture and service appliances across America contributes $30.2 billion to the U.S. economy. GE Appliances’ investment of $3 billion in plant and equipment, R&D, new product development and logistics over the previous eight years is greater than any other appliance company in America. These investments have helped to double the size of the company, create more than 4,000 direct jobs, and foster an additional 98,000 jobs with suppliers, customers and other companies.
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Assembly Magazine
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09 July 20253 min readGe Appliances To Invest $490 Million In Louisville Assembly Plant
Assembly Magazine
09 July 2025
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Analysis Shows Trump'S Tariffs Would Cost U.S. Employers $82.3 BillionWASHINGTON (AP) — An analysis finds a critical group of U.S. employers would face a direct cost of $82.3 billion from President Donald Trump's current tariff plans, a sum that could potentially be managed through price hikes, layoffs, hiring freezes or lower profit margins.
The analysis by the JPMorganChase Institute is among the first to measure the direct costs created by the import taxes on businesses with $10 million to $1 billion in annual revenue, a category including roughly a third of private-sector U.S. workers. These companies are more dependent than other businesses on imports from China, India and Thailand — and the retail and wholesale sectors would be especially vulnerable to the import taxes being levied by the Republican president.
The findings show clear trade-offs from Trump's import taxes, contradicting his claims foreign manufacturers would absorb the costs of the tariffs instead of U.S. companies that rely on imports. While the tariffs launched under Trump have yet to boost overall inflation, large companies such as Amazon, Costco, Walmart and Williams-Sonoma delayed the potential reckoning by building up their inventories before the taxes could be imposed.
The analysis comes just ahead of the July 9 deadline by Trump to formally set the tariff rates on goods from dozens of countries. Trump imposed that deadline after the financial markets panicked in response to his April tariff announcements, prompting him to schedule a 90-day negotiating period when most imports faced a 10% baseline tariff. China, Mexico and Canada face higher rates, and there are separate 50% tariffs on steel and aluminum.
Had the initial April 2 tariffs stayed in place, the companies in the JPMorganChase Institute analysis would've faced additional direct costs of $187.6 billion. Under the current rates, the $82.3 billion would be equivalent on average to $2,080 per employee, or 3.1% of the average annual payroll. Those averages include firms that don't import goods and those that do.
Asked Tuesday how trade talks are faring, Trump said simply: "Everything's going well."
The president has indicated he'll set tariff rates given the logistical challenge of negotiating with so many nations. As the 90-day period comes to a close, only the United Kingdom has signed a trade framework with the Trump administration. Trump announced Wednesday he'd reached a deal with Vietnam, while India has signaled it's close to agreeing on a trade framework.
Trump said on his social media site Vietnam will pay the U.S. a 20% tariff on all goods sent "into our Territory" and a 40% tariff on any transshipping, which usually means exports that come from China but pass through Vietnam to dodge tariffs on Chinese goods.
In return, Vietnam will grant the U.S. "TOTAL ACCESS" to its market for trade, Trump said, meaning "we will be able to sell our product into Vietnam at ZERO Tariff." He added he thinks SUVs "will be a wonderful addition to the various product lines within Vietnam."
There's a growing body of evidence suggesting more inflation could surface. The investment bank Goldman Sachs said in a report it expects companies to pass 60% of their tariff costs onto consumers. The Atlanta Federal Reserve has used its survey of businesses' inflation expectations to say companies could on average pass along roughly half their costs from a 10% tariff or a 25% tariff without reducing consumer demand.
The JPMorganChase Institute findings suggest the tariffs could cause some domestic manufacturers to strengthen their roles as suppliers of goods. But it noted companies need to plan for a range of possible outcomes and wholesalers and retailers already operate on such low profit margins they might need to spread the tariffs' costs to their customers.
The outlook for tariffs remains highly uncertain. Trump had stopped negotiations with Canada, only to restart them after the country dropped its plan to tax digital services. He similarly on Monday threatened more tariffs on Japan unless it buys more rice from the U.S.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Fox News Channel's "Fox & Friends" on Tuesday the concessions from the trade talks have impressed career officials at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and other agencies.
The treasury secretary said the Trump administration plans to discuss the contours of trade deals next week, prioritizing the tax cuts package passed on Tuesday by the Republican majority in the Senate. Trump has set a Friday deadline for passage of the multitrillion-dollar package, the costs of which the president hopes to offset with tariff revenues.
Manufacturing Net
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07 July 20254 min readAnalysis Shows Trump'S Tariffs Would Cost U.S. Employers $82.3 Billion
Manufacturing Net
07 July 2025
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