Daily brief
Automotive & Business Brief — 25 September 2026
IG Metall 5% from 7 Oct; peace ends 31 Oct (strikes from 1 Nov). VW truce to 1 Jan 2027; review 30 Sep.
Executive Snapshot
- IG Metall 5% from 7 Oct; peace ends 31 Oct (strikes from 1 Nov). VW truce to 1 Jan 2027; review 30 Sep.
Top Developments
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VW roadmap — 30 Sep union review; plants 2031–34
Europe
Reuters (25 Sep): ~half of extra 50k cuts likely Germany; China 90k→70k + ~500k capacity cut. Emden/Zwickau/Hanover/Neckarsulm phase-out 2031–34; EU production plan end-Jun 2027. IG Metall–VW review 30 Sep. VW strike truce to 1 Jan 2027.
Companies Volkswagen
Sources
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IG Metall 5% — sector peace ends 31 Oct (not Jan 2027)
Europe
IG Metall (23 Sep): 5% + job security + boom profit-share. Talks from 7 Oct. Peace ends 31 Oct; warning strikes from 1 Nov. 1 Jan 2027 = VW company truce only.
Companies Volkswagen
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Mercedes Schiebe — still CONDITIONAL two-plant threat
Europe
Reuters (22 Sep): keep all German sites IF costs fall; else close one assembly + one powertrain (unnamed). Works council rejects. No firm closure as of 25 Sep.
Companies Mercedes-Benz
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Renault €600m Spain — first EVs + Valladolid battery line
Europe
Reuters (24 Sep): €600m to 2030 for Valladolid/Palencia five models incl. first Spain EVs (RGEV Medium 2.0) + battery assembly Valladolid; >6k jobs after new CBA.
Companies Renault
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Chinese hybrids rocket; VDA open to hybrid defence ahead of Oct 8–9
Asia
Guardian (24 Sep): China full hybrids 659 (2022)→160,662 Jan–Jul 2026; PHEVs 56k→218k. Cap ~15% still sought; Beijing rejects. VDA newly open to WTO defence tools. Šefčovič–Wang 8–9 Oct.
Sources
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CATL Debrecen — cell trial (100 GWh target)
Europe
CATL PR (22 Sep): trial cells on first two lines. Modules since autumn 2024: 537k. Planned 100 GWh. Beside BMW Debrecen Neue Klasse.
Companies CATL, BMW
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Foxconn/EMP Poland BEV — near close; Jaworzno to 450k/yr
Europe
Just Auto (24 Sep): Foxtron talks final weeks; Q4 signature. Jaworzno spring 2027 start; SOP ~2029; up to 450k BEV SUVs/yr.
Companies Foxconn
Sources
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Cellios+TE automated harness cell — launch early 2027
Global
Automation Fair (23 Sep): full-chain robot cells with TE; MVTec vision; commercial early 2027. AMS: BMW Neue Klasse zonal −600 m/−30%; Next2OEM ~90% automation with DfA.
Companies TE Connectivity, BMW
Sources
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Sumitomo Wiring — AI Agents + Physical AI robots
Global
SWS (17 Sep): multi-AI Agents (ExaWizards) + Physical AI robots (Skild). Overseas PoC this FY; model lines 2027–28; global by 2030.
Companies Sumitomo Wiring Systems
Sources
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Rosenberger HVR®210 — automation-ready to 1,200 V / 208 A
Global
Rosenberger (Sep 2026): compact HVR®210 — 1,200 V DC, 208 A @ 85 °C; Cu/Al; automation-ready for packs/PDUs/inverters/eAxles.
Companies Rosenberger
Sources
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Aptiv unifies interconnect brands (1 Sep)
Global
Winchester → Aptiv Interconnect; Intercable → Aptiv High-Voltage Technologies; Connection Systems unchanged.
Companies Aptiv
Sources
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Unifor–Stellantis — still conciliation; Payne ready to strike
Americas
CA expired 20 Sep 23:59 ET. Still Ontario conciliation — not legal strike. Auto123 (23 Sep): Payne says walkout possible; Roshel MoU sticky. No No-Board / strike vote / legal strike yet.
Companies Stellantis
Sources