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Europe
Wirtschaftswoche (4 Sep), citing multiple company insiders, reports Mercedes management told works councils that if they do not help cut German labour costs sharply, the board would build a new plant in Eastern Europe and make a German production site redundant. No plant named; no board decision yet. Demands include ~5 extra weekly hours without pay and a review of bonuses (Christmas/vacation). June staff letter already said German plant capacity “significantly exceeds demand.” Kecskemét (Hungary) capacity has been doubled to ~400k units/year with factor costs cited ~70% below Germany. Mercedes declined to comment on “ongoing talks.”
Companies Mercedes-Benz
Source: Wirtschaftswoche (4 Sep 2026) · t-online
Europe
On 3 September the Supervisory Board approved Future Plan 2030. Targets: ~9m annual sales, 9% operating margin by 2030 (~€31bn operating result), ~€135bn CapEx/R&D 2027–2031, ~50% model-portfolio cut by 2035, ~75% less offering complexity, and ~50,000 further workforce adjustments Group-wide. On production, the Board acknowledges European capacity exceeds demand by more than 500,000 units and that competitive future allocation for Emden, Zwickau, Hanover and Neckarsulm cannot currently be secured on a staggered basis from 2031–2034. A sustainable European production concept is due by end-June 2027; alternative uses assessed in parallel.
Companies Volkswagen
Source: Volkswagen Group PR (3 Sep 2026) · Electrek
Europe
JLR confirmed to BBC it is opening a voluntary redundancy programme for salaried and management staff to “simplify” and build resilience. Headcount not confirmed by JLR; The Times previously put up to ~4,000 at risk. Context: £1.7bn multi-year cost-out after the 2025 cyber attack (~27% production hit; ~£1.9bn cost estimates in coverage), US tariffs, softer sales. Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds meets JLR and Unite early this week; he ruled out a bailout but left room for “long-term investment.” JLR employs ~30,000 in the UK.
Companies Jaguar Land Rover
Source: BBC · The Guardian
Global
Aptiv announced (around 1–3 September) that Winchester Interconnect becomes Aptiv Interconnect and Intercable Automotive Solutions becomes Aptiv High-Voltage Technologies. Aptiv Connection Systems keeps its name. Framing: one customer-facing interconnect + HV distribution story (connectors, harness assemblies, high-speed data, busbars) while products/teams/commitments stay. Builds on Winchester (2018, $650m) and IAS (2022, 85% for €595m); Aptiv completed buyout of remaining 15% IAS stake end-June 2026.
Companies Aptiv
Source: Gasgoo (citing Aptiv, 4 Sep) · Aptiv Interconnect Technologies
Europe
During an 8–30 August shutdown, Regensburg installed a new energy-module pre-assembly so the HV battery can be robot-joined to the body at the start of final assembly (“battery marriage”), with sequenced feed from a high-bay warehouse via conveyor bridge. Hundreds of press / body / paint / assembly / logistics changes aim to run ICE, PHEV and BEV on shared lines (~1,400 X1/X2 per day; ~342.5k units in 2024). Neue Klasse SOP at Regensburg still “2H of the decade”; trade reporting points to next-gen iX1 around late 2027.
Companies BMW
Source: electrive (4 Sep 2026) · BMWBlog
Europe
On 28 August LEONI relaunched its former Innovation Industrialization Center in Kitzingen as the Innovation Collaboration Center (>3,000 m²). Focus: cross-functional product + process development, automation (e.g. Smart Manufacturing Cell for taping/clip assembly approved for serial), flat wiring, flexible lines, and AI/digital manufacturing studies — plus customer/supplier/university collaboration on zonal architectures and next-gen electrical systems.
Companies LEONI
Source: LEONI story (28 Aug 2026) · LEONI ICC page
Europe
TE signed (4 Aug) to buy HENN Connector Group’s plastic air/fluid connection systems unit; close expected in TE’s FY Q4 ending September 2026. Portfolio to run as HENN Fluid Line with a Dornbirn, Austria office. Focus: VDA/SAE quick-connects and integrated assemblies combining electrical connectors with water/air/coolant interfaces for EV thermal management and sensor cleaning. Terms undisclosed; HENN keeps premium metal couplings.
Companies TE Connectivity
Source: TE Connectivity PR · ChargedEVs
Asia
Local authorities (reported 2 Sep) say Baoji BYD Industry at Fufeng employs ~7,200 and aims to hire ~2,200 more toward ~10,000. Wire-harness lines relocated from Xi’an now total 87 (was >60 in 2025 disclosures); goal is BYD’s largest, most automated China harness plant feeding the Xi’an vehicle base (~100 km). New frame-stamping line started 26 Aug (target 100k vehicle-sets/month).
Companies BYD
Source: Gasgoo (2 Sep 2026)
Europe
At IFA Berlin (3 September), Xiaomi signed MOUs with eight German dealer groups (Ernst Dello, Autohaus Dinnebier, Emil Frey Germany, Fett & Wirtz, Hahn, LUEG Mobility, Penske-Jacobs Innovation, SPT Avior) for retail and aftersales. Germany first; broader Europe to follow. Company cites Munich R&D and “long-term investment.” Vehicles for 2027 expected as imports under EU China-BEV tariff regimes unless local assembly is announced later. Xiaomi claims >700k China deliveries since Mar 2024.
Companies Xiaomi
Source: Electrek · Gasgoo
Europe
From 1 September Xavier Chardon leads both Citroën and DS; Xavier Peugeot moves to Jeep Europe. Fits FaSTLAne 2030: DS (and Lancia) managed as specialty brands under larger regional houses. DS Europe registrations ~29k in 2025 (−22.5% YoY) vs Citroën ~353k. Same day, Fiat/Abarth/Lancia consolidated under Arnaud Belloni. DS N°7 (STLA Medium EV) due on sale from autumn.
Companies Stellantis
Source: AutoNext (1 Sep 2026)
Global
In an ADT Media interview around Bordnetzkongress 2026, Melanie Sohnemann (VW Head of Sub-Department Wiring Harness Components and Energy Distribution) argues the decisive architectural choice is the degree of connector/interface standardisation — a modular toolbox for cross-brand reuse and faster ECU integration. Biggest five-year challenge: SDV complexity while cutting cost/weight/time under zonal architectures. Strongest enabler: “cross-brand governance” plus requirements discipline so teams do not redesign connectors per ECU.
Companies Volkswagen
Source: ADT Media / VW interview
Europe
Ongoing through 2026 — peer footprint still moving. LEONI Wiring Systems Arad is reorganizing under volume/cost pressure. Marghita plant closure in H1 2026 (~190 employees). Arad + Beiuș workforce reductions; company stated up to ~700 affected across the Arad perimeter. Other LEONI Romania plants said to continue normally. Pair with Kitzingen ICC investment: high-cost innovation hub + low-cost capacity trim.
Companies LEONI
Source: LEONI Romania notice
Europe
ACEA President Ola Källenius’ open letter to EU leaders calls for (1) incentive-based re-industrialisation (energy costs, permitting, battery scale-up) plus FTAs (India, Mercosur), (2) stronger 2030 cars/vans CO₂ compliance relief than the Commission’s proposal (extra help for vans; earlier sustainable-fuels compensation), and (3) reversing EU production decline via fleet renewal and regulatory batching. Frames Europe’s industrial electricity as far above US/China levels.
Source: ACEA news · ACEA open letter PDF