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Americas
BHP’s Escondida supervisors’ union (Sindicato N°2) ratified the company’s last offer on 14 Oct with about 64% support, ending the regulated bargaining process and cancelling the strike called for that day. Emol and market wires report a 36-month contract (2026–2029), a conflict-end package of about CLP 25m plus a soft loan of CLP 3m and other payments, higher holiday and mobility bonuses, and new parental benefits. The company said fixed, variable and benefit terms improve and that supervisors keep an industry-leading contract. Separately, Antofagasta’s Centinela mine (on strike since 7 Oct) returned to voluntary mediation on 13–14 Oct; unions say conventional haul trucks are roughly halved and warn of a larger November hit, while the company still says production is holding.
Companies BHP
Source: Emol (14 Oct) · Reuters via MarketScreener (14 Oct) · Mining Weekly / Reuters on Centinela (14 Oct)
Europe
After its Light Duty Vehicle Board met in Brussels on 14 Oct, ACEA called for substantial progress so the EU automotive package can be finalised early next year. President Ola Källenius (Mercedes-Benz) linked the ask to a more balanced China trade relationship and said targets with penalties alone will not deliver decarbonisation, economic security and jobs. ACEA wants realistic CO₂ flexibilities, recognition of renewable fuels and green materials, a five-year averaging mechanism from 2028, and a recalibrated trajectory for vans. On the Industrial Accelerator Act it wants a feasible timeline, super-credits for all ‘made in the EU’ BEVs and vans (extra for small cars), geographic scope that reflects ACEA members’ investments in neighbouring countries, and a way to include the UK.
Companies Mercedes-Benz
Source: ACEA press release (14 Oct) · EuropaWire on ACEA (14 Oct)
Europe
Bloomberg Law reported on 14 Oct that Berlin will press the Commission to prepare safeguard quotas on further Chinese import sectors, including chemicals, mechanical engineering and possibly pharmaceuticals, copying the hybrid-vehicle approach. Safeguards can restrict a sector after an import surge; the hybrid quota (about 350,000 a year from as early as 1 December) is the template. Germany wants proposals by year-end. This sits beside the Franco-German automotive package still expected around the 15–16 Oct summit (CO₂ softening toward ~80% paired with stricter Made-in-Europe / IAA rules), which had not been formally tabled as of early 15 Oct.
Source: Bloomberg Law (14 Oct) · MarketScreener / BN digest (14 Oct)
Europe
IG Metall Berlin-Brandenburg-Sachsen said the first Saxony Metall/Elektro bargaining round in Chemnitz on 14 Oct ended without an employer offer. The union asks for 5% more pay over 12 months, plus talks on job and site security, a tariff profit-sharing element, and a social component for lower grades. More than 100 members demonstrated before the meeting. The second Saxony round is set for 27 Oct in Dresden. Nationally, the peace obligation (Friedenspflicht) still runs to 31 Oct, with warning strikes possible from 1 Nov if there is no progress.
Source: IG Metall Leipzig (dated 15 Oct; round 14 Oct) · IG Metall BBS press PDF (14 Oct)
Europe
At its 12 Oct Paris investor update VW showed the Group Target Picture 2030 in execution. Agreed capacity cuts of 735,000 units across Wolfsburg, Zwickau, Dresden and Osnabrück are to be completed in 2027, with remaining excess capacity of more than 500,000 units still to be addressed (alternative uses for some sites into 2031–34 under review). Europe deliveries were +2% to 2.9m in nine months; order intake is +4% with BEVs about 40% of the European order book. Other GTP markers: up to −50% models and −75% complexity, −€20bn operating cost and −€11bn overhead in the excellence programme, and negotiations opened on about 50,000 positions. PowerCo–Gotion LFP JVs named Valencia (~30 GWh), Šurany (~10 GWh) and Kenitra CAM (~100kt/a).
Companies Volkswagen, Gotion
Source: VW Investor Update PDF (12 Oct) · VW Group deliveries release (12 Oct)
Europe
Stellantis estimated consolidated Q3 shipments at 1.286m (−1%). Enlarged Europe rose 10% to 588,000, helped by Smart Car nameplates (C3, C3 Aircross, Frontera, Grande Panda) and by Leapmotor-branded vehicles, which rose about 34,000 units to 44,000 on B10 and B03X launches. North America fell 12% on planned downtime (Grand Cherokee and Compass each about −25,000). Middle East & Africa fell 21%, mainly Turkey ahead of local small-van production from October. Full Q3 financials follow later.
Companies Stellantis, Leapmotor
Source: Stellantis press release (13 Oct) · Reuters via Euronext context (13 Oct)
Europe
BMW Group delivered 551,072 vehicles in Q3 (−6.3%) and 1.708m in nine months (−4.9%). Europe rose 2.7% in Q3 and 4.5% year to date; the US was +3.4% YTD. China sales region fell 24.8% in Q3 and 21.8% YTD. Group BEVs rose 7.2% in Q3 to 110,257; in Europe BEVs were +37.5% to 81,941, or 34.7% of regional deliveries. The BMW iX3 has more than 100,000 new orders in Europe within a year—the group’s strongest market launch to date. China-spec iX3 rollout starts in November.
Companies BMW
Source: BMW Group press release (13 Oct) · Reuters via Euronext (13 Oct)
Africa
Wire Association International, citing Moroccan media and a Xinhongye exchange filing, reported on 2 Oct that Wuxi’s board approved (3 Sep) a Hong Kong subsidiary to form Morocco ACOME Xinhongye Automotive Cables with France’s ACOME Automotive. Planned scope: wire and cable, wiring harnesses, plugs and connectors. Ownership 80% Wuxi / 20% ACOME, about €10m registered capital and investment capped near $32m, still subject to definitive agreements and Chinese and Moroccan approvals. ACOME already runs a 17,000 m² skinny-wire plant in Tangier Free Zone (opened 2018, ~1.5m km/year capacity).
Source: Wire Association / Wirenet (2 Oct)
Global
On 1 Oct Rosenberger presented GFC (Glass Fiber Connector), an IEEE 802.3cz-compliant multimode fiber system rated above 50 Gbps over up to 40 m, aimed at zonal architectures (backbone between central computers and zone controllers, camera/display links, CPU redundancy). It uses an expanded-beam design for dust and wear resistance, meets ISO 24581 / ISO 8092 / DIN 70214, and is designed for highly automated high-volume assembly. Form factors include straight cable plug, coupler and angled PCB connector.
Companies Rosenberger
Source: Rosenberger GFC press PDF (1 Oct)
Europe
IZB 2026 in Wolfsburg runs 27–29 October (postponed dates). Aptiv exhibits in Hall 6, stand 6301.
Companies Aptiv
Source: IZB Innovations page (Aptiv) · IZB 2026 dates update