Kia Corporation has opened the Kia Gwangmyeong EVO Plant, which is Hyundai Motor Group’s first dedicated EV manufacturing facility globally.

Located at Kia Autoland Gwangmyeong, the new facility has an annual production capacity of 150,000 units and started production of the Kia EV3 in the first half of this year, to be followed by the EV4 in the first half of 2025.

In his welcome address, Jun Young Choi, Executive Vice-President and Head of Domestic Production Division, Kia said, “The completion of the Kia Gwangmyeong EVO Plant solidifies Kia’s first step as an EV leader following the company’s brand relaunch in 2021. With the goal of providing sustainable mobility solutions, we will lead innovation in the EV market and fulfil our responsibilities in helping to deliver a sustainable future.” 

Seung Won Park, Mayor of Gwangmyeong City added, “The completion of the Kia Gwangmyeong EVO Plant will help Gwangmyeong City to establish itself at the centre of the EV industry in Korea. Through this we will strive to promote sustainable development of the local economy and create more jobs."

The Gwangmyeong EVO Plant is a dedicated EV facility, with an investment total of KRW 401.6 billion (USD 304.2 million) over approximately 60,000 square meters and will serve as an outpost for production of Kia’s popular EV models.

The Korean automaker states it spent approximately one year transforming Gwangmyeong Plant 2, which was completed in 1987 to produce small internal combustion engine vehicles such as the Kia Pride, Avella and Stonic. The Kia Gwangmyeong EVO Plant is also meaningful in that it is the Group’s first dedicated EV plant and a facility that has been completely rebuilt on an existing plant site to become a hub for next-generation vehicle production.

The plant has been constructed with a full-scale conversion to electrification in mind, focusing on ‘eco-friendly’ and ‘worker-friendly’ processes.

The body shop is now a high-tech logistics factory thanks to the introduction of automated guided (AGV) forklifts, and the green credentials of the paint shop have been increased by applying the water-based 3C1B method instead of the previous oil-based 3C2B method. New equipment has also been introduced to improve wellbeing and reduce the workload of plant employees, including machinery which can automatically install high-voltage batteries, wheels and tires on the vehicles.

Following the completion ceremony of the Gwangmyeong EVO Plant, Kia will ramp up EV production. Mass production of the EV3, a compact all-electric SUV, began in the first half of this year. The EV3 is Kia's third dedicated EV model after the Kia EV6, the all-electric crossover SUV launched in 2021, and the Kia EV9 all-electric flagship SUV launched in 2023.

In the first half of 2025, Kia plans to introduce the EV4, the brand’s mid-sized electric sedan.

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Auto component manufacturer JM Frictech India has invested around INR 500 million to establish its fourth manufacturing facility in Chandigarh. The investment expands the company's production footprint and logistics operations across Northern India.

The facility is being commissioned in phases, with initial operations dedicated to warehousing and distribution logistics.

Established in 2008 as a joint venture between NTC Engineering India and South Korea’s Jinmyung Frictech Company, the company produces approximately 12 million friction discs annually. The addition of the Chandigarh plant expands the company's manufacturing footprint to four facilities across India, supporting its strategy to localize components for agricultural and industrial off-highway equipment.

JM Frictech India plans to scale manufacturing activities at the site to achieve full operational capability within the next 6-8 months. The facility is structured to supply friction systems, wet brakes, wet clutches, hydraulic actuation systems, transmission aggregates and hydrostatic transmission components to original equipment manufacturers in the tractor, construction equipment and off-highway sectors.

E. Madhavan, Managing Director of JM Frictech India, said, "The investment in Chandigarh is an important part of our expansion strategy. It will strengthen our manufacturing presence in North India and enable us to be closer to our customers while creating capacity for future growth."

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Bengaluru-based electric mobility startup E3 Electric.Ai has commenced production of its electric scooter, the E3 Trion, at its manufacturing facility in Hyderabad. Customer deliveries are scheduled to begin in batches from 7 October 2026, coinciding with the company's second anniversary.

The E3 Trion is offered in three variants – C1, C1X and C2 – designed for individual, family and commercial users. The variants will be delivered in phased schedules across six colour options: Nova Blue, Teal Blue, Graphite Grey, Misty Green, Solar Red and Luna White.

The e-scooter completed a testing and validation programme comprising over 550 Design Validation Plan tests, including chassis dynamometer power evaluation, range validation and brake-pressure sensor testing. Accelerated durability assessments were conducted on a Cam Drum Test Rig with a 205 kg payload, alongside water-wading tests at depths between 100 mm and 300 mm, rainstorm exposure and a 260-km mixed-terrain road test between Bengaluru and Hogenakkal.

Sanjeev P, Founder and CEO, E3 Electric.Ai, said, "This is a significant moment for everyone at E3, where engineering, testing and validation translate into a product that is ready to reach our customers. Our philosophy has been simple: build an intelligent, robust, electric scooter engineered for the real world. The rigorous validation programme, particularly our focus on durability across challenging conditions, has been central to that. With production now underway and deliveries beginning in batches from October 7, which also marks our second anniversary, we are proud to take the E3 Trion from the test track to the road and begin this journey with our first 100 customers."

The initial 100 buyers will receive an extended warranty covering the battery and primary components for eight years or 100,000 kilometres, along with one year of roadside assistance. The coverage package applies to the 2.3 kWh battery configuration on the C1 variant and the 3 kWh battery setup on the C1X and C2 variants.

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German automotive luxury brand BMW M has produced its one-millionth vehicle, a BMW M3 finished in BMW Individual Fire Orange III special paintwork, at the BMW Group Plant Munich. The milestone vehicle was presented by Peter Weber, head of BMW Group Plant Munich, to Franciscus van Meel, CEO of BMW M, during an official ceremony.

The production milestone marks over five decades of BMW M manufacturing. Moving forward, the Munich facility will produce the fully electric BMW M3 based on BMW M Neue Klasse technology, following the fully electric BMW i3 as the second Neue Klasse model manufactured at the site.

The Munich facility has produced the current generation of the BMW M3 since 2020. From 2027 onwards, the BMW Group will manufacture exclusively fully electric vehicles at the site. The company is investing approximately EUR 650 million to convert the Munich facility, incorporating a new body shop, vehicle assembly line, and logistics infrastructure across one-third of the total plant area.

Franciscus van Meel said, "BMW M combines road and racetrack capabilities with everyday practicality. The one-millionth BMW M vehicle shows that these values are still very much appreciated by our customers, 40 years after the market launch of the first BMW M3. This motivates us to continuously develop our BMW M high-performance vehicle portfolio based on BMW M Neue Klasse technology, including fully-electric models, in line with our core brand promise."

Peter Weber said, "The BMW M3 has close ties to the BMW Group’s main plant in Munich. We are delighted that we will also be producing the first fully-electric BMW M3 here in Munich. BMW M has a special emotional significance for our associates here – so we are especially proud to be actively shaping the future of this icon."

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  - Prabal Singh October 05, 2026 22:56 PM

  Nah bro nahhh 😭😭

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Ultium Cells, the joint venture between General Motors and LG Energy Solution, will upgrade its battery cell manufacturing plant in Spring Hill, Tennessee, United States, to produce lithium manganese rich (LMR) battery cells for General Motors electric vehicles.

The facility is scheduled to begin retooling later this year, with completion expected in 2028. The conversion will enable mass production of prismatic LMR cells, a chemistry which it claims offers up to 33 percent higher energy density than lithium iron phosphate (LFP) at a similar cost profile.

The project will create 500 positions, expanding the plant's existing workforce of 1,200 employees. The upgrade follows the start of LFP cell production for energy storage systems at the facility in June 2026, bringing cumulative investment across both projects to USD 1 billion by 2030.

The modification will allow Ultium Cells to manufacture high-nickel, LFP and LMR chemistries across pouch and prismatic form factors at the Tennessee site, supplying battery cells for General Motors' North American vehicle assembly plants and external stationary storage applications.

Kurt Kelty, Vice-President of Battery and Sustainability, GM, said, “Establishing LMR prismatic cell production at Ultium Cells in Spring Hill is a key step in GM’s strategy to match the right battery technology to customer needs and strengthen our leadership in domestic battery manufacturing and innovation. High-nickel batteries will continue to give customers the highest range in our portfolio, while adding LMR positions us to leapfrog today’s more affordable chemistries and deliver lower costs with better performance. This flexibility allows us to scale efficiently, reach more customers, and support GM’s long-term EV strategy and profitability journey.”

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee said, “Ultium Cells’ continued investment in Spring Hill underscores Tennessee’s role as a hub for advanced manufacturing and technological innovation. I thank Ultium Cells for their commitment to create new, high-quality jobs and to reinforce the strength of Tennessee’s manufacturing economy as we advance toward a future focused on clean, reliable energy.”

Injae Pahk, President, Ultium Cells, said, “This marks Ultium Cells’ second major investment in Spring Hill and reflects the company’s continued growth as a diversified battery cell manufacturer. By evolving production to meet changing market demands, Ultium Cells is reinforcing its long-term position as a key employer and technology leader in the U.S. battery cell sector.”

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