Tag Archives: U.S.

News

Hyundai Goes Big: $26 Billion U.S. Investment Cements Its Future in Cars, Steel, and Robots

Hyundai Motor Group is making it very clear: it’s here to stay, and it’s playing for keeps in the U.S. market. The Korean auto giant today announced it will pour a staggering $26 billion between 2025 and 2028 into American operations—an expansion that touches everything from EV production to steelmaking to robots that might one day walk your dog.

That number isn’t just corporate bluster. It’s $5 billion more than the $21 billion Hyundai announced back in March 2025, signaling a confident escalation of the Group’s long-term strategy. And unlike some automakers who toss around investment figures that never materialize, Hyundai has the receipts: since entering the U.S. in 1986, it has already sunk over $20.5 billion into American soil.

Steel, Wheels, and Robots

So where’s the money going? Three major fronts:

  • Steel: Hyundai is building a new steel mill in Louisiana. It’s not just about churning out metal; it’s about keeping U.S. supply chains closer to home and bolstering industrial resilience. In a world where supply shocks can sink production, Hyundai wants its own steel right here in America.
  • Cars: Hyundai and Kia plan to significantly expand U.S. auto production capacity, giving them the ability to react faster to American consumer demand. More factories mean more vehicles rolling out of stateside plants—and, crucially, fewer headaches shipping cars across oceans.
  • Robots: Perhaps the most futuristic play is the creation of a new robotics hub with capacity for 30,000 units annually. Hyundai’s $1.1 billion purchase of Boston Dynamics in 2021 suddenly looks less like a moonshot and more like a cornerstone. With this new facility, the Group is planting a flag in what it clearly sees as the next big industrial ecosystem.

25,000 New Jobs

It’s not just machines benefiting here. Hyundai says these moves will create around 25,000 direct jobs in the U.S. over the next four years, a number that puts it in the same league as Big Three automakers when it comes to sheer domestic impact.

Beyond the Car

The announcement also underscores how Hyundai views itself these days: not merely as a carmaker, but as a mobility company. Through its partnerships with Boston Dynamics (robotics) and Motional (autonomous driving), plus growing collaborations in AI and automation, Hyundai is aligning with the tech industry just as much as the auto industry.

Why It Matters

The Hyundai of 1986, selling its first Excel hatchbacks in America, is a far cry from the Hyundai of today. With bold designs, award-winning EVs, and now a multi-billion-dollar bet on American soil, the Group is no longer chasing credibility—it’s shaping the future.

If the numbers hold, Hyundai’s U.S. expansion won’t just make more cars. It’ll build steel, deploy robots, and maybe, just maybe, set the stage for a redefinition of what it means to be an automaker in the 21st century.

Source: Hyundai USA

News

BMW Canada to Hike Prices Across the Lineup as U.S. SUV Imports Resume

BMW Canada is about to restart shipments of its most important vehicles—the Spartanburg-built X-series SUVs—even if doing so means swallowing one of the nastiest tariff cocktails in the auto industry.

After a months-long pause triggered by Canada’s retaliatory 25 percent tariff on U.S.-built cars (a response to President Donald Trump’s global auto import levy), Canadian dealers are bracing for fresh arrivals of the X3, X4, X5, X6, X7, and the halo XM. For retailers, the move comes not a moment too soon. Inventory of Spartanburg models has been all but drained, leaving showrooms short on BMW’s biggest moneymakers.

The gap hit hard. The X3 and X5—BMW’s Canadian best-sellers in 2024—fell 25 percent in sales by Q2 of this year. Together, U.S.-built SUVs once accounted for more than half of BMW Canada’s business. By mid-2025, they were down to just 38 percent. Dealers say the X1, X2, and i4 helped cushion the blow, but for many stores, losing the X3 and X5 felt like losing the spine of the lineup.

Still, BMW Canada somehow eked out a 5.3 percent sales gain in Q2 thanks to a surge in European imports. But ask any retailer, and they’ll tell you the comeback of Spartanburg SUVs is about survival, not just growth.

The Tariff Math: Brutal

Getting them back on the lot won’t be cheap. Because Spartanburg’s SUVs don’t meet the 75 percent North American content threshold under the USMCA—thanks largely to engines and transmissions shipped in from Europe—they’re sitting ducks for double duty. First comes the U.S.’s 25 percent tariff on imported parts. Then Canada slaps on its own 25 percent countertariff, plus a 6.1 percent most-favored-nation duty. The all-in hit? Roughly 31 percent.

On a $100,000 X5, that’s about $31,100 in tariffs alone—before transport, dealer margins, or profit. To spread the pain, BMW Canada isn’t just raising prices on U.S.-built SUVs; it’s hiking stickers across the entire lineup. Tariff-free models like the X1 and 3 Series will get pricier too, a move dealers hope will keep Spartanburg vehicles from looking prohibitively expensive.

What’s Next

There’s a glimmer of relief ahead. Dealers say a plug-in hybrid BMW X3 built in South Africa is bound for Canadian shores, sidestepping the tariff squeeze entirely. But for now, customers who want an X3, X5, or XM will pay more—possibly a lot more.

In the near term, though, most BMW dealers seem willing to take that tradeoff. “We can’t survive on just X1s and 3 Series,” one dealer told Automotive News. “We need Spartanburg back, whatever the cost.”

BMW Canada may not be saying much officially, but the message is clear: tariffs or not, the SUV backbone of the brand is rolling north again.

Source: BMW

News

Volvo to Begin U.S. Production of XC60 at South Carolina Plant in 2026

Volvo Cars has officially confirmed that it will begin producing its best-selling XC60 mid-size SUV at its U.S. plant in Ridgeville, just outside Charleston, South Carolina. The move, set to begin in late 2026, comes as the Swedish automaker looks to strengthen its position in the U.S. market while strategically sidestepping tariffs imposed by former U.S. President Donald Trump.

The decision marks a significant milestone for Volvo’s American operations, especially as the XC60 continues to dominate the brand’s sales charts. In the first half of 2025 alone, the XC60 accounted for over 33 percent of Volvo’s U.S. sales, with a 22.9 percent year-over-year increase in June and a total of 21,907 units sold that month.

A Strategic Shift for a Critical Model

“Adding the XC60 to our Charleston production line will further strengthen its position and attractiveness in the competitive U.S. market, while supporting and creating American manufacturing jobs,” said Håkan Samuelsson, CEO of Volvo Cars. “It is also in line with our ambition to build where we sell and reinforces our long-term commitment to the U.S. market.”

The Ridgeville plant, which began operations in 2018, currently assembles the fully electric EX90 flagship SUV and the Polestar 3. However, both models have struggled to gain traction in the U.S. market. By adding the XC60—a proven sales leader—Volvo hopes to invigorate production lines and better align with U.S. consumer preferences.

Luis Rezende, President of Volvo Cars Americas, echoed the sentiment: “The XC60 is the right car for this market. It offers the best of Volvo in a versatile size with the powertrain options to suit our U.S. customers. We’re proud we’ll soon be able to offer American families the XC60 they love, assembled here by American autoworkers.”

A Pillar in Volvo’s Global Portfolio

The XC60 isn’t just Volvo’s top performer in the U.S.—it’s a global powerhouse. With over 2.7 million units sold globally, it recently surpassed the iconic Volvo 240 as the brand’s all-time best-selling model. U.S. customers have long gravitated toward the XC60 for its blend of safety, luxury, and Scandinavian design.

The model will be produced in both mild hybrid and plug-in hybrid variants in Charleston. That’s a particularly strategic move, given that 25 percent of XC60s sold in the U.S. this year are plug-in hybrids—making it the fourth best-selling luxury plug-in hybrid in the country. For Volvo, it’s not just about meeting current demand, but also about accelerating its push toward electrification.

Investment in the Future

Volvo has invested $1.3 billion into the Ridgeville facility over the past decade, preparing it for high-volume, flexible production. The plant now includes a state-of-the-art battery pack assembly line and upgraded body and paint shops. These enhancements ensure the factory can handle a wide variety of platforms and powertrains.

Governor Henry McMaster and state officials have played a key role in supporting Volvo’s expansion, with South Carolina’s pro-manufacturing policies and workforce development initiatives cited as major factors in the decision.

Looking Ahead

With the addition of the XC60, Volvo is reinforcing its commitment to building vehicles closer to where they are sold—both to reduce costs and to stay agile in a turbulent global trade environment. While the fully electric EX90 will continue to target forward-looking buyers, the XC60 will serve as the brand’s volume leader and bridge to an electric future.

In a year when Volvo celebrates 70 years in the U.S. and surpasses 5 million vehicles sold stateside, the XC60’s American production marks a new chapter in the company’s legacy—and a bet that South Carolina can deliver for one of Europe’s most storied automakers.

Source: Volvo