Volvo's electrification-focused business unit invested approximately SEK50m in exchange for a 10% stake in Connected Energy, a British firm providing services related to second-life battery storage and use.

Investments to restructure and expand production and in new zero emission technologies at Otokar leads to more jobs at Sakarya, Turkey in 2022

Schmitz building five to six trailers in the UK including the new dry fright trailer made using Struktoplast

Paris-based Forsee Power has announced it plans to manufacture battery systems for school and transit buses in the USA with start of prodsmall scale manufacture of battery packs before the end of 2022.

Otokar is looking to develop a complete portfolio of electrically-powered vehicles for the on-road commercial vehicle segment within the next two and a half years - it says will be unveiling new products periodically over this timeframe.

The Traton group's strategy is to increase profitability and efficiency by reorganising and consolidating its business operations, targeting a 9% return on sales for the entire group in 2024. 

CATL, based in Ningde, China, has opened its new battery manufacturing plant in the city of Zhaoqing, Guangdong. With a substantial total investment of 12 billion yuan (USD1.8 billion), the first phase of CATL’s Zhaoqing production base is set for the production of both EV batteries and energy storage batteries.

Turin, Italy-based Iveco Group NV has announced it intends to resume bus production in Italy. The firm intends to assemble hydrogen fuel cell and battery-electric buses at the Iveco plant in Foggia, southern Italy, with alternative propulsion systems produced in Turin.

Iochpe-Maxion S.A., based in São Paulo, has announced it is to invest BRA100 million (USD20 million) in its Cruzeiro manufacturing facility in Brazil. As a result of the investment, the company will increase its annual production capacity by 400,000 truck wheels and 110,000 agricultural wheels.

Kyocera Corp, based in Kyoto, has announced a plan to build the largest manufacturing facility it has ever operated in Japan, expanding production capacity for semiconductors. The company stated that a primary motivator in the expansion is the growing demand for components for ADAS systems and sensors used in new vehicles.

UD Trucks has signed an agreement with data analytics, storage and security firm, PTC Japan to introduce a new data platform to help improve the efficiency of its production operations. 

Pinnacle Mobility, a new entrant in EV manufacturing, is investing up to USD261.5m to make 9m and 12m electric buses and electric mini-trucks to cater to the booming last-mile mobility space.