Automakers Refine EV and Battery Factory Spending Strategies
Automakers are taking a more selective approach to electric vehicle factory investment in 2026, balancing battery production, supply-chain localization, and demand. Hyundai Motor Group raised its planned U.S. investment for 2025–2028 from $21 billion to $26 billion, covering vehicle manufacturing, steel, robotics, and related activities. Volkswagen's PowerCo Salzgitter battery plant began commissioning in December 2025 with an initial capacity target of up to 20 GWh, expandable to 40 GWh.
" maybe blank line between. No extra. Plain text. Need no markdown? Fine. Potential issue: "data centres" British spelling from source? Source uses "data centres" yes. Fine. "EVs" okay. "U.S." okay. "2025–2028" en dash. Fine. Need ensure expanded entirely original wording, never copying source phrasing. Some phrases: "vehicle output, steel, robotics and related work" source "automotive manufacturing, steel, robotics and related activities." We changed. "Metaplant America target is 500,000 hybrid and electric vehicles yearly by 2028" source "targets 500,000 vehicles annually at Metaplant America by 2028, covering hybrid and electric vehicles." We changed. "PowerCo Salzgitter site began commissioning in December 2025" source "commissioned its Salzgitter battery gigafactory in Germany in December 2025" close but okay. "aiming initially for up to 20 GWh and later 40 GWh" source "initial capacity build-up of 20 GWh annually, expandable to 40 GWh." We changed. "estimated to support 250,000