The Latest SAA Newsletter
Motoring Minds to Feature Motor Trend’s Frank Markus
Join SAA Motoring Minds, a free series for automotive professionals and enthusiasts. Each session explores the latest industry
trends and innovations with expert-led discussions. This is a Zoom event, but a recording will be available.
Motoring Minds is hosted by Adam Bernard, SAA President and Founder of AutoPerspectives. The next episode, on August 11, will feature Frank Markus, Technical Director for Motor Trends magazine. Frank and Adam will discuss the hottest and coolest automotive technologies, from super-efficient electric motors to innovative HMI solutions.
Click here for more information and to register.
Register Today for The Road Ahead – Scaling Innovation in an Evolving Landscape
Register today for “The Road Ahead – Scaling Innovation in an Evolving Landscape,” which features senior leaders from FORVIA and the VC mobility community to examine how the global supplier is investing in emerging technologies to move them from innovation to scale, and how capital, partnerships, and transactions shape that journey.
The event is September 17, 2026, at FORVIA in Auburn Hills, MI, and is free to SAA members; only $49 for non-members.
Panel discussions include:
- Identifying and Investing in Automotive Innovation
- M&A, Investments, Exits and Scale
- Financing the Industrial Technology Lifecycle
Click here for more information and to register.
Energyside Chat with EVgo’s CEO Badar Khan and GM’s Head of Public Charging Will Hotchkiss
The Automotive Press Association and SAA invite you to attend an “Energyside” chat with EVgo’s CEO Badar Khan and GM’s Head of Public Charging Will Hotchkiss, moderated by Axios’ Joann Muller, at EVgo and GM’s new flagship charging site at the Meijer store in Warren, Mich., on Tuesday, August 11.
The Energyside chat will explore how the industry is powering progress in EV infrastructure and elevating the charging experience. There is no cost to attend but registration is required.
Click here for more information and to register.
Enter the Innovations in Lightweighting Awards
Entries are now open for SAA’s annual Innovations in Lightweighting Awards – an award competition that is free and easy to
enter. The deadline for entries is August 28, 2026. The winner of the award will be announced at SAA’s Material Innovations Summit on Nov. 11.
Lightweighting remains a key priority in the automotive industry as OEMs and suppliers grapple with the question of how to integrate new lightweight technologies while not adversely affecting the price of a new vehicle. Get recognition for your lightweighting innovation.
Click here for more information.
YPN Event Returns to M1 Concourse – Register Today
Registration is now open for the most popular (and fun) YPN event of the year. On August 27, YPN members will get a chance to compete and network at the M1 Concourse in Pontiac, MI -- the ultimate destination for automotive enthusiasts and is Michigan’s premier motorsports and entertainment venue.
Attendees will get to compete in a laser-timed Autocross Competition, which is a precision driving challenge hosted on the facility's massive 2.5-acre asphalt "Arena." Drivers weave through a cone-marked, technical course to compete against the clock and their peers.
Space is limited for this free event. Click here to register.
AI Bills of Materials (AI-BOMs) and Model Provenance: Contracting for Cybersecurity in AI-Enabled Manufacturing Supply Chains
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming manufacturing, but it also introduces new supply chain and cybersecurity risks. This article examines how AI Bills of Materials (AI-BOMs), model provenance, and strategic contracting can help manufacturers gain visibility into their AI ecosystems, strengthen cybersecurity, and build more resilient AI-enabled supply chains.
Click here for the rest of the article.
July 2026 Light Vehicle Production Forecast
The global auto market is settling into a “new normal” of uncertainty. Middle East risk is still in the mix, but oil prices and vehicle demand have held up better than the worst-case scenarios.
Click here for the rest of the article.
You Are Invited: Plante Moran 2026 Automotive Summit
The Plante Moran Auto Summit is back for year two on Sept. 22 at the M1 Concourse in Pontiac, Michigan. Expect an afternoon designed for candid conversation, practical insight, and meaningful connections with peers who are navigating the same realities you are. Hear from automotive leaders representing some of the industry's most influential organizations, including Toyota, Stellantis, General Motors, Ford, and more. These executives and industry experts will share insights on artificial intelligence, vehicle technology, supply chain resilience, and the forces shaping the future of mobility. This event is thoughtfully designed for senior leaders and decision-makers. Registration is limited and will close once capacity is reached. Register now to secure your seat.
Click here for the rest of the article.
Number of EV Models Dwindles, Charging Stations Play Catch-up for Demand
The Alliance for Automotive Innovation has released its state-by-state analysis of the U.S. electric vehicle market for Q1 2026, which summarizes EV sales and purchasing trends across all 50 states. The report features a breakdown of light-duty market share by powertrain (2016-2026), an analysis of registered EVs and charging infrastructure, and a look at how vehicle-to-grid integration can optimize EV charging, reduce costs for EV drivers and improve utilization of existing grid infrastructure.
Click here for the rest of the article.
2027 Automotive Industry Outlook: How OEMs Can Stay Competitive
OEM business planning for 2027 starts with one core tension: Economic uncertainty and high vehicle prices continue to suppress demand while the automotive market becomes increasingly volatile.
Today, the automotive market is entering a slower, more selective phase. For OEMs, that means a longer period of adjustment as affordability continues to shape car sales, vehicle demand, and purchasing decisions. Success will depend less on scale alone and more on competitive cost structures and clear regional strategies.
Click here for Mobility Global’s 2027 Automotive Industry Outlook.
U.S. Auto Industry Races to Purge Chinese Connected-Car Hardware Amid Federal Push
A nondescript facility south of Cleveland has become an early staging ground for the auto industry's next supply-chain pivot: replacing vehicle hardware from China. The plant belongs to Eagle Wireless, a maker of electronics that was formed in late 2025, largely in response to a federal rule that bans certain Chinese connected-car software and hardware in U.S. vehicles by the end of the decade.
Click here for the rest of the article.
EVs and The North American Auto Industry — A Canadian Perspective
A tidal wave of tidbits infiltrates my email inbox every morning. Today I found an interesting story in something called The Walrus, which bills itself as “Canada’s Conversation.” Whether the title is an homage to the Walrus and the Carpenter scene in Alice in Wonderland or a reference to a lyric in a certain Beatles song is unknown. Perhaps one of our Canadian readers can explain it to us.
Click here for the rest of the article.
Japan Wants to Standardize Car Parts to Protect Its Auto Industry
Automakers have long counted on parts-sharing to keep costs down—not just across individual lineups, but even across brands and market segments. Volkswagen Group’s MQB platform became the poster child for modern parts-sharing architectures in the 2010s, and many other automakers have since consolidated their lineups to the bare minimum of fundamental platforms to make manufacturing cheaper and more consistent.
Click here for the rest of the article.
OBBBA Checklist for Manufacturing CFOs: Key Provisions to Review
The OBBBA introduces major tax changes that affect manufacturers and their 2026 planning. In this quick reference checklist, Plante Moran’s tax experts highlight the top areas manufacturing CFOs should review to reduce after-tax investment costs and guide their teams on next steps.
Click here for the rest of the article.
BMW to Review Practices Once Deemed 'Untouchable' as Profit Slumps
BMW will review working practices once deemed "untouchable", the carmaker pledged on Thursday, after a 35% drop in second-quarter pretax profit underscored the pressures driving a shake-up across Germany's auto sector. The premium carmaker blamed the earnings decline on a steep drop in sales in China and a hit to consumer confidence from conflict in the Middle East.
Click here for the rest of the article.
Ford CEO Tells Employees Chinese Automakers Could Enter U.S. Market in Next Decade
Ford CEO Jim Farley told employees in a town hall on Thursday that the company is preparing for the possibility that Chinese automakers could enter the American market in the next five to 10 years, even though the country has erected numerous trade barriers to cars from China, according to three people who viewed the meeting.
Click here for the rest of the article.
Amid an Affordability Pinch, Premium Brands Risk Losing Luster to Tech
The auto affordability dilemma isn’t a U.S. one; it’s a global one. Across markets, nearly a third of mobility users plan to postpone their next new-vehicle purchase due to financial constraints, and 45% are considering downsizing the vehicle to stay within budget.
Click here for the rest of the article.
Munro & Associates Teardown Spotlight: Toyota Tacoma
The 2024 Toyota Tacoma represents the next evolution of Toyota's midsize pickup, built on the new TNGA-K global truck platform and featuring a unibody pickup architecture with aluminum body-on-frame panels. The vehicle is part of the A2MAC1 teardown database at the Munro & Associates facility in Auburn Hills, Michigan.
The redesigned Tacoma introduces Toyota's i-Force Max hybrid powertrain, combining improved performance with greater efficiency. The updated architecture supports enhanced vehicle capability while providing a foundation for future product development across multiple applications. Inside, the Tacoma features a completely redesigned cockpit with a larger interior volume and an updated cabin layout. The new interior reflects Toyota's latest approach to integrating digital displays and modern vehicle controls.
The 2024 Tacoma provides insight into Toyota's latest approach to pickup truck design, from hybrid powertrain integration and lightweight body construction to platform evolution and interior development. As manufacturers continue advancing electrification and vehicle efficiency, these engineering decisions offer valuable benchmarking opportunities for future vehicle programs.
For additional insights or benchmarking details, visit Munro & Associates.
Who Owns Who? Every Major Car Brand And Its Parent Company
The auto industry can seem daunting on the surface; dozens of car brands all elbowing each other for market share, with hundreds of models available across every segment. From household names like Ford and Toyota to luxury marques like Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Rolls-Royce, the sheer number of choices can be overwhelming.
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Are Americans Ready to Embrace Tiny ‘Cars’? These Companies Think So
The next big idea in the U.S. automotive industry may be small. A growing number of companies, including auto giant Stellantis, are betting Americans are ready to embrace smaller, less expensive vehicles amid yearslong affordability concerns for the U.S. auto industry.
Click here for the rest of the article.
AI Use Cases in Manufacturing: 5 Practical Applications Improving Productivity and Profitability
Manufacturing executives are under pressure to improve throughput, stabilize labor, and protect margin without adding unnecessary cost or operational risk. As a result, the AI conversation is quickly moving to targeted operational impact. Manufacturers seeing the strongest returns aren’t necessarily those pursuing enterprise-wide AI transformation — they’re the organizations applying AI to specific operational decisions where speed, consistency, and visibility directly affect cost, quality, service, and working capital. Explore 5 practical AI use cases delivering measurable operational and financial results across manufacturing operations.
Click here for the rest of the article.
