The Latest SAA Newsletter
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.
Register Today for the Next Coffee: AI in Auto — Navigating the Path Forward
As pressure to adopt AI continues to grow, automotive leaders are working to separate hype from practical application. Join the experts from Plante Moran on September 8 for a brief discussion on where AI adoption stands today, how organizations are assessing readiness, and what it means to build a purposeful AI strategy.
Click here to register or the free, 15-minute briefing.
Sept. 25 Lunch & Learn Webinar -- The New Partnership Playbook: How OEMs and Suppliers Are Innovating Together
The automotive industry is evolving faster than ever. Software-defined vehicles, accelerated development cycles, and increasing system complexity are changing not only the technologies we build—but also how OEMs and suppliers work together.
Join Reuters Automotive Reporter Kalea Hall on September 25 as she moderates a discussion with Peter Schmitt, Software Product Line Executive at Nexteer Automotive, and Bernard Swiecki, Vice President of Mobility & Research at the Detroit Regional Partnership. Together, they’ll explore how leading companies are moving beyond traditional supplier relationships toward deeper collaboration that drives faster innovation, reduces risk, and delivers greater value for customers.
Click here for more information and to register for this free webinar.
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 September 18, 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.
Did You Miss the Motoring Minds That Featured Motor Trend’s Frank Markus?
SAA Motoring Minds, a free series for automotive professionals and enthusiasts, recently featured Frank Markus, Technical Director for Motor Trends magazine. Frank and SAA President Adam Bernard discussed the hottest and coolest automotive technologies, from super-efficient electric motors to innovative HMI solutions.
Click here to watch the lively discussion.
Foley Automotive Update
The automotive industry continues to evolve rapidly, with developments across regulatory policy, supply chains, electric vehicles, autonomous technology, labor issues, and emerging market trends. Foley's Automotive Update delivers a concise, biweekly roundup of the most important news, legal developments, and business insights impacting automotive manufacturers, suppliers, dealers, and stakeholders throughout the industry.
Click here for the rest of the article.
NexPoint Materials Launches as Independent Engineering Thermoplastics Supplier
In case you missed it, the engineering thermoplastics business of SABIC in the Americas and Europe is now NexPoint Materials. This new standalone business continues serving customers in automotive and other demanding industries. Built on deep materials expertise and trusted relationships, the business is focused on helping customers move forward with confidence.
Visit the company’s new website to learn more and follow NexPoint Automotive Solutions on LinkedIn to stay informed on what’s next in automotive materials, applications and innovation.
Using AI in Transfer Pricing: Practical Opportunities and Pitfalls for Growing Companies
Today’s growing businesses increasingly need to manage cross-border growth early. New foreign subsidiaries, distributors, and shared-service centers create additional intercompany transactions and greater exposure to transfer pricing rules and tax authority scrutiny. But tax teams are often lean, and full-scale transfer pricing studies can be costly. A new generation of accessible, lower-cost AI tools can support routine work that has traditionally made transfer pricing time-consuming and expensive. Used well, AI helps companies operate more efficiently, gain better visibility into intercompany results, and free up their in-house resources and advisors for higher-value strategy. If misapplied, AI can create a false sense of security. To understand the potential risks and benefits of AI applications in the transfer pricing process, users need to look at where AI adds real value, where it falls short, and how to use it responsibly. Here’s what you need to know.
Click here for the rest of the article.
Automakers Most At Risk in U.S.-Canada Trade War Aren't Who You Think
The U.S. auto industry is staying mum for the moment as the governments of the United States and Canada duke it out in a trade war that is leaving businesses with uncertainty as to the economic impact it could cause.
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Cost of Vehicle Ownership Increases in 2026
After home ownership, the next biggest budget item for consumers is owning a vehicle, which now represents approximately 17 percent of their annual expenses. Contributing factors are gas prices, car prices and vehicle insurance costs.
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Large-Scale Autonomous Vehicle Deployment on the Horizon for Europe
Mobility Global expects production volumes of Level 4 autonomous vehicles in Europe to grow rapidly through 2030, as autonomous mobility moves from pilot programs toward wider commercial deployment. Growth in the robotaxi market and autonomous shuttle services, along with continued progress in regulation and technology, is expected to drive a 211% CAGR in Level 4 autonomous vehicle sales from 2026 to 2030.
Click here for the rest of the article.
August 2026 Light Vehicle Production Forecast
The global auto industry is holding up better than many expected, with small near-term upgrades in several regions, partly offset by meaningful downgrades in Greater China. China is the clearest two-speed story: weak domestic demand is dragging the baseline, while exports are doing a lot of the heavy lifting to keep factories running. Europe is improving on the back of stronger first-half production and backfill orders, while North America remains resilient thanks to higher-income demand even as inventory remains uneven. Japan and South Korea continue to benefit from solid export pull, despite disruption and geopolitical noise.
Click here for the rest of the article.
Carney Says Trump's Demands Would Dismantle Canadian Auto Industry as Trump Announces New Tariffs
Prime Minister Mark Carney said Monday that U.S. trade demands confirmed Canada's fears that U.S. President Donald Trump was seeking to dismantle its auto industry, as Trump threatened new 50% tariffs on Canadian vehicles, auto parts and steel, and as Ontario Premier Doug Ford warned Canada could cut off electricity and critical minerals to the United States.
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Germany’s Car Parts Makers Switch Gears as Industry Shrinks
Sembach, a family-run ceramics company based in Bavaria, has been making parts for the auto industry since the 1970s, including sensors used in combustion engines. But with an end to fossil fuel-powered cars coming into view and Europe’s car manufacturers under increasing pressure from Chinese electric-vehicle makers, Sembach is making a pivot from motors to medical tech.
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The German Auto Industry’s Gut-Wrenching Moment
Things are getting ugly in the German auto industry, and they’re only going to get worse. Though it will likely survive the onslaught, it will emerge as a smaller industry, with a smaller workforce and a smaller manufacturing footprint.
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Section 45X in Motion: Policy Shifts and Operational Reality
The Internal Revenue Code’s (IRC’s) Section 45X Advanced Manufacturing Production Credit was enacted as part of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA). It was designed to incentivize U.S.-based production of clean energy components and applicable critical minerals. The credit continues to provide meaningful incentives for domestic manufacturing activities and remains a central driver of investment and operational planning for eligible manufacturers. But new IRS guidance indicates that taxpayers who qualified for the credit in previous years may face new challenges when attempting to claim the credit in 2026. Learn more about the current state of the credit.
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China is Burying the U.S. Car Industry. Tesla and Waymo Are the Last Line of Defense
Future historians will point to the mid-2020s as the moment when China took over the global auto industry, sending traditional automakers reeling toward extinction. That might sound alarmist. But it’s not.
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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.
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Munro & Associates Teardown Spotlight: 2025 Jeep Wagoner S
The 2025 Jeep Wagoneer S introduces Stellantis' STLA Large platform, a new architecture designed to support the company's next generation of electrified vehicles. The vehicle is part of the A2MAC1 teardown database at the Munro & Associates facility in Auburn Hills, Michigan.
Built on a 400V, 100 kWh battery system producing 600HP, the Wagoneer S delivers an estimated 294 mi of electric driving range. The STLA Large platform is designed to support multiple vehicle configurations while providing the flexibility needed for future product development.
The vehicle also demonstrates a strong focus on efficiency, achieving a drag coefficient (Cd) of 0.29, approximately 15% lower than the average SUV. Inside, 45 inches of total display width, provided by multiple digital displays to create a connected, technology-forward cabin experience.
The Wagoneer S provides insight into Stellantis' evolving EV strategy, from platform architecture and aerodynamic optimization to digital integration. As manufacturers develop scalable electric vehicle platforms, these engineering decisions offer valuable benchmarking opportunities for future vehicle programs.
For additional insights or benchmarking details, visit Munro & Associates.
Auto Companies Call for Ban on Chinese-Made Cars
A group representing American automakers sent a letter Thursday to congressional leaders asking for a “permanent ban” on Chinese-made cars in the U.S.
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