SINDELFINGEN, Germany—The state-of-the-art Mercedes-Benz factory here recently built the automaker’s 22 millionth vehicle.

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) engineers have developed a new process to produce better, cheaper cathodes for use in lithium-ion batteries. 

Fires are a risk in lithium-ion batteries, because they’re sensitive to high operating temperatures and are inherently flammable. 

Battery manufacturers tend to be conservative in their efforts to maximize production processes and still maintain sustainable assembly costs.

CHICAGO—One of the highlights of the 2023 Chicago Auto Show is an indoor test track for electric vehicles.

MARSHALL, MI—Ford Motor Co. plans to build a $3.5 million factory here to mass-produce lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) batteries.

Whether building new production lines or converting existing internal combustion engine assembly plants to produce electric vehicles, automakers need a broad array of flexible, open and proven automation technologies. 

Lightweighting can improve the strength, stability and performance of electric vehicles. To address the challenge, automakers are exploring new materials that boost operating range, one of the biggest hurdles to widespread EV acceptance.

What were ASSEMBLY Magazine's Top 10 most popular articles from 2022? Multimedia Editor Jennifer Pierce links up with Chief Editor John Sprovieri and Senior Editor Austin Weber for a countdown of the ten most-read manufacturing stories from 2022. 

GKN Aerospace Services Ltd. is partnering with Lilium N.V., which is developing an electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) jet for air taxi applications.