November 2025

Electric vehicle report

Overall electric vehicle-related factory construction in the U.S. post COVID-19 has increased substantially, highlighted by over $225 billion spent on new battery and assembly plants and their supply chains. 

 

The increase was driven mainly by federal incentives for clean energy projects, which spurred over $135 billion of announced investments in EV-related/next generation mobility deals in the Southern Automotive Corridor from 2021 to 2024. Yes, the South captured about 60 percent of that large wave of announced EV investments in the U.S. during those four years. 

 

The South still leads the nation and even the Midwest and Detroit in next generation mobility investments. However, in several of the completed projects, production has been delayed or in one case so far, halted. Here is an update on electric vehicle battery production plants in the Southern Automotive Corridor and their current status as of the end of October 2025. 

 

Current Status of Electric Vehicle Battery Plants in the Southern Automotive Corridor

Alabama

• Mercedes-Benz: Bibb County, Ala. (Operating)

• Hyundai: Montgomery, Ala. (Operating)

Georgia

• Hyundai Motor Group: Ellabell, Ga. (Delayed)

• SK Battery: Commerce, Ga. (Operating)

• Hyundai-SK On: Bartow County, Ga. (Delayed)

Kentucky

• Ford-BlueOval SK: Glendale, Ky. (Delayed)

• AESC: Bowling Green, Ky. (Delayed)

Mississippi

• Amplify Cell: Marshall County, Miss. (Delayed) 

North Carolina

• Toyota: Randolph County, N.C. (Operating)

South Carolina

• BMW: Spartanburg, S.C. (Delayed)

• AESC: Florence, S.C. (Delayed)

• Volvo: Ridgeville, S.C. (Operating)

Tennessee

• Ford Blue Oval City: Stanton, Tenn. (Delayed)

• GM-Ultium Cells: Spring Hill, Tenn. (Production halted, 700 laid off)

• Nissan-AESC: Smyrna, Tenn. (Operating)

Texas

• Tesla: Austin, Texas (Operating) 

 

Report on manufacturing in general at the end of the 3^rd quarter of 2025

A report in late October published in the New York Times by author Farah Stockman read in part: 

 

“Spending on factory construction by all sorts of companies — one of the clearest barometers of the ‘Made in America’ revival — went from around 3.5 percent of the manufacturing economy in 2021 to 8 percent in 2024, a level not seen in more than 40 years,” said Paul Donovan, the global chief economist at UBS Wealth Management. “Spending has declined from its peak in the third quarter of 2024,” he said, “although it remains high.”

 

“The dip may have been partly driven by uncertainty surrounding tariffs and fears that the rising cost of imported materials would render construction projects unprofitable.”

 

“Some companies canceled construction projects immediately after President Trump announced tariffs on dozens of countries in April,” said Michael Guckes, chief economist of ConstructConnect, a company that provides software and market insight to construction industry professionals. “But building has picked up again.”

 

“Nearly $86 billion was spent on manufacturing facilities from January to September, driven in part by investments in high-value semiconductor factories and pharmaceutical facilities, Mr. Guckes added. “It has been a very strong year for manufacturing,” he said.

 

And data from Southern Business & Development shows the same. Economic development projects in both services and manufacturing meeting or exceeding our thresholds of $30 million invested and/or 200 jobs created were lagging badly in the first two quarters of 2025. 

 

Some encouraging signs

September was the best month of the year so far and October project activity, while not as strong as September, was much better than the first six of months of 2025 in comparison. Yet, total projects announced by a state or a company spokesperson in the 13-state American South in the first three quarters plus October are still down significantly when compared to average totals over the last 33 years. 

 

Shown below are the South’s best years and worst years since 1993 in projects meeting or exceeding Southern Business & Development’s thresholds. As you can see in the “SB&D 100’s Worst Years,” while we still have two months of data to add to the total project “cart,” this year might end up being around some of the worst deal total years in the South’s history, or at least since 1994. 

 

In fact, as you can see by the charts below, with a total of 383 projects captured meeting or exceeding our thresholds from January 1 to November, 1, 2025, we have topped the two worst years in SB&D 100 history -- 2021 with 364 total deals (COVID) and 2009 with 367 deals (Great Recession) -- with two more months to go with some momentum as the year ends. The two best months of 2025 have been September (111 projects) and October (72 projects). With a good showing in November and December, this year could at least be described as salvageable from the ruins of the first two quarters. 

 

Alabama

 

State of Alabama opens two foreign recruitment offices overseas

In the fall quarter, the Alabama Department of Commerce opened business development offices in Tokyo and Seoul to serve as frontline ambassadors to recruit foreign investors, support Alabama-based exporters and raise the state’s profile as a premier destination for business. 

 

Germany, Japan and South Korea are Alabama’s top three international investment partners, and they are represented at the top by Mercedes-Benz, Hyundai and Toyota operating OEM plants in the state worth billions in total investments over many years. Alabama opened a similar office in Stuttgart, Germany, in 2019. “Our relationships in Japan, Germany and Korea have long been vital to Alabama’s economic growth,” said Ellen McNair, Secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce. 

 

Huntsville, Ala. named among “10 emerging industrial markets”

Collier’s International has named Huntsville as one of its “10 Emerging Industrial Markets to Watch.” Collier’s cited the growing North Alabama market for its high inventory of industrial space and the demand for that space. Others making the Collier’s list included Albuquerque, Boise, El Paso, Omaha, Dayton, Ohio, Norfolk, Savannah and Treasure Coast, Fla., which includes Indian River, St. Lucie and Martin counties. 

 

Airbus finishes A320 expansion in Mobile, Ala. 

Europe-based Airbus celebrated its new A320 airliner assembly facility at the Mobile Aeroplex at Brookley. The expansion marks increased capacity to meet global demand for its A320 family of aircraft. The company’s goal is to produce 75 single-aisle aircraft per month by 2028. The project adds approximately 1,000 jobs and doubles the size of its only U.S. manufacturing facility. 

 

Toyota marks significant expansion at its Huntsville engine plant

Toyota is creating new differential lines at its engine plant in Huntsville, Ala. This moves the plant beyond engine production adding differential assembly for the Tacoma, Tundra and Sequoia models. The $282 million investment will house 350 additional jobs at the facility. Toyota Alabama President Marc Perry said the new differential line represents innovation and adaptability.“Today, we’re expanding beyond engines,” Perry said. “We’re taking on a new challenge and a totally new product line. This highlights Alabama’s flexibility and reinforces our commitment to our team members in Huntsville.” The facility’s 2,000-plus team members already produce engines for seven of nine Toyota vehicles assembled in North America, accounting for nearly half of all Toyota engines built on the continent.

 

Major employer in Alabama to lay off 400 in Fort Payne

Renfro Brands is closing its knitting and finishing operations in Fort Payne and will lay off more than 400 workers. The company will maintain its warehousing and distribution operation in the facility. 

 

Pipe manufacturer breaks ground on new facility in North Alabama

Fratco, a maker of plastic pipe, is constructing a new custom-built plant in the City of Fort Payne, Ala. The project will create 60 new jobs in manufacturing, logistics and administration, and it represents the first facility for the Indiana company in the American South.

 

SmartWiz to hire 66 as it expands in Birmingham

SmartWiz, a rapidly growing tax software tech firm that uses A.I. to streamline the work of tax professionals, is expanding in Alabama’s largest metro with 66 new hires. 

 

Wellborn Cabinet opens new facility in Calhoun County, Ala. 

Wellborn Cabinets has been on an expansion run for several years now in Alabama. The latest expansion includes an investment of $28 million and the addition of 400 new jobs. Once operational, the plant is expected to produce 2,000 cabinets a day. 

 

Southern Ionics investing more than $30 million in Tuscaloosa, Ala. 

Chemical manufacturer Southern Ionics is expanding its plant in Tuscaloosa. The $34 million deal will create seven jobs. 

 

Arkansas 

 

Owens Corning opens plant in Russellville, Ark. 

Building products manufacturer Owens Corning has been in business in Arkansas for 40 years. The company is expanding in Russellville and adding 50 new jobs. 

 

Primo Brands celebrates groundbreaking in Hot Springs

In October, Primo Brands hosted a ceremony commemorating the groundbreaking of a new factory to support the continued strong demand for its premium bottled water, The Mountain Valley®. The site, located in Hot Springs, Garland County, marks the first new factory for Primo Brands following its transformative merger with BlueTriton Brands in November 2024. 

 

Chemical distiller locates new plant in Hot Springs

 

Florida

 

Significant pharma deal in South Florida

Lupin Pharmaceuticals is expanding in Coral Springs with a new facility. The global pharmaceuticals company, a maker of respiratory medicines, is investing $250 million and will create 200 new jobs. 

 

Pegasus Labs expands in Pensacola, Fla. 

Pegasus Laboratories, a manufacturer of veterinary pharmaceuticals, has expanded its operations in Pensacola. Investment in the project is expected to be up to $45 million and is expected to create approximately 70 jobs.

 

Dassault opens MRO facility in Florida

Dassault Falcon Jet has opened its new maintenance, repair and overhaul facility at the Melbourne Orlando International Airport. Lynda Weatherman, President and CEO of Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast, said, “This state-of-the-art maintenance, repair and overhaul facility is creating 400 full-time jobs right here in Brevard County. And beyond the numbers, it’s setting a global standard of excellence for MRO operations.”

 

French A.I. startup chooses Miami for its first U.S. HQ

The Mobile-First Company, a fast-growing A.I. company that builds mobile-first software for small corporate teams, is investing $12 million in its new U.S. headquarters in Miami. Its services include tools that turn routine business tasks into quick, automated workflows.

 

Spain’s nightlife tech startup picks Miami as U.S. hub

Fourvenues, a global all-in-one operating system for nightlife owners, is taking its first U.S. venture to Miami. The company already services iconic venues and festivals in over 20 countries. Its model helps clubs, festivals, promoters and beach clubs run smarter and improve cash flow. It is also locating an office in New York. 

 

Aerospace supplier to double space in Broward County, Fla.

Planestocks, a supplier of aviation and aerospace components is doubling its space in a Fort Lauderdale area industrial park. The 30-year-old company plans to hire additional staff. As of 2024, the aviation and aerospace industry supported nearly 70,000 jobs in South Florida according to the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance. 

 

Boeing expands in Jacksonville to upgrade sub-hunter aircraft for the Australian Air Force

Boeing’s Cecil Field operations in Jacksonville is gearing up to modify the Australian Air Force’s P-8A sub-hunter aircraft. Most of the new the work involves the addition of advanced antennas, sensors and software.

 

Spain-based bank adding 250 jobs in Miami

Banco Santander plans to create 250 new jobs in South Florida as part of a new 40-story tower at 1401 Brickell Avenue in Miami, which will house its regional headquarters and brokerage operations. The bank is also maintaining its current 702 jobs in the area.

 

Australian meat processor adding jobs in Jacksonville

Thomas Foods International is expanding its U.S. operations by purchasing a former Tyson Foods facility in Jacksonville. The company is investing millions in the project that is expected to generate 100 new jobs. 

 

CertainTeed investing $240 million in Jacksonville area plant

Building materials manufacturer CertainTeed is investing $240 million in its plant in Palatka, Fla. The Jacksonville Business Journal reported that the plant will become the largest drywall factory in the world. The project is expected to add 110 new jobs. 

 

Canadian organic mattress manufacturer has opened its facility in Boca Raton

Essentia Organic Mattress, a pioneer in eco-luxury sleep products, has opened its first U.S. manufacturing facility in Boca. The new facility will eventually be able to produce 1,000 mattresses per day. 

 

Georgia

 

Mercedes-Benz expands its HQ in Atlanta metro

German automaker Mercedes is expanding its North American headquarters in Sandy Springs, a suburb of Atlanta. The luxury assembler of iconic SUV and sedan brands operates its largest North American plant in Tuscaloosa County, Ala., and its Sprinter van plant in Ladson, S.C. In early 2015, Mercedes-Benz USA announced its plan to move its headquarters from Montvale, N.J., to the metro Atlanta area, with the relocation starting in July 2015. This latest expansion announced in the fall quarter of 2025, will be located in Midtown Atlanta and will create around 500 new jobs. It includes a new 60,000-square-foot R&D hub and relocating some roles from other locations in Detroit and California to Atlanta. 

 

Pharmaceutical manufacturer announces big $200 million deal in Conyers, Ga. 

Mumbai, India-based ACG is investing $200 million and creating over 200 jobs in a new hard-shell capsule pill plant in the Atlanta area, specifically in Conyers. It is the first empty capsule factory in the U.S. for the Asian company. 

 

Atlanta-based UPS has cut nearly 50,000 workers in 2025

UPS has cut about 48,000 jobs in 2025 as of November 1, as part of a broad cost-cutting and efficiency initiative that includes the reduction of management roles and reducing operational positions. The company has also closed buildings and is working to reduce its reliance on Amazon, which has experienced a significant reduction in its package volume recently. 

 

General Motors plans to close its metro Atlanta technology center

Detroit-based GM is shuttering its metro Atlanta office, laying off about 350 workers at its Georgia Innovation Center in Roswell. The company brought a new tech center to Atlanta in 2013. The IT base employs about 900 and those not losing their jobs will be offered the opportunity to work remotely or relocate to other GM information technology centers in Austin, California, Seattle, Toronto and Michigan. 

 

Two U.S. lumber giants plan to merge and move new HQ to Atlanta

Two lumber companies are merging and bringing their new corporate headquarters to Atlanta, according to Bloomberg. The $3.4 billion deal between Rayonier Inc. and PotlatchDeltic will create one of the largest publicly traded timber and wood products companies in North America. Word of the deal comes on the same day as new tariffs on imported lumber take effect. It’s not clear yet how many jobs the deal might create in Atlanta or exactly where the corporate headquarters will be located.

 

German medical device manufacturer expands in metro Atlanta

PAJUNK, has completed an expansion of its U.S. headquarters and manufacturing plant that produces medical devices. Boosts in capacity include larger clean rooms, a new injection molding line and offices in an effort to meet rising demand for its anesthesia and pain management products. 

 

New Midtown Atlanta skyscraper nears topping out

Rockefeller Group’s new office tower is close to completing the topping out of what will be Atlanta’s fifth-tallest building. The 60-story mixed-use address will feature both office and residential space. When completed, it will be one of the tallest buildings constructed in Atlanta in over 30 years. 

 

Smucker investing in Georgia

J.M. Smucker, the food giant, is expanding its plant in Columbus, Ga. The investment is being made in its Hostess Brands plant and is an investment of $120 million that is expected to create around 50 jobs. 

 

Kentucky

 

Largest single job deal in 18 years is captured by Barren County, Ky. 

Gov. Andy Beshear joined leaders of Kingspan Group PLC, parent company of Tate, at the company’s Ireland headquarters, where company executives confirmed plans to locate Tate’s largest North American facility in Glasgow. The $61.2 million project represents the largest job-creation announcement in Barren County in 18 years and will create 400 new full-time manufacturing jobs once the 764,000-square-foot facility is fully operational. The facility will make thermal and airflow equipment used in data centers. 

 

Ford adding jobs at Louisville’s Kentucky Truck Plant

In an effort to boost F-150 and Super Duty model trucks, Ford is adding up to 100 new jobs at its Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville that opened in 1969. The domestic automaker is investing $60 million in the upgrade. 

 

A.I. company expanding operations in Louisville

AI International, an Indiana-based company that provides construction installation services for airport baggage and handling systems, is adding 92 jobs in the $7.5 million project. 

 

Process Machinery breaks ground on new plant in Shelby County, Ky. 

In the fall quarter, Rocky Adkins, senior advisor to Gov. Andy Beshear, joined local officials and leadership at Process Machinery Inc. (PMI) to break ground on the company’s nearly $11.5 million expansion in Shelbyville, a project that is creating 30 new jobs for Kentuckians. PMI designs and manufactures conveyor systems and state-of-the-art construction aggregate plants from its current facility in Shelbyville. The plants are engineered to streamline the transportation of sand, stone and gravel in quarries, ensuring efficient operations. The family owned and operated company currently employs 90 Kentuckians.

 

Inked Brands to relocate and expand in Bowling Green

Gov. Andy Beshear announced continued momentum within the state’s booming economy as Inked Brands, which specializes in working with digital influencers to launch and scale their e-commerce businesses, will relocate and expand in Bowling Green with a $10.7 million investment, creating 20 new Kentucky jobs.

 

Louisiana

 

Aclara invests $277 million to build nation’s first heavy rare earth separation facility in Southwest Louisiana

Aclara Resources Inc. announced a $277 million investment to construct the first U.S. heavy rare earth separation facility at the Port of Vinton in Calcasieu Parish. The company is expected to create 140 direct new jobs at its first U.S. location. 

 

Lafayette lands nice tech assembly deal

MMR Group is expanding in Lafayette Parish. The $55 million investment for the new facility will enhance its production of electrical components used in data centers and semiconductors. The project capture will create 196 jobs. 

 

Nice deal in St. Tammany Parish

ChillCo Inc., a Louisiana-based provider of commercial and industrial cooling solutions, announced a $4.37 million expansion of its headquarters in St. Tammany Parish, where it has operated for nearly 30 years. The project is part of an $8 million statewide expansion effort and will add manufacturing and warehouse space at the headquarters to support the company’s growing equipment rental and maintenance services. The company is expected to create 38 direct new jobs with an average salary of $73,170, while retaining 68 existing positions.

 

Orion Engineers + Constructors announces HQ relocation to Louisiana

Orion Engineers + Constructors announced it will relocate its corporate headquarters from Theodore, Ala., to Baton Rouge. The company provides support for industries like manufacturing, oil and gas, refining and energy, and its new headquarters will modernize and streamline the company's operations. The move involves a capital investment of over $5 million company is expected to create 50 new jobs with an average annual salary of $100,000, while retaining 45 current positions. 

 

Louisiana launches $150 million FastSites Fund

Louisiana Economic Development announced in the fall quarter the launch of Louisiana FastSites, a new initiative designed to support land development and existing infrastructure into project-ready sites.Backed by $150 million through the Site Investment and Infrastructure Fund created by Act 365 in the 2025 Regular Legislative Session, FastSites catalyzes local and regional partners to expand Louisiana’s inventory of development-ready assets that allow businesses to mitigate time, risk and money. “This is one of the most forward-thinking site development models in the country,” said LED Chief Economic Competitiveness Officer Ileana Ledet. 

 

Mississippi 

 

Toyota supports manufacturing team with new childcare centers

Toyota is adding four new childcare centers across its manufacturing footprint in the Southern Automotive Corridor. The new centers, which will serve parents at Toyota Mississippi, Toyota Alabama, Toyota North Carolina and Toyota West Virginia, are being modeled after its childcare center at Toyota Kentucky in Georgetown, Ky., which has provided around-the-clock, 24-hour daycare at its largest assembly plant there since 1993. 

 

Financial services deals are perking up in the South and one of the largest FS clusters in the South is benefiting 

Pacific Life announced in the fall quarter the creation of 301 jobs in Charlotte over the next five years. The company will invest $12.3 million in Mecklenburg County.

 

 

Walmart does new deal in Kings Mountain, N.C. 

Macy’s celebrates opening of its new North Carolina fulfillment center

Retailer Macy’s has opened its new customer fulfillment and store replenishment center in China Grove, N.C. The 2.5 million-square-foot, $640 million center is the company’s largest and features the latest in automation. The facility will house 1,300 workers. 

 

Irish fintech investing in Charlotte

Wayflyer, a financial platform for consumer brands, is locating its new U.S. headquarters in Charlotte. The $60 million announcement will initially create 20 new jobs. 

 

Major fintech player picks Charlotte 

San Francisco-based SoFi, a digital financial services firm, is expanding its presence in Charlotte. The new office will house loan officers, loan processors, underwriters, chief experience analysts and sales and management teams. The $3 million deal will create 225 jobs. 

 

Corning expanding in Hickory. . .again

Corning Optical Communications is expanding its operations in Catawba County, N.C. The company plans to add 132 jobs and invest $170 million in the project. 

 

New Jersey-based company is hiring in North Carolina

Modular Closets, a customizable closet and storage systems company, is expanding in Kernersville, N.C. They plan to invest $30 million and hire 100 people in Forsyth County. 

 

New Jersey manufacturer shutters McAdenville textile plant 

Mannington Mills is closing its Charlotte metro plant in Gaston County, N.C. The carpet manufacturer’s closure will create a loss of almost 300 jobs. 

 

Oklahoma

 

Google invests $9 billion in Oklahoma

Google is investing an additional $9 billion in Oklahoma over the next two years to expand its cloud and A.I. infrastructure there. The Google investment is the company’s latest in building data centers, this one in Stillwater, Okla. It is also expanding its existing facility in Pryor, Okla. at the MidAmerica Industrial Park. In a broader investment of $1 billion, the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University are part of Google A.I. for Education Accelerator, giving its students no-cost access to Google Career Certificates and A.I. training and courses. 

Dollar Tree breaks ground in Oklahoma

In the fall, Dollar Tree celebrated the groundbreaking of its new 1 million-square-foot distribution center in Marietta, Okla. The milestone marks a significant step in Dollar Tree’s return to the region following the destruction of its prior facility in April 2024 by a devastating tornado.

A $68.5 million investment will create 294 new jobs in Pickens County, S.C. 

In October, ElringKlinger, an automotive supplier, announced it is expanding its operations in Pickens County. The company’s $68.5 million investment will create 294 new jobs. Headquartered in Germany, ElringKlinger is a manufacturer for the automotive industry, specializing in e-mobility, lightweight solutions, sealing technology and tooling. The company operates over 40 locations worldwide and, in June 2024, established its main U.S. battery hub for developing and manufacturing e-mobility products in Pickens County.

 

Charleston County captures defense manufacturer expansion

Keel, a maker of submarine and aircraft carrier components for the Navy, is investing $67 million at its shipyard there. The deal will create 170 jobs. 

 

Rural South Carolina sees a nice deal

Circular Composite Solutions, a manufacturer of industrial shipping pallet components, announced it is establishing operations in Bamberg County. The company’s $53.7 million investment will create 70 new jobs upon completion of all phases.

 

A $280 million investment will create 155 new jobs in rural South Carolina

Carolina Renewable Products, which converts wood biomass into renewable diesel, is setting up shop in Orangeburg County. The $280 million investment will generate 155 new jobs. 

 

Packaging maker expands in South Carolina

Pratt Industries announced it is expanding its York County operations. The $92 million investment will create 116 jobs. 

 

A $5.1 million investment will create 233 new jobs in Colleton County

QMP, a water filtration systems manufacturer, announced it has selected Colleton County to establish the company’s first East Coast manufacturing operation. The $5.1 million investment will create 233 new jobs. Headquartered in California, QMP has more than 30 years of experience producing water filtration systems for a variety of applications, including residential, commercial and industrial uses.

 

A $9.2 million investment will create 43 new jobs in Laurens County

Meiden America Switchgear (MAS), a pioneer in high-performance vacuum technology, announced in October it is expanding its operations in Laurens County. The company’s $9.2 million investment will create 43 new jobs. Founded in 2020 and headquartered in Gray Court, S.C., MAS designs and manufactures high-voltage vacuum circuit breakers and vacuum interrupters. MAS is a subsidiary of Meidensha Corporation – founded in 1897 in Tokyo, Japan – which has been an industry leader in manufacturing high-voltage vacuum circuit breakers for more than half a century.

Tennessee

 

Elon Musk investing billions in Memphis on A.I.

xAI is investing again in its Colossus supercomputer in Southwest Memphis near the border of Mississippi and Tennessee. The company is investing $80 million in a wastewater recycling plant in an effort to build the world’s largest ceramic membrane bioreactor wastewater recycling system. 

 

Tennessee will open sixth international recruitment office

In the fall quarter, the Tennessee Department of Economic & Community Development announced it is opening its sixth global investment office in Taiwan. The department’s other offices that aim to strengthen economic, educational, technological and cultural ties are in Japan, South Korea, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom. 

 

Canadian manufacturer lands in Northeast Tennessee

Biederman officials announced the company is expanding its manufacturing presence by locating its first U.S. facility in Rogersville, Tenn. Biederman will create 48 new jobs and invest $4.4 million in the Hawkins County facility. Founded in 1992, Biederman is a global grease cartridge manufacturer based in Ontario, Canada. Today, the company distributes its cartridges across the globe to hundreds of customers.

 

Radiant announces big nuclear deal in Tennessee

California-based Radiant has selected Oak Ridge, Tenn., to mass produce 
Radiant’s small, one-megawatt portable nuclear generators capable of generating power in remote areas, such as military bases or disaster-relief situations. The $280 million deal will create 175 jobs. 

 

GM-backed Ultium Cells’ battery plant halts production, over 700 furloughed in Spring Hill, Tenn. 

A joint venture between General Motors and LG is halting production beginning in January at the giant plant just south of Nashville, which was originally the Saturn assembly facility. Ultium Cells will furlough 710 of its employees at its Spring Hill, Tenn., plant. The announcement has been described as a “temporary pause” in production next year. Additionally, Ultium Cells’ operations in Warren, Ohio will halt production similar to the Spring Hill plant. There GM and LG will furlough 850 of its workers, and indefinitely lay off 550 employees. 

 

Japan-based Nidec Power expands in Tennessee

Nidec, a manufacturer of alternators used in power generation for data centers, hospitals, defense and more, is investing $52 million to expand its operations in Lexington, Tenn. The deal will create 200 new jobs. Japan remains Tennessee’s top FDI source, with more than 200 companies operating in the state, including two Nissan factories in Smyrna and Winchester, and its headquarters in the Nashville metro county of Williamson. 

 

Texas

 

Apple starts shipping out A.I. servers from plants in Houston

In the fall quarter, California-based Apple shipped its first “Intelligence and Private Cloud” servers for A.I.-use from its factory in Houston. The new plant was just set up a year ago and is part of the company’s $600 billion commitment for manufacturing expansion in the U.S. 

 

North Fort Worth has the largest industrial construction pipeline in the country

According to the CoStar Group, the area in and around the 27,000-acre Alliance Texas development in far North Fort Worth has 7.7 million square feet of industrial space underway or announced as of the end of October. The report also cited the Dallas-Fort Worth market as it leads the country in industrial tenant demand with 22.3 million square feet of absorption in the past 12 months. 

 

Dallas Federal Reserve says immigration policies are putting the brakes on hiring and job growth

A report by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas in late October showed that current immigration policies are slowing job growth in states like Texas. The survey cited the immigration policies are negatively affecting businesses in the Lone Star State to hire and retain immigrant workers, including finding qualified workers and retaining existing staff. 

 

Austin Business Journal: Austin’s development of new office space hits decade-plus low

The build-out of new office space in Austin, one of the most active markets in the U.S. for the sector, is at its lowest point in more than a decade. According to a report by commercial real estate firm CBRE, the amount of space under construction is around 998,000 square feet, the first time to drop below 1 million square feet in over 10 years. 

 

Pennymac to add 1,800 jobs at new office in Carrollton, Texas

The financial services sector is showing signs of life after going into deal hibernation for most of 2025. Mortgage lender Pennymac is hiring 1,800 at a 300,000-square-foot office in Carrollton in the DFW metroplex. 

 

Bank of Nova Scotia is setting up a major office in Dallas

Scotiabank, one of the largest banks in North America, is setting up a new regional office in Dallas. The deal will create 1,020 jobs. 

 

A wave of layoffs is hitting the Dallas-Fort Worth region

Heading to the New Year, a number of layoffs have been announced in the massive DFW region at the end of October:

• Colonial Savings plans to cut 130 jobs effective Jan. 1, 2026, due to the planned wind-down of its servicing division.  

• Tekni-Plex in Dallas will lay off 64 employees on Dec. 26, 2025, because it’s ceasing most operations.  

• Job1USA is eliminating 117 workers across six Texas locations, including 31 in Arlington, 25 in Fort Worth and 25 in Haslet. Layoffs at the security contractor are set for Nov. 15, 2025. 

• Congo Brands announced 155 layoffs at its Lewisville location effective Dec. 31, 2025. The consumer beverage and snack company says the cuts are due to losing contacts.

• Texas Instruments is laying off 400 as it shuts down obsolete wafer production lines.

• Eden Green Technology, an indoor farming company, is shutting down just outside of Fort Worth. The farm produced 1.8 million pounds of vertical hydroponics a year. The closure will result in the loss of about 150 jobs. 

 

Electric Power Design is constructing facility in Houston to support growth in A.I. and data center development

Electric Power Design is building a plant in North Houston that produces electrical equipment used in the newest of data centers that service the artificial intelligence industry. “The unprecedented surge in A.I. and data center development has created massive and sustained demand for high-capacity electrical equipment, leading to significant strain and extended lead times across the power infrastructure supply chain,” said Justin Rowden, President of EPD. No job counts or investment total were given regarding the project. 

 

TMI Climate Solutions, a Berkshire Hathaway company, adding jobs in DFW

The company is opening a new factory in a suburb of Dallas. It is hiring 250 in the deal. 

 

AUMOVIO to invest $110 million in New Braunfels

Autonomous mobility firm AUMOVIO is investing $110 million to expand its manufacturing capacity in New Braunfels, which is located between the major markets of Austin and San Antonio. The company manufactures radar sensors used in advanced driver assistance systems and will add 100 workers to the 500 already with the company in New Braunfels. 

 

Taiwanese electronics manufacturer Pegatron adding facility and jobs in Georgetown, Texas

Pegatron has acquired a building in the Austin metro that will be its first U.S. manufacturing site. The facility will produce servers, automotive electronics and A.I. computing equipment, and is expected to house at least 100 workers at build-out and hundreds more beyond three years. 

 

Denver-based Tract doubles data center site in the Austin-San Antonio megamarket

While not breaking ground yet on a new A.I.-driven data center in Caldwell County near Lockhart, Texas, Tract’s greenfield site is now up to nearly 3,000 acres, fully capable for a massive data center. The site was considered by Micron for a semiconductor factory not too long ago.  

 

Firefly Aerospace is expanding its HQ in Cedar Park, Texas

Firefly, a space launch and in-space transportation firm, is expanding its headquarters in Cedar Park. The $3 million investment will create 300 new high-tech positions. The City of Cedar Park has already approved incentives for the high-flying rocket launching plant. 

 

Cedar Park captures another investment

Wright One, develops fan and electric turbine technologies for data centers, crypto mining, drones and emerging urban air mobility (eVTOL/flying cars), is establishing its new headquarters and manufacturing facility in Cedar Park, Texas The $15 million investment will create 164 new jobs. 

 

Plastics manufacturer picks New Braunfels, Texas

Lefko, a maker of plastic products, is locating its first U.S. facility in New Braunfels. The $15 million investment will create 149 jobs. 

 

Semiconductor parts maker Yerico expands in Elgin, Texas

Yerico is increasing its capacity to produce electrostatic chuck (ESC) and ESC components in Elgin, Texas. The $13 million deal will add 30 more workers. 

 

Chinese battery company building $100 million plant in Houston metro

Tinci Materials plans to build an electrolyte production facility at the TGS Cedar Port near Baytown, Texas. The Chinese company is spending $100 million in the deal. 

 

NextDecade expands its Rio Grande LNG plant in Brownsville

NextDecade has approved a $6.7 billion expansion of its plant in Brownsville, located on the Mexico-U.S. border and the Gulf of Mexico. The expansion will add a fifth liquefaction train for LNG exports worldwide. 

 

Solar shingle company relocates HQ from California to Texas

GAF Energy is shutting down its San Jose R&D, manufacturing and headquarters facility and relocating it to Georgetown, Texas. Georgetown is located in the Austin metro. GAF is owned by manufacturing giant Standard Industries and the roofing manufacturer GAF. No jobs or investment were reported in the deal, however, GAF Energy is laying off hundreds in California in the move. 

 

Metals assembler investing $30 million in Texas

TubeFab is expanding its cooper tube fabrication operations in Jacksonville, Texas. The $30 million deal will create at least 40 jobs. 

 

Virginia

 

Nvidia, the world’s most valuable company, announces plans to build major A.I. facility in Northern Virginia

In the fall quarter, Nvidia, the world’s most valuable company with a market cap exceeding $5 trillion (that is with a “T”), has announced plans to build a major A.I. research center in Manassas, Va. The Prince William County location will be a test site for the development of gigawatt-scale A.I. data centers that it can copy and place around the world. Northern Virginia’s data center ecosystem is one of the world’s first clusters formed in the U.S. 

 

The first large-scale data center was built in Ashburn in 1998 by Equinix, a major player in the industry. However, the origins of Northern Virginia's data center hub can be traced to the early 1990s with the establishment of the Metropolitan Area Exchange (MAE-East) in Tysons Corner, which was an early internet exchange point. The presence of this exchange, along with early headquarters of companies like America Online (AOL), created a foundation for the region's dense data center market. 

 

Another game-changing deal in Virginia

AstraZeneca will invest $4.5 billion to establish two new manufacturing facilities in Albemarle County, Va. The project includes a new drug substance manufacturing facility focused on chronic diseases and a facility dedicated to antibody-drug conjugates focused on therapies for oncology indications. The two plants are expected to create 600 highly skilled jobs including engineers, scientists and process facilitators and is part of AstraZeneca’s planned $50 billion investment in the United States by 2030. In addition to the 600 direct jobs, AstraZeneca expects an additional 3,000 indirect jobs to be generated from the project.

 

Maritime firm adding jobs in Virginia Beach

Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced that Anchor Innovation, a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business headquartered in Virginia Beach, will invest $213,000 to expand company operations, creating 86 new jobs. For more than 20 years, Anchor has delivered specialized training, maintenance and operational support while steadily expanding its capabilities to meet the evolving demands of both commercial and federal maritime sectors. 

 

Defense business adding jobs in Hampton Roads

KCG Engineering Group, a veteran-owned, Hampton Roads-based firm specializing in advanced technology solutions for defense and government clients, will invest $185,000 to expand its footprint in Virginia. The company is consolidating its Hampton Roads operations at a new facility in the City of Chesapeake. Upon completion, the investment is estimated to create 60 new jobs in the Commonwealth.  

 

Manufacturer picks rural Scott County, Va., for 200-job deal

VFP, a producer of custom-designed enclosures used to protect critical infrastructure, will invest $35 million to expand its operations in Scott County. This latest expansion is expected to create 200 new jobs at VFP’s Duffield manufacturing campus. Coinciding with the company’s 60th anniversary, the expansion will allow VFP to meet surging demand for its products in the Commonwealth and beyond.

 

Big pharma deal in rural Virginia

Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced in October that Merck & Co. (known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada) is starting construction on a $3 billion, 400,000-square-foot pharmaceutical manufacturing facility that will serve as Merck’s Center of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Ingredients and Small Molecule Manufacturing, and generate 500 jobs at its Elkton, Va., site. Merck’s announcement reflects a significant increase beyond the original scope of a $2 billion investment and 300 jobs. The expansion is part of Merck’s $70 billion commitment to domestic research, development and capital projects.

 

Appliance maker to relocate some operations from California to Virginia

Dover Food Retail family of companies will invest over $20 million to expand its Virginia operations by relocating its Anthony® brand manufacturing from Sylmar, Calif., to its Chesterfield County campus. The investment is projected to create more than 300 new jobs in the Commonwealth. Workers at the Chesterfield facility will manufacture a wide range of commercial glass refrigerator and freezer doors and frames.

 

ABB expands in Richmond metro

Headquartered in Switzerland, ABB is investing nearly $30 million to expand its operations in Henrico County, Va. The company is a leader in electrification and automation. The project will create 100 jobs in three years.