The United States is stepping up a wartime response posture, adding pressure on the auto industry. The Pentagon has contacted top executives at major automakers such as GM and Ford to sound out slowing some EV output and expanding weapons and military supplies production. Separately, Ford’s CEO warned about Chinese EVs and the company reshuffled its organisation. Volkswagen accelerated battery work, while Tesla completed its AI5 chip design and updated its FSD app amid complaints over HW3 limits.

Electric vehicles are changing the auto industry’s supply-chain structure faster than internal-combustion models, with clearer momentum in battery recycling and reuse, the use of low-carbon steel and aluminium, and responsible sourcing of battery minerals. A new leaderboard noted automakers moving toward cleaner, more transparent supply chains. Regulation and consumer demand are pushing the trend, while some problems such as coal-based steel and labour issues persist. Companies are starting to market supply chains as a competitive edge.