Majors Lead U.S. Automotive Industry to Billions' Worth of Second-Quarter Kickoffs

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Written by Danny Levin, Deputy Editor for IIR News Intelligence (Sugar Land, Texas)

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Summary

According to Industrial Info Resources data, there are $4.6 billion worth of active and proposed automotive projects across the U.S. that are set to begin construction in the second quarter, most of which is attributed to auto industry majors and projects that have a mid-to-high likelihood (70% or more) of kicking off as scheduled.

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U.S. Auto Industry Second-Quarter Project Kickoffs

According to Industrial Info Resources data, there are $4.6 billion worth of active and proposed automotive projects across the U.S. that are set to begin construction in the second quarter, most of which is attributed to auto industry majors and projects that have a mid-to-high likelihood (70% or more) of kicking off as scheduled. Subscribers to Industrial Info Resources' Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Industrial Manufacturing Project Database can view a full list of detailed project reports.

This includes activity from automotive industry giants such as Stellantis, General Motors and Ford.

Stellantis leads all companies with two projects worth $900 million that could begin this quarter, including a $500 million investment to retool/upgrade its Belvidere Assembly Plant in Illinois in order to expand production of the Jeep Compass and Cherokee models for the U.S. market. The project initially was expected to launch in 2027, but startup now is expected startup in 2028. "Retooling may start anywhere from June 2026 (2-year retool) to January 2027 (18-month retool)," United Auto Workers Local 1268 President Matt Frantzen told plant workers in January. Click here to learn more about the project.

Meanwhile, three projects from GM worth $310 million kicked off earlier this month: Phase I upgrades to its Parma (Metal Center) Automotive Stampings plant in Ohio will prepare the facility to meet future production capacity (see project report); an equipment addition at its Saginaw Metal Casting operations (SCMO) in Michigan will assist in production of the automaker's fifth generation of V-8 engine blocks and support the production of the sixth-generation engine blocks and heads used in full-size pickup trucks (see project report.)

Also underway is a project that reflects the current sentiment around electric vehicles (EVs) in the U.S.: rollbacks on energy transition funding are leading domestic automakers to shift production from full EVs to hybrids and turn back toward internal combustion engine vehicles, leaving some domestic battery-manufacturing capacity underutilized.

Ultium Cells, a joint venture between GM and LG Energy Solution, is retooling its plant in Spring Hill, Tennessee, to shift production from EV battery cells to lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) battery cells for energy storage systems (ESS). See more information in a detailed project report.

Earlier this year, Ford also said it would shift two battery plants from EV production to ESS production. For more information, see January 20, 2026, article - Ford Picks Leader for New BESS-Manufacturing Unit and February 9, 2026, article - Two Roads Diverge: U.S., China Head in Opposite Directions on EV Adoption.

Ford expects construction of a $80 million upgrade of its Buffalo Automotive Stamping plant in New York will begin in May, installing new production machinery and support equipment/systems, to produce stampings for the Edge and Nautilus models and continue producing stampings for the Super Duty, Expedition and Navigator models, among others. View the project report here.

It's not just automakers getting in on the action: Goodyear has announced a $320 million modernization of the company's largest tire plant, in Lawton, Oklahoma, which Industrial Info Resources is tracking as having a medium probability (70-80%) of kicking off in June.

The project is aimed at increasing capacity by nearly 30% by adding 10 million units per year (120,000 tires per day)--more than any other plant throughout Goodyear's global footprint. Among other efforts, new equipment and systems will support production of higher-margin, larger rim-diameter tires used for EVs and autonomous vehicles.

Key Takeaways

• According to Industrial Info Resources data, there are $4.8 billion worth of active and proposed automotive projects across the U.S. that are set to begin construction in the second quarter.
• Most of the activity is attributed to auto industry majors, such as Stellantis, GM and Ford, and projects that have a mid-to-high likelihood (70% or more) of kicking off as scheduled.

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About Industrial Info Resources
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, Industrial Info Resources is tracking over 250,000 current and future projects worth $30.2 trillion (USD).