Global Scans · Manufacturing · Weekly Summary

• [New] Thai entrepreneurs, particularly in the iron and steel sector, must overhaul production methods to cut carbon footprints or risk penalties under the European Union's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism. https://www.bangkokpost.com
• [New] Data centers, power generation, manufacturing, cold chain warehousing, distribution facilities, and health care spending (primarily ambulatory facilities and large hospital system expansions) will likely capture high single-digit and double-digit growth rates in 2026. Default
• [New] Initial projects will be launched in both Canada and Sweden in 2026, focusing on bioprocess optimization, disease-modeling workflows, and quantum enhanced simulation to support design and manufacturing of advanced therapies. ThePromptBuddy
• [New] Joint production and technology partnerships could offer faster and more cost-effective solutions, particularly as European leaders debate how to reduce reliance on U.S. security guarantees. Daily Sabah
• [New] Europe's strategic autonomy efforts risk falling short without closer alignment with Turkey, which they say already plays a central role in manufacturing, logistics and energy transit. Daily Sabah
• [New] Companies that currently manufacture in Ontario or Quebec will be forced to relocate to the U.S. to maintain access to the American consumer. Valley City Times-Record
• [New] A merger would allow Tesla's upcoming Cybercab robotaxi fleet and its Optimus humanoid robots to utilize Starlink's global low-latency connectivity and xAI's advanced reasoning capabilities natively, creating a vertically integrated ecosystem that no competitor could easily replicate. The Chronicle-Journal
• [New] Malaysia's timely introduction of the NETR and NIMP 2030 with a whole-of-nation approach has enhanced the appeal of Malaysia as an attractive investment destination amid rising global interest in advanced manufacturing, renewable energy and digital economy. The Edge Malaysia
• [New] Selective duty increases on finished products to promote Make in India are expected, along with the rationalization of inverted duty structures and support for segments such as EVs, solar equipment, defence manufacturing, and semiconductors. Groww
• [New] Companies that fail to move from Siloed Sensors to Integrated Edge Platforms today will find their infrastructure unable to handle the AI-driven predictive demands of 2030. Emerline
• [New] By 2026, the biggest threat to IoT in retail is no longer connectivity, but Data Gravity and Cyber-Physical Security. Emerline
• [New] By 2026, the integration of IoT with AI and Edge computing will move retail operations from reactive to proactive. Emerline
• [New] European rearmament in pursuit of military self-sufficiency and reduced reliance on the US will require energy-intensive industrial production that is incompatible with accelerated net zero timetables. Toda Peace Institute
• [New] Asia Pacific is expected to witness rapid expansion driven by rising industrialization, expanding transport electrification initiatives, increasing defence budgets, and growing adoption of automation and robotics across China, Japan, South Korea, and India. ReAnIn
• [New] India's economy is projected to expand at a better-than-expected 7.4% in FY26, compared with a 6.5% rise in FY25, powered by rising investment and a manufacturing surge, as per the government data released earlier in 2026. Economic Times
• [New] The 20-billion-plus capital-expenditure budget for 2026 will be used to expand AI training capacity, build and scale robotaxi-focused assembly, develop Optimus humanoid robots, and grow energy-storage production such as Megapack. TESMAG
• [New] Tesla says it will invest at least 20 billion dollars in 2026 on a mix of AI, robotics, energy storage, and the manufacturing infrastructure required to support them. TESMAG
• [New] The WASP platform will likely evolve toward enhanced autonomous targeting and swarm coordination capabilities, leveraging the established manufacturing base to rapidly field upgraded variants addressing lessons from Ukraine and potential Indo-Pacific contingencies. Drone Warfare
• [New] UK car production will reach 790,000 in 2026 and, along with commercial vehicles, could reach one million in 2027. Daily Mirror
• [New] Growth is expected to continue in 2026, supported by the start of next-generation volume electric car production in Sunderland and the planned launch of seven new EV models across the UK. AM-online
• [New] Tesla planned to begin selling Optimus robots by the end of 2027. Fortune
• [New] By producing so many units, the DoD aims to lower the per-unit cost of each drone and drive competition between drone production companies, who will be eager to deliver a larger contract. Airforce Technology
• [New] Asia Pacific will maintain fastest growth trajectory, driven by China's electronics and EV dominance, India's aerospace and defence expansion, and Japan's advanced materials leadership. The National Law Review

Last updated: 01 February 2026