Industrial Vanguard Newsletter Vol. 9

Introduction

This week saw movements in industrial tech, with major corporate expansions, geopolitical trade shifts, and advancements in energy and automation.

Mitsui expanded its mining footprint with a new acquisition in Australia. U.S. manufacturers are preparing for rising metal costs as new tariffs loom. Apple announced a $500 billion investment in U.S. manufacturing, while Honda ended its partnership with GM to pursue hydrogen fuel cells independently. BYD continues to push forward in battery innovation, expecting to launch solid-state battery demonstrations by 2027.

In the energy sector, investment in battery storage is rising, a German startup has published open-source plans for a nuclear fusion power plant, and Last Energy is deploying 30 microreactors in Texas. In supply chains, Rivian expanded sales of its commercial EV van, Audi detailed its approach to improving supply chain resilience, and military logistics is getting a boost with new funding.

Productization developments include a massive $3.5 billion funding round for AI startup Anthropic, Microsoft’s efforts to push back on AI-chip export restrictions, and a surge of investment in cybersecurity and cloud infrastructure security. Meanwhile, recycling startups are making progress in lowering the cost of sustainable plastic processing.

Materials

• Mitsui Acquires Stake in Rhodes Ridge Iron Ore Project in Australia
  Mitsui is expanding its mining operations by securing an interest in one of the world’s richest iron ore reserves. Read more

• India Expands Lithium Access Through Deal With Argentina
  A memorandum of understanding between MECL and the Government of Catamarca strengthens India’s access to lithium resources. Read more

• U.S. Manufacturers Face Higher Metal Prices as Tariffs Near
  Impending trade restrictions are expected to increase the cost of raw materials for industrial producers. Read more

• Ukraine Strikes Mineral-Rights Deal With the U.S.
  The agreement strengthens American access to critical minerals while supporting Ukraine’s resource sector. Read more

Energy

• BYD to Begin Solid-State Battery Demonstration by 2027
  The Chinese EV giant is progressing toward next-generation battery technology. Read more

• Honda Ends GM Partnership, Pursues Hydrogen Fuel Cells Alone
  The automaker is shifting its alternative energy strategy amid changing industry alliances. Read more

• AI-Driven Weather and Climate Predictions Face Real-World Tests
  Machine learning models are being evaluated for their accuracy in forecasting. Read more

• Private Equity Investors Target Battery Storage for Grid Expansion
  Large-scale investments in battery infrastructure are shaping the future of power distribution. Read more

• EIA Reports Solar and Battery Storage to Lead New Generation in 2025
  The energy sector is shifting toward renewable-driven capacity expansion. Read more

• German Startup Publishes Open-Source Plans for a Nuclear Fusion Plant
  The initiative aims to accelerate fusion energy development. Read more

• Vidyut Raises $2.5M for Battery Management Innovations
  The startup’s technology optimizes electric vehicle power systems. Read more

• Last Energy to Deploy 30 Microreactors in Texas
  The company plans a large-scale rollout of modular nuclear reactors. Read more

Manufacturing

• Apple Commits $500 Billion to U.S. Manufacturing Expansion
  The investment includes new production facilities and supply chain enhancements. Read more

• Flex Expands AI-Driven Power Manufacturing With New Dallas Facility
  The plant will support growing AI and data center infrastructure demands. Read more

• Intel’s Financial Challenges May Impact Ohio Factories
  Delays and restructuring could affect planned semiconductor production. Read more

• Nomagic Raises $44M for AI-Powered Robotic Arms
  The funding will accelerate automation in logistics and industrial applications. Read more

Supply Chain & Logistics

• Rivian Expands Sales of Its Electric Commercial Van
  The vehicle is now available to fleets of all sizes across the U.S. Read more

• Leveraging Supply Chain Data Remains a Challenge
  Companies struggle with data integration and standardization across networks. Read more

• Audi’s Supply Chain Transformation Strategy
  The automaker is prioritizing resilience and efficiency improvements. Read more

Productization

• Quantum Machines Secures $170M in Series C Funding
  The company aims to accelerate quantum computing hardware and software advancements. Read more

• Anthropic Finalizing $3.5B AI Funding Round
  The deal positions the company as a major competitor in artificial intelligence development. Read more

• Skylo Raises $30M to Scale Direct-to-Device Satellite Service
  The funding supports expansion of satellite-based IoT connectivity. Read more

Recycling

• MacroCycle and FutureBio Focus on Cheaper, More Sustainable Plastic Recycling
  The companies are developing new technologies to reduce plastic waste processing costs. Read more

Other

• Sweeping U.S. Energy Department Layoffs Impact Loan and Nuclear Security Offices
  Significant staff reductions are affecting critical energy programs. Read more

• What Ukraine Can Teach the World About Defense Technology
  The country’s wartime innovations provide insights into military tech advancements. Read more

• DOGE-Directed Layoffs at the DOE Could Benefit the Private Sector
  Reductions in government energy jobs may shift talent toward private industry. Read more

• Khosla Ventures Launches New Fundraising Initiative
  The firm is seeking fresh capital for its next wave of investments. Read more

• Private Equity Sees an Increasing Pipeline of Deals in Early 2025
  M&A activity is expected to pick up as the year progresses. Read more

• Trump Says Tariffs on Canada and Mexico ‘Will Go Forward’
  Trade relations with North American partners face new pressures. Read more

• Japanese Auto Industry Seeks Government Support Against U.S. Tariffs
  Japanese automakers are requesting government assistance to counter trade restrictions. Read more

• The AI Data-Center Boom Is a Job-Creation Bust
  Despite infrastructure investments, AI-driven data centers are generating fewer jobs than expected. Read more

• Perplexity AI Launching $50M Venture Fund for Early-Stage Startups
  The initiative will back AI and tech-focused startups. Read more

• Military-Tech Startups Compete for Pentagon Contracts Amid Policy Changes
  New leadership is shifting defense spending priorities. Read more

• Rebranding ESG: Investors Shift to ‘Resilience’ Over Sustainability Metrics
  A growing number of firms are moving away from ESG branding in favor of resilience-focused strategies. Read more