Topic: #manufacturing
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DeepMind says Apptronik humanoids hit 96% success in Mercedes kitting pilot
Google DeepMind reported a 96% success rate for Apptronik's Apollo 2 humanoids sorting parts on Mercedes-Benz lines, but didn't disclose trial counts, intervention rates or how success was measured.
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China leads factory AI rollout as EU builds 19 AI Factories, report says
China is ahead of Europe in putting AI to work in factories, according to Bloomberg analysis relayed by Crypto Briefing. The EU is setting up 19 AI Factories, the report said, while Siemens, ABB and Schneider Electric are positioned as a European alternative.
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Companies Shift Sourcing Back to China as Tariffs Make Alternatives Costly
Manufacturers are reversing supply-chain diversification efforts and returning to Chinese suppliers, citing tariffs and production constraints elsewhere. China's 20% effective US tariff rate remains competitive against alternatives, and its manufacturing ecosystem proves difficult to replicate.
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US poised to cut Canadian auto tariffs to 15% from 25%
The US and Canada are negotiating a tariff reduction on Canadian-built vehicles from 25% to 15%, a move aimed at stabilizing North American auto production and easing trade tensions as new retaliatory duties loom.
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US July Empire State Factory Index hits 15.6, beats estimates
New York manufacturing printed at 15.6 in July, nearly double the consensus estimate of 8.8, signaling healthy regional expansion and complicating the Fed's rate-cut case.
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Tesla converts Fremont factory to Optimus robot production
Tesla has repurposed its Fremont factory's Model S and Model X production line to manufacture Gen 3 Optimus robots, with footage surfacing July 1 showing the new assembly operation underway. The company targets 1 million units annually.
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China's Manufacturing PMI Expands to 50.3 as AI Exports Surge
China's manufacturing PMI hit 50.3 in June, beating forecasts, as exports of AI-related hardware surged 66.1% year-on-year. Yet the employment sub-index contracted, raising questions about job creation amid the export-driven boom.