Toyota’s board approved a $3.6 billion expansion of its San Antonio truck plant, nearly doubling its size and moving most Tacoma production back to the U.S. by 2030. A Chinese EV brand makes its first move in North America through Stellantis. Plus, Teradar CEO Matthew Carey talks about how his company’s new sensor type could change what’s possible for autonomy in bad weather.

July 7, 2026 | Toyota’s $3.6B Texas expansion; Teradar CEO on new sensor tech

Automotive News Daily Drive

Welcome to Daily Drive for Tuesday, July 7, 2026. I'm Jake Neer in Detroit, in for Kellen Walker. Today on the show, Toyota doubles down on Texas with a multi-billion dollar commitment to American manufacturing, a Chinese EV brand makes its first move into North America, and President Trump hands out pardons to people who modified their vehicle emission systems.

Plus, Teradar CEO Matthew Carey joins us to talk about the new sensor type that works when radar and LIDAR fall short. I don't want to be driving through fog and then my car hands it back to me and I'm like, no, this is like when I want you to have it, right? Let's run through all the news you need to know to keep up in the auto industry.

Toyota is making a big bet on American manufacturing. The automaker's board has approved a $3.6 billion expansion of its San Antonio truck plant. The plan is to double its size and move most Tacoma production back to the U.S. from Baja, California, Mexico by 2030. The move is part of Toyota's existing commitment to invest $10 billion in the U.S. The automaker says it will add 2,000 jobs.

It also helps chip away at what we at Automotive News found to be an $8.6 billion annual tariff bill that Tacoma has been built exclusively in Mexico since 2021. We'll have more on this story in a minute. Chinese EV startup Leap Motor has entered Mexico using Stellantis' local dealership network to distribute its B10 electric crossover.

Stellantis holds a 21% stake in Leap Motor and the partnership is central to how the Chinese brand is expanding globally. Mexico is a deliberate first step.

July 7, 2026 | Toyota’s $3.6B Texas expansion; Teradar CEO on new sensor tech

Read the full transcript

The candid version is on a podcast,
not the earnings call.

July 7, 2026 | Toyota’s $3.6B Texas expansion; Teradar CEO on new sensor tech

Read the full transcript

The candid version is on a podcast, not the earnings call.

The candid version is on a podcast,
not the earnings call.