Apple, Broadcom & Toyota: Top Manufacturing News This Week

By Jasmin Jessen

July 11, 2026

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Some of Apple's logic boards and advanced AI servers are produced and assembled in Houston, Texas. Credit: Apple

This week's top Manufacturing stories include Apple's deal with Broadcom, Toyota's US$3.6bn Texas investment and Protolabs' drone-making technology

Silicon: Why Apple Locked in Broadcom for Another Five Years

8 July

Apple announced a new deal for more than 15 billion chips with Broadcom as part of its American Manufacturing Program.

In a US SEC filing, Broadcom says it has entered into new multi-year long-term agreements for developing and supplying a range of custom ASIC silicon products.

Apple says the agreement, which is expected to exceed US$30bn, will lead to the production of more than 15 billion chips.

Inside General Motors & Micron’s Memory and Storage Deal

GM is bolstering its supply of semiconductors, which are largely oversubscribed as a result of growing demand from AI infrastructure, consumer electronics and automotives. Credit: GM

7 July

Micron Technology and General Motors announced a strategic customer agreement to secure a long-term supply of memory and storage platforms for GM's vehicle production.

Modern vehicles rely heavily on semiconductors. The average car now carries more than 1,700 chips, according to Moody's.

But they can require many more depending on the vehicle and its technological complexity.

Inside Tesla & NatPower’s Landmark Energy Storage Deal

The Tesla Megapack is a giant rechargeable battery the size of a shipping container. Credit: Tesla

6 July

Tesla has entered into a multi-year supply agreement with NatPower, an independent energy infrastructure platform.

The agreement covers more than 25GWh of battery energy storage systems (BESS) across European markets, with projects to be sited in Italy and the UK, according to a joint announcement from both companies.

It represents what industry observers describe as the first time battery energy storage has been procured, financed and executed across multiple jurisdictions under a single integrated framework.

Protolabs Advances Drone Manufacturing With 3D Printing

Suresh Krishna, President and CEO of Protolabs, explains new 3D technology which will make the drone manufacturing process easier.

8 July

Digital manufacturing firm Protolabs intends to further integrate advancing technology into its drone production by expanding its Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) 3D printing service.

For this initiative, Protolabs partnered with HP Additive Manufacturing, the 3D printing technology branch of HP.

Protolabs’ enhanced 3D technology emphasises expanded drone manufacturing, enabling engineering teams to innovate while adhering to strict weight constraints.