News & Insights
We’re changing the narrative of the manufacturing industry one story at a time. CMTA’s award-winning storytelling team showcases California’s 30,000 manufacturers by uplifting the voices of our makers. Find industry news and the stories from those “Making California” below.
Global Technology Leader Hitachi Joins CMTA
Sacramento, Calif. – The California Manufacturers & Technology Association (CMTA) welcomed new member Hitachi to the organization today. The Hitachi Group is a global leader in digital innovation and sustainable solutions, with operations in various industries...
Manufacturing Minute: Amazon Opens New Zoox Robotaxi Factory in California
From electric robotaxis in the Bay Area to expanded aerial intelligence in Southern California, this week’s Manufacturing Minute, powered by Tri Tool Technologies, spotlights the latest wave of innovation shaping U.S. manufacturing. This week’s Manufacturing Minute...
CMTA Lands at the Paris Air Show
CMTA is at the 2025 Paris Air Show, highlighting California’s vital role in the international aerospace industry. See our live updates!
Manufacturing Minute: Stratolaunch Achieves Hypersonic Flight Milestone in California
From record-breaking speed in the stratosphere to clean propulsion in the harbor, California is powering the future of manufacturing. This week’s Manufacturing Minute powered by Tri Tool Technologies features Marine Group Boat Works’ electrification of its diesel yard...
Manufacturing in the News: May 2025
Scroll through CMTA's round-up of manufacturing-related news and updates from May 2025. The articles below don’t reflect the views of the manufacturing industry or CMTA. They are a collection of the latest industry news from this past month. Latest Industry...
Manufacturing Minute: Anheuser-Busch Invests $300M in U.S. Manufacturing
Anheuser-Busch is investing $300 million in U.S. manufacturing, continuing its 165-year legacy of American production. This week’s Manufacturing Minute highlights how CMTA member companies Anheuser-Busch and John Deere, along with the Small Business Administration,...
Nationally Recognized Firm Eide Bailly Joins CMTA
Sacramento, Calif. –The California Manufacturers & Technology Association (CMTA) welcomed new member Eide Bailly to the organization today. Eide Bailly is a certified public accounting and business advisory firm, providing leaders of all levels with solutions...
CMTA Celebrates Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage with Manufacturing Leaders
Insights with Manufacturing Leaders: AAPI Heritage Month Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month is a time to honor the vibrant contributions, innovation, and leadership of AAPI individuals across all industries. In California’s diverse and...
J&J, Caterpillar Inc., and Novartis Invest in U.S. Manufacturing: Manufacturing Minute
This week’s Manufacturing Minute highlights CMTA members leading the way with major investments and advancements in workforce development, U.S. manufacturing, and pharmaceutical innovation. https://youtu.be/jMnlk4-ZJrk Watch the latest Manufacturing Minute episode in...
First Major Tankless Brand Assembled in U.S. Joins CMTA
Sacramento, Calif. – The California Manufacturers & Technology Association (CMTA) welcomed new member Rinnai to the organization. Rinnai America Corporation, a subsidiary of Rinnai Corporation in Nagoya, Japan, was established in 1974. With a global perspective to...
Press Release
Global Technology Leader Hitachi Joins CMTA
Sacramento, Calif. – The California Manufacturers & Technology Association (CMTA) welcomed new member Hitachi to the organization today. The Hitachi Group is a global leader in digital innovation and sustainable solutions, with operations in various industries including Digital Systems & Services, Energy, Mobility, and Connective Industries. The company’s legacy of excellence spans more than a century, dating back to its founding in 1910.
“CMTA is proud to welcome Hitachi as a new member and further strengthen our member network during this pivotal time for California manufacturers,” said Lance Hastings, President & CEO of CMTA. “Hitachi’s long history of innovation and global perspective adds a valuable dimension to our membership base, and I look forward to a strong relationship.”
Hitachi America, Ltd. serves as the regional headquarters for Hitachi Group companies in the Americas. Headquartered in Santa Clara, CA, Hitachi Americas and its subsidiaries operate in key sectors including Energy, Mobility, Industrial Manufacturing, Healthcare, Digital Services, and more. The company remains at the forefront of pioneering solutions that address major societal challenges and help shape a more sustainable, connected future.
“Hitachi has a large footprint in California, and we are proud to have our U.S. regional headquarters in Santa Clara,” said Keiichi Shimada, General Manager of Hitachi, Ltd. Washington Corporate Office. “We employ thousands of Californians and are committed to engaging with state officials and supporting local legislation that supports innovation both locally and nationally. We’re excited to share our expertise and collaborate with likeminded companies through this new partnership with CMTA.”
Hitachi’s consolidated revenues across its business sectors for fiscal year 2024 totaled 9,783.3 billion yen (approximately $64 billion USD), with 618 consolidated subsidiaries and approximately 280,000 employees worldwide.
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About CMTA
The California Manufacturers & Technology Association (CMTA) has advocated for pro-growth laws and regulations before the California legislature and administrative agencies since 1918. The total output from manufacturing in California is $300 billion per year, roughly 10 percent of the total economic output of the state. Manufacturers employ 1.3 million Californians paying wages more than $2,500 higher than other non-farm employers in the state.
About Hitachi
Hitachi drives Social Innovation Business, creating a sustainable society through the use of data and technology. We solve customers’ and society’s challenges with Lumada solutions leveraging IT, OT (Operational Technology) and products. Hitachi operates under the 3 business sectors of “Digital Systems & Services” – supporting our customers’ digital transformation; “Green Energy & Mobility” – contributing to a decarbonized society through energy and railway systems, and “Connective Industries” – connecting products through digital technology to provide solutions in various industries. Driven by Digital, Green, and Innovation, we aim for growth through co-creation with our customers. The company’s revenues as 3 sectors for fiscal year 2023 (ended March 31, 2024) totaled 8,564.3 billion yen, with 573 consolidated subsidiaries and approximately 270,000 employees worldwide. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company’s website at hitachi.com.
About Hitachi America
Hitachi America, Ltd. is the regional headquarters for Hitachi Group companies in the Americas, overseeing the U.S., Canada, and Latin America markets. Headquartered in Santa Clara, California, Hitachi Americas has been deeply committed to its Social Innovation Business since its establishment in 1959, addressing society’s most pressing challenges through innovative solutions. Leveraging its expertise and resources, Hitachi Americas and its subsidiary companies operate across diverse sectors, including transportation, energy, mobility, industrial manufacturing, healthcare, digital engineering, data analytics and others. Driven by Digital, Green, and Innovation, Hitachi Americas remains at the forefront of pioneering solutions that shape the future. For further details, please visit hitachi.us.
Manufacturing Minute: Amazon Opens New Zoox Robotaxi Factory in California
From electric robotaxis in the Bay Area to expanded aerial intelligence in Southern California, this week’s Manufacturing Minute, powered by Tri Tool Technologies, spotlights the latest wave of innovation shaping U.S. manufacturing.
This week’s Manufacturing Minute features General Motors (GM) announcing a $4 billion investment to boost domestic vehicle production, Amazon’s Zoox announcing a state-of-the-art robotaxi production facility in Hayward, CA, and Quantum Systems opening a cutting-edge manufacturing site in Moorpark, CA.
General Motors Doubles Down on U.S. Manufacturing
AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, File
First, General Motors has announced plans to invest $4 billion over the next two years in three manufacturing plants—including Orion Assembly in Michigan, Fairfax Assembly in Kansas, and Spring Hill Manufacturing in Tennessee—to boost U.S. production of both gas and electric vehicles. This expansion will allow GM to assemble more than two million vehicles per year in the U.S. and follows a separate $888 million investment in its Tonawanda Propulsion plant in New York. The Orion plant, originally being retooled for electric pickups, will now also produce gas-powered SUVs and light-duty trucks starting in 2027. Meanwhile, Factory ZERO will focus solely on electric models, such as the Chevrolet Silverado EV and GMC Sierra EV, while Fairfax and Spring Hill will handle models including the Chevrolet Equinox, Blazer, and Bolt EV. GM currently employs nearly one million people across 50 plants in 19 states.
Amazon Opens a New California Robotaxi Factory
Photo Courtesy: Zoox
Amazon is moving full speed ahead in autonomous vehicle production with the opening of a 220,000-square-foot robotaxi factory in Hayward, CA. The facility, operated by Zoox—Amazon’s self-driving startup acquired in 2020—marks the first purpose-built robotaxi production site in the U.S. Once fully operational, it will have the capacity to produce more than 10,000 robotaxis annually. The Zoox brand plans to begin transporting customers in Las Vegas later this year, with plans to expand into San Francisco in 2026. Local leaders have praised the project for bringing high-paying, high-skilled jobs and creating educational and economic opportunities for the region. The Hayward investment reflects Amazon’s broader push into the autonomous vehicle market and positions the Bay Area as a hub for mobility innovation.
Quantum Systems Brand New Facility in Southern California
Photo Courtesy: Quantum Systems
Finally, Quantum Systems has officially opened its new 135,000-square-foot U.S. production and integration facility in Moorpark, CA, signaling a major expansion of its electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aerial intelligence capabilities. The facility will support Quantum Systems’ growing operations in North and Latin America, with plans to employ over 100 professionals in the region by the end of 2025. Outfitted with secure manufacturing lines, R&D labs, flight operations, and administrative offices, the site will streamline development and production of the company’s Family of Systems—Vector AI, Twister, and Reliant. The new location consolidates all U.S. operations under one roof and replaces Quantum Systems’ previous sites in Moorpark. With a global presence in countries such as Germany, Ukraine, and Australia, this move enhances the company’s ability to quickly respond to evolving mission requirements for its defense and security partners.
Stay up to date with all manufacturing news by following CMTA on social media.
Manufacturing Minute: Stratolaunch Achieves Hypersonic Flight Milestone in California
From record-breaking speed in the stratosphere to clean propulsion in the harbor, California is powering the future of manufacturing. This week’s Manufacturing Minute powered by Tri Tool Technologies features Marine Group Boat Works’ electrification of its diesel yard tug, Stratolaunch’s successful reusable hypersonic flight, and Siemens Healthineers’ $150 million investment to expand U.S. operations and relocate production from Mexico to California.
These developments underscore the state’s leadership in sustainability, aerospace, and advanced medical technology.
Marine Group Boat Works Launches First Electric Yard Tug
Photo Courtesy of Marine Group Boat Works
First, Marine Group Boat Works (MGBW), a family-owned shipbuilder based in Chula Vista, California, has completed San Diego’s first conversion of a diesel yard tugboat to fully electric propulsion. The tug, MARCO V, was retrofitted with a state-of-the-art electric operating system, offering comparable performance to diesel engines while producing zero emissions. This initiative demonstrates MGBW’s commitment to sustainability, complementing its already electric-heavy fleet and upcoming 750kW solar installation—set to make it the only solar-powered boatbuilder in California. With over 2,000 labor hours invested in the project, MARCO V now serves as a working model for scalable, cost-effective electric tug repowers, advancing California’s goal for zero-emission propulsion systems by 2035.
Stratolaunch Reaches Hypersonic Milestone
Photo Courtesy of Stratolaunch
Stratolaunch, an aerospace company headquartered in California, has successfully completed its second hypersonic test flight and recovery with the Talon-A2 (TA-2) vehicle, confirming its reusability and performance at speeds exceeding Mach 5. The March 2025 mission builds on the success of a similar flight and recovery in December 2024, further advancing the U.S.’s capacity for reusable hypersonic systems since the end of the X-15 program in 1968. Conducted in partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense’s MACH-TB program and Leidos, these test flights are designed to accelerate hypersonic development timelines. CEO Dr. Zachary Krevor praised the team’s achievements, which included executing multiple Roc and Talon-A test flights within a single year.
Siemens Healthineers Invest $150M in US Manufacturing
Photo Courtesy of Siemens Healthineers
Finally, Siemens Healthineers announced a $150 million investment to expand its U.S. operations, including relocating manufacturing for its radiation oncology unit, Varian, from Mexico to Palo Alto, California. The move is expected to create 50 new jobs and simplify the company’s supply chain, especially as it faces tariff pressures from both European and Mexican imports. In addition to this relocation, Siemens is investing $141 million in a new Experience Center in North Carolina to strengthen research and innovation efforts in the U.S. These investments are part of the company’s strategy to mitigate international trade impacts and respond more efficiently to demand for its advanced radiotherapy solutions.
Stay up to date with all manufacturing news by following CMTA on social media.