On September 12, 2026, the aerospace and defense sector continues rapid expansion driven by AI-enabled manufacturing, record missile-production demands, and new international fighter jet and airborne-early-warning deals, while SpaceX pushes forward with a busy Crew-13 ISS launch and a massive new $100 billion Starship propellant campus in Louisiana; meanwhile, the traditional and electric vehicle industry remains split, with Tesla holding a dominant ~45% U.S. EV market share even as Ford and General Motors continue pulling back from electric vehicle investment in favor of gas-powered trucks, SUVs, and hybrids amid soft consumer demand following the expired federal EV tax credit. No notable new updates surfaced today for motorcycles, scooters, boats, standard shipping tankers, submarines, or ground combat tanks specifically.
Automobiles / Electric Vehicles
- Tesla: Retains U.S. EV sales leadership at roughly 45% market share; remains one of five EV stocks highlighted by market screeners today.
- General Motors: Stock down about 2% this week (Sept 8–11); continues shifting EV production targets downward while leading in full-size truck/SUV sales; settled a data-collection lawsuit in May 2026.
- Ford: Discontinuing the F-150 Lightning EV, refocusing on hybrids and a new lower-cost $30,000 “Fathom” EV pickup arriving 2027; posted a large financial charge tied to its EV pivot.
- Rivian, NIO, XPENG, BorgWarner: Named among top EV stocks to watch today by market screeners (no major individual news beyond stock-watch mentions).
Aerospace / Space
- SpaceX: Preparing Crew-13 ISS launch (4 astronauts) around Sept. 12; announced a new $100 billion Starship launch and propellant-production campus in Louisiana with five launch complexes.
- Boeing: Offering the MQ-28 Ghost Bat unmanned aircraft to Japan for coastal defense; KC-46 Pegasus tanker program continues deliveries (113 built as of August 2026); facing reported risk to SLS support from SpaceX’s expansion plans.
Military / Defense Equipment
- Saab: Signed a Letter of Intent with the Dutch Ministry of Defence and Sweden (Sept. 10) for a GlobalEye airborne early-warning aircraft.
- General Atomics: Presented the “Wildfire” long-range modular combat drone, configurable to carry LRASM or JSM missiles.
- U.S. Navy: Opened procurement for 19 MQM-170C target drones from Griffon Aerospace.
- U.S. Air Force: Launched the “North Star Readiness Campaign” (Sept. 8); completed final flight of the EC-130H Compass Call, ending 45 years of service (Sept. 2).
- U.S. Marine Corps: Deployed F-35B Lightning II stealth fighters to MCAS Iwakuni, Japan.
- Patria (Finland): Completed its first locally assembled F135 engine for the F-35A.
- Ultra Maritime: Awarded an Australian Department of Defence contract for Acoustic Device Countermeasure units; also opened an expanded Wake Forest, NC facility.
- Aitech: Announced a $63 million rugged embedded computing production contract for aerospace/defense use.
- Lockheed Martin: Board authorized a quarterly dividend of $3.45/share.
