AGP Executive Report

Cybercab Watch: Tesla started paid rides in Austin with its steering-wheel-free, pedal-free two-seater as NHTSA opened an audit of about 1,000 vehicles, putting Tesla’s compliance claims under a microscope. Defense & Shipbuilding: Lockheed Martin won another $90.2M Navy modification for Trident II D5LE2 advanced design work, with major effort at Kings Bay and Cape Canaveral. Aerospace Maintenance: Boeing secured a ceiling-price up to $241.34M for six-year F/A-18 flight-control surface repairs, with most work in Jacksonville. Workforce & Manufacturing Push: Labor Day coverage highlighted August job growth (162,000 jobs; manufacturing up 16,000) alongside administration messaging on drug pricing and jobs. Local Tech & Privacy: Collier County commissioners face public pressure over license plate reader updates as FDOT moves to withdraw authority for use on state roads. Space Coast Talent: Florida leaders renewed calls to bring the new U.S. Space Academy to the Sunshine State. Trade Tensions: A U.S.-Canada tariff fight is spilling into tourism as Canadians weigh whether to keep spending south of the border.

Space Coast Push: Florida leaders are lobbying to host the new U.S. Space Academy after President Trump’s Aug. 28 executive order, arguing the region’s NASA/Space Force ties, universities, and commercial launch ecosystem make it the best fit. Aviation Incident: An Amazon cargo plane crash at Miami International Airport killed at least five people after the aircraft overran the runway and hit vehicles, triggering a major fire and rescue response. Robotaxi Regulatory Pressure: Tesla’s Cybercab paid rides in Austin are drawing immediate scrutiny, with NHTSA opening an audit of about 1,000 vehicles over how the company self-certified safety compliance. Workforce & Training: Polk State College will launch a new CDL Commercial Vehicle Driving Program with a $2M Florida Job Growth Grant, including an 80,000-square-foot training pad and employer partnerships across logistics and manufacturing. AI in Supply Chains: EMRO says it landed its first European client for Cadencia, aiming to automate bill-of-materials analysis and design-to-source processes for manufacturers. Energy & Efficiency: A $63M geothermal heat-pump overhaul at Fort Sill will convert more than 1,700 military family homes, financed through an Energy Savings Performance Contract.

Workforce & Training: Polk State College will launch a new Commercial Vehicle Driving Program with a $2M Florida Job Growth Grant, adding a CDL training facility at its Clear Springs Advanced Technology Center in Bartow, including an 80,000-square-foot behind-the-wheel driving pad, plus student support and employer partnerships aimed at filling about 1,000 annual heavy-truck openings in the region. Space & Economic Development: Florida leaders are pushing to host the newly created U.S. Space Academy, arguing the state’s universities and space-launch ecosystem make it the best fit as a presidential commission weighs location recommendations. Regulation & Manufacturing Tech: FDOT ordered local agencies to remove Flock license plate readers from state roads within 30 days, citing privacy and oversight concerns—an issue that could ripple into how manufacturers and contractors support roadside data systems. Auto Industry Watch: Tesla’s Cybercab rollout in Austin is drawing NHTSA scrutiny, with regulators opening an audit of about 1,000 vehicles over how the company self-certified compliance for a driverless car without steering wheel or pedals.

Space & Defense Pitch: Florida’s congressional delegation is pushing to host the new U.S. Space Academy, arguing the state’s universities and launch ecosystem make it the best fit as a presidential commission weighs location and governance. Regulatory Pressure on Mobility Tech: Tesla’s Cybercab rollout in Austin has triggered fresh U.S. safety scrutiny, with NHTSA opening an audit of about 1,000 vehicles after the company self-certified a steering-wheel-free, pedal-free design. Workforce & Repair Access: Florida Rep. Neal Dunn introduced the REPAIR Act to curb automakers’ restrictions on dealer diagnostic info, aiming to protect truck owners and independent repair shops as operating and maintenance costs keep climbing. Roadside Surveillance Crackdown: FDOT ordered local agencies to remove license plate readers from state roads within 30 days, citing privacy and oversight concerns. Consumer Health Watch: Two major IV-saline makers issued separate recalls over particles found in sealed bags, including lots distributed to Florida. Hemp Update: A federal funding delay pushes back most upcoming hemp restrictions, giving Florida retailers more time to sell THC hemp products.

Robotaxi Oversight: Tesla’s steering-wheel-free Cybercab rollout in Austin triggered an NHTSA audit of about 1,000 vehicles, after the company self-certified compliance despite missing manual controls like steering and pedals—raising fresh regulatory pressure as Tesla pushes toward a large robotaxi fleet. Medical Supply Watch: Two separate recalls of 0.9% sodium chloride IV saline bags hit multiple states including Florida, citing different particle concerns (fiberglass vs. iron oxide) and underscoring how widely used sterile fluids can face quality-control shocks. Workforce & Policy: Florida’s FDOT ordered local agencies to remove Flock license plate readers from state roads within 30 days, citing privacy and oversight concerns as the state moves to curb roadside surveillance. Tech & Manufacturing Growth: Acryl says it’s entering North America with GPUBASE after first-half revenue jumped 150% and it presented at UKC 2026 in Orlando, signaling continued investment in AI infrastructure tied to Florida’s research ecosystem.

Right-to-Repair Fight: Rep. Neal Dunn (R-Fla.) introduced the REPAIR Act (H.R. 1566) after new data showed U.S. truck operating costs hit record highs in 2025, with repair and maintenance climbing 8.6%—and automakers’ software locks making independent fixes harder. Federal Safety Scrutiny: Tesla’s steering-wheel-free Cybercab rollout in Austin triggered a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration probe/audit of about 1,000 vehicles, after regulators flagged gaps in how the company self-certified compliance for cars without standard driver controls. Healthcare Supply Chain: Baxter and B. Braun issued separate recalls of 0.9% sodium chloride IV bags in multiple states, including Florida, citing different contaminants found inside sealed solutions. Local Manufacturing & Growth: VSE Corp. bought Auburn’s Atech Turbine Components, adding repair capabilities tied to Pratt & Whitney Canada work. Workforce & Training: Florida legislators are pushing to make the new U.S. Space Academy a permanent Space Coast home base, aiming to grow skilled aerospace and defense talent locally. Tech & Consumer Health: FIU researchers found popular smartwatches can significantly overstate calorie burn, with errors worsening for higher body-fat participants.

Aviation MRO Deal: Florida-based VSE Corp. acquired Auburn’s Atech Turbine Components, adding repair capabilities tied to Pratt & Whitney Canada and expanding aftermarket aviation maintenance capacity. Defense Procurement: The U.S. Air Force is seeking a ground-based, medium-caliber gun system to defend overseas air bases from drones and cruise missiles, signaling a shift toward persistent base defense. Autonomous Vehicle Scrutiny: Tesla began limited Cybercab rides in Austin, but NHTSA opened an audit of about 1,000 vehicles to assess how Tesla self-certified compliance—no steering wheel, pedals, or mirrors included. Aviation/Robotics Markets: XTEND Reality Expansion started trading on the NYSE after a $1.5B all-stock merger, aiming to scale AI-powered defense drone and robotics operations. Florida Tech & Privacy: FDOT ordered removal of automated license plate reader cameras on state roads, with local agencies weighing what to do next. Manufacturing & Trade: Mane acquired Cvista to build a U.S. Citrus and Beverage Center of Excellence in Riverview, strengthening natural citrus ingredient production for flavors and beverages. Local Industry Watch: PepsiCo plans a new Santa Rosa distribution hub to stage and route Frito-Lay products for regional deliveries.

Defense & Drones: The Trump administration’s new drone tariffs hit Thursday, with duties up to 100% on heavier and thermal-imaging drones—aimed at cutting reliance on China, but raising costs for U.S. users. Manufacturing Jobs: Capture Group plans a $5M Sterling Heights, Michigan operation to build counter-UAS tech, targeting at least 125 jobs over five years. Autonomous Vehicles: Tesla rolled out steering-wheel-free Cybercab rides in limited Austin areas while the U.S. safety agency evaluates the move. Florida Workforce & STEM: Danfoss Climate Solutions and Florida State University Athletics launched a new three-year scholarship push linking student-athletes to STEM careers. Local Business & Growth: Mane acquired Cvista and will set up a Citrus and Beverage Center of Excellence in Riverview, expanding natural citrus ingredient capabilities. Florida Policy Watch: DeSantis ordered removal of Flock license-plate cameras from state highways; St. Lucie County voted to stop permits for Flock and similar tracking tech. Space & Supply Chain: SES said the final three O3b mPOWER satellites arrived at Cape Canaveral ahead of a Falcon 9 launch. Food & Beverage Manufacturing: Happy Soul, a Florida gummy brand, is showcasing its in-house production model at the Americas Food & Beverage Show.

M&A in Florida manufacturing: Florida Ice and Farm (FIFCO) has sold its American operations, including Genesee Brewing Company, to Saothair Capital Partners, with plans to bring back the North American Breweries name and leadership. Trade policy: New tariffs on Chinese drones took effect Thursday, with duties up to 100% for heavier drones and those using thermal imaging—raising costs for U.S. users like law enforcement and search-and-rescue. Autonomous mobility: Tesla’s Cybercab rollout begins in Austin, with the no-steering-wheel, no-pedals vehicle positioned as the next step for its Robotaxi network, including service already in parts of Florida. Local governance and tech: St. Lucie County commissioners voted to stop issuing permits for Flock cameras and other automated vehicle ID systems after a state directive to remove them from Florida highways. Workforce and training: UWF was named a U.S. DOT Maritime Administration Center of Excellence for Domestic Maritime Workforce Training and Education, targeting Gulf Coast shipbuilding talent pipelines. Capital markets: Equivu Capital announced the sale of S2 Manufacturing to Belgium’s LEFORT, expanding global metal recycling equipment reach.

Defense & Manufacturing Expansion: INKAS says it’s deepening North American production with new facilities in North Carolina and Florida as defense spending and AI-driven drone/counter-drone demand reshape the market. Workforce & Training: Polk State College will launch a new CDL training program with a $2M FloridaCommerce grant, adding an 80,000-square-foot driving pad and partnerships tied to logistics, aviation, aerospace, and manufacturing/defense. Industrial AI in Florida: Jacksonville-based SORBA.ai partners with Asahi Electronics as Japan’s first SORBA sales partner, aiming to bring no-code on-premise industrial AI to manufacturers. IoT Supply Chain: Telit Cinterion will start U.S. production of 4G/5G IoT modules in Bristol, Pennsylvania, with manufacturing, testing, and QA and support from offices in Research Triangle Park and Boca Raton. Local Economic Development: Palm Bay plans the Phoenix Business Park on its “Compound” site, using $3.5M in state wastewater funding plus $1M in city matching funds to support advanced manufacturing and aerospace. Policy Watch (Tech + Public Safety): Central Florida agencies pause ALPR/Flock camera use while Florida tightens the rules after FDOT orders removal from state road rights-of-way.

Workforce & Training: Polk State College will launch a new CDL training program with a $2 million FloridaCommerce grant, adding an 80,000-square-foot behind-the-wheel driving pad at its Clear Springs Advanced Technology Center in Bartow, with support for logistics, aviation/aerospace, manufacturing and defense employers. Defense Manufacturing: AeroVironment won a $464.8 million U.S. Army contract for LOCUST® X3 counter-UAS laser systems under the E-HEL program, marking a shift from prototype to production for directed-energy air defense. Defense Jobs Expansion: Liberty Alliance is expanding in Mississippi with a long-term lease for 34,000+ square feet of hangar space at Stennis International Airport, expected to add 13–15 jobs tied to unmanned systems mission support. Food Manufacturing Supply Chain: Hodo recalled more than 10,000 cases of pre-cooked tofu in 29 states after ink contamination concerns tied to packaging; no illnesses reported. Florida Policy & Tech Oversight: FDOT ordered “De-Flocking,” removing automated license plate readers from state highway rights of way over misuse and privacy concerns, with local agencies moving to comply. Energy Storage for Industry: MN8 Energy, Eos Energy and Google announced a clean, dispatchable capacity plan for the PJM grid using solar plus long-duration zinc storage to support data center demand.

FDOT Crackdown on Flock Cameras: Florida is revoking permits for automated license plate readers on state roads, giving local agencies 30 days to remove devices or face FDOT removal, citing misuse reports and privacy concerns. Local Impact: Alachua and Putnam sheriff’s offices say they’ll comply, even as law enforcement argues the tools help solve serious crimes and locate missing people. Privacy Backlash Nationwide: The move follows broader protests and vandalism targeting Flock-style systems across the country, with lawmakers in other states weighing in. Food Safety Recall: Hodo, Inc. recalled more than 10,000 cases of Lightly Fried Chili Crisp Tofu in 29 states after it found packaging printing ink may have migrated into the product. Manufacturing & Jobs: Otto Aerospace plans to start building a fuel-efficient business jet manufacturing facility at Jacksonville’s Cecil Airport in 2028, after relocating its HQ to Jacksonville. Workforce Pipeline: Florida-linked engineering internships highlight hands-on training tied to real manufacturing and automation projects.

Defense & Workforce Funding: Gov. Ron DeSantis announced nearly $23M in Florida grants to strengthen the defense industrial base, expand spaceport infrastructure, and grow technical training—highlighting $7M for Jacksonville’s Cecil Training Institute (HVAC, welding, advanced manufacturing, logistics) and $3.5M for Palm Bay’s Phoenix Business Park wastewater buildout aimed at aerospace, defense, and advanced manufacturing. Local Industrial Expansion: Palm Bay’s $3.5M Job Growth Grant will fund about 16,000 linear feet of 12-inch sanitary sewer force main to ready the Phoenix Business Park for future industrial and commercial development. Surveillance Policy Pushback: Florida moved to remove Flock license-plate reader cameras from state roads after FDOT revoked approvals; local reactions in Central Florida remain mixed as privacy concerns and misuse allegations fuel broader backlash. Space Tech Manufacturing: L3Harris says its Rochester team helped build key hardware for NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, including the optical telescope assembly and primary mirror, with the mission launched from Cape Canaveral. Corporate Moves in Florida Manufacturing Supply Chains: Hawkins, Inc. completed its acquisition of Dave Symonds & Associates, expanding its Florida water-treatment customer reach. Regulatory/Legal Uncertainty in Pharma: A federal judge stayed an FDA hearing on mifepristone litigation until Dec. 1, keeping access in place while the review proceeds.

Defense Industrial Base Funding: Gov. Ron DeSantis announced nearly $23M to strengthen Florida’s defense workforce and industrial base, including $7M for advanced skilled-trades and advanced manufacturing training at Florida State College at Jacksonville’s Cecil Commerce Center, plus support for shipbuilding, aerospace, and supply-chain projects. Manufacturing Expansion: Arthrex is expanding its Ave Maria, Fla. campus, adding an 11,000-sq-ft childcare center and an 80,000-sq-ft warehouse to grow the site from 420,000 to 511,000 sq ft, with completion targeted for year-end. Regulatory Pressure on Industry: The FTC and 22 states, including Florida, sued Amazon over a “secret ad surcharge” scheme, alleging the company quietly changed ad auction pricing for Sponsored Products, Sponsored Brands, and Display ads affecting more than 1M sellers and brands. Workforce & Training Pipeline: Premier Equipment hired Nick Kohm as a sales engineer, adding to its used CNC machinery team—another sign of continued demand for shop-floor-ready talent. Energy Access Debate: A new push argues Florida businesses need more Gulf offshore energy access to reduce price volatility that ripples through manufacturing and ports.

Defense Manufacturing in Florida: Lockheed Martin’s Ocala plant could see a boost as the Pentagon signs seven-year framework agreements to triple PAC-3 MSE interceptor capacity and quadruple THAAD interceptor capacity, with local jobs and supplier demand in the spotlight. Workforce Pipeline: The SBA launched its inaugural Manufacturing Workforce Expo in Coconut Creek to connect students to apprenticeships and manufacturing jobs, with the Department of Labor and OpenAI backing the push. Space Tech Supply Chain: Teledyne Space Imaging hit 1,000+ space-qualified scientific imaging sensors in orbit after NASA’s Roman Space Telescope launch from Kennedy Space Center. Skilled-Trades Funding: Gov. DeSantis announced about $23M for shipbuilding and aerospace workforce training, including $7M for Florida State College at Jacksonville’s Cecil skilled-trades expansion. Local Industry Growth: Arthrex continues expanding its Ave Maria campus, adding major facilities tied to hiring and employee housing. Food Safety Recall: FDA expanded a sprouts recall after salmonella/E. coli concerns, with illnesses reported including in Florida. Regulatory/Legal Watch: A Texas federal judge paused a Florida-led mifepristone lawsuit until at least Dec. 1, keeping FDA’s safety review moving. Business News: Premier Equipment hired Nick Kohm as a sales engineer to strengthen its used CNC machinery team.

Florida Antitrust: Florida AG accuses Express Scripts and Prime Therapeutics of colluding to underpay independent pharmacies, alleging a price-fixing style deal that could decide whether neighborhood drugstores stay open. Data Center Backlash: AI data centers are becoming a midterm campaign issue as voters and candidates cite higher power bills and noise, with Texas regulators weighing new projects and some pushing for moratoriums. Space & Manufacturing: NASA’s $4.3B Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope launched from Kennedy on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy, adding more Florida demand for aerospace supply chains. Defense Production: Tata Advanced Systems and the Javelin JV (Raytheon-Lockheed) signed an MoU to explore co-producing Javelin missiles in India, including final assembly and integration plus component work. Local Industry & Jobs: Mid-Florida Regional Manufacturers Association renamed its Whitt Harper Memorial Golf Classic to keep backing regional manufacturing talent and community support. Compliance Tech: Ziperase partnered with TD SYNNEX to add certified data erasure software for audit-ready, serial-number-based proof.