A plain-looking warehouse near Detroit is being transformed into a state-of-the-art lithium-ion battery assembly plant. General Motors Co. (GM) is investing $43 million in the facility to mass-produce battery packs for the Chevrolet Volt and other extended-range electric vehicles. When the 160,000-square-foot facility opens next year, it will be the first lithium-ion battery manufacturing plant in the U.S. operated by a major automaker.

Lithium-ion batteries are today's hot technology in the auto industry. However, the devices have traditionally been expensive to produce. To capture a piece of the lithium-ion battery business, American manufacturers need to invest heavily in automated assembly lines.

A timeline of key engineering and manufacturing milestones from GM's first century.

Teams of employees at the Lear Seating Plant in Montgomery, AL, manage their own budgets, attendance, job assignments, housekeeping and performance discipline: an innovative approach to labor relations is paying big dividends.

As gasoline prices continue to soar, more and more consumers are purchasing hybrid electric vehicles that improve fuel economy and reduce emissions. To bolster demand, state and local governments are offering numerous incentives, such as tax breaks, dedicated traffic lanes and parking privileges.

Engineers are finding new ways to cost-effectively assemble the next generation of automotive safety devices.

Engineers at General Motors Corp. (Detroit) have developed innovative technology that is enabling the automaker to reduce changeover costs, improve quality and respond quickly to customers' changing needs. "We

Automotive manufacturers face more challenges and opportunities than ever.

Ford's new Dearborn Truck Plant takes flexible assembly to the next level.