GUANGZHOU, China—Police have seized some 33,000 counterfeit automotive parts at a factory here. , Collectively worth $1 million, the parts were destined for Toyota’s assembly plant in Australia.
NOVI, MI—The former president of a U.S. joint venture of Nishikawa Rubber Co. has pled guilty to fixing the prices of weather stripping and other auto body sealing products and was sentenced to 18 months in prison.
COTTONDALE, AL—SMP Automotive Systems Alabama Inc. is constructing a $154 million assembly plant here. Expected to employ 650 people, the 700,000-square-foot factory will make bumpers, door panels and other parts for Mercedes-Benz.
BARDSTOWN, KY—Thai Summit Kentucky Corp. will invest $110 million to build a new stamping and assembly plant here after signing a deal to supply parts for Ford Motor Co. The company anticipates creating 216 full-time jobs in the coming decade.
WOOSTER, OH—Gardeners may look at dandelions as weeds, but the auto industry may soon see them as a gold mine. Tire makers and auto parts suppliers are investigating whether dandelions and other plants can be used as alternatives to rubber trees for producing natural latex.
MILLS RIVER, NC—GF Automotive and Linamar Corp. will invest $217 million to build a new assembly plant here for lightweight powertrain components. The facility is expected to create 350 jobs during the next five years.
