CITY OF INDUSTRY, CA—The California Energy Commission awarded a $3 million grant to Proterra to develop and manufacture the next-generation of battery-powered buses here.
ARLINGTON, TX—GM is looking to boost production of sport-utility vehicles with a $1.3 billion expansion at its assembly plant here. The company intends to add 1.2 million square feet of space to the existing facility over the next three years, and is expected to create 589 new jobs.
MIDLAND, MI—XALT Energy LLC has signed a $1 billion multiyear deal to supply lithium batteries to a Chinese electric bus manufacturer. The battery manufacturer is expected to hire 300 people as a result of the order.
OAK RIDGE, TN—With an aim toward automotive applications, APLAIR Manufacturing Systems will commercialize a new weld inspection technology developed by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
REDFORD TOWNSHIP, MI—Detroit Diesel Corp. plans to invest $208 million to add new equipment for a new diesel engine assembly line, creating an anticipated 245 jobs.
DETROIT—Although automotive OEMs and the United Auto Workers union are still a few months away from serious negotiations, early signs aren’t favorable for a labor contract settled on mutually agreeable terms.
CHATTANOOGA, TN—Volkswagen has begun the process of hiring 130 engineers and technicians to staff the automaker’s new R&D center here, which will be fully operational by 2017.