Automotive Assembly

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FLETCHER, NC—Automotive supplier Continental opened an 88,000-square-foot expansion of its assembly plant here. The $35 million investment will create approximately 40 new jobs. 

CHATTANOOGA, TN—The UAW withdrew its appeal of the outcome of a union vote at Volkswagen’s assembly plant here.

CHAMBERSBURG, PA—Auto parts manufacturer Torcomp LLC will break ground here later this month on a $9 million assembly plant, its first U.S. facility.

RUSSELL SPRINGS, KY—Dr. Schneider Automotive Systems Inc. has officially opened its new, $29 million assembly plant here, which will make parts for Ford, BMW, Mercedes, Audi and other OEMs.

LOWER MACUNGIE TOWNSHIP, PA—Mack Trucks assembly plant here was evacuated Tuesday after a newly assembled truck caught fire at a test and inspection station.

CANTON, MS—Nissan Motor Co. has settled an unfair labor practice charge with a pro-union worker at its assembly plant here. The charge focused on a dispute over when Willard “Chip” Wells, a UAW supporter, could hand out union literature at the facility.

The recent slew of recalls in the auto industry is disturbing. What happened to all those Sig Sigma and lean manufacturing initiatives that are supposed to error-proof assembly?

DETROIT—The UAW’s total membership grew by 8,902 in 2013, as the automotive industry rebounded and the union logged some organizing victories that helped it reach a total of 391,415 members. While the increase is a modest 2 percent gain, it is the fourth consecutive year of membership gains for the UAW at a time when labor union membership continues to decline nationally.

LOWER MACUNGIE, PA—Mack Trucks will hire 100 workers for its assembly plant here.

DETROIT—GM has suspended two engineers with pay for their part in the company’s long failure to recall Chevrolet Cobalts and other small cars equipped with a defective ignition switch linked to 13 deaths.