Automotive Assembly

RSS

STERLING HEIGHTS, MI—Chrysler’s Sterling Heights assembly plant is a facility “with nine lives.” Targeted for closure during the automaker’s government-backed bankruptcy in 2009, the facility is actually growing. When a new paint shop goes online early next year, the plant will become the most high-tech shop in Chrysler’s portfolio.

AUBURN, AL—Auto supplier Donghee America Inc. plans to invest $48 million to open a 117,000-square-foot assembly plant here, creating 80 jobs.The facility will produce fuel tanks.

EVANSVILLE, IN—Systems integrator Evana Automation recently received a contract from a Tier 1 automotive supplier to provide a multistation system to assemble and test a lane departure warning system.

LONG BEACH, CA—Mercedes-Benz has leased the long-vacant former Boeing aircraft manufacturing facility here. The luxury carmaker has yet to reveal its plans for the site.

WEST POINT, GA—Less than four years after production began, the Kia Motors assembly plant here has produced its 1 millionth vehicle.

FRANKLIN, IN—Automotive bearing manufacturer NSK Precision America will invest $30.2 million to expand manufacturing operations here.

DETROIT—GM and Honda are collaborating to develop fuel cells and hydrogen storage technologies.

DALLAS—Tesla is considering building a factory in Texas to assemble electric pickup trucks.

DEARBORN, MI—Ford is introducing a new technology that promises to decrease costs and delivery time for manufacturing sheet metal parts. Under the process, a piece of sheet metal is clamped around its edges and formed into a 3D shape by two stylus-type tools working together on opposite sides of the sheet.

WASHINGTON—The purchasing managers index for manufacturing rose to 50.9 in June, up 1.9 points from May. According to the Institute for Supply Management, a PMI reading above 50 indicates expansion, while one below reflects contraction.