Automotive Assembly

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DETROIT—The world’s largest automakers are scrambling to find alternatives to a resin that’s critical for making brake- and fuel-system components. A March 31 explosion at chemical maker Evonik Industries halved the global supply of an ingredient used to make the resin, called PA-12.

ARLINGTON, TX—GM has begun constructing a new $200 million stamping facility at its assembly plant here.

LAFAYETTE, IN—Automotive Robotics Proving Labs and Purdue University are planning to build a new, $10 million engine testing facility here.

SOUTH CHARLESTON, WV—Automotive parts supplier Gestamp plans to create hundreds of jobs and invest a minimum of $100 million to build a new assembly plant here.

GOTHENBERG, Sweden—Volvo is planning to invest $11 billion to develop new products and increase its manufacturing presence in the next few years.

BIRMINGHAM, AL—A group of 25 assembly line workers from a Honda manufacturing plant here matched the first five winning numbers from the record-breaking $656 million Mega Millions jackpot drawing. They will split $250,000.

DETROIT—Sales of GM’s Chevrolet Volt are picking up, leading the automaker to restart production a week early this month at its Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant.

YORK, PA—For a look at what’s to come for Harley-Davidson Inc., the best place to start is the company’s largest motorcycle factory, where change has been described as “leaning into a hurricane.”

ANN ARBOR, MI—Toyota will hire approximately 150 engineers, technicians, advanced researchers and scientists in the United States by the end of 2012.

STATESBORO, GA—A Great Dane plant that will assemble refrigerated trailers has opened for production. Expected to employ more than 400 people, the plant is equipped with automated equipment for welding, dispensing and material handling.