DEARBORN, MI—Ford Motor Co. has welcomed two new employees to its Van Dyke Transmission Plant in Sterling Heights, MI. Named Fluffy and Spot, they have four legs, and they can sit, shake hands, roll over and climb stairs.

Automotive engineers have been intrigued with additive manufacturing for more than a decade.

The spark plug is an essential component of an internal combustion engine. A well-designed plug can maximize fuel economy, reduce emissions, increase engine performance and minimize maintenance.

In January 2017, Toyota pledged to invest $13 billion in its U.S. operations over five years. On June 30, the company announced it will reach that goal a year early.

Lubricity is more than a just a cool word. It is the slipperiness needed on a fastener to achieve controlled torque during assembly. A wide variety of lubricants are specifically designed for this purpose, ranging from beeswax polish and anti-seize grease, to silicone spray.

AUSTIN, TX — Tesla Inc. has picked the Austin, Texas, area as the site for its largest auto assembly plant employing at least 5,000 workers.

DETROIT — U.S. Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette recently announced $139 million in federal funding for 55 projects across the country that will support new and innovative advanced vehicle technologies.

DEARBORN, MI — In a unique pilot program, Ford Motor Co. is deploying four-legged robots into tough-to-reach areas within the company's Van Dyke Transmission Plant to collect data that can be used to retool plants, thereby saving Ford engineers time and money.