OXFORD, UK—BMW has installed 11,500 solar panels on the roof its Mini assembly plant here. The panels will generate enough electricity to power 850 UK households.
DETROIT—General Motors has appointed Cathy Clegg, a 31-year veteran of the company, to take over as vice president of North American manufacturing as it focuses on improving the production launches of new vehicles in the wake of a record number of recalls.
DEARBORN, MI—Engineers at Ford Motor Co. have created virtual representations of employees— called “avatars”—to assess whether articulating arms and other ergonomic aids could help with assembly.
CAMBRIDGE, MA—Engineers at MIT and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory have developed a new ultrastiff, ultralight material. Based on repeating microscopic units, the material has record-breaking stiffness at low density.
JACKSON, TN—Auto parts maker Pacific Industries is building a new assembly plant here, which is expected to create 190 new jobs over its first five years.
DEARBORN, MI—Ford Motor Co. reduced per vehicle water use last year by 30 percent globally from a 2009 baseline, reaching its goal two years ahead of schedule. Plans are under way to further cut water use by another 2 percent this year and to set new long-term goals.