Automotive Assembly

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DETROIT—Cars with factory-installed safety and security telematics are expected to increase to 15.7 percent in 2013 across the globe, according to the report by the ABI Research.

PONTIAC, MI—GM plans to expand its powertrain engineering complex here, adding approximately 300 jobs.

KANSAS CITY, KS—GM will invest $600 million to upgrade its assembly plant here. Construction on a new 450,000-square-foot paint shop, a stamping press and efficiency enhancements at the plant will begin this year.

CHATTANOOGA, TN—Volkswagen’s assembly plant here is now getting as much as 9.5 megawatts of electricity from a massive solar panel installation.

LANSING, MI—Norplas Industries is planning to invest $75 million to build an auto parts assembly plant here.

CAMBRIDGE, ON—The Canadian and Ontario governments are each investing $16.875 million to help Toyota retool its assembly plant here to make hybrid vehicles. Toyota itself is investing more than $100 million to expand production at the facility.

DETROIT—Sales of lithium ion batteries are expected to grow from $1.6 billion in 2012 to $22 billion by 2020, according to a report from Pike Research.

DETROIT—U.S. sales of plug-in electric vehicles are expected to reach about 1.8 million units by 2020, according to a new report by Pike Research.

DETROIT—Automotive supplier Detroit Manufacturing Systems has hired 180 new hourly employees and added a third shift at its assembly plant here.

WASHINGTON—Some 16.2 million vehicles were recalled last year, a 4.5 percent increase compared with 2011, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.