BOSTON—GrabCAD, an online community for sharing CAD expertise, is sponsing a contest to design a steering wheel for a supersonic car. A $1,000 prize will be awarded to the winning entry. Designs must be submitted by Jan. 31.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI—Thirty-six percent of automotive suppliers declined to give a price cut to Toyota, according to the latest survey by IRN Inc. In contrast, only 22 percent of GM’s suppliers rejected price cuts, and 19 percent of Chrysler’s suppliers did so.
WASHINGTON—U.S. manufacturing grew slightly last month and factory hiring increased. The modest gain suggests the economy entered the new year with some momentum. The Institute for Supply Management said its index of manufacturing activity rose in December to 50.7. That’s up from a reading of 49.5 in November, which was the lowest reading since July 2009, one month after the recession ended.
DETROIT—The Treasury Department will sell its remaining stake in General Motors in the next year or so, winding down a $50 billion bailout that saved the iconic American car giant but also set off a heated debate about government intervention in private business.
MCGREGOR, TX—Behlen Manufacturing Co. will begin manufacturing farm and ranch equipment at a new assembly plant here. The facility will employ more than 50 people by the end of 2013.
DEARBORN, MI—Ford is spending about $773 million to expand six Michigan assembly plants while adding 2,350 factory jobs in the state, part of a broader investment plan announced last year. Ford aims to invest $6.2 billion in U.S. facilities and add 12,000 factory jobs across the country by 2015.
RSS