COLOGNE, Germany — Ford Motor Co., Volkswagen, Daimler and Ferrari announced this week that they will temporarily shut down vehicle and engine production at its factories in Europe in response to the spread of COVID-19, a disease caused by the coronavirus.

VALENCIA, Spain—Advanced body tracking technology commonly used by athletes to improve their performance is now being deployed at a Ford engine assembly facility here. In collaboration with the Instituto Biomecánica de Valencia, Ford developed sensor-embedded suits that are designed to improve worker posture and enhance safety.

DETROIT—In a bid to cut the weight of its cars by up to 340 kilograms by the end of the decade, Ford Motor Co. is testing hoods and other auto body parts made from carbon fiber.

ATLANTA—Atlanta is renaming Henry Ford II Avenue to Ferdinand Porsche Avenue after the German automaker began building its new North American headquarters here.

FLAT ROCK, MI—The UAW has approved a new contract for workers at the Ford assembly plant here.

DEARBORN, MI—Ford is planning to invest $135 million in a research center to develop batteries and other components for hybrid-electric vehicles.

STERLING HEIGHTS, MI—Ford Motor Co. is hiring 225 workers and adding an assembly line at its assembly plant here to make a new hybrid-electric transmission. The carmaker is investing $220 million in the project.

BIRMINGHAM, MI—Wealth management firm The Schindler Group is hosting a series of free, educational webinars for Ford and GM retirees who face the question of whether to take a pension or a lump-sum payment. The webinars will be held at 1 p.m. EDT July 10 and 16.

KANSAS CITY, MO—Ford’s Claycomo factory produced more vehicles in 2011 than any other automotive assembly plant in the United States.

NEW YORK—Ford, Caterpillar and Johnson Controls were among the manufacturers named by U.S. News as America’s Most Connected Companies.