DETROIT—Employee counts for the Detroit 3 are finally nearing what they had been before the Great Recession.

SMYRNA, TN—Nissan is hiring production associates for its assembly plant here.

CHATTANOOGA, TN—Volkswagen’s assembly plant here has exceeded the economic impact projected when the company announced its initial investment in 2008, according to a new study by economists at the University of Tennessee. Including direct employment, employee spending and suppliers, the VW plant produced approximately 12,400 new jobs.

CHATTANOOGA, TN—Barely more than two years after it opened, the Volkswagen assembly plant here has produced its 250,000th Passat sedan.

LANSING, MI—GM plans to spend $44.5 million to open a new logistics center at its Lansing Grand River assembly plant, creating 200 jobs.

FLETCHER, NC—Automotive supplier BorgWarner plans to invest $24 million to add 80 jobs and install new equipment for its assembly plant here.

HARTWELL, GA—OSHA has cited Tenneco Automotive for 13 safety and health violations following an inspection at the supplier’s assembly plant here. Proposed fines total $62,000.

MARYSVILLE, OH—Honda will produce the new Acura NSX sports car at a new $70 million assembly plant adjacent to its existing facility here. The new factory is expected to employ approximately 100 people.

LAFAYETTE, IN—Subaru is spending $230 million to boost capacity at its assembly plant here by approximately 30 percent.

DETROIT—The automotive industry ranked third in the United States in patent filings in 2012. Only the telecommunications and computer industries generated more patents last year.