DUBLIN, VA—Volvo Trucks North America is using 3D printing technology to produce tools and fixtures for its assembly plant here.

CHARLESTON, SC—Volvo’s decision to open its first U.S. assembly plant in Berkeley County is likely to lure other businesses from the Swedish automaker’s home country. Nearly two dozen of Sweden’s automotive parts suppliers visited South Carolina last week to meet with executives at Volvo and other manufacturers as part of a campaign to expand the burgeoning Swedish car parts industry to other countries.

HAGERSTOWN, MD—Volvo Group North America has installed 5,000 solar panels at its power train assembly plant here. The company erected a canopy of solar panels above its parking lot to generate approximately 1.3 megawatts of electricity, enough power for 200 homes.

RIDGEVILLE, SC—Volvo has broken ground on its first U.S. automotive assembly plant here. The $500 million facility will build the company’s new S-60 sedan, a car under development in Sweden.

RIDGEVILLE, SC—Volvo will build its first U.S. car factory in Berkeley County, SC. Volvo’s $500 million investment in the assembly plant could create as many as 2,000 jobs over the next decade and up to 4,000 jobs by 2030.

LYON, France—Engineers at the Volvo Trucks plant here use 3D printing to create a variety of custom tools.

COLUMBIA, SC—South Carolina is a finalist for Volvo’s first North American assembly plant. North Carolina and Kentucky also are pursuing the Swedish carmaker’s plant.

GOTHENBURG, Sweden—Volvo Car Corp. is considering locating an assembly plant in the southern United States. The automaker is reportedly negotiating with Kentucky, North Carolina and South Carolina about incentives that could be offered for a plant.