On some assembly lines, today's MVP is a robotic tool that was originally developed for use on the battlefield. It's called an exoskeleton. The wearable device enables operators to perform a variety of overhead tasks. It minimizes physical strain and boosts efficiency.

As automakers and suppliers search for new ways to reduce vehicle weight, some engineers are experimenting with natural fibers. Bamboo, cotton, hemp, jute, kenaf, rice and other crops can be used to produce high-strength composite structures for automotive applications.

DETROIT——Ford Motor Co. last month announced that it was canceling plans to build a $1.6-billion small-car assembly plant in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. But, the automaker is still going ahead with plans to open two other new plants in the country: a $1.1-billion engine plant in Chihuahua, and a $1.2-billion transmission facility in Guanajuato. Both are planned to become operational later this year, supplying engines and transmissions for the US, South America, Europe and Asia.

DETROIT—Flex-N-Gate Corp. plans to build a 500,000-square-foot assembly plant here to supply Ford Motor Co.

The 2015 Ford F-150 pickup truck features an aluminum body and cargo box that’s a radical departure from conventional designs.

Ford Motor Co. recently began assembling the aluminum-bodied F-150 pickup truck at the Dearborn Truck Plant.

The groundbreaking aluminum-bodied F-150 pickup truck is assembled at the Dearborn Truck Plant, the crown jewel of Ford Motor Co.’s historic Rouge Center.

Rivets, screws and other joining processes play a key role behind the new F-150.