FLAT ROCK, MI—As production plans gear up, the hiring process has begun for a second shift at Ford’s assembly plant here. The automaker expects to hire 1,400 workers.

GEORGETOWN, KY—Toyota plans to invest $531 million to expand its assembly plant here and add approximately 750 employees.

SEOUL, South Korea—Hyundai Motor Co.’s limited global production capacity is capping the company’s growth, a top executive says. “Without building a new factory, it is very, very difficult to supply more,” says Lee In-cheol, Hyundai’s vice president of international sales.

MOUNT MORRIS TOWNSHIP, MI—Sanluis Rassini, which makes leaf springs, brake components and other auto parts, is building a $17.3 million assembly plant here. The facility is expected to create 55 jobs.

TOKYO—Nissan is planning to build a new assembly plant in North America to make cars for its luxury vehicle division Infiniti. The $2 billion facility will have a capacity of 100,000 vehicles per year and is expected to begin production in 2017.

ATHENS, TN—HP Pelzer Automotive Systems, which makes interior trim parts, plans to invest $28 million in a new 185,000-square-foot assembly plant here. The facility will create 200 jobs.

DECHERD, TN—Production workers at Nissan’s assembly plants in Smyrna, TN, and Decherd, TN, and Canton, MS, will get a pay raise in October, their first since 2006.

SHELBY, NC—KSM Castings NC Inc. will invest more than $45 million in its first U.S. manufacturing facility here, creating 189 jobs over five years.

THREE RIVERS, MI—American Axle & Manufacturing is investing more than $100 million in its assembly plant here, creating more than 500 new jobs.

DETROIT—General Motors is planning to invest approximately $1.6 billion in its North American manufacturing facilities during 2013, in a bid to unveil about 20 new models during the year.