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.
VONORE, TN—JTEKT Automotive Tennessee, which manufactures steering components, will invest $218.5 million to expand its assembly plant here, creating 50 jobs.
SAN ANTONIO—Takata Corp. has officially opened its newly expanded factory here for making seat belt buckles. This photo essay provides a behind-the-scenes look.
IUKA, MS—Automotive supplier Hago Automotive Corp. is building a $10 million assembly plant here. The project is expected to create 80 jobs in Tishomingo County.
KENTWOOD, MI—ETO Magnetic Corp., a manufacturer of electromagnetic actuators and solenoids for the auto industry and industrial applications, plans to hire 15 to 20 workers after it moves into a new assembly plant here this fall.
At Hitachi Metals Automotive Components USA LLC (HMAC), suspensions, exhaust manifolds and other components are assembled every day for all of the world’s leading automakers.
EVANSVILLE, IN—Systems integrator Evana Automation Specialists has received a contract to design and build an automated system to assemble and test driver control modules.
BUENA VISTA TOWNSHIP, MI—UAW-represented workers approved a new labor contract with Nexteer Automotive Corp. nearly two weeks after overwhelmingly rejecting a previous deal and engaging in a one-day strike.
FORT WAYNE, IN—A brief strike by employees of a parts supplier Nexteer has forced General Motors to cancel the majority of its second-shift production at its assembly plant here.
