JACKSON, TN—Auto parts maker Pacific Industries is building a new assembly plant here, which is expected to create 190 new jobs over its first five years.

MACUNGIE, PA—Mack Trucks will invest $26 million to renovate its assembly plant here.

CAMBRIDGE, ON—Toyota’s assembly plant here has received the top spot in J.D. Power’s annual manufacturing quality rankings.

DEARBORN, MI—Ford Motor Co. reduced per vehicle water use last year by 30 percent globally from a 2009 baseline, reaching its goal two years ahead of schedule. Plans are under way to further cut water use by another 2 percent this year and to set new long-term goals.

LEBANON, OH—Auto parts manufacturer Hayashi Telempu North America has locked out some 200 unionized workers at its assembly plant here.

LEBANON, TN—Auto parts manufacturer Southtec will invest $23.6 million to expand assembly plant here.

ALTONA, Australia—Toyota has installed a 500-kilowatt photovoltaic system on the roof of its assembly plant here. The 2,000-panel system will provide approximately 10 percent of the factory’s energy needs.

DECHERD, TN—Luxury automaker Infiniti will start operations at its new $319 million powertrain assembly plant here.

DEARBORN, MI—Roofs made of carbon fiber. Plastic windshields. Bumpers fashioned out of aluminum foam.What sounds like a science experiment could be your next car. While hybrids and electrics may grab the headlines, the real frontier in fuel economy is the switch to lighter materials.

GREENSBURG, IN—A bomb threat scrawled on a bathroom wall at an auto parts assembly plant here drew the attention of police and fire crews Friday afternoon.