WASHINGTON—The policies implemented by the federal government to promote electric vehicles will cost $7.5 billion through 2019, according to a new report.

TORONTO—The Canadian Auto Workers union hammered out a tentative agreement with GM Thursday that will keep some 1,750 jobs in Ontario, making Chrysler the final of the Detroit Big Three still at the bargaining table.

DETROIT—A 43-year-old auto worker was stabbed to death by a co-worker Thursday at Chrysler’s Jefferson North Assembly Plant here. The co-worker committed suicide later that day.

FLORENCE, AL—TASUS Corp. is building a $19.1 million auto parts assembly plant here, creating 135 jobs.

MARION, VA—Utility Trailer Manufacturing Co. is expanding its refrigerated trailer assembly plant here.

MOUNT HOLLY, NC—Freightliner produced truck No. 500,000 at its assembly plant here.

SPRING HILL, TN—GM has begun producing the hot-selling Chevrolet Equinox at its assembly plant here, signifying the facility’s rebirth since it was idled in fall 2009.

INDIANAPOLIS—Crosspoint Solutions plans to hire up to 75 people to work at its new assembly plant here. The company makes battery-powered auxiliary power units for trucks.

DETROIT—Big pickups carried U.S. auto sales to their highest level in three years. Demand for full-size pickups jumped 16 percent in August, helping to make it the strongest sales month since August 2009. Overall auto sales increased 20 percent from a year earlier to nearly 1.3 million units.

COLUMBUS, IN—Supply chain management company The Phoenix Group has begun building a $15 million assembly plant here.