CHATTANOOGA, TN—When Volkswagen was planning its new assembly plant here, it was determined not to repeat the mistakes it made 20 years ago at its first U.S. assembly plant.

LANSING, MI—GM will launch a second shift at its Lansing Grand River assembly plant late this summer. The new shift coincides with the introduction of the Cadillac ATS, a new compact luxury car.

GRAND BLANC TOWNSHIP, MI—Magna E-Car Systems, a partnership between Magna International and the Stronach Group, has opened a new assembly plant here to make components for hybrid and electric vehicles.

DETROIT—The world’s largest automakers are scrambling to find alternatives to a resin that’s critical for making brake- and fuel-system components. A March 31 explosion at chemical maker Evonik Industries halved the global supply of an ingredient used to make the resin, called PA-12.

ARLINGTON, TX—GM has begun constructing a new $200 million stamping facility at its assembly plant here.

LAFAYETTE, IN—Automotive Robotics Proving Labs and Purdue University are planning to build a new, $10 million engine testing facility here.

SOUTH CHARLESTON, WV—Automotive parts supplier Gestamp plans to create hundreds of jobs and invest a minimum of $100 million to build a new assembly plant here.

GOTHENBERG, Sweden—Volvo is planning to invest $11 billion to develop new products and increase its manufacturing presence in the next few years.

BIRMINGHAM, AL—A group of 25 assembly line workers from a Honda manufacturing plant here matched the first five winning numbers from the record-breaking $656 million Mega Millions jackpot drawing. They will split $250,000.