VAN NUYS, CA—Superior Industries International Inc., a manufacturer of aluminum wheels, is building a $135 million assembly plant in Mexico.

LOCKPORT, NY—The auto parts assembly plant here has survived lots of change. The complex switched affiliations from GM to Delphi and then back GM in 2009. Today, the plant is humming, and workers and managers are more optimistic than ever.

MCCONNELSVILLE, OH—OSHA has fined auto parts supplier Mahle Engine Components USA Inc. $369,000 for 26 health and safety violations.

NASHIK, India—Around 3,000 workers at automaker Mahindra and Mahindra’s assembly plant here are on a “tools down” protest against the suspension of a co-worker.

TOKYO—Honda Motor Co. is building a new assembly plant in Japan, its first in the country in nearly 50 years.

WARREN, MI—Workers at Chrysler’s assembly plant here held a demonstration to protest a controversial new work schedule.

Ford is marking the 150th anniversary of the birth of Henry Ford and the 100th anniversary of the assembly line.

ULSAN, South Korea—Hyundai is now mass-producing a fuel-cell-powered car, the ix35, at its assembly plant here.

Carbon-fiber reinforced composites are popular in the aerospace and marine industries as a lightweight alternative to aluminum, steel and other metals. The material is also used to produce railcars, wind turbine blades and sporting goods.

Unfortunately, like many OEMs, Northwest Regulator Supply was struggling by the start of the 21st century.