SPARKS, NV--Three years ago, Tesla began construction of its Gigafactory here. This past weekend, the facility began battery production. By the end of 2018, it is expected to produce enough batteries for 500,000 cars, primarily the company's Model 3.

PARIS--A new carbon-fiber composite production process could change the way commercial aircraft are assembled.

DAVENPORT, IA--Sterilite Corp. is planning to build a $73 million manufacturing and distribution plant here that will bring create up to 500 jobs. It will be the seventh plant in the United States for the company, which is the largest plastic housewares manufacturer in North America. More

LINCOLN, NE--Kawasaki Motors Manufacturing's new aerospace division opened here last week. The company spent $12.6 million converting a 30,000-square-foot space to one that produces cargo doors for the new Boeing 777X. More

EVENDALE, OH--GE’s Advanced Turboprop engine is on track to run for the first time this year by powering Cessna’s new Denali aircraft. The engine features just 12 3D-printed components, which replace 855 normally made parts. More

SHANGHAI, CHINA--A New York University student recently interned undercover in a factory here that assembles Apple iPhones. He worked six days per week installing screws into iPhones for about $2.50 per hour. More

WASHINGTON, DC--U.S. manufacturers' output fell 0.4 percent in March, led by a large step-down in the production of motor vehicles and parts, the Federal Reserve announced last week. Factory output aside from motor vehicles and parts moved down 0.2 percent. For the first quarter as a whole, industrial production rose at an annual rate of 1.5 percent.

FREMONT, CA--To meet its self-imposed Septembes deadline for the production of its Model 3 sedan, Tesla is planning to bypass prototyping and bring the vehicle directly to final production. Industry experts caution, however, that the approach poses assembly line risks and will cost millions in production equipment if it fails.

LITTLE FALLS, MN---Indiana-based Wabash National, which makes high-test, lightweight truck trailers, recently acquired the just-shuttered Larson Boat plant here and plans to invest $11 million to renovate and equip the facility. The company hopes to employ 70 people by 2019 and 100 or more within five years.

DETROIT——General Motors' Chief Executive Mary Barra announced Monday that the company has agreed to sell its European manufacturing arm Opel to rival PSA Group, maker of Peugeot and Citron. The announcement prompted claims that GM has shied away from the region due to proposals by the new Trump administration to impose punitive tariffs on importers into the U.S. However, GM will continue to distribute its iconic Chevrolet and Cadillac brands in Europe and will be on the lookout for "future collaborations" in the region.