WILLIAMSTOWN, WV—Hino Motors will spend $8 million to expand its truck assembly plant here, an investment that could create up to 50 permanent jobs.

BALDWYN, MS—To accommodate an increase in production, reclining furniture manufacturer Southern Motion is expanding operations at its assembly plant here. The project represents a $600,000 corporate investment and will create 60 jobs over the next 12 months.

DETROIT—Heading into contract negotiations with the UAW, GM and Ford are considering asking to create a new tier of lower-paid union workers in their U.S. factories. This new pay rate for some lower-skilled jobs would help the car manufacturers lower labor costs as they compete with Asian and European rivals.

NORTH CHARLESTON, SC—Production workers at Boeing assembly plants in South Carolina will decide next month whether they want union representation by the Machinists. The National Labor Relations Board has set April 22 as the date for the vote on whether to unionize.

BOSTON—The Baxter robot now has a new brother named Sawyer. Rethink Robotics has come up with a new robot that can automate complex tasks.

LAFAYETTE, GA—Roper Corp. plans to hire 80 additional workers for its oven assembly plant here.

TOYOTA CITY, Japan—Toyota Motor Corp. plans to adopt a modular manufacturing strategy that will allow it to operate smaller assembly lines.

CHICAGO—Collaborative robots were the stars of the Automate Show at McCormick Place here.

HOMBURG, Germany—Bosch Rexroth’s plant here that assembles hydraulic valves has been honored for its use of advanced technology.