BEDFORD, MA—Solar wafer manufacturer 1366 Technologies has opened the doors of a new 42,000 square-foot assembly plant here. The facility will employ 100 people.

WASHINGTON—Americans are more positive about the economy than they have been at any time since Gallup began tracking economic confidence daily in January 2008.

DETROIT—Cars with factory-installed safety and security telematics are expected to increase to 15.7 percent in 2013 across the globe, according to the report by the ABI Research.

PONTIAC, MI—GM plans to expand its powertrain engineering complex here, adding approximately 300 jobs.

BEIJING, China—High-volume manufacturers in China are increasingly using robots to assemble everything from keyboards to home appliances.

SPRINGFIELD, MO—Regal Beloit’s electric motor assembly plant here has operated more than 1,000,000 hours without a lost-time injury. It’s the first time in the 42 year history of the plant that this milestone has been achieved.

WASHINGTON—Workers who gripe about the boss or their colleagues on Facebook may be at risk of getting fired unless a U.S. appeals court decision is reversed.

KANSAS CITY, KS—GM will invest $600 million to upgrade its assembly plant here. Construction on a new 450,000-square-foot paint shop, a stamping press and efficiency enhancements at the plant will begin this year.

HEBRON, KY—Jacobs Automation and Rockwell Automation are collaborating to offer closer integration between the Jacobs’ iTRAK automation platform and the Rockwell’s Integrated Architecture system.

WASHINGTON—Orders for durable goods in the United States rose in December for an unprecedented fourth consecutive month, indicating manufacturing will keep improving in 2013.