NORMAL, IL-Mitsubishi Motors Corp. will invest $100 million to begin making the Outlander Sport at its assembly plant here next year, saving 1,300 jobs. MORE

TORONTO-Canadian company Robotiq has introduced a new gripper for robots that acts much like a human hand, using its three fingers to hold materials and objects securely. MORE

WASHINGTON-Automation is enabling U.S. manufacturers to return to profitability after the worst recession in generations. MORE

LOS ANGELES-The Northrop assembly plant here has a backlog of orders for the F/A-18 that will take at least until 2014 to finish. MORE

BOWLING GREEN, KY-NHK of America Suspension Components (NASCO) will invest more than $20 million to construct a new 50,000-square-foot assembly plant here. As a result of the expansion, the Japanese automotive supplier will add up to 108 new jobs over the next several years. MORE

MASCOUTAH, IL-Boeing has begun production at its new military aircraft assembly plant at MidAmerica St. Louis Airport here. The plant produces subassemblies for the F/A-18 fighter jet, the C-17 Globemaster III air cargo plane and its CH-47 Chinook helicopter. MORE

DETROIT-Ford will boost production 13 percent in the coming months. The automaker says it needs to meet higher demand for its cars and trucks-especially its newly overhauled Ford Explorer. MORE

DALLAS-Atlas Copco Compressors will consolidate three of its U.S. facilities into one new facility in Texas. MORE

BELVIDERE, IL-The union president representing workers at Chrysler’s Belvidere assembly plant says he holds the plant manager responsible for “the reckless endangerment” of his members. This comes after management called its second shift to work last Wednesday, despite severe weather. MORE

DETROIT-Three Chrysler workers at the Jefferson North Assembly Plant in Detroit have been suspended without pay after allegedly spending their break at a nearby drug house. One of the men reportedly stocked his work locker with cocaine, prescription pills and marijuana. MORE