WASHINGTON-Orders for durable goods rose last month by the largest amount in two years, as the manufacturing sector rebounded from the depths of the recession. The Commerce Department said Wednesday that orders for goods expected to last at least three years increased 4.9 percent in July, the third rise in the past four months. Analysts expected a 3 percent increase. Orders for June were revised up to a 1.3 percent drop, from a 2.2 percent decline. MORE

SMYRNA, FL-Nissan is installing fuel cells in 70 of the battery-powered tugs it uses in its Tennesse assembly plant. MORE

NEW YORK-President Obama wants to make the United States “the world’s leading exporter of renewable energy,” but it is China that is forging ahead these days, especially in solar power. MORE

GREER, SC-The gleaming metallic X3 assembly line runs for well over a mile, coming into the plant near the ceiling and then dropping to the floor for most of its run up and down the wings of BMW Manufacturing’s new assembly plant, punctuated a half-dozen times by robots standing as sentinels. It’s designed to be a model of efficiency in production, a choreographed ballet where parts are delivered where they're needed in the phrase that defines today's manufacturing world - just in time. MORE

PUEBLA, Mexico-Volkswagen in Mexico says workers have ended a strike that shut down an auto assembly plant here for five days, with the company agreeing to a 3 percent wage raise. MORE

AUBURN HILLS, MI-Fiat is aggressively implementing its "World Class Manufacturing" philosophy as part of a complete overhaul of the company it acquired from Chapter 11 bankruptcy. MORE

TOKYO-Toyota is expanding capacity at its engine plant in Huntsville, Alabama, increasing its North American production of four-cylinder engines. MORE

FREMONT, CA-On the heels of unofficial reports that Toyota will close the NUMMI plant here next year, a rally to promote its continued operation has been scheduled for today. Leaders from the local labor and business communities, as well as local and state politicians, are expected to attend the event from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Pacific time, at the United Auto Workers office across the street from the plant. MORE

CHATTANOOGA, TN-Tennessee-made Volkswagens just off the assembly line and ready for shipment countrywide will start their journey at a state-of-the-art rail and truck terminal. Approximatelly 80 percent of the vehicles assembled at the plant will leave by rail rather than truck, a much higher percentage than is typical. MORE

LONDON-The British government is lending $560 million to Airbus to help safeguard some 1,200 jobs at the company’s Broughton plant. MORE