DETROIT-According to a report by R.L. Polk Germany, General Motors, which recently fell behind Toyota in global automotive production, may soon fall behind Volkswagen as well. MORE

AUBURN HILLS, MI-In the event of a Chrysler-Fiat alliance, one of the prime locations for Fiat production in the United States may be the Chrysler assembly plant in Sterling Heights, MI. MORE

DETROIT-General Motors plans to assemble its new crossover GMC Terrain model at the Cami Automotive facility in Ingersoll, Ontario. MORE

DURHAM, NC-Shipman Technologies Inc., a contract manufacturing and product development firm, has relocated to an expanded manufacturing facility here. The company plans to double its current employment of 25 in the next few years. MORE

AUSTIN, TX-Valence Technology Inc. will build a $760 million battery manufacturing plant in Central Texas that could employ thousands of people, but the plan relies in part on whether it secures federal stimulus money. Valence makes rechargeable batteries for electric vehicles, backup power sources and other applications. MORE

JUNCTION CITY, OR-Motor home builder Country Coach is back in business after a bankruptcy judge granted preliminary approval of a new financing deal. MORE

CHATTANOOGA, TN-Chicago-based Graycor Construction Co. has been awarded a $63 million contract to build Volkswagen’s new assembly plant in Tennessee. MORE

WINSTON-SALEM, NC-Stung by another round of layoffs at the heavily subsidized Dell plant, Winston-Salem Mayor Allen Joines today called for Dell to provide detailed information about employment at its computer assembly plant in Forsyth County. Dell laid off more workers at the plant on Thursday, but would not confirm a number. The city’s financial incentives to Dell are predicated on the plant employing a least 1,700 people at an average yearly pay of $28,000 by October 2010. MORE

HAYS, KS-Despite a slight chance for rain Saturday, EnerSys Plant Manager Tom Kotch wasn’t about to cancel plans for a local Cub Scout pack to assist in landscaping outside his assembly plant here. Providing Cub Scouts Pack 111 with the opportunity to participate in a conservation project, Kotch and EnerSys Facilities Engineering Manager Roger Sibold put the boys to work clearing flower and tree beds and spreading fresh mulch. MORE

WASHINGTON-Defense Secretary Robert Gates is planning “a fundamental shift” in U.S. military priorities, which could have a major impact on the fate of the F-22 Raptor fighter jet. MORE