HILLSBORO, OR-Five months after the grand opening of North America’s biggest solar manufacturing plant here, the SolarWorld group will begin constructing a new, adjacent facility. Dedicated to logistics, distribution and production, the building will measure about 210,000 square feet, increasing the site's plant space by 44 percent. MORE

CHICAGO-Ford will produce a new Ford Explorer sport utility vehicle at its assembly plant here. Last fall, the plant on Torrence Avenue announced deep cutbacks in its payroll in response to the slumping economy and weak demand for cars that were produced there; but local leaders of the United Auto Workers say they’ve been told that Ford will begin assembly operations on the new Explorer model next year. MORE

MORGANTOWN, KY-India-based copper products maker Chandra Proteco is considering this town for a new manufacturing plant. The plant, known as Kentucky Copper Inc., would make products used in power transformers, energy transmission and distribution applications as well as high-speed trains. MORE

NEW YORK-The Obama administration gave General Motors and Chrysler LLC failing grades Monday for their turnaround efforts and promised a sweeping overhaul of the troubled companies. The government plans to give the automakers more money, but it is also holding out the threat of a “structured bankruptcy.” At GM, part of that restructuring began early Monday when CEO Rick Wagoner announced his resignation, which he said came at the request of the Obama administration. MORE

KANSAS CITY-Smith Electric Vehicles plans to ramp up production of a zero-emission electric-truck assembly line by the third quarter of this year. MORE

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan-China’s Mianyang Huarui Automotive Co. has signed an agreement to build a $30 million in Pakistan. MORE

DETROIT-General Motors Corp. said Thursday that about 7,500 of its hourly United Auto Workers union employees, including 310 at the Spring Hill Chevrolet assembly plant near Nashville, have elected to take voluntary buyouts or early retirement as the troubled carmaker tries to get its financial house in order. MORE

KANSAS CITY, MO-A U.S.-British consortium plans to build an assembly plant in Kansas City to manufacture all-electric delivery vans. Documents filed with the Missouri Department of Economic Development say Smith Electric Vehicles U.S. Corp. plans to employ up to 200 people within three years at the plant, which will be located initially at the Kansas City International Airport. MORE

LOS ANGELES-Electric-car maker Tesla Motors Inc. has begun taking orders for its Model S all electric seven-seat family car. MORE

BRIGHTON, CO-Wind-generator manufacturer Vesta has broken ground on a new plant in Colorado to build nacelles and blades. MORE