TOKYO-Between October and November 2008, Japanese industrial output fell 8.5 percents, the largest drop since the country began keeping records over half a century ago. MORE

HINTON, OK-Dougherty Forestry Manufacturing is expanding into a new facility. The company plans to build a 16,000-square-foot manufacturing facility here to assemble tree- and brush-cutting equipment. MORE

GREER, SC-BMW will assemble a gas-electric hybrid vehicle at its plant here. The company’s X6 ActiveHybrid will offer a two-mode hybrid system, mating an eight-cylinder engine and electric drive to provide about a 20 percent fuel economy improvement. MORE

ANDREWS, SC-A manufacturer of machinery for recycling plants has opened a new assembly plant here. The facility will ultimately employ 60 people. MORE

KANSAS CITY, KS-General Motors says that its Fairfax plant in Kansas City, Kansas, will build the 2010 model Buick LaCrosse. The assembly plant's more than 2,500 workers are now manufacturing the Chevy Malibu and Saturn Aura. MORE

TOKYO-Nissan Motor Co., Japan’s third- largest carmaker, is making deeper cuts than originally plans in response to the ongoing global recession. MORE

AUBURN HILLS, MI-Despite reports, Chrysler executives insist there is no plan to sell the company piecemeal. MORE

WASHINGTON-Prices paid to U.S. producers fell 1.9 percent in December, capping the first annual decrease in seven years as demand for raw materials continues to collapse. MORE

GETTYBURG, PA-Schindler Elevator Corp. plans to downsize by about 25 percent over the next three quarters. MORE

AUBURN HILLS, MI-According to reports, Chrysler is considering selling a number of assets, including Jeep and a plant in Illinois. MORE