NEW DEHLI, India-India's Tata Motors is reported to be developing an ultra-cheap plastic automobile. MORE

SEOUL, South Korea-Hyundai Motor Co. will increase vehicle kit exports to Russia by 60 percent next year in a bid to expand its market presence in the fast rising car market. MORE

DETROIT-Bob Nardelli, the new top executive at Chrysler LLC, is making his first public appearances since the automaker’s new owner officially announced that the former Home Depot CEO was taking charge. MORE

SMYRNA, TN-Nissan Motor Co. has begun an experimental program using fuel-cell-powered forklifts at its assembly plant in Smyrna, TN. MORE

WASHINGTON-National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) President John Engler is applauding the unanimous Senate confirmation of William G. “Woody” Sutton to serve as Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Manufacturing and Services, sometimes referred to as the manufacturing “czar.”

CLEVELAND-Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. is considering building tire factories in Eastern Europe and Asia by using money from the recent sale of its engineered-products business. MORE

DEHLI, India-Although Indians are buying more automobiles than ever before, they are fast running out of places to actually drive them. MORE

WOLFSBURG, Germany-Volkswagen AG, Europe's largest carmaker, is considering adding a U.S. auto-assembly plant in a move that might also result in the company moving its U.S. operations out of Michigan. MORE

ANN ARBOR, MI-New orders received by North American-based robotics companies rose 39 percent in the first half of 2007, according to the Robotic Industries Association. MORE

SHANGHAI-Chinese-based Chery Automobile Co. is teaming up with a Canadian investment group to construct a new assembly plant in the Middle East. MORE