SEATTLE—A Chinese citizen was charged with plotting to steal data from U.S. defense contractors, including a successful hack of Boeing’s computer system, amid an expanding crackdown on industrial espionage by China.

AUBURN HILLS, MI—Automotive supplier Hirotec America will build a new $26 million assembly plant here, add 140 jobs.

BENTON HARBOR, MI—Whirlpool Corp. has agreed to pay $1 billion for a controlling stake in Italian appliance maker Indesit Co., its largest acquisition since buying former rival Maytag Corp. eight years ago.

BUFFALO, WV—Human resource company Manpower is seeking to fill jobs at Toyota’s assembly plant here.

SHANGHAI—Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China has opened a cavernous assembly plant near the airport here that will soon produce a rival to the Boeing 737 and the Airbus A320.

EVANSTON, IL—Solar panels made in China have a higher overall carbon footprint and are likely to use substantially more energy during manufacturing than those made in Europe, says a new study from Northwestern University and Argonne National Laboratory.

WASHINGTON—With six months left in 2014, automakers have already recalled more vehicles in the United States than in any other year on record.

PUNE, India—Volkswagen plans to reduce energy consumption at its assembly plant here by 436 megawatt hours per year by equipping the assembly line with high-volume, low-speed fans. The carmaker also aims to reduce water usage at the facility by 1,636 cubic meters annually.

JACKSON, MI—More than 2,000 bats could have a new home at Consumers Energy hydro power plants thanks to collaboration between the utility, General Motors and a Boy Scout from Clarkston, MI. Using scrap Chevrolet Volt battery covers donated by GM, 16-year-old Matthew Netherland and some helpers built 30 bat boxes in a few months.

SAO PAULO—Thieves raided a Samsung electronics assembly plant here during the night shift early Monday, subduing workers and guards, and making off with at least $6 million worth of cell phones and computers.