DETROIT—GM and Ford will jointly develop a new line of nine- and 10-speed automatic transmissions for cars and trucks to enhance vehicle performance and fuel economy.

WASHINGTON—Total energy consumption in the manufacturing sector decreased by 17 percent from 2002 to 2010, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The decline in energy intensity reflects both improvements in energy efficiency and changes in the manufacturing output mix.

NORTH CHARLESTON, SC—Boeing will invest more than $1 billion to expand operations and create 2,000 new jobs at its assembly plant here.

DECHERD, TN—Production workers at Nissan’s assembly plants in Smyrna, TN, and Decherd, TN, and Canton, MS, will get a pay raise in October, their first since 2006.

ROMULUS, MI—A man threatening suicide with a starter pistol caused the brief evacuation of GM’s powertrain assembly plant here Friday morning, but the incident ended safely with no injuries after police talked the man into surrendering.

VANCE, AL—Mercedes-Benz has begun accepting applications for about 1,000 new jobs it plans to add at its assembly plant here.

ANN ARBOR, MI—Humantech Inc. has added a new course, Managing an Ergonomics Process, to its seminar series in 2013. This one-day workshop will be held in Ann Arbor, MI, on April 25 and Sept. 19.

CHAMBERSBURG, PA—Wipro Infrastructure Engineering, which makes hydraulic cylinders for Volvo tractors and other machines, is building a new assembly plant here. The facility is expected to employ 74.

STREATOR, IL—Stertil-Koni, a manufacturer of heavy-duty vehicle lifts, is adding cutting machines, overhead cranes and other new equipment at its assembly plant here.

STILLWATER, OK—ASCO Aerospace USA is transforming an old boat engine factory here to a state-of-the-art assembly plant to make parts for commercial jetliners.