This interview with a leading supplier of automation equipment examines the latest technology for assembling batteries, motors and other electric vehicle components, including chassis production lines and paint shops.

MUNICH, Germany—Deep in the mechanized heart of BMW's assembly plant here is a tiny but significant symbol of Australian ingenuity. Amid the 1,200 robots and other automated machinery is a buffing machine dusting car shells with emu feathers.

TOKYO—Nissan has commenced testing of a new super-hydrophobic and oleophobic paint technology, the Ultra-Ever Dry, which would enable a car to automatically clean itself.

DEARBORN, MI—Ford Motor Co. will expand its 3-Wet paint process to four more plants across three continents in 2013. The high-solids, solvent-borne process applies three layers of paint, including primer, base coat and clear coat, while each layer is still wet.

YORII, Japan—Honda has developed a more ecological painting technology that moves from a four-coat, three-bake process to a three-coat, two-bake water-based process.