Ford Motor Co. and the UAW announced a tentative agreement on Tuesday with a no-strike provision and other concessions to bring its labor costs in line with U.S. rivals.

  Ford Motor Co. plans to add 4.5 million vehicles to the largest-ever U.S. recall because of leaky cruise control switches that have been reported to cause vehicle fires.

  Shares of Wescast Industries fell 15 percent today after the supplier said its chief financial officer was resigning as of Oct. 30.

  Chrysler Group CEO Sergio Marchionne is and#8220;the next generation of Lee Iacocca,and#8221; Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said after visiting all three Detroit automakers yesterday and today.

  General Motors Co. said today it will invest more than $230 million in four plants around Flint, Mich., to help build the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze compact and the Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid sedan.

  Johnson Controls Inc. said today it expects higher sales next year as global auto production recovers, U.S.

  Defense and automotive supplier Bolton Conductive Systems today said it has agreed to sell majority ownership to vehicle switches and electronics maker Stoneridge Inc. Stoneridge will acquire a 51 percent equity stake in BCS under the deal for $5.

  General Motors Co. likely will sign a deal on Thursday to sell a majority stake in Opel to a group led by Magna International Inc., German news agencies reported, citing sources close to the negotiations.

  Aston Martin has named former Tesla Motors and Harley Davidson executive Michael van der Sande to the newly created position of chief commercial officer.

  BBDO, which managed to survive a turnover of owners and CEOs at Chrysler this decade, will part with its longtime automotive client when its contract expires at the end of January, according to an executive close to the matter.