Ford Motor Company has announced that it will invest an additional $450 million in its aggressive electric vehicle plan, paving the way to build a next-generation hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicle in Michigan beginning in 2012 and creating 1,000 new jobs.

This comes in addition to Ford's already announced plans to invest $550 million to transform Michigan Assembly Plant from a large SUV factory to a modern car plant to build the all-new Focus starting in 2010 and Focus Electric pure battery electric vehicle in 2011. With today's news, Ford's Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, Mich., will be the production site of hybrid, plug-in hybrid and full battery electric vehicles, all of which will be built off the company's new global C-car platform.

Volvo Bus, a global manufacturer of buses and coaches, has secured an order for 323 coaches from IAMSA in Mexico, to be delivered in 2010. The company opines that Mexico is a large country with poorly developed rail traffic, and coaches are an important means of transport for long journeys. For Volvo Buses, Mexico is one of the largest global markets.

CICTA’s mission:

1. Undertake research and development projects on micro- and nanotechnology with a focus on the needs of companies with operations in Chihuahua and Northern Mexico

2. Provide high-technology services to the local industry on:

• MEMS prototype design and analysis
• New product design
• Product/process optimization
• Specialized consultancy
• Advanced testing and characterization
• Personnel training
• Technology transfer/integration

3. Create the foundations for a high-tech business incubator

4. Patent development on micro- and nanotechology

5. Spawn spin-off businesses by its own reserachers, technicians and students.