ArvinMeritor updated its expectations for stronger financial results in the third fiscal quarter and full fiscal year. Despite weaker than anticipated industry conditions in North America, ArvinMeritor said it expects sales of approximately $2 billion for the third quarter, up 20 percent from the third quarter of 2007. This growth in sales is due primarily to stronger industry conditions and market share in South America and Asia Pacific; a favorable light vehicle platform mix in Europe; and increased specialty sales, including military products in North America and off-highway products in China.

Johnson Controls Inc. (JCI) has formed a joint venture to acquire the interior product assets of Dearborn, Mich.-based Plastech Engineered Products, which filed for bankruptcy in February 2008. Johnson Controls owns 70 percent of the joint venture and will be its largest customer. The joint venture includes 29 plants in North America, which manufacture injection molded components and assemblies such as door panels and floor consoles.

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation announced this week it will award training assistance to Tenneco in exchange for the manufacturer agreeing to expand its Indiana operations, creating approximately 60 new jobs. The FORTUNE 500 company plans to invest nearly $6 million to add two new catalytic converter manufacturing lines to its 81,000-square-foot Hoffman Street facility that currently manufactures a variety of automotive parts ranging from muffler and converter stampings to hydroformed exhaust products and catalytic converters. The company is also considering a new facility in Vanderburg County, asking the Vanderburgh County Council for a 10-year tax abatement on more than $3 million worth of manufacturing equipment.

Jasper Engines & Transmissions has opened a new distribution center in Kingman, Ariz., to better serve its branches and customers out west. In its present configuration, the Kingman distribution center receives up to six shipments from Jasper each week to keep fully stocked with 2,400 remanufactured products. In turn, Kingman sends out up to six trucks each week to service the company's Southern California, Phoenix, Northern California and Las Vegas branches.

Universal Technical Institute (UTI) has developed a $10 million private loan initiative designed to help students facing the challenges of bridging the tuition gap in today's tight credit market. The program assists select students who have exhausted traditional Title IV student financial aid eligibility, are unable to qualify for credit-based loan programs, and therefore may not otherwise be able to attend UTI.

Superior Industries International has appointed Parveen Kakar to the position of senior vice president, corporate engineering and product development. Parveen Kakar, 42, joined Superior in 1989 and most recently served as Superior’s vice president, program development. He holds a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering from Punjab Engineering College in India.