AUTOS

Ford to Spend More Than $650 Million to Upgrade Plants: The auto maker said this week that it plans to upgrade assembly operations ahead of the launch of its new Taurus car this summer. It said the investments will pay for new equipment and training at three facilities: its Atlanta assembly plant and its Chicago-area assembly and stamping plants. The company is scheduled to begin production of the new Taurus and Mercury Sable cars this summer. Ford Motor Co. Vice President Robert Transou said the investments amount to about $285 million at the Chicago assembly plant, about $140 million at the Chicago stamping plant and $250 million in Atlanta.