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☆ Amazon Hires Elon Musk’s SpaceX for Three Rocket Launches
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-02 | by ( Micah Maidenberg | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The rise of SpaceX as the dominant force for U.S. rocket launches has meant that NASA’s role is now evolving. To find out what this means for the future of the space agency, WSJ’s George Downs sat down with NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy. Photo Illustration: George DownsJeff Bezos and Elon Musk have both spent decades building space companies. Now, Bezos’ Amazon .com is turning to Musk’s SpaceX for a ride to orbit. Amazon, which Bezos founded and where he still serves as executive chairman, said Friday that it hired Musk’s SpaceX to conduct three rocket launches for the Seattle company’s planned satellite-internet division.

Persons: George Downs, Pam Melroy, George Downs Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, Bezos Organizations: SpaceX, U.S ., Elon, Seattle company’s Locations: U.S

☆ UAW Launches Organizing Drive, Targets Tesla and Toyota
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Nora Eckert | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

UAW union members were striking over job security and pay as automakers push forward in developing EV’s, which require fewer workers and cost more in raw materials. So what does it all mean for the future of auto workers and the union? Illustration: George Downs/The Wall Street JournalThe United Auto Workers formally launched one of the largest organizing drives in its history with campaigns at 13 automakers, in an effort to leverage record gains from its recent labor deals in Detroit. The UAW plans to target nearly 150,000 workers at U.S. factories owned by large foreign automakers including Toyota Motor and Volkswagen , as well as newer electric-vehicle manufacturers such as Tesla and Rivian Automotive, the union said Wednesday.

Persons: George Downs Organizations: Street, United Auto Workers, UAW, Toyota Motor, Volkswagen, Rivian Automotive Locations: Detroit

☆ Fliers Can’t Get Enough of the ‘Upper-Middle Class’ Section of the Plane
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( Allison Pohle | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Low-cost airlines such as Norse Atlantic Airways and French Bee are advertising cheap trans-Atlantic flights, but with the summer season ending and international demand set to drop, will their low fare, low-margin approach withstand the winter? Illustration: George Downs/The Wall Street JournalThe new hot section on the plane isn’t at the very front. Not quite business class and definitely not coach, premium-economy cabins are hooking travelers willing to treat themselves to extra comfort for about double the price of a coach seat on some flights.

Persons: George Downs Organizations: Atlantic Airways, Street

☆ Ford, UAW Near Tentative Labor Deal to Potentially End Six-Week Strike at the Automaker
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Nora Eckert | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

UAW union members have been striking over job security and pay as automakers push forward in developing EVs, which require fewer workers and cost more in raw materials. What does that mean for the future of auto workers and the union? Illustration: George Downs/The Wall Street JournalThe United Auto Workers union is close to securing a new tentative labor contract with Ford Motor , after intense bargaining overnight and into the day Wednesday, according to people with knowledge of the talks. The UAW, now in the sixth week of its strike at the three Detroit automakers, has called for work stoppages at three Ford factories and sent more than 16,000 U.S. factory workers at the Dearborn, Mich., based car company to picket lines.

Persons: George Downs Organizations: Street, United Auto Workers, Ford Motor, UAW, Detroit automakers, Ford Locations: U.S, Mich

☆ General Motors Finds Itself in a Jam
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Stephen Wilmot | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

UAW union members have been striking over job security and pay as automakers push forward in developing EV’s, which require fewer workers and cost more in raw materials. So what does that mean for the future of auto workers and the union? Illustration: George Downs/The Wall Street JournalGeneral Motors is still churning out healthy profit—just not on the electric vehicles or potentially autonomous ones that investors care most about. GM’s third-quarter results on Tuesday came in better than expected. Net income of roughly $3.1 billion was down 7% from a very strong quarter last year, but higher than the $2.5 billion consensus that analysts had penciled in, according to FactSet.

Persons: George Downs Organizations: Street, Motors

☆ Ford Reaches Tentative Labor Deal With UAW Six Weeks Into Historic Strike
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Nora Eckert | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

UAW union members have been striking over job security and pay as automakers push forward in developing EV’s, which require fewer workers and cost more in raw materials. So what does that mean for the future of auto workers and the union? Illustration: George Downs/The Wall Street JournalThe United Auto Workers secured a new tentative labor deal with Ford Motor Wednesday night, potentially ending a six-week strike at one automaker while negotiations continue at General Motors and Chrysler-parent Stellantis . The labor agreement, which is subject to a member vote before being ratified, contains a 25% wage increase during the span of the contract, including an 11% bump in the first year, according to Chuck Browning , the UAW’s lead bargainer with Ford. The overall increase, which will be spread out over four years, would put the top wage for assembly workers at around $40 an hour.

Persons: George Downs, Chuck Browning Organizations: Street, United Auto Workers, Ford Motor, General Motors, Chrysler, Ford

☆ UAW, Ford Expected to Announce New Tentative Labor Deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Nora Eckert | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

UAW union members have been striking over job security and pay as automakers push forward in developing EVs, which require fewer workers and cost more in raw materials. What does that mean for the future of auto workers and the union? Illustration: George Downs/The Wall Street Journal<br>The United Auto Workers union is expected to announce a new tentative labor contract with Ford Motor on Wednesday night, after intense bargaining throughout the day, according to people with knowledge of the talks. The UAW, now in the sixth week of its strike at the three Detroit automakers, has called for work stoppages at three Ford factories and sent more than 16,000 U.S. factory workers at the Dearborn, Mich., car company to picket lines.

Persons: George Downs Organizations: United Auto Workers, Ford Motor, UAW, Detroit automakers, Ford Locations: U.S, Mich

☆ GM Scales Back EV Plans as Buyers Hesitate
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Mike Colias | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

UAW union members have been striking over job security and pay as automakers push forward in developing EVs, which require fewer workers and cost more in raw materials. So what does that mean for the future of auto workers and the union? Illustration: George Downs/The Wall Street JournalGeneral Motors is abandoning a self-imposed target to build 400,000 electric vehicles by mid-2024, the latest sign that automakers are concerned about the viability of the market for battery-powered cars. The Detroit automaker walked back the goal while reporting a healthy third-quarter profit, despite the hit from the continuing United Auto Workers strike. The walkout, which began in mid-September, is now costing GM about $200 million a week in profit.

Persons: George Downs Organizations: Street, Motors, Detroit, United Auto Workers, GM

☆ GM Scraps EV Target, Posts Strong Third-Quarter Profit
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Mike Colias | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

UAW union members have been striking over job security and pay as automakers push forward in developing EV’s, which require fewer workers and cost more in raw materials. So what does that mean for the future of auto workers and the union? Illustration: George Downs/The Wall Street JournalGeneral Motors is abandoning a self-imposed target to build 400,000 electric vehicles by mid-2024, the latest sign that automakers are concerned about the viability of the market for battery-powered cars. The Detroit automaker walked back the goal while reporting a healthy third-quarter profit, despite the hit from the continuing United Auto Workers strike. The walkout, which began in mid-September, is now costing GM about $200 million a week in profit.

Persons: George Downs Organizations: Street, Motors, Detroit, United Auto Workers, GM

☆ UAW Calls Strike on One of GM’s Largest and Most-Profitable Factories
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Mike Colias | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

UAW union members have been striking over job security and pay as automakers push forward in developing EV’s, which require fewer workers and cost more in raw materials. So what does that mean for the future of auto workers and the union? Illustration: George Downs/The Wall Street JournalThe United Auto Workers expanded its strike against Detroit’s automakers with a walkout at one of General Motors ’ largest and most profitable factories, marking the second straight day of escalation by the union. About 5,000 unionized workers walked out of GM’s Arlington, Texas, assembly plant Tuesday morning, the union said. The plant makes several large sport-utility vehicles, including the Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe, GMC Yukon and Cadillac Escalade, which are GM’s highest-profit-margin vehicles globally.

Persons: George Downs Organizations: Street, United Auto Workers, Detroit’s, General Motors, Chevrolet, Tahoe, GMC Yukon, Cadillac Locations: GM’s Arlington , Texas

☆ UAW Strike Pinches Automakers and Suppliers, but Spares Consumers—for Now
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( Sean Mclain | Ryan Felton | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

UAW union members have been striking over job security and pay as automakers push forward in developing EV’s, which require fewer workers and cost more in raw materials. So what does that mean for the future of auto workers and the union? Illustration: George Downs/The Wall Street JournalSix weeks into United Auto Workers’ strike, the impacts of the work stoppages are rippling through the car business, causing pain for the automakers themselves, as well as parts makers and factory workers. One corner of the industry that has been largely spared: dealerships and consumers, due in part to an inventory buildup of both cars and parts before the strikes.

Persons: George Downs Organizations: Street, United Auto Workers

☆ SpaceX Signs Deal to Launch Key European Satellites
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( Matthew Dalton | Micah Maidenberg | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

The rise of SpaceX as the dominant force for U.S. rocket launches has meant that NASA’s role is now evolving. To find out what this means for the future of the space agency, WSJ’s George Downs sat down with NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy. Photo Illustration: George DownsPARIS—SpaceX has signed a deal to launch up to four of Europe’s flagship navigation satellites into orbit, reinforcing the Elon Musk-led company’s growing foothold in the region as local rivals struggle to get rockets off the ground. SpaceX and the European Space Agency recently signed an agreement for two launches next year, each carrying two Galileo satellites, said Javier Benedicto, the agency’s director of navigation. The European Commission, the European Union’s executive arm, along with EU member states, must still give final approval for the deal.

Persons: George Downs, Pam Melroy, George, Javier Benedicto Organizations: SpaceX, U.S ., George Downs, Elon, European Space Agency, European Commission Locations: U.S

☆ UAW Strike Expands to Stellantis’s Largest U.S. Factory
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( Ryan Felton | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

UAW union members have been striking over job security and pay as automakers push forward in developing EV’s, which require fewer workers and cost more in raw materials. So what does that mean for the future of auto workers and the union? Illustration: George Downs/The Wall Street JournalThe United Auto Workers on Monday expanded its continuing strike against Detroit’s car companies by shutting down a pickup-truck plant, a surprise action that hit Chrysler-parent Stellantis ’s largest U.S. factory. The 6,800-worker plant, located in Sterling Heights, Mich., in suburban Detroit, makes the Ram 1500 pickup truck, among the automaker’s most profitable vehicles. The walkout brings the total number of UAW-represented on strike at the Detroit automakers, including Ford Motor and General Motors , to more than 40,000, the UAW said.

Persons: George Downs Organizations: Street, United Auto Workers, Chrysler, U.S ., UAW, Detroit, Ford Motor, General Motors Locations: Sterling Heights, Mich, Detroit

☆ Tesla Hits the Brakes on EVs, but Not on AI
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Stephen Wilmot | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

UAW union members have been striking over job security and pay as automakers push forward in developing EV’s, which require fewer workers and cost more in raw materials. So what does that mean for the future of auto workers and the union? Illustration: George Downs/The Wall Street JournalAfter years of growing at breakneck speed, Tesla seems to be slowing down. This is sensible, but investors haven’t bestowed a $867 billion market value on the company because they like common sense. And he bemoaned the impact of higher interest rates on vehicle affordability, which implies that Tesla is struggling to shift inventories despite this year’s price cuts.

Persons: George Downs, Tesla, haven’t, Elon Musk

☆ Tesla Is Hitting the Brakes on Everything but AI
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Stephen Wilmot | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

UAW union members have been striking over job security and pay as automakers push forward in developing EV’s, which require fewer workers and cost more in raw materials. So what does that mean for the future of auto workers and the union? Illustration: George Downs/The Wall Street JournalAfter years of growing at breakneck speed, Tesla seems to be slowing down. This is sensible, but investors haven’t bestowed a $867 billion market value on the company because they like common sense. And he bemoaned the impact of higher interest rates on vehicle affordability, which implies that Tesla is struggling to shift inventories despite this year’s price cuts.

Persons: George Downs, Tesla, haven’t, Elon Musk

☆ How Goldman Sachs Fumbled Its Consumer Business
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Wall Street Journal | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

While Missiles Fly, Flights Land: How Israel’s Airport Stays Open Despite being so close to a war zone, Israel's Ben Gurion Airport remains open. WSJ’s George Downs speaks with experts about the risks and explores the tactics Israel is deploying to continue to allow planes to take off and land in the country. Photo Composite: George Downs/ The Wall Street Journal

Persons: Israel's Ben, George Downs Organizations: Street Locations: Israel's Ben Gurion, Israel

☆ While Missiles Fly, Flights Land: How Israel’s Airport Stays Open
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-15 | by ( George Downs | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

How Jordan and Scalise Offer Different Paths for House Republicans Ohio’s Jim Jordan and Louisiana’s Steve Scalise are vying to be the next Speaker of the House. WSJ explains how the two became the frontrunners and how they’re pitching themselves to House Republicans. Illustration: Madeline Marshall

Persons: Jordan, House Republicans Ohio’s Jim Jordan, Steve Scalise, Madeline Marshall Organizations: House Republicans

☆ Watch: While Missiles Fly, Flights Land: How Israeli Airport Stays Open
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-14 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Despite being close to a war zone, Israel's Ben Gurion Airport remains open. WSJ’s George Downs speaks with experts about the risks and explores the tactics Israel is using to continue to allow planes to take off and land in the country. Photo composite: George Downs/The Wall Street Journal

Persons: Israel's Ben, George Downs Organizations: Street Locations: Israel's Ben Gurion, Israel

☆ High UAW Wages Shrink Detroit’s Room to Maneuver
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( Stephen Wilmot | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Persons: George Downs

☆ Rep. Steve Scalise Wins GOP Nomination for Speaker
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

How America’s EV Ambitions Could Affect the Future of the UAWUAW union members have been striking over job security and pay as automakers push forward in developing EV’s, which require fewer workers and cost more in raw materials. So what does that mean for the future of auto workers and the union? Illustration: George Downs/The Wall Street Journal

Persons: George Downs Organizations: UAW UAW, Street

☆ How Scientists Plan to Save Infrastructure From Catastrophic Solar Storms
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Persons: George Downs Organizations: UAW UAW, Street

☆ Battleground Ukraine: Shifting Strategies and a Potential Stalemate
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Persons: George Downs Organizations: UAW UAW, Street

☆ How America’s EV Ambitions Could Affect the Future of the UAW
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( George Downs | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Why Cities Like New York Are Adopting Congestion Tolls New Yorkers lose an average of 117 hours a year in traffic according to the MTA. Now, New York City is turning to congestion tolls to help unclog its roads. WSJ’s George Downs explores if these tolls actually reduce traffic and whether other U.S. cities will adopt them. Illustration: George Downs/The Wall Street Journal

Persons: George Downs Organizations: MTA, Street Locations: New, , New York City

☆ Biden Condemns Hamas Attack on Israel, Pledges Support
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Persons: George Downs Organizations: UAW UAW, Street

☆ U.S. Soldier Travis King Lands in Texas After Release From North Korea
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Why Cities Like New York Are Adopting Congestion TollsNew Yorkers lose an average of 117 hours a year in traffic according to the MTA. Now, New York City is turning to congestion tolls to help unclog its roads. WSJ’s George Downs explores if these tolls actually reduce traffic and whether other U.S. cities will adopt them. Illustration: George Downs/The Wall Street Journal

Persons: George Downs Organizations: MTA, Street Locations: New, , New York City

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