DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

DETROIT (AP) — Ford Motor Co. is resuming construction on a Michigan electric vehicle battery plant that the company postponed two months ago during a strike by the United Auto Workers union. But the automaker says that due to slowing electric vehicle sales growth, it will scale back the factory size, cutting the number of planned jobs by about one third from 2,500 to 1,700. Ford put the plant, originally to cost $3.5b, on hold in late September as the union went on strike at targeted assembly plants run by Ford, General Motors and Jeep maker Stellantis. Unlike the company's other battery plants that are joint ventures, the Marshall factory will be a fully owned Ford subsidiary staffed by Ford workers. But China’s Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd., or CATL, which is known for its lithium-iron-phosphate expertise, would supply technology, some equipment and workers.

Persons: —, Ford, Mark Truby, ”, Marshall Organizations: DETROIT, — Ford Motor Co, United Auto Workers, Ford, General Motors, EV, Amperex Technology, . Ltd Locations: Michigan, Marshall, Detroit

Ford said it would restart construction of the factory near Marshall, Michigan, after being paused two months ago. Ford is pushing for the U.S. Treasury Department to approve lithium-iron, or LFP, batteries made at the Michigan factory to qualify for Inflation Reduction Act EV subsidies. Ford now plans to cut the Michigan battery plant's capacity to 20 gigawatt hours and reduce hiring to 1,700 jobs. Ford said in October that it would cut future electric vehicle investments overall by $12 billion compared to previous plans. The company has previously postponed construction of a battery factory in Kentucky and another in Turkey.

Persons: Ford, CATL, Mark Truby, Truby, Joe White, Anil D'Silva Organizations: DETROIT, CATL, United Auto Workers, U.S . Treasury Department, Ford, Blue, Battery Park Michigan, Michigan, Thomson Locations: Michigan, U.S, Marshall , Michigan, Kentucky, Turkey

☆ Ford to scale back plans for $3.5 billion Michigan battery plant as EV demand disappoints, labor costs rise
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Ford CEO Jim Farley announces at a press conference that Ford Motor Company will be partnering with the worlds largest battery company, a China-based company called Contemporary Amperex Technology, to create an electric-vehicle battery plant in Marshall, Michigan, on February 13, 2023 in Romulus, Michigan. DETROIT – Ford Motor is scaling back plans for a $3.5 billion battery plant in Michigan as consumers move to electric vehicles more slowly than expected, labor costs rise and the company moves to cut costs. Ford executives including CEO Jim Farley and Chair Bill Ford initially announced the facility in February. Reductions at the Marshall, Michigan plant are part of Ford's plans announced last month to cut or delay about $12 billion in previously announced EV investments. The company will also postpone construction of another electric vehicle battery plant in Kentucky.

Persons: Jim Farley, Bill Ford, Ford, Mark Truby Organizations: Ford Motor Company, Technology, Ford, Amperex Technology, U.S, Marshall Locations: China, Marshall , Michigan, Romulus , Michigan, DETROIT, Michigan, EVs, Kentucky

The nation’s biggest automakers – and car buyers everywhere -- will learn Friday whether the United Auto Workers union will escalate its strike over a demand for higher wages, a shorter work week and other benefits. Fain said earlier this week he would call on workers at more plants to strike unless there was significant progress in contract negotiations with the carmakers. Bargaining continued Thursday, although neither side reported any breakthroughs, and they remained far apart on wage increases. The companies have laid off a few thousand more, saying some factories are running short on parts because of the strike. If the deal is ratified, Unifor expects that GM and Stellantis will agree to similar contracts for Canadian workers.

Persons: Shawn Fain, Fain, Louis, Unifor, Stellantis, ” Ford, “ It’s, Mark Truby, Jonah Furman Organizations: United Auto Workers, UAW, Ford, General Motors, Workers, Stellantis, Canadian, GM, Detroit News Locations: Detroit, St, Toledo , Ohio

☆ Automakers question UAW's strike motives after leaked 'chaos' messages
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain (center) marches with UAW members through downtown Detroit after a rally in support of the union's members as they strike the Big Three automakers, Detroit, Michigan, Sept. 15, 2023. DETROIT – Major automakers are calling into question the United Auto Workers' motives in launching targeted strikes in light of leaked messages by a union director calling to "keep them wounded for months." Ford communications chief Mark Truby said in a statement Friday the leaked messages are "disappointing, to say the least, given what is at stake for our employees, the companies and this region." In response to The Detroit News, Furman would not confirm writing the messages but according to the paper, called them "private messages" that "you shouldn't have." The leaked messages come as Fain on Friday announced additional plants the union plans to strike as part of its "stand-up strikes," a nod to historic "sit-down" strikes by the UAW in the 1930s.

Persons: Shawn Fain, Jonah Furman, Shawn Fain's, Motors, Mary Barra, Jim Farley, Mark Truby, Stellantis, Furman, Fain, Malcom X Organizations: United Auto Workers, UAW, Big Three, DETROIT –, Twitter, CNBC, The Detroit, Ford Motor, Ford, Chrysler, Detroit News, Furman, Labor Locations: Detroit, Detroit , Michigan, Indiana

☆ Striking auto workers target 38 new GM and Stellantis plants as strike enters second week
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The United Auto Workers union expanded its strike on Friday, as the stoppage entered a second week. Striking workers are asking for pay raises and calling attention to how much their CEOs make. The UAW has other demands, including a 32-hour work week for 40 hours of pay and a restoration of traditional pension plans for newer workers. Fain said earlier this week he would call on workers at more plants to strike unless there was significant progress in contract negotiations with the carmakers. One week ago, workers went on strike a week ago at three assembly plants — a Ford factory near Detroit, a GM plant outside St. Louis, and a Jeep plant owned by Stellantis in Toledo, Ohio.

Persons: Ford, Shawn Fain, Fain, Friday, Louis, Mark Truby, Jonah Furman Organizations: United Auto Workers, Ford, UAW, Service, Motors, Stellantis, Detroit News, GM Locations: Wall, Silicon, Detroit, Wentzville , Missouri, Toledo , Ohio, St

☆ Leaked UAW messages detail 'chaos' strategy
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( Vanessa Yurkevich | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

New York CNN —The United Auto Workers Union is prepared to strike automakers for “months,” according to leaked messages obtained by CNN. One advantage for the union of a targeted strike is the potential to save resources and extend a possible strike. The union members who are on strike are eligible for $500 a week in strike benefits from the union’s strike fund. With targeted strikes, it’s possible that the companies will shut down operations and lay off members who are not technically on strike. John Hatline, who has worked at General Motors for 49 years and has seen his fair share of strikes, told CNN before the strikes began that he thought targeted strikes can work.

Persons: Jonah Furman, Furman, they’re, Shawn Fain, Fain, ”, “, John Hatline, Hatline, ” “, Mark Truby Organizations: New, New York CNN, United Auto Workers Union, CNN, Communications, Big, UAW, Detroit Free Press, UAW Communications, General Motors, ”, Motors, Ford, Genal Motors Locations: New York, Detroit

☆ UAW cites 'productive' talks with Ford on second day of US auto strike
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-16 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

About 12,700 UAW workers remained on strike for a second day as part of a coordinated labor action targeting three U.S. assembly plants - one at each of the Detroit Three automakers. However, the UAW comment about the tenor of talks at Ford was more positive than the union's characterization of progress ahead of the kickoff of the strikes. "As we have said all along, Ford has bet on the UAW more than any other company. We are committed to reaching an agreement with UAW that rewards our workers and allows Ford to invest in the future. GM said on Thursday the UAW wage and benefits proposals would cost it $100 billion, while Ford's Farley said the a 40% UAW wage hike would "put us out of business."

Persons: Stellantis, Jim Farley, Ford, Mark Truby, Mark Stewart, Stewart, Shawn Fain, Fain, Ford's Farley, Joe Biden, David Shepardson, Joseph White, Paul Simao Organizations: United Auto Workers, Ford, Chrysler, UAW, Detroit Three automakers, Union, General Motors, GM, North American, Ford Bronco, Chevrolet, Thomson Locations: Illinois, Belvidere , Illinois, Michigan , Ohio, Missouri, Chevrolet Colorado, Michigan, Kansas, Toledo , Ohio

Search resuls for: "Mark Truby"

8 mentions found