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☆ Volkswagen union vote in Tennessee to test UAW's power after victories in Detroit
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-16 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Elijah Nouvelage | Getty ImagesDETROIT — Volkswagen workers in Chattanooga, Tennessee, will vote this week on whether to organize with the United Auto Workers in a key test of the union's sway. More than 4,000 VW workers are eligible to vote, beginning Wednesday and ending at 8 p.m. EDT on Friday. The organizing vote, which is being overseen by the National Labor Relations Board, will need a simple majority to succeed. Volkswagen, which has union workers at non-U.S. plants, has said it will let its workers determine whether to organize. An aerial view of the Chattanooga Volkswagen factory in Chattanooga, Tennessee on April 10, 2024.

Persons: Elijah Nouvelage, Shawn Fain, Fain, Stephen Silvia, Southern, Silvia, Kevin Wurm, it's, we're, —, Isaac Meadows, Meadows Organizations: Volkswagen, Getty, DETROIT, United Auto Workers, UAW, General Motors, Ford Motor, Chrysler, Detroit, Tennessee VW, VW, National Labor Relations Board, Detroit automakers, Southern Gamble, Workers, Foreign, American University, Washington , D.C, Chattanooga Volkswagen, Washington Post, Ford Locations: Chattanooga , Tennessee, U.S, Detroit, Tennessee, Chattanooga, Washington ,

☆ What Happened When a German Car Factory Went All Electric
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-09 | by ( Jack Ewing | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

So when Volkswagen announced in 2018 that it would convert its Zwickau factory, the largest private employer in the area, to manufacture nothing but electric vehicles, it was a big deal. “A lot of people were skeptical,” said Michael Fuchs, who has worked at the factory for more than a quarter century. They wondered, “What’s going to happen?” he said. Volkswagen shut down assembly lines churning out its popular Golf hatchbacks and converted the factory, which has its own exit on the autobahn, to make six electric models. The remodeled plant can produce a car a minute, shipping them out by train.

Persons: Horch, ”, Michael Fuchs, “ What’s Organizations: Volkswagen Locations: Zwickau, Germany’s, Detroit

☆ How car buyers thinking hybrid over EV should make the decision
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-07 | by ( Cheryl Winokur Munk | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

And what would the upfront costs be to upgrade your system to allow for faster charging, if desired? Do the math on upfront cost, EV vs. hybridIf it's still a toss up between an EV and a hybrid, next consider upfront costs. By contrast, the average starting price for a hybrid car is $33,214, according to iSeeCars.com, a car search engine. Search for available auto rebates and incentivesIf you're leaning toward an EV, but still find the upfront cost daunting, look for possible rebates. He points to a study by Argonne National Lab that shows scheduled maintenance costs per mile are significantly lower for an EV versus a traditional hybrid or plug-in hybrid.

Persons: you've, Aston Martin, Sandeep Rao, there's, Rao, Steve Christensen, Maxwell Woody, Woody, Albert Gore, ZETA Organizations: Ford, General Motors, Mercedes, Benz, Volkswagen, Jaguar, Rover, Gallup, New York, EV, Chevrolet, Department of Energy, Battery Coalition, Progressive Casualty Insurance Company, of Michigan, University of Michigan, Argonne National Lab, Honda Locations: U.S, California, Florida, Texas

☆ From the Horror to the Envy of Africa: Rwanda’s Ruler Holds Tight Grip
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-06 | by ( Declan Walsh | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

Blood coursed through the streets of Rwanda’s capital, Kigali, in April 1994 as machete-wielding militiamen began a campaign of genocide that killed as many as 800,000 people, one of the great horrors of the late 20th century. Thirty years later, Kigali is the envy of Africa. Smooth streets curl past gleaming towers that hold banks, luxury hotels and tech startups. A 10,000-seat arena hosts Africa’s biggest basketball league and concerts by stars like Kendrick Lamar, the American rapper, who performed there in December. Tourists fly in to visit Rwanda’s famed gorillas.

Persons: Kendrick Lamar Organizations: Volkswagen, Tourists Locations: Rwanda’s, Kigali, Africa, American

☆ Mercedes-Benz Workers in Alabama Ask for Unionization Vote
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-05 | by ( Jack Ewing | More About Jack Ewing | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Workers at a Mercedes-Benz factory in Alabama have petitioned federal officials to hold a vote on whether to join the United Automobile Workers, the union said on Friday, a step forward for its drive to organize workers at car factories in the South. is also trying to organize workers at a Volkswagen factory in Tennessee and a Hyundai factory in Alabama, establishing a bigger presence in states that have drawn much of the new investment in automobile manufacturing in recent decades. A vote at the Volkswagen plant is scheduled for April 17 to 19. The drive has taken on added importance as Southern states like South Carolina and Georgia attract billions of dollars in investment in electric vehicle and battery manufacturing. is trying to ensure that jobs created by electric vehicles do not pay less than jobs at traditional auto factories.

Organizations: Benz, United Automobile Workers, Ford Motor, General Motors, Detroit, Volkswagen, Hyundai Locations: Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, Georgia

☆ UAW reaches milestone in filing for a union vote at second nonunion auto plant
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-05 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

But while that VW plant has had two votes before this, the Mercedes plant has never reached the threshold of union support that resulted in an election being held. An election at the Mercedes plant has yet to be confirmed by the National Labor Relations Board, which oversees such votes, let alone scheduled. While the UAW has filed for a vote at Mercedes’ Alabama plant, it has yet to file for a vote at its plant in Charleston, South Carolina. A high-profile union organizing vote at an Amazon warehouse in nearby Bessemer, Alabama was defeated in a close vote in 2021. And management of the non-union automakers is likely to fight union organizing efforts.

Persons: Mercedes, ” Organizations: New, New York CNN, United Auto Workers, UAW, Volkswagen, VW, National Labor Relations Board, Benz, International, General Motors, Ford, Mercedes, BMW, Honda, Hyundai, Mazda, Nissan, Subaru, Toyota, Volvo, GM Locations: New York, Alabama, Chattanooga , Tennessee, VW Chattanooga, Vance , Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Mexico, Edmunds, Tennessee, Mercedes ’ Alabama, Charleston , South Carolina, Bessemer , Alabama

☆ Inside Y Combinator's 60,000-square-foot, San Francisco college town
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-03 | by ( Melia Russell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The full-blown mania in artificial intelligence is bringing tech workers and startups back to San Francisco. Last June, the startup accelerator moved its headquarters from Mountain View into its new digs at the Pier 70 shipyard. Y Combinator partners record an episode of the Lightcone podcast in a production studio complete with professional cameras and lighting fixtures. Y CombinatorRemoving 'friction'For 17 years, Y Combinator set its base in Mountain View. The new San Francisco outpost was born from a desire to get founders in person again post-pandemic.

Persons: —, Jared Friedman, hasn't, Y Combinator Friedman, Y, Friedman, Carlos Avila Gonzalez, Bart, Lindsay Amos Organizations: Service, Volkswagen, Business, Chase, San, Rail, San Francisco Chronicle, Bay Area, YC Locations: San Francisco, Mountain View, San, bayside, View, Mission Bay, Bay, North Beach

☆ Noted Tesla bear says Musk's EV maker could 'go bust' and stock is worth $14
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-03 | by ( Arjun Kharpal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Since 2020, Clean Energy Transition has been short Tesla's stock, meaning Lekander's firm will profit if the automaker's shares fall. Lekander has taken his bearish Tesla call further, suggesting the stock could fall to $14 per share. watch nowIf Tesla's stock hit $14, that would represent around 91% downside from Tuesday's close. Analysts at HSBC and TD Cowen cut their price targets on Tesla's stock on Wednesday. Cathie Wood's Ark Invest bought Tesla stock for some of its funds this week ahead of the first-quarter delivery numbers in a sign of support.

Persons: Elon Musk, Tesla, Antonio Masiello, shorting, Lekander, Tesla's, that's, Richard Windsor, Windsor, Dan Ives, Ives, TD Cowen, Cathie Wood, Tom Narayan, CNBC's Organizations: Fratelli, shorting Elon, CNBC, Wednesday, Clean, Lansdowne Partners, Volkswagen, Radio Free Mobile, Wedbush Securities, HSBC, Invest, RBC Capital Markets Locations: Italy, Rome

☆ Tesla’s Sales Drop, a Sign That Its Grip on the E.V. Market Is Slipping
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-02 | by ( Jack Ewing | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The company said it delivered 387,000 cars worldwide in the first quarter, down 8.5 percent from 423,000 vehicles in the same period last year. This was the first time Tesla’s quarterly sales have fallen on a year over year basis since the pandemic started in 2020. The sales figures were also significantly lower than the estimates of Wall Street analysts who had expected a modest increase. The reduced deliveries are the latest sign that Tesla’s dominance of the market for electric cars is slipping. And in the United States, sales of electric cars are not growing as fast as they were a year ago.

Persons: Tesla, Elon Musk Organizations: Elon, Wall Street, Volkswagen, BMW Locations: China, Europe, United States

☆ I drove BYD's Seal electric car and Elon Musk may be grateful you can't buy one in the US
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-29 | by ( Chris Johnston | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

BYD has overtaken Tesla as the world's biggest maker of electric vehicles. I drove a Seal for a week and was impressed by its stylish design, features and crazy acceleration. The Seal is a similar price to Tesla's Model 3 in the UK — but BYD is not a well-known make. AdvertisementLast year BYD overtook Tesla as the world's biggest seller of electric vehicles. I borrowed a BYD Seal in Excellence trim, which also boasts all-wheel drive, for a week.

Persons: BYD, Tesla, —, It's Organizations: Tesla's, Service, Volkswagen Locations: China, London

☆ Op-ed: The effusive China tour is a failing playbook for Apple, Tim Cook, and every CEO
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-27 | by ( Dewardric L. Mcneal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

This ritual, epitomized by high-profile engagements — such as Apple CEO Tim Cook's effusive overtures and statements of commitments to China — signals that American corporate titans think the strategy can still work. Tim Cook's narrative of China as "critical" to Apple , coupled with his admiration for the country's advanced manufacturing capabilities, embodies the ethos of this engagement playbook. Apple's Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook attends the China Development Forum in Beijing on March 24, 2024. It's not that the Apple CEO is doing anything wrong. Chinese Apple superfans jostled to enter the smartphone maker's newest store as it opened on March 21 night.

Persons: Tim Cook's, Tim Cook, Pedro Pardo, Jim McNerney, Xi Jinping's, Mark Zuckerberg, Deirdre O'Brien, Strstr, Xi, Xi Jinping, Li Qiang Organizations: Apple, American, titans, U.S, Apple's, China Development Forum, AFP, Getty, Boeing, Airbus, Volkswagen, Qualcomm, Google, Facebook, Huawei, Afp Locations: China, Beijing, Weibo, Shanghai

☆ 'Too early to judge': Global carmakers contend with closure at busiest U.S. autos port
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-27 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The remains of the Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 26, 2024 in Baltimore. Michael A. McCoy | The Washington Post | Getty ImagesThe Baltimore bridge collapse on Tuesday prompted carmakers to assess operations after the closure of the busiest U.S. auto port. Six people who had been working on the bridge were presumed dead on Wednesday, after rescuers failed to find them. The Port of Baltimore, the 11th largest port in the U.S. and its busiest for autos and light trucks, has been closed until further notice. Sweden's Volvo Group said it did not expect a significant impact, but was checking its U.S. production facilities.

Persons: Francis Scott Key, Michael A, carmakers, Dimitris Psillakis, it's, Psillakis Organizations: Francis Scott Key Bridge, McCoy, Washington Post, Getty, Logistics, Mercedes, Benz, CNBC, Baltimore, Volkswagen Group of America, Germany's Volkswagen, VW, Audi, Lamborghini, Bentley, Atlantic, Volvo Group, General Motors, Ford, Toyota, Nissan, Mitsubishi Locations: Baltimore, Port, U.S, East, Brunswick, Georgia

☆ Opinion: The male drivers who just can’t let go of their stick shift
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-27 | by ( Opinion Paul Hockenos | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Berlin CNN —For old-school connoisseurs of the automobile — usually men — driving means operating a beloved vehicle by touch, with three pedals underfoot and a shift stick at hand. Paul Hockenos Hayyan Al-YousoufIn Europe, this clientele is responsible for a good deal of the moaning about manual transmission’s demise. Well, Zen or not, the day of manual transmissions is speeding to an end — and this layman is shedding no tears. For one, the oft-repeated benefits of a stick shift over an automatic have been redundant now for years. The explanation: automatics select the right gear for the vehicle, usually the highest gear possible.

Persons: Paul Hockenos, ”, Paul Hockenos Hayyan, Mercedes Benz, upshift, ’ ”, Sigmund Freud, it’s, Robert M, It’s, —, “, Cristine Organizations: CNN, Berlin CNN, Porsche, BMW, Volkswagen, Swiss, Neue Zürcher, Art, Environmental Protection Agency, International Energy Agency, Toyota Locations: Berlin, Europe, New Berlin, Yousouf, Germany, New York, San Francisco, Oslo, Norway

☆ Baltimore bridge collapse poses little threat to U.S. economic growth, experts say
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-26 | by ( Rebecca Picciotto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Auto companies like BMW and Volkswagen will likely be hit hardest at first, he added, given their heavy reliance on the Baltimore port. Regional economyFor the city of Baltimore, though, the economic impacts of the bridge collapse will hit harder and last longer. The Baltimore port directly employs over 15,000 workers and indirectly supports nearly 140,000 jobs via other port activities, according to Maryland Gov. Baltimore port employees could be temporarily furloughed, or see disruption in their work hours amid the shutdown. "The bridge collapse is the latest challenge for Northeast U.S. supply chains," said S&P Global Head of Supply Chain Research Chris Rogers.

Persons: Francis Scott Key, Roberto Schmidt, Baltimore's Francis Scott Key, Joseph Brusuelas, DALI, Joe Biden, Brusuelas, Mark Zandi, Wes Moore, Zandi, Research Chris Rogers, It's, we've Organizations: AFP, Getty, RSM, Auto, BMW, Volkswagen, Depot, IKEA, shipper FedEx, CNBC, Maryland Gov, Afp, Northeast, Supply, Research, Others Locations: Baltimore , Maryland, Singapore, Baltimore, of Baltimore, Port, United States, of LA, Northeast U.S, Sea, Panama

☆ Baltimore businesses are trying to figure out how the bridge collapse will affect them
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-26 | by ( Grace Dean | Mary Hanbury | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewThe collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore could have major effects on distribution and deliveries for businesses in the area. Baltimore's biggest bridge collapsed early on Tuesday morning after a cargo ship crashed into one of its support beams, prompting Maryland Gov. A spokesperson for Volkswagen said its operations were unaffected as its Baltimore facility was "located on the sea board of the bridge collapse." AdvertisementMcCormick, which manufactures spices and seasonings, said in 2020 that it expected its site at Tradepoint Atlantic to become its biggest distribution site. Local businesses prepare for ongoing disruptionThe Hard Yacht Cafe, located about a mile from the bridge, told BI that it wasn't yet clear how the collapse would affect its business.

Persons: —, Francis Scott Key, Wes Moore, Kevin Cartwright, Neil Saunders, Baltimore's Francis Scott Key, Armour, McCormick, we're, Alexander DelSordo Organizations: Service, Maryland Gov, Baltimore Fire Department, Associated Press, Business, Bloomberg, Maryland Transportation Authority, Depot, FedEx, BMW, Volkswagen, Google, Amazon, Volkswagen Group, Audi, Lamborghini, Bentley, CBS, WJZ, Bay Locations: Baltimore, Port of Baltimore, Sparrows, Europe, Mexico, Hawkins

☆ Automakers Are Rerouting Car Shipments Away From Baltimore
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-26 | by ( Neal E. Boudette | More About Neal E. Boudette | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Several large automakers said on Tuesday that they were working to reroute shipments of cars because of the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. The Port of Baltimore plays an important role in the shipment of vehicles and handled more than 750,000 cars and trucks in 2023, according to the Maryland Port Administration. Pete Buttigieg, the U.S. transportation secretary, said that the rerouting would affect the national supply chain. “It will not be quick, and it will not be inexpensive.”Among the automakers that use the port are General Motors, Ford Motor, Stellantis, Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz and BMW. Some automakers said they were planning to divert imports and exports of vehicles to other East Coast ports while they assessed how the collapse would affect their logistics.

Persons: Francis Scott Key, Wes Moore, Pete Buttigieg Organizations: Maryland Port Administration, Gov, General Motors, Ford Motor, Volkswagen, Mercedes, Benz, BMW Locations: Baltimore, The Port, United States, Maryland, U.S, East Coast

☆ Here's where to invest $1 million right now, according to the pros
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-25 | by ( Weizhen Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

If you had a spare $1 million to invest right now, what should you buy? He would allocate roughly 60% into stocks this way: 15% each to U.S. large-cap growth stocks and U.S. large-cap value stocks; 4% to small-caps; and 8% to mid-caps. "We really believe in style diversification and feel that remaining diversified with value and growth stocks remains prudent," Benson said. With a million dollars to invest, it would be "reasonable" for investors to put their money in both small- and mid-cap stocks now, he said. The average amount of money that his clients invest is $1.3 million, and his firm manages over $1.2 billion.

Persons: Aaron Benson, Baird, Benson, Chris Fasciano, Shams Afzal, Afzal, Louis Navellier, they've, Navellier, Li Auto Organizations: U.S . Federal, CNBC Pro, Commonwealth Financial Network, Carnegie Investment, Navellier, Associates, Nvidia, Computer, Micro, Mexico's Vista Energy, Volkswagen, Alamos Locations: U.S, Mexico, India, China

☆ Nissan targets 1 million extra vehicle sales in next 3 years, aims to cut EV costs
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-25 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

A Nissan Ariya electric car is on display during 2020 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition (Auto China 2020) at China International Exhibition Center on September 27, 2020 in Beijing, China. Nissan is targeting an additional 1 million vehicle sales over the next three years and a 30% reduction in electric vehicle production costs by 2030, the Japanese carmaker announced Monday. In a new medium-term business plan, Nissan also said it would launch 30 new models by fiscal year 2026, with 16 of these electrified. "Faced with extreme market volatility, Nissan is taking decisive actions guided by the new plan to ensure sustainable growth and profitability." The country boasts the world's largest and most crowded EV market and its automakers are exerting significant downward pressure on prices.

Persons: Makoto Uchida, Elon Musk Organizations: Nissan, Automotive, China International Exhibition Center, Ford Motor, General Motors, Mercedes, Benz, Volkswagen Locations: China, Beijing

☆ Biden administration softens EV mileage rule in a win for automakers
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-19 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

The original Biden administration proposal would have lowered such "petroleum-equivalent fuel economy" ratings for EVs by 72% in 2027. The industry cheered the Energy Department announcement. Automakers, auto dealers and the UAW called the original EPA plan unrealistic. The National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and Sierra Club had urged EV mileage rating reductions after the Energy Department left them unchanged for two decades. "The automakers' free ride is over," he said, adding that changes "will curtail automakers' use of phantom credits they used to keep selling gas-guzzlers."

Persons: Biden, Joe Biden's, Donald Trump, John Bozella, Tesla, Pete Huffman Organizations: Detroit, Biden, Department of Energy, Reuters, U.S, Republican, Energy Department, Ford, Alliance, Automotive, United Auto Workers, General Motors, Chrysler, Traffic, Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, Toyota, Honda, Hyundai, GM, Volkswagen, UAW, National Resources Defense Council, Sierra Club, Energy Locations: New York City, United States, Michigan, fleetwide, U.S, NRDC

☆ UAW files for union vote at Volkswagen’s Tennessee plant
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-18 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN —The United Auto Workers union is seeking a union representation vote among more than 4,000 hourly workers at the Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The union has announced a broad-based campaign to win representation at the American plants of 13 nonunion automakers. That is slightly more than the union’s representation at the three unionized automakers, which have about 145,000 UAW members between them. The VW Chattanooga plant is the only factory operated by VW that does not have union representation. Once the election process starts, management often holds mandatory meetings with staff to make the case against union representation, and that convinces some earlier supporters of the union to end their support.

Persons: –, ”, Victor Vaughn, ” Vaughn, “ Organizations: New, New York CNN, United Auto Workers, Volkswagen, BMW, Honda, Hyundai, Mazda, Nissan, Subaru, Toyota, Volvo, – Tesla, –, Motors, Ford, Jeep, Dodge, Chrysler, VW, ” Locations: New York, Chattanooga , Tennessee, VW Chattanooga, Chattanooga

☆ UAW says VW workers at Tennessee plant file for union election
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-18 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

DETROIT – Volkswagen workers at a plant in Tennessee have filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board for a vote to join the United Auto Workers, the union announced Monday. In 2019, VW workers at the Chattanooga, Tennessee, plant rejected union representation in an 833-776 vote. The Chattanooga plant is Volkswagen's only U.S. assembly plant and employs over 4,000 autoworkers who would be eligible to vote for union representation. "We will fully support an NLRB vote so every team member has a chance to vote in privacy in this important decision. By the end of the UAW contracts, top wages are expected to surpass $42 an hour for production workers.

Organizations: DETROIT, Volkswagen, National Labor Relations Board, United Auto Workers, U.S, UAW, Nissan, VW, NLRB, Detroit automakers, BMW, Honda, Hyundai, Mazda, Benz, Subaru, Toyota, Volvo Locations: Tennessee, U.S, Chattanooga , Tennessee, Chattanooga

☆ Audi reveals new all-electric Q6 e-tron SUV, its first next-generation EV
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-18 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Audi on Monday revealed its new all-electric Q6 e-tron SUV, the first production vehicle on its next-generation electric vehicle architecture. The Volkswagen -owned luxury carmaker says the new "Premium Platform Electric" opens up new levels of technology for Audi, including a rapid EV recharge time of 158 miles in 10 minutes. The vehicle ushers in the next generation of EVs for Audi, which continues to offer more all-electric and plug-in hybrid EVs despite growth slowing recently for EVs. Audi confirmed it plans to introduce about 20 new or significantly redesigned models and derivatives globally through 2025, more than half of which will be electric.

Organizations: Audi, Volkswagen, EVs

The union has come close to representing workers at the VW plant in two previous elections. Some prominent Tennessee Republican politicians had urged workers to vote against the union during both campaigns. The year after the 2014 vote failed, 160 Chattanooga maintenance workers won a vote to form a smaller union, but Volkswagen refused to bargain. In November, VW gave workers an 11% pay raise at the plant, but the union says VW's pay still lags behind Detroit automakers. Top assembly plant workers in Chattanooga make $32.40 per hour, VW said.

Persons: —, we'll, Yolanda Peoples Organizations: DETROIT, United Auto Workers, Workers, National Labor Relations Board, UAW, Detroit automakers, Tesla, Nissan, Mercedes, Benz, Hyundai, Kia, Toyota, Honda, VW, NLRB, Volkswagen, Tennessee Republican, General Motors, Ford, Detroit Locations: Chattanooga , Tennessee, Chattanooga, Tennessee, Mercedes, Vance , Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama

☆ VW Workers Seek Union Vote at Tennessee Plant for Third Time
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-18 | by ( Neal E. Boudette | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

Volkswagen employees in Tennessee who are hoping to join the United Automobile Workers asked a federal agency on Monday to hold an election, a key step toward the union’s longtime goal of organizing nonunion factories across the South. With the union’s backing, Volkswagen workers filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board asking for a vote on U.A.W. representation, saying that more than 70 percent of the 4,000 eligible workers at the plant had signed cards supporting the union. “Today, we are one step closer to making a good job at Volkswagen into a great career,” Isaac Meadows, an assembly worker at the plant, said in a statement. If held, an election would be the first test of the U.A.W.’s newfound strength after staging a wave of strikes in the fall against the three Detroit automakers — General Motors, Ford Motor and Stellantis — and winning record wage increases.

Persons: ” Isaac Meadows, ’, — Organizations: United Automobile Workers, Volkswagen, National Labor Relations Board, “, Detroit, —, Motors, Ford Motor Locations: Tennessee

☆ Tesla’s Troubles Raise Questions About Its Invincibility
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-18 | by ( Melissa Eddy | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

“They can’t stop us,” Mr. Musk, the company’s chief executive, told workers in a giant tent beside the plant. But there are proliferating signs that Tesla may not be as unstoppable as it once seemed. Chinese automakers and established brands like BMW and Volkswagen are flooding the market with electric cars. Mr. Musk’s many outside ventures, and his penchant for making polarizing political statements and attacking people he disagrees with, have raised questions about how focused he remains on managing Tesla. Wall Street is increasingly concerned about the company: Tesla’s share price has lost one-third of its value this year even as major stock indexes have hit record highs.

Persons: Elon Musk, ” Mr, Musk, Tesla Organizations: BMW, Volkswagen Locations: Tesla’s, Berlin

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