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☆ Looming UAW strike puts 'Union Joe' Biden in a tough position
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Emma Kinery | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

US President Joe Biden tours the Mack Trucks Lehigh Valley Operations Manufacturing Facility alongside Martin Weissburg (R), President of Mack Trucks and Kevin Fronheiser (L), Shop Chairman of UAW Local 677, in Macungie, Pennsylvania, July 28, 2021. WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden finds himself in a tough spot between his "Union Joe" persona and his aggressive climate goals as the United Auto Workers prepare to strike. Speaking on CNBC's "Last Call" Wednesday, UAW President Shawn Fain said, "Endorsements are earned, not freely given. "He must know something we don't know," Fain said Monday. "He was on the air the other day encouraging people to stop paying union dues," Fain said referring to Trump.

Persons: Joe Biden, Martin Weissburg, Mack Trucks, Kevin Fronheiser, Joe, Biden, Shawn Fain, Fain, Karine Jean, Pierre, Biden's, Donald Trump, Trump, That's Organizations: Mack, Lehigh, Operations Manufacturing, UAW, Agency, Motors, General Motors, Ford, Stellantis, United Auto Workers, Wednesday, Warehouse Union, Pacific Maritime Association, White, Biden, Biden irked UAW, Labor, Detroit News, House Press Locations: Macungie , Pennsylvania, America, WASHINGTON, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pa

Biden's Labor Day prediction that the union would not strike against Detroit's automakers ahead of a Sept. 14 contract deadline was soundly rejected by UAW President Shawn Fain. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden's comments about the UAW over Labor Day was him being "an optimistic person." The White House has tried to play a role in several recent large-scale union contract negotiations involving rail workers and West Coast port workers. Trump won Michigan in 2016, helping propel him to the White House; Biden beat him by 154,000 votes in Michigan in 2020. Around half a million more threatened strikes in the first half of 2023, estimates from national labor unions show.

Persons: Joe Biden's, Biden, Biden's, Shawn Fain, Fain, Karine Jean, Pierre, Kate Bronfenbrenner, Donald Trump, Trump, Joe Biden, Joshua Roberts, Harley Shaiken, Shaiken, Nandita Bose, David Shepardson, Joseph White, Heather Timmons, Deepa Babington Organizations: UAW, Biden's Labor, Detroit's, House Press, Labor, General Motors, Ford, carmakers, Anderson Economic, Cornell University's School of Industry & Labor Relations, White House, Wednesday, Workers, Republican, Michigan, State Labor, Metal Workers, Local, REUTERS, University of California, Bureau of Labor Statistics, EV, White, Energy Department, Teamsters, UPS, House, Thomson Locations: Detroit, America, Pennsylvania, Michigan, West Coast, Philadelphia , Pennsylvania, U.S, Berkeley, Michigan , Ohio , Indiana , Illinois, Belvidere , Illinois, Washington

☆ Canadian union Unifor names Ford as bargaining target among Detroit Three
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha Acquire Licensing RightsAug 29 (Reuters) - Canadian union Unifor on Tuesday announced Ford Motor (F.N) as its potential target for negotiations amid contract talks with the Detroit Three automakers. Unifor President Lana Payne noted that Ford's Windsor, Ontario engine plant, which her union represents, builds engine for some of the company's most profitable trucks. The UAW, which represents about 150,000 workers at the Detroit Three's U.S. factories, has not yet chosen one company to lead contract talks. UAW President Shawn Fain has said all the three companies - Ford, General Motors (GM.N) and Stellantis NV - need to conclude new contracts by a Sept. 14 deadline. Unifor, which represents 18,000 members at Ford, GM and Stellantis in Canada, had opened formal negotiations with the three companies on Aug. 10 in Toronto.

Persons: Athit, Ford, Lana Payne, Payne, Shawn Fain, Nathan Gomes, Joe White, Shivansh Tiwary, Maju Samuel Organizations: REUTERS, Tuesday, Detroit Three, United Auto Workers, UAW, Detroit, Ford, Detroit Three's, General Motors, Stellantis, GM, Thomson Locations: Bangkok, Thailand, Canada, Windsor , Ontario, Detroit Three's U.S, Toronto, Bengaluru, Detroit

☆ Stellantis wants Italy government support to hit million model mark
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Companies Stellantis NV FollowMILAN, July 26 (Reuters) - Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares said a production target of one million vehicles in Italy it is discussing with Rome was well within reach but it could not be a one-sided commitment and the government must support it. "We are not afraid of the one million mark," Tavares told reporters in a post-earnings roundtable. According to some forecasts its output in Italy will likely rise to over 800,000 units this year. Fiat Chrysler, which merged with France's PSA in early 2021 to create Stellantis, last produced over one million vehicles in Italy back in 2017. Reporting by Giulio Piovaccari Editing by Keith WeirOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Carlos Tavares, Rome, Tavares, Adolfo Urso, Alfa Romeo, Giulio Piovaccari, Keith Weir Organizations: Italy's Industry, Fiat, Alfa, Fiat Chrysler, France's PSA, Thomson Locations: Italy, Rome

☆ Western businesses must find a way to work with China-Stellantis CEO
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Companies Stellantis NV FollowMILAN, July 5 (Reuters) - The head of carmaker Stellantis (STLAM.MI) said Beijing's decision to restrict exports of two metals widely used in semiconductors and electric vehicles should not push Western companies to reduce their exposure to China. "It's not realistic nor it is in the interest of Western companies," Tavares said. However it does work with a number of Chinese companies, including ones using gallium and germanium for products the carmaker is buying from them, Tavares said. Its first application will be for new Peugeot 3008 SUV, whose production will start this year at Sochaux facility in France. With the STLA Medium "we're really entering the race," Tavares told reporters, underlining the company's ambition in electric cars.

Persons: carmaker, Carlos Tavares, Tavares, Giulio Piovaccari, Gilles Guillaume, Keith Weir Organizations: Monday, European Union, Peugeot, Sochaux, Thomson Locations: China, France, Italy, Germany, North America

☆ Explainer: Why U.S. labor unions are gaining leverage in contract talks with big employers
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( Aishwarya Nair | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

July 5 (Reuters) - U.S. union workers are finding more solid footing during contract negotiations with employers as a tight labor market allows employees to flex more bargaining power. Airline pilots, railroad employees, dockworkers, and others have pushed for higher pay and better benefits, rebuffing offers from companies that in some contracts appeared significant. The two on Wednesday accused each other of walking away from negotiations over a new contract. WHAT ARE SOME NOTABLE UPCOMING CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS? Among U.S. airlines, Southwest Airlines (LUV.N) is yet to reach an agreement with its pilots union.

Persons: Joe Biden, Aishwarya Nair, Sriraj Organizations: Airline, United Parcel Service, Teamsters Union, Congress, Unions, United Auto Workers ', UAW, Detroit, Stellantis, General Motors Co, Ford Motor, U.S, Southwest Airlines, Southwest Airlines Pilots Association, Thomson Locations: Washington, Bengaluru

[1/2] Manufacturing equipment is seen during a tour of Foxconn's electric vehicle production facility in Lordstown, Ohio, U.S. November 30, 2022. The Domestic Manufacturing Conversion Grants for EVs program will provide cost-shared grants for making efficient hybrid, plug-in electric hybrid, fully electric, and fuel cell vehicles. The Department of Energy's Vehicle Technologies Office said the program will prioritize projects that refurbish or retool manufacturing plants that have recently stopped operations or were expected to close soon. The Biden administration, as part of its goal of decarbonizing the economy by 2050, is pushing the U.S. auto industry to accelerate a transition to EVs. The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, which represents General Motors (GM.N), Stellantis NV (STLAM.MI), Toyota Motor (7203.T) and others, on Wednesday called the EPA proposal a "de facto battery electric vehicle mandate" that was "neither reasonable nor achievable."

Persons: Quinn Glabicki, Joe Biden's, Biden, Shawn Fain, Stellantis, Timothy Gardner, Joe White, David Shepardson, David Gregorio, Grant McCool Organizations: REUTERS, WASHINGTON, United Auto Workers, UAW, Energy's Vehicle Technologies, Lordstown, Environmental Protection Agency, Alliance, Automotive Innovation, General Motors, Stellantis, Toyota, Energy Department, Thomson Locations: Lordstown , Ohio, U.S, DETROIT, Ohio, Michigan , Ohio , Illinois, Indiana, Belvidere , Illinois, Washington, Detroit

☆ Ford to cut jobs in the US, Canada to trim costs
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( Aishwarya Nair | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

June 27 (Reuters) - Ford Motor Co (F.N) said on Tuesday it will begin layoffs this week, impacting mostly engineering jobs in the U.S. and Canada, as part of the Detroit automaker's move to exit unprofitable locations and cut headcount. The development comes after the company said in May it expects to take up restructuring charges between $1.5 billion and $2 billion in 2023. "This is related to the Ford+ growth plan we introduced in 2021," the company added. CNBC reported on Monday job cuts were expected to affect all three of Ford's business units - Ford Blue, Model e and Ford Pro. In February, Ford also detailed plans to eliminate 3,800 product development and administration jobs in Europe in the next three years.

Persons: Ford, Stellantis, Jim Farley, Aishwarya Nair, Priyamvada, Krishna Chandra Organizations: Ford Motor, Detroit, Street Journal, General Motors, CNBC, Ford, Ford Pro, Thomson Locations: U.S, Canada, North America, Europe, Bengaluru

☆ Ford preparing for new round of layoffs for US salaried workers, Wall Street Journal reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

June 22 (Reuters) - Ford Motor (F.N) is preparing for a new round of layoffs for its salaried workers in the United States, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter. The company in March last year announced plans to reduce structural costs of up to $3 billion at its gas-powered vehicle unit. In August, Ford said it would cut a total of 3,000 salaried and contract jobs, mostly in North America and India. Price hikes and strong demand for new vehicles have helped automakers counter some inflationary headwinds, though higher costs of raw material remain a challenge. Reporting by Nathan Gomes in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju Samuel and Devika SyamnathOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Ford, Stellantis, Nathan Gomes, Maju Samuel, Devika Organizations: Ford, Wall Street, Detroit, General Motors, Thomson Locations: United States, North America, India, Bengaluru

[1/3] A Chevrolet 2020 heavy-duty pickup truck is seen at the General Motors Flint Assembly Plant in Flint, Michigan, U.S. February 5, 2019. GM has outlined this year a total of $1.7 billion in investments in Flint facilities to support the next generation of its heavy duty pickups. GM said it will spend $579 million at its Flint Engine Operations to produce a sixth generation of its small block V-8 combustion engine. Another $103.5 million will be spent upgrading a separate Flint facility that supports truck production. GM expects to start bargaining with the United Auto Workers union for a new contract with a deadline of Sept. 14 to reach an agreement with it U.S. production workers.

Persons: Rebecca Cook, Ram, Mike Booth, Shawn Fain, Fain, Priyamvada, Shilpi Majumdar, David Gregorio Our Organizations: General Motors, REUTERS, General Motors Co, GM, Ford Motor, Detroit Three, United Auto Workers, Investment, UAW, Thomson Locations: Flint , Michigan, U.S, Flint, Kokomo , Indiana, Kokomo, Asia, Bengaluru

☆ Stellantis in talks for parts and material recycling JV with Galloo
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Companies Stellantis NV FollowMILAN, June 5 (Reuters) - Carmaker Stellantis (STLAM.MI) and Belgian metals recycler Galloo have entered exclusive talks to create a joint venture focused on parts and material recycling from end-of-life vehicles, the two companies said on Monday. The JV will offer its services to Stellantis and other automakers. Stellantis has set a goal to have 40% of green materials in its vehicles by 2030. The world's third largest carmaker by sales has plans to boost recycling revenue ten-fold and parts revenue 4-fold by 2030, compared to 2021, targeting over 2 billion euros ($2.1 billion) in revenue from its circular economy business by that date. Jones said the JV would also rely on Stellantis' main circular economy hub, which the group is setting-up in its Mirafiori complex in Turin, Italy.

Persons: Galloo, Stellantis, Alison Jones, Jones, Giulio Piovaccari, Gilles Guillaume, David Evans Organizations: MILAN, JV, Global, Thomson Locations: France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Europe, Stellantis, Turin, Italy

☆ Stellantis says UK needs to change Brexit deal -BBC
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Companies Stellantis NV FollowMay 16 (Reuters) - Stellantis (STLAM.MI), one of the world's biggest automakers, has said that UK needs to renegotiate parts of its Brexit deal or risk losing parts of its car industry, the BBC reported on Tuesday. The carmaker urged the government to reach an agreement with the European Union about keeping the current rules till 2027, or else "trade between the UK and EU would be subject to 10% tariffs," BBC quoted Stellantis as saying. Stellantis said its UK investments were based on meeting the strict terms of the post-Brexit free trade deal, citing a submission to a Commons inquiry into electric car production, said the report without mentioning when the statements were made. Under the trade deal, starting 2024, 45% of the value of EVs should originate in the EU or UK to qualify for trade without tariffs, the BBC said. Stellantis' submission says that uncompetitive electric vehicle costs will mean "manufacturers will not continue to invest" and will "relocate manufacturing operations outside of the UK", the report said.

☆ Stellantis recalls 219,000 Jeep SUVs over fire risks
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/David 'Dee' Delgado/File PhotoCompanies Stellantis NV FollowWASHINGTON May 16 (Reuters) - Chrysler-parent Stellantis said on Tuesday it is recalling 219,000 Jeep Cherokee SUVs worldwide for fire risks and warned owners to park outside until repairs are made. The recall covers 2014 through 2016 model year Jeep Cherokee vehicles equipped with a power liftgate. An electrical short in the power liftgate module may lead to a vehicle fire with the ignition on or off. NHTSA said owners should follow Stellantis advice and park outside until the recall is developed and owners get repairs. Stellantis last year opened an investigation as a result of an increasing trend in cargo compartment fires in 2014 and 2015 Jeep Cherokee vehicles.

DETROIT, May 10 (Reuters) - General Motors Co (GM.N) will consolidate North American sales operations for commercial vehicles, parts and telematics services under a new brand umbrella, GM Envolve, that will compete with Ford Motor Co's (F.N) Ford Pro unit and others for revenue from business vehicle fleets. GM executives said the reorganization is aimed at making it easier for commercial fleet customers to negotiate electric and combustion vehicle purchases and sign up for services and software offerings that GM is developing to generate revenue after the vehicle sale. GM is battling with Ford and Stellantis NV for a bigger share of the commercial fleet market. Ford created its Ford Pro commercial fleet unit in May 2021, and is aiming to increase its annual revenue to $45 billion by 2025, driven in part by software-enabled services. Both Ford and GM say they are leaders in commercial fleet sales, using different definitions of the market.

May 4 (Reuters) - Albemarle Corp (ALB.N) is open to renegotiating its Chile lithium contract before 2043 and would seek access to even more of the country's vast reserves of the metal used to make electric vehicle batteries, CEO Kent Masters told Reuters on Thursday. Albemarle and SQM's contracts only grant access to the Atacama salt flats, or salars, but Boric hopes to open up many other salars across his country for lithium production, a step that will require DLE technologies. Many DLE technologies use lots of potable water and electricity, a limitation that Albemarle has acknowledged and one it is working to limit. Chile and Albemarle could cement their dominant role in the global lithium and EV industries if they can get one or more DLE technology to succeed. Masters declined to comment on Australian lithium developer's Liontown Resources Ltd (LTR.AX) rejection in March of Albemarle's $3.7 billion takeover bid.

☆ General Motors cuts several hundred full-time contract workers
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

A sign with the General Motors quality mission statement stands in the lobby at the GM Warren Tech Center in Warren, Michigan. General Motors Co on Monday said it had cut several hundred full-time contract workers over the weekend including at its engineering hub in suburban Detroit, the latest effort by the U.S. automaker to streamline operations. The Wall Street Journal reported the job cuts earlier. GM said in April that about 5,000 salaried workers had opted for buyouts to leave the company. The offers cover 31,000 hourly workers and about 2,500 salaried workers.

☆ Stellantis offering voluntary buyouts to 33,500 US employees
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, April 26 (Reuters) - Chrysler parent Stellantis NV (STLAM.MI) said Wednesday it is offering voluntary exit packages to 33,500 U.S. employees as it looks to streamline operations. The offers cover 31,000 U.S. hourly workers and about 2,500 salaried workers. Stellantis did not say how many total jobs it is looking to eliminate. It is also offering some employees in Canada voluntary buyouts. On Tuesday, a local UAW unit said Stellantis wants to cut approximately 3,500 hourly U.S. jobs in the voluntary offer.

☆ Jeep Maker Stellantis to Offer Buyouts to Hourly, Salaried Workers
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Ryan Felton | Nora Eckert | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The buyouts will be offered to 31,000 hourly employees and 2,500 salaried workers in the U.S. and Canada. Photo: REBECCA COOK/REUTERSJeep maker Stellantis NV plans to offer buyout packages to both white-collared and hourly workers as it trims costs in some areas to fund its transition to electric vehicles, according to an internal company memo. Stellantis, which also owns Chrysler, Dodge and Ram, will offer voluntary separation packages to certain salaried employees with at least 15 years of experience, according to an email sent from Mark Stewart , the company’s North American chief operating officer.

WASHINGTON, April 25 (Reuters) - Chrysler-parent Stellantis NV (STLAM.MI) wants to cut approximately 3,500 hourly U.S. jobs and is offering voluntary exit packages, according to a United Auto Workers union letter made public Tuesday. A person briefed on the matter said the figure might be lower than the figure cited in the UAW letter. The action impacted about 1,350 workers at the Belvidere, Illinois, plant that built the Jeep Cherokee SUV and resulted in indefinite layoffs. The UAW letter said openings created by workers leaving would be filled by workers on indefinite layoff. Stellantis said in February that about 40,000 U.S. hourly workers were eligible for profit sharing.

Many DLE technologies use lots of potable water and electricity. SQM (SQMA.SN) and Albemarle Corp (ALB.N), Chile's two existing lithium producers, use evaporation ponds to produce the metal. Livent Corp (LTHM.N) uses a variation of DLE technology in Argentina alongside evaporation ponds. Lake Resources is working with Bill Gates-backed Lilac Solutions Inc to deploy Lilac's DLE technology in Argentina. In Chile, DLE companies see a business opportunity despite the nationalization plans given that Boric's new state lithium company is expected to need technical support.

[1/9] View shows the site where the gigafactory for electric vehicle battery production by Volkswagen Group's battery company PowerCo SE will be built in St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada April 21, 2023. REUTERS/Carlos OsorioCompanies Volkswagen AG FollowStellantis NV FollowBERLIN, April 21 (Reuters) - Canada and Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) on Friday together committed more than C$20 billion ($14.8 billion) for a battery gigafactory in St. Thomas, Ontario, the biggest single investment ever in the country's electric-vehicle supply chain. Europe's largest carmaker is investing up to C$7 billion to build the plant, Volkswagen said in a statement. The battery plant is expected to be Volkswagen's largest and create up to 3,000 jobs. "This secures the future of St. Thomas," the city's mayor, Joe Preston, told Reuters earlier this week.

DETROIT, April 21 (Reuters) - United Auto Workers union President Shawn Fain said on Friday there is "no excuse" for Detroit's automakers to set up electric vehicle operations and ventures that are not unionized. Detroit automakers have set up several U.S. joint venture battery factories that are not covered by their current agreements with the UAW. Fain said workers at joint venture battery plants should earn higher wages than production workers at older Detroit Three factories. "I look forward to bring that work under the UAW," Fain said. The UAW president said workers displaced as factories dedicated to combustion vehicle technology lose work should have a right to get jobs at joint venture factories.

☆ Stellantis recalls 131,700 Ram trucks over powertrain software issue - NHTSA
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Companies Stellantis NV FollowApril 19 (Reuters) - Stellantis will recall 131,700 Ram 1500 pickup trucks manufactured in 2021 due to a powertrain software issue, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) website showed on Wednesday. The issue may cause the pickup trucks with 5.7L eTorque engines to stall due to an incorrect fuel mixture condition, according to the NHTSA. "The company is unaware of any related injuries," Stellantis said in an emailed statement, adding that there was only one report of a vehicle crash potentially related to this condition. Dealers will update the powertrain control module software on the impacted vehicles for free, according to the NHTSA. Stellantis in February recalled 340,000 diesel Ram trucks to replace an electrical connector after reports of six fires.

☆ VW, Rivian, Nissan, BMW lose access to US EV tax credits
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-17 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Aly Song/File PhotoApril 17 (Reuters) - The U.S. Treasury said on Monday that Volkswagen, BMW, Nissan, Rivian, Hyundai and Volvo electric vehicles will lose access to a $7,500 tax credit under new rules for battery sourcing. VW said it was "fairly optimistic" the ID.4 SUV will qualify for the tax credit. Treasury also disclosed General Motors Co (GM.N) electric Chevrolet Bolt and Bolt EUV will qualify for the full $7,500 tax credit. GM said earlier it expected at least some of its EVs would qualify for the $7,500 tax credit under the new rules, including the 2023 Cadillac Lyriq and forthcoming Chevrolet Equinox EV SUV and Blazer EV SUV. Treasury in December said EVs ineligible for the $7,500 consumer tax credit could qualify for a commercial leasing $7,500 credit.

[1/2] A Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) sign is at the U.S. headquarters in Auburn Hills, Michigan, U.S. May 25, 2018. REUTERS/Rebecca Cook/File PhotoWASHINGTON, April 17 (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear a bid by General Motors Co (GM.N) to revive its racketeering lawsuit against rival automaker Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), now part of Franco-Italian automaker Stellantis NV , over bribery allegations involving the United Auto Workers union. Stellantis in a statement praised the court's decision to turn away what it described as "baseless claims" by GM. "Today's decision upholding the district court's dismissal of GM's lawsuit is another reaffirmation that its claims are meritless," Stellantis said. FCA paid a $30 million fine while the UAW agreed to independent oversight to resolve the U.S. Justice Department investigation.

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