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☆ How Ford can challenge a powerful Chinese EV maker's potential entrance in the U.S.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-27 | by ( Paulina Likos | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +10 min

Forget Tesla , the real competition in electric vehicles is low-cost Chinese automakers. Farley wants to be prepared even if the U.S. government were to step in to curtail Chinese automakers' access. Outlook Ford investors shouldn't be concerned in the short term since Chinese EV competitors won't enter the market overnight. To that end, a group of lawmakers has urged the White House to boost tariffs on Chinese vehicles and figure out a way to be "prepared to address the coming wave" of Chinese vehicles by way of U.S. other trading partners. The cost of production will become more efficient, resulting in a more competitive and hopefully profitable Ford EV product.

Persons: Forget Tesla, Jim Farley, BYD, Ford, Farley, —, Warren, Berkshire Hathaway, Morgan Stanley, I've, Tom Narayan, Stellantis, Narayan, Tesla, Jim Cramer, Jim, It's, RBC's Narayan, Ford's Farley, Wolfe, Jeff Windau, Edward Jones, shouldn't, Biden, Windau, doesn't bode, Jim Cramer's, Charly Triballeau Organizations: Nikkei, Wolfe Research, Ford, RBC Capital Markets, U.S, EV, Detroit, General Motors, Chrysler, Ford Blue, Ford Pro, Ford Model, CNBC, ICE, Ferrari, North, Outlook, Bloomberg, Ford EV, American EV, AFP, Getty Locations: U.S, Mexico, China, Europe, Indonesia, Hungary, Thailand, Inwood , New York

☆ UAW threatens to strike Ford truck plant in Kentucky if local issues aren't resolved
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

DETROIT – The United Auto Workers is threatening a labor strike at Ford Motor's largest U.S. plant if local union demands aren't resolved by next week. The Detroit union on Friday said nearly 9,000 UAW autoworkers at Ford's Kentucky Truck Plant could strike at 12:01 a.m. on Feb. 23 if local contract issues remain. The plant — Ford's largest in terms of employment and revenue — produces Ford Super Duty pickups as well as the Ford Expedition and the Lincoln Navigator SUVs. Local contracts differ from the national agreements that the union ratified late last year with Ford, General Motors and Chrysler parent Stellantis . The union said "core issues in Kentucky Truck Plant's local negotiations are health and safety in the plant, including minimum in-plant nurse staffing levels and ergonomic issues, as well as Ford's continued attempts to erode the skilled trades at Kentucky Truck Plant."

Persons: Shawn Fain, aren't, Ford's Organizations: United Auto Workers, Detroit, DETROIT –, Ford Motor's, UAW, Ford, Ford Expedition, Lincoln, General Motors, Chrysler, Kentucky Locations: Kentucky

☆ A traditional automaker just turned a profit on EVs
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-15 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN —Electric vehicles are finally turning a profit for Stellantis, CEO Carlos Tavares said Thursday, and, in contrast to some rivals, it will not cut back on producing EVs. The announcement marks an important milestone for electric vehicles and for traditional automakers, which have struggled to make money on EVs even as demand has grown. Ford, the only company to break out results separately for electric and traditional vehicles, reported that it lost $4.7 billion in EVs last year, or more than $40,000 per vehicle. But he said that EVs, while profitable, are still not as profitable as traditional gas-powered vehicles. That includes profit sharing for about 38,000 United Auto Workers union members at an average of $13,860, down from $14,760 a year earlier.

Persons: Carlos Tavares, ”, Tesla, Traveras, Stellantis Organizations: New, New York CNN —, Fiat Chrysler, PSA Group, Ford, GM, General Motors, Jeep, Chrysler, Dodge, United Auto Workers, UAW Locations: New York, Detroit, EVs, Europe, Paris

☆ Stocks making the biggest moves midday: Cisco Systems, Twilio, Super Micro Computer and more
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-15 | by ( Samantha Subin | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Super Micro Computer — The technology name added 8.5% after Bank of America said shares could rise to $1,040, a Wall Street high. For the recent quarter, Applovin reported earnings of 49 cents per share and $953 million in revenue. However, the company beat first-quarter earnings and revenue estimates. JFrog — The software development stock skyrocketed 25% after topping Wall Street's fourth-quarter estimates. That topped FactSet estimates 12 cents per share in earnings on $93 million in revenue.

Persons: Twilio, Applovin, Deere, Tripadvisor, Albemarle —, — Coinbase, —, JFrog, Penn, Jesse Pound, Hakyung Kim, Alex Harring, Michelle Fox, Brian Evans, Christina Cheddar Berk Organizations: Cisco Systems, Cisco, LSEG, Bank of America, Wells, Currency, Deere, Albemarle, JPMorgan, Chrysler, Fiat, Penn Entertainment, ESPN Bet Locations: North Carolina

☆ Chrysler reveals new Halcyon concept car as direction for future EVs
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The Chrysler Halcyon concept car. The Chrysler Halcyon concept car. The Chrysler Halcyon concept car. StellantisAutomakers routinely use concept vehicles to gauge customer interest or show the future direction of a vehicle or brand. The Halcyon concept car boasts "harmony in motion" and sustainability principles, according to several officials.

Persons: Christine Feuell, we've, Feuell, Stellantis Organizations: Chrysler, DETROIT, Chrysler Pacifica, Stellantis, Fiat Chrysler, French, PSA, —, CES Locations: U.S, Canada

WASHINGTON (AP) — From Wall Street traders to car dealers to home buyers, Americans are eager for the Federal Reserve to start cutting interest rates and lightening the heavy burden on borrowers. Why, with inflation nearly conquered and interest rates at a 22-year high, isn't now the time to cut? High rates could also compound the struggles of banks that are saddled with bad commercial real estate loans, which would be harder to refinance at higher rates. “We need the government to address the interest rates ... and understand that they’ve accomplished their goal of lowering inflation," Kelleher said. If so, that might not just delay the Fed's rate cuts, but result in fewer of them.

Persons: isn't, ”, Steven Blitz, “ They’re, ” Loretta Mester, Mester, “, David Kelleher's Chrysler, Kelleher, ” Kelleher, Powell, ” Powell, we’re, Andrea Kugler, Eric Swanson Organizations: WASHINGTON, Federal Reserve, GlobalData, Lombard, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, Jeep, Fed, University of California Locations: Wall, Philadelphia, Irvine

☆ Banks are being rocked again as real estate losses mount
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Anna Cooban | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

The regional lender set aside $552 million in the fourth quarter to absorb loan losses, up from $62 million in the previous quarter. The increase was driven partly by expected losses on a loan used to finance an office building, it said. ET as shares in NYCB, as well as other regional banks, suffered sharp losses. Much bigger players are girding themselves for losses linked to commercial real estate. Europe’s benchmark Stoxx Europe 600 Banks index, which tracks 42 big EU and UK banks, is up 23% since a low in late March.

Persons: Thomas Cangemi, Brendan McDermid, Julius Baer, Philipp Rickenbacher, Arnd Wiegmann, Reuters Philip Lawlor, ”, “, ” Lawlor, CNN’s Matt Egan Organizations: London CNN, Credit Suisse, New York Community Bancorp, New York Stock Exchange, Japan’s Aozora Bank, Federal Reserve, ”, CNN, Signa Group, Chrysler, Reuters, Deutsche Bank, Bank, Suisse —, UBS, Wilshire Indexes, KBW Locations: Europe, New York, Tokyo, Zurich, California, Republic, NYCB, Banc, Swiss, Austrian, Switzerland

☆ Labor unions, with power and popularity rising, are still trailing on one big battle
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-28 | by ( Natalie Rose Goldberg | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

High-profile strikes by writers and actors against Hollywood brought the union power to the mainstream as pictures of celebrities holding picket signs flooded social media. But one big win continues to elude labor: the need to translate its rising popularity into an increase in rank-and-file union membership, which has stagnated in recent decades. It's not a lack of support from the public that's holding unions back from making more progress in growing their ranks. Even before the big wins of 2023, polling conducted in recent years showed rising union popularity, with support at its highest level since 1965, according to 2022 data from Gallup. 'The Great Reset'In 2023, it was a banner year for American workers who support the labor movement.

Persons: Biden, —, Heidi Shierholz, I've, Thomas Kochan Organizations: United Auto Workers, UAW, Local, Chrysler Corporate, Division, Hollywood, UPS, Teamsters, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Union, Economic Policy Institute, Gallup, AFL, CIO, MIT Sloan School of Management, Cornell, ILR, SAG, Writers Guild of America Locations: Ontario , California, American, Michigan, America

☆ Netflix is the king of streaming. But can it last?
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-23 | by ( Dan Defrancesco | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

In today's big story, we're looking at what to expect ahead of Netflix's big earnings report. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. And as other streamers scramble to figure out long-term business plans, Netflix has been crowned the winner of the streaming wars thus far. Netflix is so big it even has shows from other streamers, a sign of how ubiquitous it has become. AdvertisementGet in touchinsidertoday@insider.comTo read unlimited articles, subscribe to Business Insider.

Persons: —, It's, Scott Stuber, Stuber, Insider's Lucia Moses, That'll, dealmaking, isn't, Insider's Peter Kafka, Peter, it's, James Leynse, Griffin's, Shaw, Griffin, Gary Weathers, Morgan Stanley, Tesla, Stellantis, Tommy Parker, They're, Oscar, Zazie Beetz, Jack Quaid, They'll, Tim Spector's, Dan DeFrancesco, Diamond Naga Siu, Hallam Bullock, Jordan Parker Erb, Hayley Hudson, Lisa Ryan Organizations: Service, IRS, Business, Netflix, Netflix Films, Traders, Computer Terminals, Goldman, Getty, UBS, Griffin's Citadel, LCH Investments, BlackRock, Los, Peugeot, Chrysler, Dodge, BI, Balyasny, Management, National Baseball Hall of Fame, MLB Network, Procter, Gamble, Electric, Verizon Locations: Goldman Sachs, Los Angeles, Boston, Suez, Panama, New York, San Diego, London, Edinburgh

☆ Auto CEO: There will be a 'bloodbath' if every company engages in Tesla's price war
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-22 | by ( Graham Rapier | Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

CEO Carlos Tavares says the company's new large platform is flexible enough to handle batteries and electric motors, gas-electric hybrids and internal combustion engines. The company can also build midsize to large vehicles on those underpinnings, including sedans, crossover vehicles, SUVs and even off-road Jeeps. Electric vehicle sales growth is already slowing in many countries with consumers balking at the added cost as well as limited range and too few charging stations. On Friday, Ford said it was cutting production of the F-150 Lightning electric pickup after weaker-than-expected electric vehicle sales growth. A midsize vehicle platform announced by the company last year has similar flexibility, the company said.

Persons: —, Carlos Tavares, Tavares, EVs, balking, Ford, Donald Trump, Stellantis, Alfa Romeo, Maserati, " Tavares, It's Organizations: Service, Business, EVs, Dodge, Chrysler, Alfa Locations: U.S, North America

☆ Why China poses a growing threat to the U.S. auto industry
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-22 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Tesla CEO Elon Musk, whose company operates a large plant in China, has said Chinese automakers are the greatest competitors for his Texas-based company. "They were 26% [market share] a few years ago, up to more than 50% in 2022 and headed towards two-thirds by the end of the decade." Chinese companies have begun expanding into Mexico, Europe and elsewhere, Wakefield said. The EU believes Chinese EVs are undercutting the prices of local models by about 20% in the European market. The influx of Chinese EVs has spurred the European Union to launch into government support for the industry.

Persons: —, Carlos Tavares, Elon Musk, Tesla, Musk, BYD, Massimo Pinca, Reuters BYD, Kristin Dziczek, Mathew Vachaparampil, Bernstein, Eunice Lee, Mark Wakefield, Evelyn Cheng, hasn't, Wakefield, That's Organizations: GM, Shanghai International Automobile Industry, National Exhibition, Convention Center, Visual China, Getty, DETROIT, American, of, SAIC, Dongfeng, General Motors, U.S . Bureau, Analysis, America —, Chrysler, America's GM, Ford Motor, automakers, The New York Times, Economist, Reuters, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago's, Caresoft, Overseas, Chicago, CNBC, European Union, EU, Union, Volvo, Karma, Ford, U.S, Buick, Lincoln Nautilus Locations: Shanghai, U.S, of China, Asia, Europe, China, Japan, Nio, Mexico, Korea, Germany, Beijing, Texas, Turin, Italy, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago's Detroit, AlixPartners, Russia, America

CEO Carlos Tavares says the company's new large platform is flexible enough to handle batteries and electric motors, gas-electric hybrids and internal combustion engines. The company also can build midsize to large vehicles on those underpinnings, including sedans, crossover vehicles, SUVs and even off-road Jeeps. On Friday, Ford said it was cutting production of the F-150 Lightning electric pickup after weaker-than-expected electric vehicle sales growth. Stellantis said vehicles built off the new large platform will be built at multiple North American and European factories. A midsize vehicle platform announced by the company last year has similar flexibility, the company said.

Persons: Carlos Tavares, Tavares, EVs, ” Tavares, balking, Ford, Donald Trump, ”, “, Stellantis, Alfa Romeo, Maserati, It's Organizations: DETROIT, EVs, Dodge, Chrysler, Alfa Locations: U.S, North America

☆ Stellantis CEO says automaker won't sell EVs at a loss like other carmakers
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Carlos Tavares, CEO of Stellantis, poses during a presentation at the New York International Auto Show in Manhattan, New York, on April 5, 2023. Stellantis won't sell electrified vehicles such as hybrids and all-electric models at a loss like other automakers have, CEO Carlos Tavares said Friday. "Being in Europe as much as in the U.S., we are making money with the electrified vehicles," Tavares said during a roundtable Friday. "We are making money, and it is in our discipline to make sure that whatever we sell we make money with because, if not, then the company will not be sustainable." Stellantis currently has 25 EVs available globally and expects to launch another 23 through the end of this year.

Persons: Carlos Tavares, Stellantis, Tavares Organizations: New York, Auto, Fiat Chrysler, Jeep Locations: Manhattan , New York, Europe, U.S

☆ Shawn Fain, CNN Business’ labor leader of the year, plans to keep automakers sweating
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-27 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

New York CNN —The longest US auto strike this century is over after a pretty clear win for the United Auto Workers union at all three unionized automakers. “I don’t like what I’ve seen in my work career with the UAW leadership, where they were too damn close to the companies,” UAW President Shawn Fain told CNN earlier this month. So I like to let the body of work speak for itself.”The success of those contracts is the reason that Shawn Fain is CNN Business’ labor leader of the year. All told nearly 800,000 union members got raises of 10% or more during 2023. The plant will be be reopened under the agreement reached between Stellantis and the UAW to end the union's strike at the company.

Persons: Shawn Fain, there’s, Fain, “, ”, I’ve, Sean O’Brien, Fran Drescher, Ted Pappageorge, Bill Greenblatt, Wheaton, Jeff Schuster, It’s, Stellantis, Bianca Flowers, Reuters “, Ray Curry, GlobalData’s Schuster, ” Shawn Fain, we’re Organizations: New, New York CNN, United Auto Workers, UAW, CNN, CNN Business, UPS, SAG, Writers Guild of America, Culinary, Kaiser Permanente, General Motors, Ford, Motors Wentzville, GM, UPI, Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations, GlobalData, Jeep, Reuters, Justice Department, Chrysler, Facebook, UAW International Union Locations: New York, Las Vegas, Stellantis, Wentzville , Missouri, Kokomo , Indiana

☆ Why automakers are turning to hybrids in the middle of the industry's EV transition
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-08 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

Sales of traditional hybrid electric vehicles, or HEVs, such as the Toyota Prius, are outpacing those of all-electric vehicles in 2023, according to Edmunds. Sales of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, or PHEVs, accounted for only 1% of U.S. sales through November. In comparison, Ford's EV sales are up 16.2% to roughly 62,500 units, accounting for 3.5% of its total sales. Battery breakdown Both hybrids and plug-in hybrids have a traditional engine combined with EV technologies. The world's largest automaker is considered the pioneer of traditional hybrids, with the Prius.

Persons: Scott Mlyn, Biden, HEVs, EVs, There's, Jessica Caldwell, Edmunds, Morgan Stanley, Eric Watson, Jim Farley's, Jeep Wrangler, Motors, Mary Barra, It's, Mark Reuss, Stephanie Brinley, Akio Toyoda Organizations: CNBC DETROIT —, EV, Toyota Prius, Toyota, Honda Motor, Hyundai, Kia, U.S, Representatives, Kia America, CNBC, Detroit automakers, Detroit, Ford Motor, Ford, Chrysler, Jeep, Cherokee, GM, Chevrolet, Automotive Press Association, National, Traffic Safety Administration, American Automotive Policy Council, Reuters, NHTSA, P Global Mobility . Industry, EVs, Wall Street Locations: Edmunds, U.S, That's, Kia America's, China, Detroit, EVs

☆ Stellantis resurrects small Fiat 500e EV for the U.S., starting at $34,095
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

DETROIT — Stellantis is resurrecting the all-electric Fiat 500e for the U.S. market, as the automaker begins to release electric vehicles domestically to meet tightening fuel economy regulations. The 500e will be the first all-electric vehicle offered in the U.S. by Stellantis since the company formed in 2021. At just over 3,000 pounds, Stellantis says the 500e is expected to be the lightest all-electric vehicle in the segment. The electric Fiat 500e as well as gas-powered models of the car were previously built at a factory in Mexico by Fiat Chrysler. A Fiat spokesman said additional 500e models will be available at Fiat dealerships in the future.

Persons: Stellantis, It's, it's, Sergio Marchionne, Bono, AIDS — Organizations: DETROIT, U.S, Stellantis, Fiat Chrysler, French PSA Group, 500e, AIDS, ONE, Fiat Locations: U.S, Italy, Mexico

☆ Serbia's Vucic says electric Fiat Panda model to be produced in Serbia
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/3] Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni receives an honour guard, while walking with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, in Belgrade, Serbia, December 3, 2023. REUTERS/Zorana Jevtic Acquire Licensing RightsBELGRADE, Dec 3 (Reuters) - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Sunday he expects automaker Stellantis (STLAM.MI) to produce an electric Fiat Panda city car in the central town Kragujevac. Vucic said that the production of electric Panda would boost trade between Italy and Serbia above the current 4.6 billion euros a year. The current generation of the Fiat Panda is built near Naples in Italy, and the new model is expected around mid-2024. Stellantis, created in 2021 through the merger of France's PSA and Fiat Chrysler, and the Serbian government in 2022 signed a 190 million euro deal to produce electric vehicles in the Kragujevac plant which previously produced the Fiat 500L model.

Persons: Giorgia Meloni, Aleksandar Vucic, Zorana, Vucic, Stellantis, Ivana Sekularac, Alvise Armellini, Alison Williams Organizations: Serbian, REUTERS, Rights, Fiat Panda, Fiat, France's PSA, Fiat Chrysler, Thomson Locations: Belgrade, Serbia, Serbian, Kragujevac, Italy, Naples

☆ Benko's complex web at Signa - from Chrysler building to Berlin landmark
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

SIGNA PRIME/PROPERTY PORTFOLIOAccording to Signa, Prime is the group's largest company in its real estate division, valued at around 20.4 billion euros ($22.23 billion). Since 2019 Signa Holding has also been a co-owner of New York's iconic Chrysler Building. TRADING/RETAIL COMPANIESBenko has bundled his trading interests under the divisions Signa Retail and Signa Premium. In Switzerland, Benko's trading investments are bundled into Signa Retail Selection AG, which filed for bankruptcy protection on Wednesday. In 2018, Signa Holding bought around 24% stake in Austrian daily newspapers "Krone" and "Kurier" from Funke media group.

Persons: Lisi Niesner, Rene Benko, Ernst Tanner, Hans Peter Haselsteiner, Torsten Toeller, Arthur Eugster, SIGNA, Signa, Otto Wagner, Benko's, Klaus, Michael Kuehne, Kuehne, Hamburg's, Chirathivat, Benko, Frasers, Kaufhof, Karstadt, Galeria, Alexandra Schwarz, Goerlich, Mattias Inverardi, Victoria Farr, Emma, Rachel More, Elisa Martinuzzi, Tomasz Janowski Organizations: Signa, REUTERS, Chrysler, Bank Austria, Femina, Chrysler Building, . Central Group, Globus, Selfridges, Central Group, Funke, Thomson Locations: Berlin, Germany, New, Britain's Selfridges, Innsbruck, Swiss, Vienna, Hamburg, KaDeWe, Oberpollinger, Munich, Vienna's, Tyrol, Essen, Duesseldorf, London, Switzerland

☆ Ford reinstates 2023 guidance, says UAW deal to cost $8.8 billion over life of the contract
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The guidance calls for $10 billion to $10.5 billion in adjusted earnings before interest and taxes, or EBIT, and adjusted free cash flow of between $5 billion and $5.5 billion. That compares to its previously announced guidance of adjusted-EBIT of between $11 billion and $12 billion and adjusted free cash flow of $6.5 billion to $7 billion. Ford said the new UAW labor agreement is expected to cost $8.8 billion over the life of the contract, which expires in April 2028. Ford further confirmed on Thursday that the UAW deal is expected to add about $900 in costs per assembled vehicle by 2028. GM's forecast called for net income attributable to stockholders of $9.1 billion to $9.7 billion; adjusted EBIT of $11.7 billion to $12.7 billion; and adjusted earnings per share of roughly $7.20 to $7.70.

Persons: Ford, John Lawler, Lawler, We've Organizations: United Auto Workers, UAW, Crosstown, General Motors, Barclays, GM, Chrysler, U.S

☆ Ford takes $1.7 billion profit hit from UAW strike
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The automaker now expects adjusted earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) of $10 billion to $10.5 billion for 2023. In July, it forecast adjusted EBIT of $11 billion to $12 billion. Ford said the new outlook included $1.6 billion in lost profits in the fourth quarter due to interruptions in production of high-margin trucks and SUVs. A month into the strikes, Ford said the company was "at the limit" of what it could spend on higher wages and benefits. The deal UAW leaders finally approved included a pay hike of at least 30% for full-time workers and more than double pay for others.

Persons: David, Dee, Delgado, Ford, Shawn Fain, walkouts, Bill Ford, Tesla, Nathan Gomes, Anil D'Silva Organizations: New York, REUTERS, Ford, GM, UAW, Canadian, Chrysler, EV, Thomson Locations: Manhattan , New York City, U.S, United States, Michigan, Bengaluru

☆ He Bought a Piece of the Chrysler Building. Now His Empire Is Falling Apart.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Eliot Brown | Margot Patrick | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

René Benko’s company Signa is filing for insolvency, casting uncertainty over a property empire that includes a stake in upscale British retailer Selfridges. Photo: georg hochmuth/Agence France-Presse/Getty ImagesThe property slump sweeping the globe has claimed a new high-profile victim: René Benko, an Austrian-born retail and department-store magnate who also co-owns New York’s Chrysler Building. Benko’s main holding company, Signa Holding, said Wednesday it is filing for insolvency in Austria. The move, similar to U.S. bankruptcy procedure, puts billions of dollars of company debt at risk and casts uncertainty over a property empire that includes stakes in the largest department store chains in Europe, upscale British retailer Selfridges and a now-stalled Hamburg tower that would have been among the tallest in Germany.

Persons: René, Signa, georg hochmuth Organizations: Selfridges, Agence France, Chrysler, Signa Locations: Austrian, Austria, Europe, Hamburg, Germany

☆ EVs struggle with reliability due to charging, battery issues - Consumer Reports survey
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Nathan Gomes | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

On average, new EVs had 79% more problems than gasoline-powered vehicles, Consumer Reports' 2023 Annual Auto Reliability survey showed. "For the legacy automakers, (EVs) are really new technologies, so they don't have a lot of experience with batteries, charging and motors." Jake Fisher, senior director of Auto Testing at Consumer Reports, said in an interview with Reuters. Consumer Reports survey covers 20 problem areas including engine, electric motors, transmission and in-car electronics. "Even with monumental shifts in the auto marketplace, what matters most to consumers remains the same: finding safe, reliable cars," said Marta Tellado, President and CEO of Consumer Reports.

Persons: Albert Gea, Jake Fisher, Fisher, Elon, Stellantis, Marta Tellado, Nathan Gomes, Shweta Agarwal Organizations: REUTERS, Electric, Consumer, Auto Testing, Reuters, U.S, General Motors, Buick, Benz, Chrysler, Lexus, Toyota, Thomson Locations: Barcelona, Spain, U.S, North America, Bengaluru

A view of the sign of Signa Holding on their headquarters in Vienna, Austria, November 6, 2023. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsVIENNA/FRANKFURT, Nov 29 (Reuters) - Property and retail giant Signa declared insolvency on Wednesday after last-ditch attempts to secure fresh funding failed, the biggest casualty so far of Europe's property crash. Signa blamed its problems on external factors affecting its property business and pressure on high-street shopping. Fuelled by low interest rates, billions were funneled into property, which was viewed as stable and safe. Weakness in commercial real estate in the United States as offices remain empty after the pandemic and the struggles of major property developers in China have focused global attention on the sector.

Persons: Leonhard Foeger, Rene Benko, Signa, Switzerland's Julius Baer, Hannes Moesenbacher, Matthias Inverardi, Rachel More, Madeline Chambers, Catherine Evans Organizations: Signa, REUTERS, Rights, Chrysler, Austria's Raiffeisen Bank, Thomson Locations: Vienna, Austria, FRANKFURT, Germany, Switzerland, Hamburg, Bavaria, Hesse, Europe's, United States, China

☆ GM says union labor deals will increase costs by $9.3 billion
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

General Motors expects new labor contracts with the United Auto Workers and Canadian union Unifor to increase its costs by $9.3 billion and add approximately $575 in costs per vehicle during the terms of the deals. GM disclosed the expected labor deal impact as part of a business update Wednesday in which it initiated a $10 billion accelerated stock buyback program, increased its dividend and reinstated its full-year 2023 guidance. GM said the $9.3 billion in labor cost increases are expected to occur as follows: $1.5 billion in 2024; $1.8 billion in 2025; $2.1 billion in 2026; $2.5 billion in 2027; and $1.1 billion from January-April 2028. GM's expected vehicle cost increase includes $500 per vehicle in 2024. Chrysler parent Stellantis , which was the second of the so-called Big 3 U.S. automakers to reach a deal with the UAW, has not disclosed expected costs of its labor pact with the union.

Persons: —, Mary Barra, John Lawler Organizations: Motors, United Auto Workers, Canadian, UAW, GM, Detroit, Ford Motor, Ford, Chrysler, CNBC PRO Locations: —, U.S

☆ I got stabbed while shopping for Instacart. I was shocked by how difficult it was to get support as an injured gig worker.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

AdvertisementThis as-told-to story is based on a conversation with Owen Dwyer, an Instacart shopper in Maryland. Business Insider has verified his identity and employment; corroborated details of the stabbing through police records; and viewed messages from Instacart support and insurance claims Dwyer filed after he was stabbed. Instacart's insurance provider responded to Dwyer's second claim after Business Insider reached out to Instacart for comment on this story. Dwyer told Business Insider he had not received an estimated payment total as of press time. "The safety of the entire Instacart community is incredibly important to us, and we take immediate action when we receive reports of violence against any member of the Instacart community," an Instacart spokesperson told Business Insider.

Persons: Instacart, —, Owen Dwyer, Dwyer, I'd, doesn't, I'm, It's, I've, who've Organizations: Walmart, Service, Instacart, Chrysler, Costco, CVS, Business Locations: Maryland, Baltimore, pec, Instacart

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