As heat and smoke from unchecked Canadian wildfires settled over auto plants from Flint, Michigan southward through Detroit to Toledo, employee complaints about unsafe working conditions has skyrocketed – complaints compounded by heat wave.
General Motors
Buick, Chevrolet Set to Bring Back Sedans – and Others May Follow
Sedans. Remember them? They once overwhelmingly dominated the American automotive market. Today, they’re little more than afterthoughts for most buyers – and have been dropped from the line-up by a number of brands. But several manufacturers appear ready to bring sedans back. Look for new entries from both Buick and Chevrolet – and possibly Ford — reports Headlight.News.
Demand for High-Mileage Hybrids, EVs Help Keep June Auto Sales Afloat
Sales of electrified vehicles helped keep the industry afloat in June and during the second quarter, with Korean brands, in particular, delivering record sales numbers. More from Headlight.News.
VW May Cut 100k Jobs, Close Four Plants, in Biggest-Ever Restructuring
Volkswagen is preparing what may become the largest restructuring in its nearly 90-year history, a move that could see as many as 100,000 workers lose their jobs as four German plants close. The move is blamed on its weakening position against domestic Chinese brands like BYD and Geely, reports Headlight.News.
The Era of Automotive Globalization is Dead
Stagnating demand in Western markets, the end of the ‘global car,’ and the cost of electrification present automakers and suppliers with a triple conundrum, says AlixPartners’ annual report on the state of the auto industry.
Which Cars Are the Most American-Made?
Automakers are coming under increasing pressure to move production to the U.S. – with hefty tariffs penalizing not only products imported from abroad but those built in the States using foreign parts. Which products are the most “American-made”? A new study finds Tesla and Jeep at the top of the list, though Japanese brands make up six of the top 10 spots, reports Headlight.News.
Depleted U.S. Weapons Stash Could Turn Detroit Into the “Arsenal of Democracy” Once Again
The Iran War has left the U.S. military with a depleted stockpile of weapons – even while revealing there’s an entirely new form of warfare. Yet that has the Pentagon reaching into its past and could see Detroit’s automakers emerge as a modern version of the “Arsenal of Democracy” that played a critical role in winning World War II. Headlight.News has more.
UAW Pres. Fain Fights for His Political Life – and that Could Trigger a Wave of Strikes
The UAW plans to fatten up its strike fund as it prepares for fights with big, corporate employers. But union Pres. Shawn Fain also faces a potentially explosive re-election campaign in the months to come as the union moves to fill spots on its executive board.
Gas Prices Fall Below $4 – but Could Take Quite a While to Dip Back to Pre-War Levels
Gas prices have dipped below $4 a gallon – but are still well above what the average American motorist paid prior to the Iran War. And they could stay elevated for some time, reports Headlight.News.
UAW Ends Crippling Strike at Major GM Supplier
Members of the United Auto Workers Union ratified a new, four-year contract with the Dauch Corp. ending a strike at a plant in Three Rivers, Michigan. The agreement gives workers a big raise and ends the threat to General Motors truck production.
GM Takes on the Challenge of Backing Up the Struggling Electrical Grid with New Sodium Ion Batteries
Even though EV sales may be slowing down, the nation’s electrical grid faces a variety of challenges, especially with the surge in data center construction. GM plans to lend a hand through a new partnership bringing out backup technology using new sodium ion battery technology. More from Headlight.News.
Dogfight Coming in the Midsize Truck Market
Once given up for dead, the midsize pickup segment is booming — but faces a real battle as more players get set to enter the game. Get the story at Headlight.News.