TWC Podcast #168: We’re Coming for You, Mercedes
By Phil Royle — April 25, 2024
With a win at Volkswagen’s Chattanooga plant, the UAW is on a tear — and now its setting sights on Mercedes manufacturing in Alabama. We delve into how this came to be, and what this could mean for the price of your next EV. We also discuss Tesla, from the company’s Q1 earnings to Cybertruck recalls, and more.
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SHOW NOTES
Tesla Q1 earnings call: https://www.fool.com/earnings/call-transcripts/2024/04/23/tesla-tsla-q1-2024-earnings-call-transcript/
Tesla to include self-driving ride-hailing in app: https://electrek.co/2024/04/23/tesla-teases-uber-like-self-driving-ride-hailing-app/
73% of workers at Volkswagen’s Chattanooga plant vote to join the UAW: https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/uaw-clinches-watershed-union-victory-volkswagen-tennessee-factory-2024-04-20/
A look back to November 1987 where the first attempt at unionizing a VW plant in the U.S. didn’t end well: https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-11-21-fi-5529-story.html
Not all workers need to join the UAW: https://www.nlrb.gov/about-nlrb/rights-we-protect/your-rights/employer-union-rights-and-obligations
Tennessee Republican governor Bill Lee is not so happy about the vote: https://apnews.com/article/volkswagen-uaw-union-vote-ef85b4319a9496f78835614e08a8cb9e
Southern Republican Governors from Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas issue joint statement against UAW: https://www.cnbc.com/2024/04/16/republican-governors-condemn-united-auto-workers-campaigns.html
Mercedes workers at an Alabama plant call for union representation vote: https://apnews.com/article/mercedes-alabama-uaw-union-vote-petition-676b92d933735d3e7e963d1f9a5e16c7
UAW sues Mercedes for aggressive anti-union practices : https://uaw.org/uaw-files-charges-in-germany-against-mercedes-benz-companys-anti-union-campaign-against-u-s-autoworkers-violates-new-german-law-on-global-supply-chain-practices/
All 3,878 Cybertrucks recalled due to full throttle issue: https://www.theverge.com/2024/4/19/24134753/tesla-recall-cybertruck-faulty-accelerator-pedal-nhtsa-defect
Video of the problem, per TikTok user: https://www.tiktok.com/@el.chepito1985/video/7357758176504089898
History lessons:
- Toyota/Lexus had a 7+ million vehicle recall in 2009-’11 for floor mats that slid up and would jam throttle pedals at full throttle: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009%E2%80%932011_Toyota_vehicle_recalls
- In 2021, GM recalled the Bolt for floor mats leading to stuck accelerators: https://gmauthority.com/blog/2021/10/recall-issued-for-chevy-bolt-ev-floor-mats-over-unintended-acceleration/
Tesla ranks #1 for lowest maintenance costs by Consumer Reports: https://electrek.co/2024/04/22/tesla-lowest-maintenance-repair-cost-any-brand/
This week’s hosts: Phil Royle and Edward A. Sanchez
Episode cover courtesy Mercedes-Benz
Music courtesy Twisterium at Pixabay
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