Category Archives: economy

Mercedes-Benz Opens First North American EV Charging Hub

Mercedes-Benz USA said today that its first Charging Hub* opened at its headquarters in Sandy Springs, Georgia. Additional charging hubs will open across Texas and the Southeast by the end of 2023. Continue reading

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US Airline Employment Above Pre-Pandemic Levels

US scheduled-service passenger airlines employed 533,238 workers in September 2023 or 66% of the industry-wide total. Passenger airlines added 2938 employees in September 2023 for a twenty-ninth consecutive month of job growth dating back to May 2021 as the Biden Administration economic recovery continues. Southwest led scheduled passenger carriers, adding 882 employees. United Air Lines added 736, and Delta Airlines added 708. Continue reading

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Mazda Posts Net Income of $7.2 Billion for First Half of Japanese Fiscal Year

“Through the introduction of our Large product CX-90, following the introduction of the CX-60, and ongoing strong performance of mainstay products such as the CX-5, global sales volume increased 20% from the prior year. Other contributing factors were an improvement in market mix with a 40% year-on-year increase in sales in North America, mainly in the high-profit US market,” said Masahiro Moro, President and CEO Mazda Motor Corporation. Continue reading

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Voters Blame Oil and Gas Companies for High Energy Prices

New polling from Data for Progress, Climate Power, and Fossil Free Media finds that voters strongly blame high energy prices on large oil companies and their CEOs.* They think, and believe these companies have too much power in government. Yet, voters remain optimistic about a transition away from fossil fuels and toward clean energy. This shall we say “awakened attitude” should be a warning to the fossil fuel dependent Republican party since it is bipartisan. Continue reading

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Mixed Signals in October US Transportation Employment

The unemployment rate* in the U.S. transportation sector was 4.8% (not seasonally adjusted) in October 2023 according to Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). In October 2023, the transportation sector unemployment rate rose 1.1 percentage points from 3.7% in October 2022 and was above the pre-pandemic October 2019 level of 2.7% but still below the October 2020 and October 2021 rates. Unemployment in the transportation sector reached its highest level during the COVID-19 pandemic (15.7%) in May 2020 and July 2020. Continue reading

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Stellantis Posts Q3 Sales Up 37%. Pre-Tax Profit €3B

Stellantis* today posted a pre-tax operating profit of €3 billion. The company that is partly comprised of Jeep, Dodge Jeep and Ram said the strikes cost it around €750 million. However the strikes – characterized as “work stoppages”- resulted in … Continue reading

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Unifor Stellantis Agreement Good for All Workers in Transition

“After a short strike throughout the night Unifor has reached now a tentative agreement with Stellantis. The deal came about around 7:00 AM this morning, after bargaining throughout the night. And yes, as you can tell all of those here are tired, but also very, very proud of the work that we’ve done for Canadian auto workers. ” said Unifor National President Lana Payne said late this afternoon at a hotel in Toronto. Continue reading

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Unifor and Stellantis Have Tentative Contract in Canada

“I am proud of our members at every Stellantis facility for their quick and decisive action during this brief and effective strike action,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “This agreement will considerably improve the living standards of every Unifor member at Stellantis.” Continue reading

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UAW has Tentative Agreement With Stellantis

“Once again, we have achieved what just weeks ago we were told was impossible,” said UAW President Shawn Fain. “At Stellantis in particular, we have not only secured a record contract, we have begun to turn the tide in the war on the American working class. Going into these negotiations, the company wanted to cut 5000 jobs across Stellantis. Our Stand Up Strike changed that equation. Not only did we not lose those 5000 jobs, we turned it all the way around. By the end of this agreement, Stellantis will be adding 5000 jobs. We truly are saving the American dream.” Continue reading

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Ford Motor 2023 Q3 Net income $1.2 Billion

“I’m very optimistic about the reality we’re creating with Ford+,” said President and CEO Jim Farley. “We’re building a more dynamic, highly talented and customer-focused company at the intersection of great vehicles, iconic brands, innovative software and high-value services.

“We’re also radically changing how we work with a series of actions that put the right people with the right capabilities in the right places across the organization, so that our promise isn’t masked by cost and quality issues,” Farley claimed. Continue reading

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Consumer Spending Spree – October US Auto Sales

Total US new-vehicle sales during October 2023 are forecast to reach 1,201,800, a 6.6% increase from October 2022, according to numbers just released by J.D. Power and GlobalData.* The seasonally adjusted annualized rate (SAAR) for total new-vehicle sales is expected to be 15.5 million units, up 0.9 million units from October 2022. Retail buyers are on pace to spend $43.7 billion on new vehicles, up $0.3 billion from October 2022. Continue reading

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Ford Reaches UAW Contract Agreement If Members Vote Yes

“We are pleased to have reached a tentative agreement on a new labor contract with the UAW covering our U.S. operations,” said Ford CEO and President Jim Farley at 8:43 pm tonight in a Dearborn issued statement.

The agreement, of course is subject is dependent on ratification by Ford’s UAW-represented employees. Continue reading

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Zero-Emissions Truck Sales Soar in California

“The report makes several important points: users are interested in adopting zero-emissions technology; several manufacturers are stepping up to meet that market interest; and the flexibility that we built in to allow for a phased-in transition toward a zero-emissions future is working,” said Dr. Steven Cliff, CARB’s Executive Officer. “Helping the businesses that rely on trucks to transport goods across the state switch to zero emissions is key to achieving a clean air future, and the data show that progress is well underway.” Continue reading

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UAW Strike at Arlington – GM’s Biggest, Most Profitable Plant

“Last week, we provided a comprehensive offer to the UAW that increased the already substantial and historic offers we have made by approximately 25% in total value. It is time for us to finish this process, get our team members back to work and get on with the business of making GM the company that will win and provide great jobs in the U.S. for our people for decades to come,” said GM. Continue reading

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UAW On Strike at Stellantis Sterling Heights RAM Plant

The move comes just days after UAW President Shawn Fain detailed the current proposals across the automakers, highlighting the shortcomings of Stellantis’ current offer. Despite having the highest revenue, the highest profits (North American and global), the highest profit margins, and the most cash in reserve, Stellantis lags behind Ford and General Motors in addressing the demands of their UAW workforce. Currently, Stellantis has the worst proposal on the table regarding wage progression, temporary worker pay and conversion to full-time, cost-of-living adjustments (COLA), and more, UAW president Shown Fain told members in his weekly address. Thus far Stellantis has not commented. Continue reading

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