by Joseph Szczesny | Mar 31, 2020
The turmoil at the top of the United Auto Workers continues as the union suspended Richard Rankin, one of the union’s regional directors, following an independent investigation by an outside law firm into charges that had described as “workplace harassment.” The move...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Mar 31, 2020
Ford Motor Co. has again indefinitely delayed the start-up of its North American manufacturing network due to the worsening coronavirus pandemic. The one exception will be for production of the ventilators needed to assist some of the most seriously ill victims of...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Mar 30, 2020
Ford Motor Co. will begin production of ventilators needed to treat desperately ill COVID-19 patients by April 20, the automaker announced Monday, while it is already working with GE Healthcare to rapidly expand that company’s production of the medical devices. The...
by Joseph Szczesny | Mar 30, 2020
The extension of the rules for social distancing and the shutdown on non-essential businesses through April is certain to intensify the strain on automakers, reducing their cash flow sharply as sales of new vehicles continue to fall precipitously. President Donald...
by Michael Strong | Mar 27, 2020
Hoping to fend off a takeover of the union by government officials, UAW President Rory Gamble has agreed to meet with federal prosecutors, who have been critical of the union’s level of assistance during the ongoing investigation of corruption involving the union and...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Mar 26, 2020
This story has been updated with additional information. For Charles, the news that he was going to be out of work came unexpectedly, and in an unexpected way. The long-time Fiat Chrysler Automobiles contractor was in the middle of a teleconference on Tuesday when the...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Mar 26, 2020
This story has been updated to reflect Fiat Chrysler Automobiles’ announcement on its plant closings. Toyota will resume production at “all of its automobile and components plants in North America, including Canada, Mexico and the U.S.” on April 20, the...
by Joseph Szczesny | Mar 23, 2020
General Motors, Ford and Fiat Chrysler, with the approval of the United Auto Workers, have asked for volunteers from among blue-collar employees to keep their parts warehouses all across the country during the unfolding pandemic. All three automakers have shuttered...
by Michael Strong | Mar 20, 2020
Perhaps the most-anticipated Chevrolet Corvette ever, the new C8 Stingray, is no longer available — to be ordered. The company stopped taking orders for the 2020 model March 18, due to overwhelming demand combined with a strike-induced delay on getting the Bowling...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Mar 18, 2020
The Detroit Three automakers on Wednesday announced plans to shut down production until at least March 30, a move largely driven by the need to protect workers’ health at their parts and assembly plants. But GM, in a statement, noted that it also needs to...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Mar 18, 2020
(This story has been updated to include FCA’s planned production closure and the ordering of Tesla to close its Fremont plant.) The nation’s three largest domestic automakers have announced plans to start an “orderly” shutdown of their North American...
by Joseph Szczesny | Mar 18, 2020
The United Auto Workers said Detroit’s automakers will cut production in half by using rotating shifts that carmakers hope will give them more time for cleaning to keep the threat of COVID-19 at bay. Rory Gamble, UAW president, said after a meeting with executives...
