TWC Podcast #168: We’re Coming for You, Mercedes

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 <