Ford Takes Another Swing, New Car Sales Bump, Home Depot Goes EM by 2028

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Welcome to Wednesday as we talk about Ford's latest offer to the UAW. We also review the new car sales increases in Q3, as well as Home Depot’s plans to go all electric…mowers. 

Show Notes with links:

• Ford has presented its seventh proposal to UAW, offering higher pay raises and faster wage progression for new hires.
  • Temporary workers' pay is set to increase by 26% to $21 an hour, and most full-time workers could see a "more than" 20% pay rise over four years. The company also committed to cutting the time it takes for new hires to reach the top tier of payment by “more than half”
  • The proposal also promises no job losses with the opening of four EV battery plants and ensures product commitments for every UAW-represented factory.
  • Jim Farley, Ford CEO, stated: 
  • "There's no doubt our UAW workforce put us on their shoulders during the pandemic, and these same workers and their families were hit hard by inflation. We want to make sure our workers come out of these negotiations with two things — a record contract and a strong future,
  • "We've put an offer on the table that will be costly for the company... but one that we believe still allows Ford to invest in the future."
  • The UAW has yet to respond to the offer
    
    
• US new vehicle sales surged in Q3, despite looming concerns of a UAW strike impacting supplies. General Motors saw a 21% jump in sales, benefiting from a demand in various vehicle categories, while Asian brands also experienced significant gains. Ford and Stellantis will report their figures soon.
  • GM:
    • 21% rise in U.S. sales (674,336 vehicles).
    • 28% increase in EV sales from the previous quarter.
    • GM specifically mentioned that it had 442,586 vehicles in inventory on Tuesday
  • Stellantis (FCA U.S.): 1.3% decrease in sales (380,563 units for Q3).
  • Toyota 12.2% rise in Q3 U.S. sales.
  • Kia & Hyundai both posted higher sales for the period.
  • Tesla: Missed Q3 delivery estimates due to factory upgrades.
    
    
• Home Depot aims to have over 85% of North America's outdoor lawn equipment run on rechargeable batteries by 2028 as the retailer plans to work with manufacturers to increase its selection of battery-powered products, replacing gas-powered alternatives.
  • Transitioning to electric lawn equipment could reduce over 2,000,000 metric tons of greenhouse gases annually
    • As a comparison, road vehicles produce more greenhouse gases, with motorcycles emitting 7.5 billion metric tons in 2021 alone.
  • Battery-powered lawn equipment offers advantages like less maintenance, reduced noise, and no fumes. Home Depot is prioritizing making these products accessible and informing customers… but they are still the more expensive option. 

Join Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier every morning for the Automotive State of the Union podcast as they connect the dots across car dealerships, retail trends, emerging tech like AI, and cultural shifts—bringing clarity, speed, and people-first insight to automotive leaders navigating a rapidly changing industry.

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