UAW Goes Ham, Colorado's Pedestrian Dilemma, EVs Under $400

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Wednesday and wheels up for us as we delve deep into Colorado's controversial proposal to charge owners of large, pedestrian-unfriendly vehicles. We also unpack the surge of affordable EV leases under $400 a month and the impact of the expanded UAW strike on GM and Stellantis.

• Not long after GM announced their Q3 earnings the UAW has initiated a strike at General Motors' high-profit SUV plant in Texas, impacting the production of key models and deepening the financial blow to the Detroit 3
  • 5,000 workers at GM's Arlington Assembly in Texas were ordered to strike by UAW President Shawn Fain. This plant manufactures the Chevrolet Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Yukon, and Cadillac Escalade.
  • UAW President Shawn Fain said "Another record quarter, another record year. As we've said for months, record profits equal record contracts. It's time GM workers, and the whole working class, get their fair share."
  • GM responded by expressing disappointment in the UAW's decision, highlighting that they had increased their previous proposal's value to the union by 25% just last week.
  • The UAW's strike expansion also affected Stellantis' profitable Sterling Heights Assembly in Michigan yesterday, which produces Ram 1500 pickups.
• A proposed bill in Colorado seeks to introduce a “vulnerable road user protection registration fee” for heavier vehicles, with the intent to funnel the revenue into pedestrian and bike safety projects.
  • The fee aims to generate around $20 million annually. However, even a 9,000-lb vehicle like the Hummer EV would only be subjected to an extra fee of $29.90 each year. The fee will only be charged Colorado’s 12 most populated counties, where most pedestrian and bicycle accidents occur.
  • State Senator Lisa Cutter said that “Data shows us that higher vehicle weights directly correlate with vulnerable road user deaths. It just makes sense to tie funding to that."
  • Electric vehicles won't be exemptrom the registration fee.
    • In 2024, Washington D.C. will raise registration fees based on weight: from $155 to $500 for over 6k lbs, from $155 to $250 for over 5k lbs, and from $115 to $175 for 3500-5k lbs
• A range of automakers are now offering electric vehicle leases for under $400 a month, making EVs more accessible to the average consumer and ramping up competition in the market.
  • Multiple automakers including Nissan, Hyundai, and Kia are offering leases for electric vehicles like the 2023 Nissan LEAF, Hyundai Ioniq 6, and Kia Niro EV for under $400 per month.
  • Some buyers are utilizing a "1-day lease" The lease tax "loophole" allows all vehicles to access benefits, irrespective of the $7,500 IRA tax credit income eligibility. Lease it for one day, they buy out the lease. 

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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