The Monday Rundown: Cars Made by UAW Members and More
Pot and stripper discounts for UAW members, Cheap Teslas, 2024 Honda Passport updates, $3 billion investment in Michigan
Hi there, and welcome to Driving American, the automotive publication focused on the cars, trucks, SUVs, and vans that are made in America by Americans.
Each issue of the Monday Rundown summarizes the latest new vehicle news and reporting related to U.S. automotive manufacturing so that you know what’s going on and can learn more if you’d like to.
A guide to union-made cars, trucks, and SUVs
A couple of weeks back, Autoblog published a guide to the cars, trucks, and SUVs made by UAW union members and, in Canada, the Unifor autoworkers union. The publisher based its article on this UAW-issued list of vehicles made in unionized plants across the United States and Canada. Both lists also point out which models are also made in Mexico, such as the Chevy Silverado, GMC Sierra, and Ram 1500.
As you’ll see, the UAW and Unifor primarily build larger SUVs and pickup trucks, and luxury models. Smaller and more affordable vehicles are typically not made by unionized labor because it is cost-prohibitive to the automaker. The profit margins in small vehicles make it harder to build them with unionized labor. So, those models roll off non-union factory lines, or they come from other parts of the world like Mexico and Asia.
In related news, this week, the UAW did not advance its strike against Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis, citing progress made. However, the strike is not over, and key deadlines will pass before the UAW ratchets up the pressure.
UAW members get free strip shows, pot discounts
So, how can some UAW members pass the time when they’re not on the picket lines? Apparently, by watching strippers and smoking joints.
Automotive News reports that a classy establishment called Dream Girls Detroit is offering UAW members free admission during the strike (a $55 value!), while some marijuana dispensaries in southeast Michigan are offering discounts of up to half off.
Granted, most UAW workers are unlikely to take advantage of these offers. But when you’re asking for a 40-percent pay hike and a bunch of other benefits that will likely increase the price of new vehicles, these optics are horrible.
You can buy a new Tesla for less than $33,000
Tesla’s third-quarter results fell short of expectations, so the automaker slashed prices again. As a result, you can get a brand-new Model 3 for less than $33,000 after you apply for the $7,500 federal income tax credit. And yes, that number includes the destination charge.
True, that’s for the standard-range, rear-wheel drive model offering 272 miles of range and acceleration to 60 mph in 5.8 seconds. And it doesn’t include Enhanced Autopilot or Full Self-Driving Capability (both of which are a waste of money). But to put that price into perspective, you can now get a Tesla for about the same price as a Honda Accord Sport.
The 2024 Honda Passport is more off-roady
Speaking of Hondas, several years back, Honda revived the Passport name, applying it to a restyled and shorter version of the third-generation Pilot. With five-passenger seating in a roomy interior with tons of cargo space, a powerful V6 engine, and standard torque-vectoring all-wheel drive, the Passport is a genuine bargain in the midsize SUV segment.
Now, for 2024, the Passport gets better. Honda calls it the “most off-road capable Passport ever.”
Considering the first-gen Passport was a Honda-badged body-on-frame Isuzu Rodeo with a two-speed transfer case, that’s quite a claim. But, apparently, the Passport Trailsport’s new all-terrain tires and off-road-tuned suspension with 8.1 inches of ground clearance and improved wheel articulation qualify it as such.
In addition, Honda redesigned the 2024 Passport’s center console to improve storage and replaced the upscale Elite trim with a new Black Edition model with black wheels, black trim, and a black interior with red stitching, lighting, and accents. But you know what didn’t change? There still isn’t a tuning knob for the radio.
Honda builds the Passport in Lincoln, Alabama.
Toyota, LG Energy deal results in $3B investment in Michigan
Last week, Toyota announced a deal with LG Energy to supply lithium-ion battery cells and modules for EVs made in the U.S., starting in 2025. To meet the requirements of the annual contract, LG will invest $3 billion in its existing Michigan facility to build additional production lines for the Toyota deal. Reportedly, the battery components will ship from Michigan to Toyota’s Kentucky assembly plant for use in battery packs for future EVs.
What’s new on Driving American?
Last week, we were driving the 2023 Ram 1500 Rebel equipped with a Hemi 5.7-liter V8 engine, four-wheel drive, and the G/T option package. The upgrade adds a Mopar cold air intake system and a modified exhaust system, and if you love the sound of a classic American V8 engine, then you’ll want to check this package out.
But, since my Michigan-made test truck carried a sticker price of nearly $80,000 and averaged just 14.4 mpg over nearly 300 miles of driving, know that owning one could prove financially ruinous. Not only is the truck expensive, but gas prices are high, the strategic petroleum reserve is low, and war just broke out in the Middle East. So, if you go ahead and get a Ram Rebel V8 or a similar truck, don’t whine about how much it costs to fill the tank.
As always, you can learn more about this publication’s mission and better understand why it’s important to buy a vehicle that is made in the U.S.A. instead of simply choosing one sold by a traditionally “American” brand.
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