Rivian, VW and Scout… Oh My, Fain Struggles To Unionize Plants, ICE Dodge Charger

The Automotive Troublemaker w/ Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier

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Today’s the day when we release More Than Cars episode 4: Mohawk Chevrolet at 1PM! Oh and we’re also talking about Rivian and VW’s finalized joint venture, how the UAW is struggling to gain momentum following last year’s big wins and how Dodge is adjusting its EV and ICE muscle car plans.

Show Notes with links:

• Rivian Automotive and Volkswagen Group have finalized a significant joint venture worth up to $5.8 billion to advance electrical architecture and software for future EVs, utilizing Rivian's current tech.
  • Since the venture was announced in June, VW’s investment in Rivian has grown from an initial $5 billion.
  • Rivian brings its advanced EV technology, while VW contributes its vast manufacturing scale.
  • The initial phase includes deploying Rivian’s system in VW vehicles, launching Rivian’s R2 by 2026 and VW's Scout brand vehicles by 2027.
  • The partnership focuses on electrical architecture and software, not hardware, though Scout Motors CEO Scott Keogh hinted Scout’s EVs will leverage the tech.
  • “By combining complementary expertise, we aim to reduce costs and accelerate new tech,” VW’s Oliver Blume stated.
  • This venture is crucial for Rivian’s financial strategy, as it faced a $1.1 billion Q3 loss amid slowed revenue and production.
• Outspoken UAW President Shawn Fain is facing mounting obstacles in organizing nonunion U.S. factories owned by Toyota, Hyundai, Mercedes, and others amid a shifting political and corporate landscape.
  • Following historic labor deals with the Big 3, Fain aimed to build on momentum, targeting new factories, especially in the South.
  • Despite a spring win at VW, recent efforts at Toyota and Hyundai encountered resistance, as these automakers raised wages to counter unionization drives.
  • Initially focusing on a rapid approach, Fain encouraged online union pledges and fewer traditional one-on-one meetings. At Mercedes in Alabama, a quick vote resulted in a narrow loss, with 56% against unionizing.
  • “It wasn’t like we got annihilated there,” Fain said. “That was a very, very close election.”
  • Fain emphasized the importance of the UAW’s first contract with VW in Chattanooga, saying, “We won in a place where no one said we could win. Now, the argument is, ‘We’re not winning fast enough,’ when initially it was, ‘We can’t win.’”

• Dodge is moving up the launch date of its gas-powered Charger Sixpack to early summer 2025, five months ahead of schedule, in response to strong demand for traditional internal combustion muscle cars.
  • The decision was influenced by anticipated regulatory shifts under President-Elect Donald Trump, potentially easing EV mandates.
  • Originally planned for late 2025, the ICE Charger Sixpack is now set to arrive ahead of Dodge’s all-electric Charger Daytona.
  • The Charger Sixpack will feature a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged straight-six Hurricane engine, with up to 550 horsepower in the high-output variant.

Hosts: Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier
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