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They call them “transplant” automakers, and the term refers to carmakers from overseas who have factories here in the United States. Speaking earlier today at the UAW’s 2011 Management Briefing Seminar, the union’s president, Bob King, said that the vast majority of those companies have agreed to confidential discussions about the UAW organizing those facilities.

King emphasized his organization’s desire to do so with at least one such transplant this year.

In his speech, King said, “What we’ve been saying has at least created enough comfort in them to sit down and talk with us. What we want workers at the transplants to understand is that workers in UAW-represented facilities have a much greater voice, are treated with more respect and have more protection and security.”

In a separate announcement, King said that the UAW was also seeing progress in ongoing negotiations for a new labor deal with the Detroit 3 (Chevrolet, Ford, and General Motors). These talks had their official kickoff last week, and come just in time, since the UAW’s contracts with the 3 expire in about six weeks.

According to King the challenge his union faces the the need to balance more money for its members without a negative effect on profitability for the auto companies or any slowing of job growth in U.S. factories. Right now, about 113,000 workers at the Detroit 3 are represented by the UAW.

While King believes that hourly auto workers deserve wage increases (they haven’t had one since 2003) he is aware that it may be better to increase salaries via profit sharing and alternative forms of compensation. He added that the union would like to attach hourly bonuses to the Detroit 3′s overall profitability, but also to other operating “metrics” such as increased quality, increased waste reduction, attendance, and reductions in warranty costs.

The UAW, King says, would also like to see entry-level workers – currently earning about half the rate of traditional autoworkers, or $14/hour – be increased a bit.

Filed under: Economy by Mel
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Automotive Trends and YouTube believe you should buy a 2011 BMW 3-series coupe (maybe the 335i?) for the thrill of driving it, and we agree, though our research showed that for all its cushiness it didn’t do as well as hoped on all of its crash testing.

In any case, here’s a video for you to enjoy:

Filed under: BMW, Media Monday by Mel
Tags: « BMW - Media - review - video »
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A recent study by the Highway Data Loss Institute, part of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, has proven that collision-avoidance technology, such as the “City Safety” feature that comes standard on the Volvo XC60 SUV, actually work to help prevent low-speed crashes in bumper-to-bumper traffic. Specifically, data from insurance claims shows that the XC60 is much less likely than competing models that don’t have such systems to be involved in low-speed collisions.

The study showed that claims paid out for at-fault collisions were up to 27% lower for the XC60 than for comparable luxury SUVs, and 19% lower than other Volvos not fitted with “City Safety.” The Institute examined claim frequency and costs and found that Volvo XC60 owners weren’t filing claims under $1,500, the usual type of claim associated with minor accidents in heavy, slow traffic.

“City Safety,” which is designed to work at speeds under 19 mph, uses an infrared laser to track the speed of vehicles being approached. If it senses that the driver is too close, and not taking preventative action, the system causes the car to brake in order to avoid crashing. In addition to being standard on the Volvo XC60, it’s also standard on the 2012 versions of Volvo’s S60, S80, and XC70 wagon.

Filed under: Technology at Work, Volvo by Mel
Tags: « City Safe - collision avoidance - safety technology - Volvo »
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Okay, we admit that power isn’t the first word that comes to mind when you think of a Toyota Prius, but maybe it should be – at least a little bit – because the automaker has just announced its new Plus Performance Package for their hybrid poster-car.

What’s in the Plus Performance Package? Well, there’s a seven-piece “ground effects” kit that not only makes the hybrid look a little cooler, but also reduces the drag coefficient, allowing it to seem a bit peppier on the road. The springs in the suspension are lowered, to reduce the overall ride height – Toyota says the suspension is actually track-tuned. As well, 17-inch wheels with a track-width-increasing custom offset are part of the package, though the tires remain the same. With the new rear sway bar added, Toyota says the Prius will turn quicker and lean less while doing so.

All this suavity will cost you, however. On most of the Prius trim levels the package costs $3,699. That price drops down to $2,999 on the Prius Five trim level, but that makes the overall price of the car $32,549 – kind of expensive for a vehicle meant to save you money on fuel.

Filed under: Technology at Work, Toyota by Mel
Tags: « performance - Toyota - Toyota Prius - trim upgrades »
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A woman in Pennsylvania has sued General Motors Co. in an attempt to force the car maker to address issues with the rear ends of more than 400,000 2007 and 2008 Chevrolet Impalas. This comes three years after dealers were instructed by GM to replace the rear-wheel spindle rods on police department Impalas because of an issue that could cause tires to wear out prematurely.

The lawsuit, which is also seeking class-action status, says that GM should make the same repair to Impalas sold to general consumers (rather than the police) because they have the same spindle rod issue. It also charges GM with “breech of warranty,” and demands that the automobile company be compelled to either repair or replace the rear spindle rods.

Specifically, the lawsuit points out that, “There are no relevant material differences between police vehicles and class members’ vehicles relating the defective spindle rods.”

GM, which built about 24,000 of the police versions of the Impala in the 2007 and 2008 model years, declined to comment, claiming it never discusses matters in litigation, but the company did confirm that dealers had been notified of the rear suspension defect. The lawsuit says this defect applies to the 423,000 Chevrolet Impalas that were sold in those two years.

The plaintiff in the lawsuit, Donna Trusky of Blakely, PA, bought her Impala in February, 2008, but according to the lawsuit the tread on her car’s back tires was so worn that safe use was “questionable” after only 6,000 miles. Her dealer supplied new tires and re-aligned the front end of her car, but never mentioned the rear spindle rods. In November, 2010, with only a bit over 24,000 miles on the car, Trusky had to replace the back tires again, at a cost of roughly $290.

Speaking about GM, the lawsuit said, “Defendant concealed the existence of the defect from class members, even those who presented their vehicles for repair of the defect.”

Ms. Trusky’s lawyers said that complaints about the Chevrolet Impala’s rear suspension issues have been filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Filed under: Chevy, GM, In the News by Mel
Tags: « Chevrolet Impala - Chevy - GM - lawsuit »
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