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Stellantis and GM furlough more workers as UAW strike expands
General Motors (GM) and Stellantis have announced plans to furlough hundreds more workers, just after the United Auto Workers (UAW) expanded strikes against both automakers this week.
According to a report from Reuters, Stellantis will temporarily lay off 525 more workers in Michigan, while GM will furlough 139 employees in Ohio.
The news comes after UAW-represented workers walked off the job at GM’s most profitable assembly plant, and after a walkout at Stellantis’s most profitable truck factory. It also comes after GM reported its Q3 financial results earlier in the day on Tuesday.
The Stellantis furlough takes place at two stamping facilities that supply the company’s truck assembly plant, bringing the total number of furloughed employees to 2,045. GM said that its workers were being furloughed as a result of the UAW’s targeting of its truck assembly plant, bringing the automaker’s total number of furloughed workers to 2,460.
On Tuesday morning, 5,000 UAW members walked off the job at GM’s Arlington Assembly plant in Texas, which makes some of the automaker’s most profitable vehicles, including the Chevy Tahoe, the Chevy Suburban, the GMC Yukon and the Cadillac Escalade.
The UAW expanded strikes on Monday to include 6,800 workers walking out at the largest and most profitable Stellantis truck plant in Sterling Heights, Michigan. The plant produces the profitable Ram 1500 and other trucks. Just a couple of weeks ago, 8,700 workers also walked out at Ford’s profitable Kentucky Truck Plant.
It also comes on the same morning that GM has reported its Q3 financial results, beating Wall Street expectations amidst the ongoing strike. CNBC estimates that the strike amounts to around $200 million in lost vehicle production per week, and GM CFO Paul Jacobson says the strikes have cost the automaker around $800 million in pre-tax earnings.
“Another record quarter, another record year. As we’ve said for months: record profits equal record contracts.” UAW President Shawn Fain said in a blog post on Tuesday. “It’s time GM workers, and the whole working class, get their fair share.”
GM reported $44.13 billion in Q3 revenue, with net income attributable to stockholders of $3.06 billion and an EBIT-adjusted $3.6 billion. The automaker also reported earning $2.28 per share during the quarter, beating average analyst estimates of $1.88 per share, according to LSEG (formerly Refinitiv) data.
As a result of damage from the strikes, GM said it was pulling previously shared earnings guidance, with which it estimated $12 to $14 billion in adjusted earnings, with net income attributable to stockholders forecast to reach between $9.3 billion and $10.7 billion.
GM also pulled its near-term electric vehicle (EV) targets, predicting the company would sell 400,000 EVs in North America between 2022 and mid-2024 and would produce as many as 100,000 EVs on the continent during the latter half of 2023. Jacobson reported that the automaker has retained its target of low-digit profit margins on EVs and one million in annual production capacity by 2025.
Ford is set to report its Q3 earnings on Thursday, while Stellantis will do the same next Tuesday. The result could similarly give the UAW negotiating leverage if financial results are positive, or it could risk shareholder confidence if they aren’t.
What are your thoughts? Let me know at zach@teslarati.com, find me on X at @zacharyvisconti, or send your tips to us at tips@teslarati.com.
News
Starlink to launch on United Airlines planes by May 15
Select United Airlines passengers will get free Starlink internet, with 200+ Mbps speeds. Early testers streamed MLB & live news with ease.

Starlink will launch on United Airlines planes by May 15, 2025, providing select passengers with free internet inflight.
Recently, Sean Cudahy from The Points Guy tried out United Airlines’ free Starlink Wi-Fi. The airline invited a few media to try out Starlink Aviation Wi-Fi before its official launch.
According to Cudahy, connecting to Starlink was easy. All he had to do was take out his phone and connect to the Unitedwifi.com network, which took him to a landing page. Once he clicked “get started” on the landing page, it opened the United mobile app on his phone.
The United app verified Cudahy’s status as a MileagePlus member. After that, all he had to do was click on “connect,” and he was all set. Starlink’s speed was reliable and just what passengers would need on a long flight.
“I ran a speed test, and it clocked the Wi-Fi at 217 Mbps of download speed, and 26.8 Mbps of upload speed,” noted Cudahy.
Cudahy added that connection to Starlink Wi-Fi on his other devices, like his tablet, was easier. All he had to do was scan a QR code on his phone from his tablet.
“United certainly isn’t exaggerating on the speed of the service: I was able to simultaneously watch a live news feed about the selection of a new Pope on one device, and stream a live Major League Baseball game on another,” The Points Guy noted in his review of Starlink Aviation.
United Airlines is offering Starlink services for free to MileagePlus members. Based on Cudahy’s experience, it’s best to download the United mobile app before your flight.
United Airlines expects to equip all 300 of its Embraer 175 planes with Starlink by the end of the year. It plans to install 40 regional jets with Starlink equipment every month.
Last month, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approved United Airlines’ Starlink-equipped planes. United plans to roll out Starlink Wi-Fi across all its flights. It is currently working to receive FAA approval to install Starlink equipment on over 16 aircraft models.
News
Ark Invest sees potential in xAI as the world adopts more AI models
Ark’s new stake in xAI bets on Musk’s future plans. Will the newly merged companies deliver the next AI breakthrough?

Ark Invest reinvested in X Corp in Q1 2025 through its Ark Venture Fund, which converted into a position in xAI, Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company.
In March, xAI acquired X, intertwining the two companies’ futures. The stock merger values xAI at $80 billion and X at $33 billion. After xAI acquired X, Elon Musk noted that the combined company would unlock “immense potential.” Ark Invest believes in Musk’s vision for xAI and X Corp.
“…the deal created a new combined entity called XAI Holdings Corp., a strategic union that integrates xAI’s cutting-edge foundational models with X’s massive user base of over 600 million strong to unlock a platform that blends real-time communication with AI-enhanced discovery, truth-seeking, and personalized knowledge delivery.
“We believe this merger will be a significant catalyst for consumer AI adoption and foundational model monetization,” Ark noted.
Musk is reportedly planning a valuation adjustment for xAI. CNBC’s David Faber noted in April that Musk hinted at a new funding round for his artificial intelligence startup during an investor call.
The merger supports Musk’s vision to transform X into an “everything app,” where people can communicate, make monetary transactions, catch up on news, and more. xAI is already working on providing financial services. It recently partnered with TWG Global and Palantir to integrate AI with financial services.
In addition, XAI Holdings also has X Money, a payment system that could rival Venmo, Zelle, and Apple Pay. X Corp. secured a Visa partnership in January and money-transmitter licenses in 42 states, including California, in September 2024.
X Money faces opposition in New York from Manhattan Democrats Assemblymember Micah Lasher and state Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal, who sent a letter Monday to the state’s Department of Financial Services, urging rejection of X Corp.’s money-transmitter license. The lawmakers cited Musk’s leadership as a risk to consumer data and financial infrastructure.
Ark’s investment in xAI underscores confidence in its AI-driven future, amplified by the XAI Holdings merger. As xAI leverages X’s platform to scale AI innovation, Ark’s stake positions it to benefit from a transformative shift in consumer AI and fintech, despite ongoing challenges.
News
Starlink Direct to Cell to boost remote businesses in Chile
Entel teams up with Starlink Direct to Cell to power SMEs & industries in Chile’s remote regions. Remote businesses get a major tech upgrade.

Entel will provide Starlink Direct to Cell services to businesses in Chile and Peru, boosting connectivity in underserved regions.
Entel is Chile’s leading telecommunications provider. Its strategic collaboration leverages Starlink’s Direct to Cell service by offering advanced internet solutions to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and large corporations.
The partnership targets industries like mining, agriculture, and forestry, which often face connectivity challenges in remote areas. By tapping into Starlink’s low-latency satellite constellation, Entel aims to bridge these gaps, driving innovation and competitiveness.
The collaboration with Entel follows Starlink’s April expansion in Brazil, where its internet was integrated into John Deere’s agricultural equipment. Through its mobile app, Starlink provided Brazilian farmers with live video feeds, sensor data, and real-time sharing.
Entel’s Starlink Direct to Cell service includes value-added features such as 24/7 network monitoring, proactive management, and dedicated technical support. An observability feature will allow businesses to track real-time connectivity performance through web or mobile applications, enhancing operational efficiency.
The service’s accessibility to SMEs is a key focus. Starlink Direct to Cell is expected to empower small businesses to engage in e-commerce, improve customer communication, and expand digital operations.
Starlink’s Direct to Cell expansion into Peru underscores Entel’s regional ambitions, positioning it as a leader in Latin America’s business connectivity landscape. While details of the Peruvian rollout remain forthcoming, the move aligns with the region’s post-COVID-19 economic recovery. Reliable internet is critical for businesses to adopt cloud-based technologies and access global markets.
Starlink’s growing influence in Latin America highlights its role in transforming connectivity for underserved areas. Entel’s partnership strengthens its portfolio and helps businesses navigate a digital economy. As industries in Chile and Peru leverage Starlink’s capabilities, the collaboration could set a precedent for regional telecom providers, fostering innovation and economic growth across diverse sectors.
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