The United Automotive Workers (UAW) has been threatening strikes at major plants run by multinational automaker Stellantis, and recent statements made by dealerships are echoing some of the union’s attacks on the company and CEO Carlos Tavares.
Many dealers joined the UAW in claiming that Tavares was mismanaging the U.S. arm of the Dodge-Chrysler parent company, causing increased inventory, job cuts, and broken promises to reopen an Illinois factory, as detailed in a report from Automotive News. Dealer groups claim that “reckless short-term decision-making to secure record profits in 2023” made them “anemic and diminished,”as market share has continued to decrease for the vehicle makers.
We’re done waiting around for Stellantis to do the right thing. We’re taking action. And we intend to fight like hell to make this company keep their promise. pic.twitter.com/1fNnWmZ8ed
— UAW (@UAW) September 17, 2024
Florida, Michigan, and Ohio dealership owner Ralph Mahalak Jr. says Stellantis needs to establish higher incentive programs to help drive inventory down, echoing details included in at least two letters sent by the Stellantis National Dealer Council to Tavares since May. He also highlights how unprecedented the situation is for the automotive industry.
“We’ve never seen this before,” Mahalak said in a statement to Automotive News. “We don’t understand what’s going on. And how did we get in this predicament? How can, basically, Carlos Tavares have the shareholders mad at them, suppliers mad at them, the dealers mad at them?”
He also says that high interest rates have only exacerbated issues with inventory, noting that this time feels less stable than ever for his business. As Stellantis and much of the industry has attempted to transition to electric vehicles (EVs), the high costs and low early returns on the new tech have increased business concerns for dealers like Mahalak.
“I’ve never felt less in control of my business than I do today,” Mahalak adds. “I felt more in control of my business during the financial crisis. I felt more in control of my business during the microchip car shortage deal a few years ago, during COVID.”
Steven Wolf, owner of Helfman Dodge-Chrysler-Jeep-Ram-Fiat and Helfman Maserati of Houston, also echoed some of Mahalak’s arguments that incentive programs could help mend inventory woes.
“We’ve got to get through our current problem of too much inventory before we can start looking at ordering again,” Wolf said. “We’ve got to get the sales rate up until we can eat through this overage inventory, and then we can blow out a bunch of cars in 60 or 90 days, and we can get back to ordering normal again.”
The dealer council has also highlighted continued production needs, despite currently high levels of inventory, as a key part of increasing the automaker’s U.S. market share.
“It’s time to turn production back on and start selling our way back to a respectable market share,” the council said in a letter to Tavares dated September 10.
Following the initial letter, Tavares met with council leaders in Detroit, later hosting a follow-up phone call on September 12 after the council’s second letter.
In recent weeks, the UAW has been threatening multiple strikes at U.S. plants operated by Stellantis, due to allegations of labor issues and the failure of the company to hold up contract promises of reopening the retired factory in Belvidere, Illinois. Last Monday, the union officially submitted a federal filing claiming unfair labor practices at Stellantis, due to the alleged breach of a contract agreed upon following the 2023 strikes.
UAW President Shawn Fain said in a livestream last week that Stellantis was “violating its commitment to America,” with its recent mismanagement.
“[Fain] continues to willfully damage the reputation of the company with his public attacks, which is helpful to no one, including his members,” Stellantis said in a statement responding to the UAW President. “We would all be better served if these issues were addressed across the table with productive, respectful, and forward-looking dialogue. A strike does not benefit anyone.”
Stellantis rejects request to buy back Chrysler & Dodge brands
What are your thoughts? Let me know at zach@teslarati.com, find me on X at @zacharyvisconti, or send us tips at tips@teslarati.com.
News
Tesla owners in Sweden get direct attention from pro-union groups
As part of their efforts, the group has started distributing informational leaflets to Tesla vehicles across Stockholm, urging them to pressure the electric vehicle maker to sign a collective agreement.
Amid Tesla Sweden’s ongoing conflict with trade union IF Metall, a group of pro-union supporters has begun directing their attention to actual Tesla owners.
As part of their efforts, the group has started distributing informational leaflets to Tesla vehicles across Stockholm, urging them to pressure the electric vehicle maker to sign a collective agreement.
Leaflets on parked Tesla vehicles
As noted in a Dagens Arbete (DA) report, participants of the protest place yellow information slips on parked Tesla vehicles across parts of Stockholm. The slips resemble parking notices that contain information related to the unions’ ongoing strike against Tesla Sweden.
Participants involved in the activity said the leaflets were intended to inform consumers rather than target individual owners. The action was carried out in public areas, with leaflets placed on windshields of parked vehicles. When vehicle owners are present, organizers said they provide verbal explanations of the labor dispute.
Tesla has not commented publicly about the matter as of writing.
Recurring demonstrations against Tesla
The leaflet distribution effort follows weekly demonstrations that have taken place outside Tesla’s workshop and office in Upplands Väsby, where protesters typically gather to express support for a collective agreement. Those demonstrations have included informational outreach to customers and workers and, at times, police presence, according to prior reporting.
In a comment, one of the protesters stated that even Tesla owners must be concerned about the unions’ conflict with the electric vehicle maker. “You may think it doesn’t concern you, as you only drive a car. But it does, as we all have a responsibility for the rules in Sweden.
“We are not looking to hunt down individual Tesla owners. Rather, this is a way to spread opinion and increase pressure on Tesla. It should have some impact if several Tesla owners come in and say that you should sign a collective agreement,” one of the protesters stated.
Tesla has landed a massive deal to expand its charging infrastructure for heavy-duty electric trucks — and not just theirs, but all manufacturers.
Tesla entered an agreement with Pilot Travel Centers, the largest operator of travel centers in the United States. Tesla’s Semi Chargers, which are used to charge Class 8 electric trucks, will be responsible for providing energy to various vehicles from a variety of manufacturers.
The first sites are expected to open later this Summer, and will be built at select locations along I-5 and I-10, major routes for commercial vehicles and significant logistics companies. The chargers will be available in California, Georgia, Nevada, New Mexico, and Texas.
Each station will have between four and eight chargers, delivering up to 1.2 megawatts of power at each stall.
The project is the latest in Tesla’s plans to expand Semi Charging availability. The effort is being put forth to create more opportunities for the development of sustainable logistics.
Senior Vice President of Alternative Fuels at Pilot, Shannon Sturgil, said:
“Helping to shape the future of energy is a strategic pillar in meeting the needs of our guests and the North American transportation industry. Heavy-duty charging is yet another extension of our exploration into alternative fuel offerings, and we’re happy to partner with a leader in the space that provides turnkey solutions and deploys them quickly.”
Tesla currently has 46 public Semi Charger sites in progress or planned across the United States, mostly positioned along major trucking routes and industrial areas. Perhaps the biggest bottleneck with owning an EV early on was charging availability, and that is no different with electric Class 8 trucks. They simply need an area to charge.
Tesla is spearheading the effort to expand Semicharging availability, and the latest partnership with Pilot shows the company has allies in the program.
The company plans to build 50,000 units of the Tesla Semi in the coming years, and with early adopters like PepsiCo, DHL, and others already contributing millions of miles of data, fleets are going to need reliable public charging.
🚨 Pilot working with Tesla to install and expand Semi Chargers is a perfect example of two industry leaders working together for the greater good.
As more commerce companies expand into EVs, Semi Charger will be more commonly available for electrified fleets, making efforts… pic.twitter.com/VPLIYyq15b
— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) January 27, 2026
Tesla is partnering with other companies for the development of the Semi program, most notably, a conglomeration with Uber was announced last year.
Tesla lands new partnership with Uber as Semi takes center stage
The ride-sharing platform plans to launch the Dedicated EV Fleet Accelerator Program, which it calls a “first-of-its-kind buyer’s program designed to make electric freight more affordable and accessible by addressing key adoption barriers.”
The Semi is one of several projects that will take Tesla into a completely different realm. Along with Optimus and its growing Energy division, the Semi will expand Tesla to new heights, and its prioritization of charging infrastructure.
Elon Musk
Elon Musk’s Boring Company opens Vegas Loop’s newest station
The Fontainebleau is the latest resort on the Las Vegas Strip to embrace the tunneling startup’s underground transportation system.
Elon Musk’s tunneling startup, The Boring Company, has welcomed its newest Vegas Loop station at the Fontainebleau Las Vegas.
The Fontainebleau is the latest resort on the Las Vegas Strip to embrace the tunneling startup’s underground transportation system.
Fontainebleau Loop station
The new Vegas Loop station is located on level V-1 of the Fontainebleau’s south valet area, as noted in a report from the Las Vegas Review-Journal. According to the resort, guests will be able to travel free of charge to the stations serving the Las Vegas Convention Center, as well as to Loop stations in Encore and Westgate.
The Fontainebleau station connects to the Riviera Station, which is located in the northwest parking lot of the convention center’s West Hall. From there, passengers will be able to access the greater Vegas Loop.
Vegas Loop expansion
In December, The Boring Company began offering Vegas Loop rides to and from Harry Reid International Airport. Those trips include a limited above-ground segment, following approval from the Nevada Transportation Authority to allow surface street travel tied to Loop operations.
Under the approval, airport rides are limited to no more than four miles of surface street travel, and each trip must include a tunnel segment. The Vegas Loop currently includes more than 10 miles of tunnels. From this number, about four miles of tunnels are operational.
The Boring Company President Steve Davis previously told the Review-Journal that the University Center Loop segment, which is currently under construction, is expected to open in the first quarter of 2026. That extension would allow Loop vehicles to travel beneath Paradise Road between the convention center and the airport, with a planned station located just north of Tropicana Avenue.
Tesla owners in Sweden get direct attention from pro-union groups
Tesla lands massive deal to expand charging for heavy-duty electric trucks
