The United Auto Workers (UAW) union escalated its strike against General Motors (GM) on Saturday to include a Tennessee engine plant, after Ford and Stellantis reached tentative contract agreements this week.
After Ford and Stellantis reached tentative deals with the UAW in the past few days, the union officially launched a new round of strikes against GM’s Spring Hill, Tennessee, engine plant on Saturday, according to a report from Reuters. The plant employs 4,000 workers and supplies motors to nine different assembly plants, which build the automaker’s most profitable vehicles.
On Saturday, Reuters also reported that UAW President Shawn Fain said the union was “disappointed by GM’s unnecessary and irresponsible refusal to come to a fair agreement.”
GM stated that it was disappointed by the UAW’s move to strike against its Spring Hill plant. The automaker also said it expected at least two of its larger pickup factories to be affected by the walkout, adding that it hoped to reach an agreement quickly.
The statements came after the union reached agreements with both Ford and Stellantis this week featuring a 25-percent wage increase over the lifespan of the next contract. With cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) factored in, the Ford and Stellantis pay hikes amount to over 33 percent increases, and both are expected to begin with an initial 11 percent wage boost.
GM is the only remaining “Big Three” automaker that hasn’t reached an agreement yet with the union, though it isn’t clear exactly what obstacles prevented the company from progressing toward an agreement.
According to sources familiar with the talks, pension costs and temporary workers were a few sticking points during contract negotiations.
“We look forward to welcoming our 43,000 employees back to work and resuming operations,” Stellantis said after it came to a tentative agreement with the UAW on Saturday.
In a statement, U.S. President Joe Biden called the Stellantis contract “a testament to the power of unions and collective bargaining to build strong middle-class jobs.”
ICYMI: Here's how the ratification process works for UAW Stellantis.#StandUpUAW pic.twitter.com/U7KZo9aj57
— UAW (@UAW) October 29, 2023
The deal with Stellantis also includes the reopening of the automaker’s Belvidere, Illinois plant, along with keeping two other facilities open that were expected to close: an engine manufacturing plant in Trenton, Michigan and a machining facility in Toledo, Ohio.
Stellantis is expected to invest as much as $19 billion in the U.S., creating around 5,000 jobs after the company previously expected to cut that many workers.
Bargaining with GM is expected to continue, though it’s not entirely clear when talks will reconvene.
The union is also expected to meet with local union leaders from Ford on Sunday afternoon in Taylor, Michigan, to begin the contract ratification process. The UAW is also expected to offer a video update at 7:00 p.m. ET on the discussions with Ford.
Following the discussions on Sunday, union leaders will attend larger regional meetings to discuss the deal with workers, all of whom must approve the plans before the contract is ratified. Last month, Mack Truck workers voted to reject a deal that Fain and the UAW had recommended, and the same could happen with the current contract talks.
The UAW has a strike still ongoing at GM’s Arlington, Texas assembly plant, which the automaker said was costing the company around $400 million per week.
Stellantis and GM furlough more workers as UAW strike expands
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Tesla CEO Elon Musk outlines expectations for Cybercab production
“…initial production is always very slow and follows an S-curve. The speed of production ramp is inversely proportionate to how many new parts and steps there are. For Cybercab and Optimus, almost everything is new, so the early production rate will be agonizingly slow, but eventually end up being insanely fast.”
Tesla CEO Elon Musk outlined expectations for Cybercab production as the vehicle is officially set to start rolling off manufacturing lines at the company’s Giga Texas factory in less than 100 days.
Cybercab is specifically designed and catered to Tesla’s self-driving platform and Robotaxi ride-hailing service. The company has been pushing hard to meet its self-set expectations for rolling out an effective self-driving suite, and with the Cybercab coming in under 100 days, it now needs to push for Unsupervised Self-Driving in the same time frame.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk confirms Robotaxi is set to go unsupervised
This is especially pertinent because the Cybercab is expected to be built without a steering wheel or pedals, and although some executives have said they would build the car with those things if it were necessary.
However, Musk has maintained that the Cybercab will not have either of those things: it will have two seats and a screen, and that’s it.
With production scheduled for less than 100 days, Musk broke down what people should expect from the initial manufacturing phases, being cautiously optimistic about what the early stages will likely entail:
“…initial production is always very slow and follows an S-curve. The speed of production ramp is inversely proportionate to how many new parts and steps there are. For Cybercab and Optimus, almost everything is new, so the early production rate will be agonizingly slow, but eventually end up being insanely fast.”
Musk knows better than most about the challenges of ramping up production of vehicles. With the Model 3, Musk routinely refers to it as “production hell.” The Cybertruck, because of its polarizing design and stainless steel exterior, also presented challenges to Tesla.
With the important caveat that initial production is always very slow and follows an S-curve.
The speed of the production ramp is inversely proportionate to how many new parts and steps there are.
For Cybercab and Optimus, almost everything is new, so the early production…
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 20, 2026
The Cybercab definitely presents an easier production process for Tesla, and the company plans to build millions of units per year.
Musk said back in October 2024:
“We’re aiming for at least 2 million units a year of Cybercab. That will be in more than one factory, but I think it’s at least 2 million units a year, maybe 4 million ultimately.”
When April comes, we will find out exactly how things will move forward with Cybercab production.
Tesla has revealed an awesome Model 3 and Model Y incentive to help consumers make the jump to one of its affordable mass-market vehicles, but it’s ending soon.
Tesla is offering one free upgrade on eligible inventory of the Model 3 and Model Y until February 2.
This would help buyers receive the most expensive paid option on the vehicle at no additional cost, meaning white interior or a more premium paint option will be free of charge if you take delivery on or before February 2.
Tesla states on its website for the offer:
“Only for limited inventory while supplies last. Price displayed on inventory listings already deducts the cost of the free option.”
Tesla says its one free upgrade offer on eligible U.S. inventory for the Model 3 and Model Y ends February 2.
With this incentive, buyers receive the most expensive paid option on the vehicle at no additional cost (up to $2k in savings). pic.twitter.com/IhoiURrsDI
— Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt) January 21, 2026
This latest incentive is just another advantage Tesla has by selling its vehicles directly and not using some sort of dealership model that relies on approvals from higher-ups. It is important to note that these programs are offered to help stimulate demand and push vehicles into customers’ hands.
It is not the only incentive Tesla is currently offering, either. In fact, there is a much larger incentive program that Tesla is working on, and it has to do with Full Self-Driving transfers, which could result in even more sales for the company through Q1.
Tesla is ending its FSD Transfer program on March 31, as it plans to transition to a Subscription-only basis with the self-driving suite for anyone who has not already purchased it outright.
This could help drive some on-the-fence buyers to new vehicles, but it remains to be seen. Given the timing of the program’s demise, it appears Tesla is hoping to use it to add additional sales and bolster a strong Q1 2026.
Interior and exterior paint colors can add up to $2,000 if you choose the most premium Ultra Red body color, or an additional $1,000 for the Black and White interior option. The discount, while small, could help get someone their preferred design configuration, instead of settling for something that is not quite what they want.
Tesla Full Self-Driving is getting an outrageous insurance offer with insanely cheap rates that will slash the cost of coverage by 50 percent.
Lemonade, a digital insurance company, has launched its first-of-a-kind product known as Lemonade Autonomous Car Insurance, and it is starting with an exclusive offer to FSD. The new offer will cut rates for FSD-engaged driving by “approximately 50 percent,” highlighting the data that shows a significantly safer driving environment when the suite is activated and engaged.
The company also said it plans to introduce even cheaper rates as Tesla continues to release more advanced FSD versions through software updates. Tesla has been releasing new FSD versions every few weeks, highlighting vast improvements for those who have the latest AI4 chip.
The announcement comes just a few months afterLemonade Co-Founder and President Shai Wininger said that he wanted to insure FSD vehicles for “almost free.” He said that Tesla’s API complemented Lemonade’s AI-based platform because it provides “richer and more accurate driving behavior data than traditional UBI devices.”
Tesla Full Self-Driving gets an offer to be insured for ‘almost free’
In mid-December, Lemonade then offered Tesla owners in California, Oregon, and Arizona the opportunity to connect their vehicles directly to the company’s app, which would provide a direct connection and would require a separate telematics device, which is required with other insurance providers who offer rates based on driving behaviors.
This latest development between Lemonade and Tesla is something that Wininger believes will be different because of the advanced nature of FSD:
“Traditional insurers treat a Tesla like any other car, and AI like any other driver. But a car that sees 360 degrees, never gets drowsy, and reacts in milliseconds can’t be compared to a human.”
He went on to say that the existing pay-per-mile product has given the company something that no traditional insurer has been able to offer. This comes through Lemonade’s “unique tech stack designed to collect massive amounts of real driving data for precise, dynamic pricing.”
The reputation FSD has gathered over the past few years is really impressive. Wininger backed this with some more compliments:
“Teslas driven with FSD are involved in far fewer accidents. By connecting to the Tesla onboard computer, our models are able to ingest incredibly nuanced sensor data that lets us price our insurance with higher precision than ever before.”
The product will begin its official rollout in Arizona on January 26. Oregon will get it a month later.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk outlines expectations for Cybercab production
Tesla reveals awesome Model 3 and Model Y incentive, but it’s ending soon
