Earlier this week: The Biden administration announced new tariffs targeting Chinese electric vehicles, advanced batteries, solar cells, steel, aluminum, and medical equipment. Workers at the Mercedes-Benz Alabama plant are voting on whether to join the UAW. Massachusetts Attorney General is taking Uber and Lyft to court over allegations of misclassifying drivers as independent contractors. Lotlinx rolled out its inaugural Quarterly Vincensus Report. Honda has announced it is increasing its EV investment and software development to $65 Billion. Here’s a closer look at these top stories and more headlines to stay on top of this week’s automotive industry news.
1. Biden administration imposes tariffs on Chinese products
The Biden administration has announced new tariffs targeting Chinese electric vehicles (EVs), advanced batteries, solar cells, steel, aluminum, and medical equipment, which will be implemented gradually over the next three years. This move is part of the administration’s effort to demonstrate toughness on China and address concerns about unfair trade practices and national security risks. Read More
2. Mercedes-Benz Alabama plant workers vote on unionization
Workers at Mercedes-Benz’s Alabama plant are voting on whether to join the United Auto Workers (UAW) union, marking a significant moment in the labor landscape of the historically anti-union American South. The outcome of this vote could have far-reaching implications as the UAW aims to organize more automakers nationwide. Read More
3. Massachusetts attorney general takes Uber and Lyft to trial over driver classification
Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell has brought Uber Technologies and Lyft to trial over allegations of misclassifying drivers as independent contractors. The trial in Boston is part of broader legal battles over gig worker status in the state and nationwide. Read More
4. automotiveMastermind partners with CarNow for enhanced dealer-customer experience
The automotive industry’s trusted data and technology provider, automotiveMastermind, has announced a strategic integration partnership with CarNow, marking another significant step in their mission to enhance the consumer experience for dealership partners. Read More
5. Lotlinx launches inaugural Vincensus report
Lotlinx, a VIN-specific data company for dealership inventory management, has introduced its Quarterly Vincensus Report. This report is a comprehensive monthly/quarterly inventory analysis tool that provides insights into OEM-specific and dealership inventory trends for new and used vehicles, including data on pricing and markdowns.
6. Honda plans to double its investment in electrification and software to $65 billion by 2030
Japan’s Honda Motor announced a significant increase in its investment towards electrification and software development, doubling its commitment to approximately $65 billion over the next decade. Read More
7. How dealers can elevate their customer/employee experience – Brooke Furniss
As customer expectations continue to evolve, providing an exceptional experience is key to cultivating loyalty and repeat business. In this episode of Inside Automotive, we dive into valuable insights on optimizing customer and employee experiences. Brooke Furniss, the Founder of B-Z Consultants Group, joins us to share expert tips for creating unparalleled experiences in the automotive industry. Watch the full segment here.
8. California auto market shows resilience despite Tesla’s decline in market share – Brian Maas | CNCDA
Tesla registrations are down in the state of California. According to the California New Car Dealers Association’s first quarter 2024 Auto Outlook report, the quote “love affair with electric vehicle giant Tesla may have peaked.” On today’s episode of Inside Automotive, we’re diving into the numbers and the state of the industry in California. Brian Maas, the President of the California New Car Dealers Association (CNCDA), joins us. Watch the full segment here.
9. The importance of customer service, growth, and community engagement – Jeff Rosen | Rosen Automotive Group
As we enter the second quarter of the year, we want to hear firsthand from dealers nationwide about the current state of affairs. On today’s episode of Inside Automotive, we welcome back Rosen Automotive Group’s President and CEO, Jeff Rosen, to shed light on topics ranging from affordability to EVs. Watch the full segment here.
10. Understanding the political and market dynamics behind Biden’s Chinese tariffs – Kevin Tynan | Bloomberg Intelligence
The Biden administration has announced new tariffs on Chinese EVs and other products. Therefore, on the latest episode of CBT Now, Kevin Tynan, Senior Automotive Analyst for Bloomberg Intelligence, joins us to further elaborate on what this means for the automotive industry. Watch the full segment here.
