ICYMI: Mexico will seek tariff relief on autos, steel, and aluminum at the July 20 USMCA review. The DOJ has opened a grand jury probe into UAW President Shawn Fain. Unifor reached a tentative three-year deal with Ford, covering about 5,150 workers. Stellantis posted estimated Q2 shipments of 1.6 million vehicles, up 10%. Volkswagen may cut 50,000 more jobs, bringing planned reductions to 100,000.
Here’s a closer look at these top stories and more headlines to stay on top of this week’s automotive industry news.
Mexico targets auto, steel tariffs as USMCA review puts North American trade in focus
Mexico is planning to ask the U.S. to eliminate tariffs on automobiles, steel, and aluminum during the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) review scheduled for July 20. President Claudia Sheinbaum’s administration submitted a 13-point trade agenda aimed at restoring certainty for manufacturers and preventing future unilateral trade actions. Read More
DOJ launches grand jury investigation into UAW President over alleged misuse of union authority
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has launched a federal grand jury investigation into allegations that United Auto Workers (UAW) President Shawn Fain improperly used his position to secure financial benefits for his fiancée and her sister, according to internal union communications obtained by Bloomberg. Read More
Unifor reaches tentative 3-year labor agreement with Ford
The Canadian autoworkers union Unifor reached a tentative three-year labor agreement with Ford and avoided a potential strike after negotiations continued past the union’s self-imposed Friday deadline. Unifor’s Ford Master Bargaining Committee unanimously endorsed the agreement, which covers approximately 5,150 workers at Ford’s Oakville Assembly Complex, Windsor Annex and Essex Engine Plants, as well as parts distribution centers in Ontario and Alberta. Read More
Stellantis Q2 shipments rise 10% as North America leads growth
Stellantis reported an estimated second-quarter global shipments of 1.6 million vehicles, a 10% year-over-year increase, as new vehicle launches and refreshed nameplates drove a significant rebound. The automaker’s strongest performance came in North America, where shipments increased 38%, or approximately 122,000 units, compared with Q2 of 2025. Read More
Volkswagen weighs additional job cuts as restructuring expands
Volkswagen CEO Oliver Blume informed employees that the company may need to eliminate an additional 50,000 jobs. That would bring the total planned workforce reductions to as many as 100,000 positions worldwide. Read More
Next Week: Exclusive Interviews You Can’t Miss
How Sedano Automotive Group navigates affordability, gas prices, DTC competition
Affordability pressure, a slower EV market and mounting scrutiny over pricing transparency are forcing dealers to rethink how they sell and service vehicles. Manny Sedano of Sedano Automotive Group is one of those dealers adapting to the shift. Sedano joins us on the next episode of Inside Automotive for a closer look at how his stores are managing rising financing costs, shifting EV demand and new pricing disclosure rules while staying competitive in a tight economy.
How dealers can improve service retention and create lifelong customers
Attracting new business and service is especially a top priority in automotive, but long-term success in fixed operations often comes down to retention. With ongoing retention pain points, Spencer Nicholson, Fixed Ops Director at Stuckey Automotive, joins us on the next Service Drive episode to share strategies helping his Central Pennsylvania dealership group keep customers coming back.
