ICYMI: UAW monitor warns union leadership must fix retaliation and corruption issues. New-vehicle affordability worsens in October as incentives fall, monthly payments hit $766. Detroit Three CEOs to testify before Congress for first time since 2008. Supreme Court tariff case could cost automakers $1.8 billion. A second fire breaks out at Novelis’ Oswego plant.
Here’s a closer look at these top stories and more headlines to stay on top of this week’s automotive industry news.
UAW monitor warns of “toxic culture” amid leadership challenges
The UAW’s court-appointed monitor issued a stern warning Friday, Nov. 14, saying the union must take meaningful reform seriously or face the risk of corruption and abuse returning. Neil Barofsky, the monitor overseeing the union under a consent decree since 2021, cited a “toxic culture of division and retaliation at the highest levels,” singling out union President Shawn Fain and close allies. Read More
New-vehicle affordability worsens in October as incentives fall
New-vehicle affordability declined again in October as shrinking incentives outweighed steady income growth and slightly lower transaction prices, according to the latest Cox Automotive and Moody’s Analytics Vehicle Affordability Index. The decline marked the third straight month of worsening conditions, after the lowest affordability level since December 2024 was recorded in September. Read More
Detroit automaker CEOs called to testify before Congress for first time since 2008
Top executives from the Detroit Three have been invited to publicly testify before Congress on Jan. 14, marking the first joint appearance by the CEOs of Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis in more than 17 years. The hearing, announced by U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, will examine the auto industry’s position ahead of the upcoming Surface Transportation Reauthorization. Read More
Supreme Court tariff case could cost auto industry $1.8 billion, affect vehicle sales
A pending U.S. Supreme Court case challenging President Donald Trump’s global tariffs could impose up to $1.8 billion in annual manufacturing costs on automakers, even though the case does not directly target vehicle-specific levies. The case, Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump, questions whether the president had legal authority under the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose broad tariffs on products from more than 90 countries. The IEEPA tariffs currently cover machinery and lower-value raw materials, a narrow portion of automakers’ production costs, but one that is significant enough to show up on company balance sheets. Read More
Second fire at Ford supplier adds pressure to F-Series production plans
A second fire broke out Thursday morning at the Novelis aluminum plant in Oswego, the primary supplier of aluminum used in Ford’s F-150 pickups and other models. The fire ignited in the same area of the facility where a Sept. 16 fire had already disrupted production and triggered considerable financial impacts for the automaker. Read More
Next Week: Exclusive Interviews You Can’t Miss
Jay Abraham reveals hidden profit opportunities in dealerships
The profit opportunities in today’s dealerships are vast and often hidden in plain sight. In this episode of Inside Automotive, we welcome Jay Abraham, a leading business growth strategist and founder of The Abraham Group. Throughout his career, Abraham has helped companies uncover untapped potential and enhance performance across all operations. Abraham emphasizes that dealerships can significantly boost profits by leveraging existing resources, refining processes, and adopting insights from outside the automotive industry.
Cox Automotive’s Skyler Chadwick reveals the biggest opportunities in fixed ops
Dealership service departments hold untapped potential for revenue, retention, and customer loyalty. On this upcoming episode of Service Drive, Cox Automotive Director of Product Consulting, Skyler Chadwick, breaks down key insights from the 2025 Service Industry Study and offers strategies dealerships can implement now to capture these opportunities.