🫖 December 6: Minimum Wage Hikes, Car Brand Satisfaction and European U-Turns

The Gist

State minimum wages are going up in 2025, with Michigan taking a big swing and Montana barely budging. But, will this boost paychecks or break budgets? The debate is heating up.

Consumer Reports dropped their brand satisfaction rankings, and the results may surprise you. Find out which carmakers are hitting the bullseye and which ones are whiffing the ball.

Rivian’s new Charging Outpost in Joshua Tree is open to all EVs—and yes, even there’s trail mix and free coffee included. Will this be the future of road trips?

Volkswagen workers are hitting the picket lines harder, with strikes escalating over layoffs and plant closures. Could the chaos across the pond mess with U.S. dealers? We take a look.

Stellantis is rejoining ACEA after an unexpected exit in 2023. The industry is watching closely to see how this change of heart will affect the automaker after this highly precarious year.

Fuel for Thought

• 📈 State Minimum Wage Increases in 2025

• 🎭 How Car Brands Stack Up in Owner Satisfaction

• 🔌 Speaking of Rivian…

• 🪧 VW Workers Strike Back

• 🌍 Stellantis Rejoins ACEA

BUSINESS

📈 State Minimum Wage Increases in 2025

State minimum wage is getting an uptick in nearly half of the States next year. While higher wages may be a win for workers, debates rage on about the ripple effects for businesses, consumers, and employment trends.

Which States Will See Bumps in Minimum Wage?
Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington.

Notably:

• Michigan’s minimum wage will jump the most by $2.15 to $12.48/hour—a 20.8% increase.

• Montana and Ohio will offer the most modest increases at just $0.25/hour.

• Meanwhile, twenty states still stick with the federal wage of $7.25/hour, unchanged since 2009.

🎭 How Car Brands Stack Up in Owner Satisfaction

Consumer Reports’ owner satisfaction rankings reveal which automakers are keeping drivers happy, and which ones are missing the mark. Let’s take a look:

💔 Who is Breaking Hearts?

• Jeep and Mercedez-Benz: These brands are bring up the bottom of the list with only a little over half of owners saying they’d buy again.

• Ram: Unfortunately, Ram also finds itself near the bottom of the owner satisfaction list, as well as accounts for one of the least satisfying brands in terms of “Comfort” and “Ownership Cost.”

❤️ Who is Winning Them?

• Rivian: For the second year running, Rivian tops Consumer Reports’ owner satisfaction rankings, thanks to its adventure-ready R1S and R1T models.

• BMW, Tesla, Porsche: Some of the usual suspects delivering max luxury.

• Lincoln: Surprise glow-up of the year, jumping 12 spots to land in the top 10.

🔌 Speaking of Rivian…

The beloved Rivian just plugged into the next level of EV inclusivity with its latest Charging Outpost in Joshua Tree, California—the first of Rivian’s exclusive Adventure Network to welcome all EV makes and models.

What Makes It Special:

• Universal Access — Chargers are compatible with CCS connectors and NACS-equipped EVs (with an adapter for now).

• Speeds That Impress — Charging rates up to 900 volts—good enough to make even your Tesla jealous.

• Amenities Galore — Lounge with a library, branded merch, DIY trail mix, complimentary coffee, and even a water bottle refill station. Who said charging couldn’t be charming?

What’s Next?
Rivian is opening up its network to boost EV adoption, starting small but thinking big. The Joshua Tree site kicks off a plan to expand access across North America, with new locations in Texas, Colorado, Illinois, and beyond.

🪧 VW Workers Strike Back

Volkswagen’s German workforce isn’t pulling any punches. Workers have escalated strikes, protesting potential plant closures and layoffs in what could be the first factory shutdowns on home soil for Europe’s largest automaker.

What’s Happening?

• Strikes are now hitting nine sites for four hours each—double the duration of December’s initial walkouts.

• These “warning” strikes align with critical cost-cutting negotiations between Volkswagen and labor representatives.

What’s the Tea?

• Volkswagen says cuts are vital to stay competitive amid rising costs and increased pressure from foreign rivals.

• Workers’ union IG Metall ain’t buying it. Negotiator Thorsten Groeger fired back, accusing VW’s board of “mockery” for pushing layoffs during the holidays.

What This Means for the U.S.

While strikes are a European issue for now, ripple effects could be felt stateside. Volkswagen’s U.S. dealers may face delays in inventory or model launches if factory closures or extended strikes disrupt production.

For American automakers, the upheaval could be an opportunity to capture market share, especially in EV segments where VW has been pushing aggressively.

What’s Next?

Workers say they are planning a massive rally today in Wolfsburg—VW’s HQ—just as negotiations resume.

Union officials have hinted at longer and potentially open-ended strikes if talks don’t lead to an agreement.

🌍 Stellantis Rejoins ACEA

Stellantis is heading back to the ACEA (European Automobile Manufacturers Association) signaling another shift in its playbook after a tumultuous year.

The automaker, which left the lobbying group at the start of 2023 under former CEO Carlos Tavares, seems ready to mend fences and take a more unified stance on Europe’s green transformation.

What’s Driving The Reversal?

• Stellantis had clashed with ACEA over 2025 carbon reduction fines, with Tavares advocating a tougher stance on electrification. Now, with new leadership in place, the automaker has reapplied for membership.

• ACEA welcomed the move, emphasizing the need for unity in the face of Europe’s “competitiveness crisis” and mounting pressure to electrify.

Now What?
 
As Europe’s second-largest automaker, Stellantis’ decision to rejoin ACEA will set the tone for how it navigates future emissions policies and industry collaboration.

Will it double down on EVs, hold back for a more conservative transition, or surprise everyone with a bold new strategy? Time will tell.

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