United Auto Workers Shifts Leaders

TOGETHER WITH

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Keep Pushing Back-Paul, Kyle, & Chris

DEALERS

Freedom Ford’s Fundraiser for Fallen Officers

Last week, Sam Wampler's Freedom Ford car dealership in McAlester, Oklahoma raised over $17K in just forty-eight hours for the families of two local police officers who recently passed away: Officer Joseph Barlow and Captain Richard Parker.

Wampler, a personal friend of Captain Parker, has been awestruck at the amount of support and donations that have poured in from the community, with some individuals donating as much as $2K in straight cash. The dealership has pledged to match donations up to $25K, and extended the fundraiser for another week in hopes of meeting that total.

"I'm thankful to see people do this, our community do this,” said Wampler. “As I said before it takes a village. These families need and deserve our support.”

Telling it like it is - Just what we love to see — dealers supporting their community in a time of need and having the community come together to rally around that support! Together is the best way to make a difference.

AUTOMOTIVE

Lucid’s Recall, United’s eVTOL, and Ferrari’s Freedom

Luxury EV company Lucid recalled some flagship Air sedans due to a power loss risk. Just over 600 of the vehicles could have a faulty motor switch, which first brought a car into the service center in May 2022.

Initially, the company used in-person checks to find the problem but later pushed a software update that allowed the company to screen the vehicles for the problem remotely.

After analyzing fleet data, the automaker determined the scope and frequency of the issue's precursors and informed the NHTSA before issuing their own recall.

United Airlines and Archer Air have partnered on the first commercial eVTOL route.

The electric air taxi will take people between O'Hare airport and Downtown Chicago.

Aptly-named Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot says the venture between the two groups is another example of how technological innovation thrives in the city.

Ferrari has welcomed the European Union's decision to exempt e-fuel cars from the proposed 2035 phase-out of new combustion engine vehicles, saying it gives the company "greater freedom" over its power systems.

Though the company still aims to bring its fleet to 80% electric and hybrid models by 2030, they are glad that the EU decision will continue to allow them to provide ICE options for consumers.

Ferrari's first all-electric model is expected to launch in 2025, but the company is keeping details of the car tightly under wraps for now.

TL; DR - Lucid Issues Fine Tuned Recall, United Takes Shuttle Service to New Heights, and Ferrari Was Hoping Somebody Would Think About E-Fuel.

TOGETHER WITH ASOTU X

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ASOUND THE ASOTU-VERSE

Word-Ro-Nymns

BDCBusiness Development CenterA department in a dealership that answers inbound calls and makes outbound calls. This department may also handle internet leads and is responsible for a large portion of communication across the dealership.

AUTOMOTIVE

Winds of Change at UAW

Members of the United Auto Workers (UAW) are ushering in a new era as they elected Shawn Fain, a member of the “UAW Members United” reform group and local leader for a Stellantis parts plant in Indiana, to become the union's new head.

The election saw a 33% increase in ballots cast over the previous year and resulted in a narrow win for Fain over the incumbent Ray Curry, who was appointed in 2021.

The induction of Fain and his leadership team marks the UAW's largest upheaval in leadership in decades. Fain's campaign focused on a "No corruption. No concessions. No tiers." platform and called for the removal of the tiered pay system implemented by automakers during recent negotiations.

Fain's victory comes as the UAW prepares for new discussions with Detroit automakers later this year, and he says he plans to take a “more aggressive approach” with employers.

Telling it like it is - Tight election? Strong opposing sides? Sounds familiar, but we can’t quite put our finger on it…

CULTURE

Questlove to Direct Live Action “The Aristocats”

Everybody wants to be a cat—even Questlove.

The founding member of the Roots and multitalented artist will direct Disney's live-action adaptation of "The Aristocats."

In addition to his six Grammy awards, Questlove, known off stage as Ahmir Thompson, won a Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival in 2021 with his directorial debut "Summer of Soul" about the 1969 Harlem Cultural festival.

Telling it like it is - The jump from 1969 Jazz-Cats in Harlem to 2023 jazz cats in Paris may be easier than any of us think.

Quick Hits

• The FDIC says First Citizens Bank and Trust is set to buy the collapsed Silicon Valley Bank.

• FTC proposed ban on “extended warranty” type scam telemarketing operators.

• The California Assembly has proposed legislation that would require companies like Google and Facebook to pay fees to news outlets for using their content.

History

• 1866: The first ambulance goes into service.

• 1881: “Greatest Show on Earth” is formed by P.T. Barnum and James Anthony Bailey.

• 1990: US President George H. W. Bush posthumously awards Jesse Owens, widely considered one of the greatest track and field athletes of all time, with the Congressional Gold Medal.