We review 40+ sites a day, looking for news that speaks to us. We usually find it and are able to pull a single thread through multiple topics so the anecdotes, data, news, and announcements say something.
Sometimes, that something is in a language we don’t speak, but it says something all the same.
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Thanks to imports, a new car may travel more miles before you drive it than in the first few months of ownership.
A recent Senate report revealed that BMW imported 8,000 Mini Cooper vehicles into the U.S. with components from a banned Chinese supplier. The legislation, passed in 2021, aims to prevent goods produced with forced labor from China's Xinjiang region. BMW has continued using these parts until at least April 2024.
Meanwhile, BYD unveiled its new Shark PHEV truck in Mexico. This hybrid truck, starting at $53,440, boasts an impressive range of over 500 miles and is set to compete with established models like the Ford Ranger. BYD plans to expand production to Mexico, emphasizing the importance of the region in its growth strategy.
In Italy, police seized 134 Fiat Topolino cars for displaying the Italian flag despite being manufactured in Morocco. This violation of a law against misleading indications of origin forced Fiat to remove the flag to release the cars.
Mercedes-Benz workers in Alabama voted against joining the United Auto Workers (UAW) union, with 56% rejecting the proposal. This outcome deals a setback to UAW's organizing efforts, especially after their recent success at a Volkswagen plant in Tennessee.
Despite the loss, UAW President Shawn Fain expressed pride in the workers' efforts and emphasized the union's commitment to ongoing organizing and addressing unfair labor practice charges against Mercedes-Benz and other automakers.
Volkswagen is shifting from an all-electric vehicle strategy to include more plug-in hybrids due to slowing EV sales.
Caterpillar and Vale are partnering to test a 240-ton electric haul truck and other decarbonization technologies at Vale's Brazilian mines. This initiative aims to reduce Vale's carbon emissions by 33% by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. The tests include battery-electric trucks, V2G/V2x systems, and dual-fuel solutions.
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Seems like the roof is the most important part of the house, but if it doesn’t have walls, it is just a hard-to-walk-on floor. So maybe value is a direct reflection of the quality of a relationship. 🤷