Car manufacturers like Ford and GM invest in design and materials, creating plush interiors and fuel-efficient engines. Ford Fusion and Chevy Malibu are examples of their success. As the market shifts to trucks and SUVs, GM excels, leading to record profits. In recent years, GM has consistently made over $10 billion annually, a remarkable achievement.
Later this week, as many as 150,000 U.S. autoworkers may walk out in a historic strike against the three Detroit automakers, General Motors, Ford and Stellantis. The United Auto Workers union and the Big Three are still far apart in talks, and have only two days left to negotiate a new labor contract before the deadline.
Neal Boudette, who covers the auto industry for The New York Times, walks us through a tangled, decades-long dynamic and explains why a walkout looks increasingly likely.
Guest: Neal E. Boudette, an auto industry correspondent for The New York Times.
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