More Fain, more gain?… Fresh off a win against Detroit’s Big 3, the United Auto Workers are planning a union push at 13 nonunion carmakers. Last week, UAW Pres Shawn Fain outlined plans to rally employees at companies like Toyota and Honda (both of which raised wages after the most recent UAW strike, perhaps to avoid this very scenario), and EV makers like Rivian and Tesla (FYI: Elon Musk is very opposed). Unlike GM, Ford, and Stellantis, nonunion carmakers have a labor-cost advantage because they don’t have to negotiate. That’s now in jeopardy. And it’s bad timing for EV makers as growth cools.
X-plicit language… X boss Musk told advertisers “go f--- yourself” (a few times) at a conference last week, while addressing an ongoing boycott. ICYMI: after he endorsed an antisemitic post, 200+ companies including Coke, Amazon, Apple, and Disney have stopped paying for X ads, or are considering it. Now the company could lose $75M by year’s end. Musk apologized for his post, calling it his “dumbest,” but his colorful responses to advertisers likely won’t help X’s slumping revenue. Meanwhile, Meta, Snap, and Google have been enjoying an ad rebound.