It’s a notable Wednesday as a looming UAW vote at the Chattanooga VW plant gets under way. We’re also talking about a new set of “trust principles” regarding autonomous vehicles, as well as a brand collab between Carvana and pro gaming.
The voting begins this morning to determine whether or not to unionize the VW plant in Chattanooga. In a dramatic move yesterday, Southern governors issued cautioning statements directed at the 4300 auto workers at the plant, warning that voting for UAW union representation could threaten their jobs.
Southern governors from Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas have publicly opposed the unionization, linking it to potential job risks and investment losses.
This union drive is part of the UAW's broader strategy to organize nonunion auto factories across the South, affecting nearly 150,000 workers.
Volkswagen has expressed neutrality, respecting the workers' right to a democratic vote and ensuring privacy in the voting process.
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee said, "We are seeing in the fallout of the Detroit Three strike with those automakers rethinking investments and cutting jobs. Putting businesses in our states in that position is the last thing we want to do."
In a call back to 2019, it looks like autonomy may be in the sights of industry experts and culture as yesterday the Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association (AVIA) published their “Trust Principles.”
Self-driving cars like those from Cruise and Waymo have contributed to a growing public skepticism, following several troubling incidents including accidents and traffic disruptions.
AVIA aims to enhance community relations and educate the public about AVs, planning to establish a national council with law enforcement and first responders to improve emergency situation responses.
Recent events underscore the urgency of building trust; a Cruise vehicle in San Francisco was involved in a serious incident last October, raising concerns over safety and transparency.
The industry's broader challenge includes distancing itself from systems like Tesla’s Full Self-Driving, which are often confused with fully autonomous technologies.
Carvana is collaborating with NRG and Rocket League influencer Musty for a unique giveaway, offering gamers a chance to win a Tesla Model 3, blending the excitement of esports with a high-stakes prize.
Musty will personally deliver the Tesla to the winner, enhancing the connection between virtual gaming achievements and tangible rewards.
The giveaway follows the successful Carvana | NRG Combine event, which highlighted emerging talent in the esports arena and awarded a $10,000 prize and a content creator contract.
Carvana's Ryan Keeton and NRG's Brandon Tortora emphasize their commitment to memorable experiences and further engaging the esports community.
All right here we are coming Georgia. We're outside beaver Toyota, this is a great office. We already lost our a cam. So we're gonna forget that even exists. We're pivoting to the other things. We Got the Beat cam that is not on the Wi Fi. Actually just pause it. We're gonna just pause it
Kyle Mountsier:
I don't think you can pause it. We're live. We're still live. Because once you go live, if you end the stream, you're absolutely it's your toast. This is this is what you get when the automotive troublemaker has to go on no matter where you're at whether you're on Wi Fi or you're doing something else, or hanging out today at we're at Beaver Toyota. It's in the background. You got the firepit right here, Paul's run in some sort of a cambie cam setup. We're not really sure exactly what's happening. Here we go. We're coming back in. Hi, we promised we've got the news for you. We probably got all the good stuff. If you're listening to this on the podcast, you have to go check out the video because it'll crack you up. All
Paul J Daly:
right, let me tell you about one big difference of coming Georgia on April 17. at Syracuse, New York, there are bugs out so many bugs and they're excited. Because they just hatched. They have all that spring energy. Yeah, so here we are outside. A few things to talk about today. Obviously, soda con is coming up. We just actually saw a representative from client command. Yep, who is located right here in coming Georgia. So we got the hang out with a couple industry partners already this morning. And we're gonna hang out with a lot more and a lot more dealers. Pash this morning. Glen Pash walks in, in the hotel and we're like, oh, so we just got to hang out with him a little bit. He will be moderating an awesome, awesome panel at ASOTU CON that
Kyle Mountsier:
I'm excited about. We've talked about it a couple times. But Nathan, our producer, had this idea to basically pit the single point of contact dealer, you know, kind of way of doing business against the, what we would call traditional or finance manager driven way of doing business. I can put them in a room and then we're gonna put boxing gloves in there and you know, play some my money. My money's definitely out
Paul J Daly:
there. But if you haven't checked out the roster, we have over 80 I know I've been saying 60 It's actually over at my team yesterday was like it's close to 90. Yeah. So yeah, over 80. So go to ASOTU con.com. And just look at the list of speakers, that is going to be worth you visiting alone. We still have some tickets left. And hope you can join us because it's gonna be something like you've never experienced and give you something that you can take home and actually make some real change in your dealerships when you get back. Alright, let's talk about some news. The voting of this morning is beginning to determine whether or not to unionize. The Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga, Shawn Payne is on sizes on auto news yesterday. Back in the new cycle, I'm sure that makes him very happy. But in a dramatic move yesterday, Southern Governors are issued cautioning statements to VW employees, over 4300 workers at the plant saying warning that voting for a union could actually threaten their jobs. It's coming from the Governor, Governor. So from Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina and Texas. They publicly oppose unionization. You know, obviously it's part of UAW is broader strategy to unionize all the non union plants. VW obviously is definitely on the they've been close in Tennessee a couple of times. Yep. And they think maybe this is the time they get it done. Volkswagen has expressed neutrality saying you know, they support their workers, right to vote for a union or not. Here's what Tennessee Governor Bill Lee said. He said, we are seeing and the fallout of the Detroit three strike with those automakers rethinking investments and cutting jobs, putting businesses in our state's in that position is the last thing we want to do.
Kyle Mountsier:
Governor Bill Lee is mostly loved around Tennessee, he ain't scared and he ain't scared to say a thing. No, he's got a little bit of a backbone. So yeah, this like we've known this coming. It's, it's been said by, by Shawn fain a few times like this is where we're headed. We know he's been in Chattanooga a couple of times. So it's no surprise it'll be interesting to see what the workers come up with whether or not they kind of side with the governor's or side with the idea of Shawn fain that that actually provides a you know, a long term income for them.
Paul J Daly:
I mean, they're gonna side with what they think is in their best interest always. I mean, I trust the reasonableness of people in Tennessee to make a good decision for the most part to say with that is your like, it depends on what part it depends on what part honestly it's a big step. Okay, let's the next story is in a call back to 2019. It looks like autonomy may be back in the sights of industry experts in culture yesterday as the autonomous vehicle industry association, Avi a, or a via, I don't know, publish their trust, quote, trust principles, self driving cars like Cruz and Waymo. Obviously, there's a lot of conversation and skepticism following you know, some notable incidents and accidents specifically in San Francisco. Aba wants to basically enhance the community relationships around autonomous driving, and also kind of establish a council with first responders and kind of really lean in on the safety conversations, you know, so they all Here's a big one they want to a broader challenge is distancing themselves from autonomous features in cars like Tesla, they're saying, No, this says that Yes, exactly. Isn't that And who's this this is Jeff raw, the CEO of ABA says With today's announcement, the AV industry is a via just weird. I want to say on your video, autonomous vehicle industry is sending a message saying we believe that public trust and autonomous vehicles is essential to their acceptance and that the autonomous vehicle industry must earn and maintain that trust. Yeah, back in the Convo back
Kyle Mountsier:
in the combo for sure. You know, when when you look at these trust principles, like you just go and we've linked it in the show notes, but it's all about you know, the policy so they they did an act they did a or whatever that is mana CR USD. So TR ust transparent interactions with government officials. Responsible integration of autonomous vehicles into communities are a part of that. upholding the highest cybersecurity and privacy standards safety first culture and governments and transportation policies that will increase safety and public trust on AV so they're really like this, this council that is primarily driven by crews and why Mo and a few other autonomous vehicles are saying like, hey, we want to in the public and in the public and private sector, both in communities and in the political arena have like a really strong conversation about what it means to integrate this into daily life because we see progress and the opportunity there. So just kind of like well one I didn't even know that the via existed so cool. I can understand their. But but cool to see them placing trust as the central point of what we need to be able to move move. Here's
Paul J Daly:
the thing like what politicians vote for laws, people vote for politicians, people vote according to like their principles and what they trust. And so they need people to say like, we want autonomous vehicles, we back it because if they do, the politicians can and then they can keep you know, developing the tech. Yep.
Kyle Mountsier:
Speaking of the people Oh, no, stop. Yeah, so Carvana is collaborating with energy NRG so a lot of times called energy and Rocket League, influencer mustI that's a that's a big influencer that defended rocket right exactly for a unique giveaway, offering gamers a chance to win a Tesla Model three, blending the excitements of eSports with a high stakes prize mustI the influencer will personally deliver the Tesla to the winner enhancing the connection between the gaming achievements and tangible rewards. They have recently also done what's called a gamers combine where they awarded a$10,000 prize to Anna create a contract to a gamer. So they've been you know, Carvanha has really been looking to live in the pop culture arena. But now, you know, given the Tesla Model three away, Brian portada, the energy head of sales said having mustI personally and Brent handover a car to one fortunate fan exemplifies our commitment to crafting moments that merge the thrill of gaming with real world excitement. So come on again.
Paul J Daly:
But I have a question for the giving away a used Tesla. No, who wants to win a used car nobody wants to want to use something like this. So it's like a little bit of a weird I guess Carvanha is gonna buy a Tesla from Tesla and give it to them. I don't know what it's going to be but I mean, it's always fun to say like this. We know that Tesla has made inroads in the gaming community, influencer community, Mr. Beast, as we see a big part of that he talks about Tesla a lot. He's always given away Tesla's on on his shows and on his episodes, Marcus Brownlee drives a Tesla another influencer and all you know all of these kind of run in the same circle so it makes sense. It makes sense for Carvanha to get in but I think there's like a little confusion in there like Carvanha sells used car wanna use
Kyle Mountsier:
Tesla like new also also, like back to the Carvana doesn't spend any or Tesla doesn't spend any money on marketing. Here it is there. Yeah, they don't know you know, and all these gamers Want now they all want.
Paul J Daly:
I know and I know it. Well there you go. There's a Wednesday's worth the news. We're gonna spend some time in the dealership today. Spend some time with the people on the front lines, trying to make things a little bit better trying to learn a little bit more try to bring all those things back to you and bring a lot of them and some of the people that are here, beaver Toyota, we're gonna bring to you out of soda con may 14 15th 16th. So make sure you check out ASOTU con.com and we will see you tomorrow.