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It’s the last day of the month, and we’re talking about how a union strike could shut down all the ports on the East Coast and how that could affect the auto industry. Plus, we cover Hertz selling off some of its Chevy Silverado EVs, and a new report that says car thieves aren’t interested in EVs

Show Notes with links:

• Port workers from Maine to Texas are preparing for a major strike set to begin early Tuesday, potentially halting container traffic and disrupting industries nationwide. With negotiations at a standstill over wage issues, this strike could cost the U.S. economy up to $5 billion a day.
  • The International Longshoremen’s Association represents 45,000 workers across 36 ports and this would be the first coast-wide strike since 1977, impacting essential goods like food, automobiles and automotive parts.
  • Union leader Harold Daggett, known for his fiery rhetoric, has been vocal about the union's demands, warning, "I’ll cripple you," as he pushes for significant wage increases and resistance to terminal automation projects.
  • Retailers like Walmart and Costco have pre-imported goods to mitigate disruptions.
  • Steve Hughes, CEO of HCS International, which specializes in automotive sourcing and shipping, criticized the union for "holding the entire country over a barrel,"
  • Some analysts like Todd Caputo worry that this strike, combined with the effects of Hurricane Helene, will create a perfect storm for the retail auto industry.

• Did you know that we do a daily digest that rounds up all of the automotive news that you need to know each morning? We put a highlight of that in our Daily Pushback email, but the full write-up covers things you might never see in the email. Here’s a couple from today’s article:
• Hertz is cutting back on its EV fleet. Just 13 months after announcing a big acquisition of GM’s electric vehicles, the rental giant is now offloading Chevy Silverado EVs due to high depreciation and repair costs.
  • Hertz Car Sales has 35 Silverado EV 3WT models listed at around $63,500—about $11,000 off the fleet pricing.
  • High costs and fluctuating demand are forcing Hertz to recalibrate its fleet, but savvy buyers can snag a solid work truck with impressive specs at a discount.
  • If you're in the market for a robust EV truck, Hertz’s clearance might be your ticket to savings. 💰

• Shocking news! Thieves are steering clear of electric vehicles. The National Insurance Crime Bureau reports that EVs are less likely to be stolen compared to gas-powered cars.
  • Only 1 out of every 100,000 insured Tesla Model 3s was stolen last year. In contrast, classic gas-guzzlers like the Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat are hot targets—over 2,500 thefts per 100,000 insured vehicles!
  • Experts speculate that EVs’ high-tec

Join Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier every morning for the Automotive State of the Union podcast as they connect the dots across car dealerships, retail trends, emerging tech like AI, and cultural shifts—bringing clarity, speed, and people-first insight to automotive leaders navigating a rapidly changing industry.

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