SUMMARY:A national strike by the United Auto Workers is now in its 18th day. The walkout of 46,000 employees affects more than 50 General Motors sites, and although the two sides continue to talk and are said to be making progress, several key issues remain to be resolved. William Brangham talks to Micki Maynard, a journalist who follows the automotive industry in Detroit, about the stakes for each side.
SUMMARY: Nearly 50,000 workers at General Motors plants across the country went on strike at midnight Sunday, bringing production to an immediate halt. It’s the first nationwide work stoppage since 2007 for United Auto Workers, which says it hasn't been able to agree with management on key issues like pay raises and limits on using temporary workers. John Yang reports and talks to USA Today’s Nathan Bomey.
SUMMARY: Democratic candidate Elizabeth Warren joined the General Motors strike in Detroit on Sunday, calling for GM to be held “accountable.” For the last seven days, nearly 50,000 members of the United Automobile Workers Union have gathered at picket lines across the country, in the largest strike in the U.S. in over a decade. Phoebe Wall Howard of the Detroit Free Press joins Megan Thompson for more.
Michelin and General Motors are taking the air out of tires—literally.
The manufacturers this week unveiled a new generation of airless wheel technology, known as Uptis (Unique Puncture-proof Tire System).
Still in the prototype phase, this high-tech tire could roll out to passenger vehicles as early as 2024.
“General Motors is excited about the possibilities that Uptis presents, and we are thrilled to collaborate with Michelin on this breakthrough technology,” Steve Kiefer, senior vice president of GM’s global purchasing and supply chain, said in a statement.
Unlike traditional rubber tires, airless technology makes Uptis immune to flats and blowouts, reducing danger to passengers, and eliminating the need for regular maintenance like pressure checks and puncture inspections.
It also yields massive sustainability benefits by decreasing the number of tires condemned to scrap and scaling back raw materials and energy used in production.
Plus, without wear and tear from over- or under-inflation, Uptis tires simply last longer.
“Uptis demonstrates that Michelin’s vision for a future of sustainable mobility is clearly an achievable dream,” CEO Florent Menegaux said. “Through work with strategic partners like GM … we can seize the future today.”
Part of the French manufacturer’s VISION concept—a four-pillar strategy for research and development in sustainable mobility—this prototype is a first step in the right direction.
Actual details of Uptis, however, remain a mystery. Between the self-congratulatory pats on the back and flashy jargon, neither Michelin nor GM has revealed anything about the inner workings of airless wheel technology.
What are the tires made of? How do they operate? What differences, if any, will drivers notice?
In an FAQ [PDF download] published by Michelin, the company notes that Uptis “shares some design concepts” with its Tweel technology: a tire-wheel assembly, “spokes” that carry the load, and a shear beam outer ring, among others.
I have no idea what that means.
Neither Michelin nor General Motors immediately responded to Geek’s request for comment.
GM expects to begin real-world testing of the Uptis prototype in Michigan later this year, with a fleet of Chevrolet Bolt EVs.
I am Retired U.S. Navy (22yrs) and a Vietnam Veteran. After my Navy retirement I was in the computer related industry, now retired. In 2000 I was a registered Republican and voted for George W. Bush. Six months of having Bush in the Whitehouse forced me to re-evaluate my political stance. I had always thought of myself as a Moderate Republican, but was a Republican by "default" NOT because of close examination of the GOP. Due to what has happened in America since 2000, I now consider myself a progressive, and registered as a Non-Affiliated voter.
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