Sean McLain and Ryan Felton of The Wall Street Journal report that United Auto Worker walkouts have resulted in thousands of layoffs at Detroit automakers and their suppliers; it has had less impact on car buyers. They write:
Six weeks into United Auto Workers’ strike, the impacts of the work stoppages are rippling through the car business, causing pain for the automakers themselves, as well as parts makers and factory workers.
One corner of the industry that has been largely spared: dealerships and consumers, due in part to an inventory buildup of both cars and parts before the strikes.
On Monday, the UAW expanded the walkouts once again, this time targeting a 6,800-worker factory in suburban Detroit that makes the popular Ram 1500 trucks.
The plant, owned by Chrysler-parent Stellantis, is the global automaker’s largest in the U.S. and among its most profitable, making highly lucrative pickups sought after by both individual buyers and businesses operating fleets.
With this latest action, there are now more than 40,000 UAW members on strike at Stellantis, General Motors and Ford Motor F -0.12%decrease; red down pointing triangle at seven assembly plants and dozens of parts-distribution centers in the U.S.
Assembly-line shutdowns have resulted in layoffs at parts makers who make components for vehicles that are no longer being produced and cascaded to nonstriking factories at the Detroit car companies that supply parts and materials to facilities that are on walkout. […]
Sam Pack, owner of the Sam Pack Auto Group in Texas, said at this point the impact to his dealership business has been minimal. But dealers across the country are worried it could get worse if the union and the companies don’t cut a deal soon.
“It’s difficult for all of us, and we’re praying it doesn’t go on much longer,” Pack said.
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