Auto Industry News: FCA and PSA Merger, Ford and UAW Talk Nice, Tesla Taxis Hit NYC, and National Jobber Day Joins the Calendar

FCA and PSA announce a new partnership, while Ford and the UAW strike a temporary deal. Prepare to see some Tesla taxis on your next trip to the Big Apple. And look for a new holiday to crop up on your calendar, as DECKED makes National Jobber Day a reality. Plus, the results are in from Formula 1, NASCAR, and NHRA, who all had a big weekend.

FCA and PSA Groupe Plan 50-50 Merger

As pressure ramps up for automakers to cut costs amid a rapidly shifting industry, FCA and PSA Groupe may have found some relief. The two auto giants announced last Thursday that they would be launching a 50-50 joint shareholder-owned company. A merger that would save the automakers a combined $4.11 billion annually—without closing a single factory.

The yet-to-be-named partnership will create the fourth-largest automotive group in the world, with a combined market value of $50 billion.

While specifics of the deal are still forthcoming, the Detroit Free Press reports that the companies will operate under a Dutch parent company with an 11-member board, five chosen by FCA and five by PSA with Carlos Tavares (PSA CEO) becoming CEO of the new company.

From FCA’s perspective, a move of this type has been a long time coming. Intentions to merge with Renault, another French automaker, fizzled out earlier this year. And before the death of former CEO Sergio Marchionne, the company had eyed up partnerships with GM and Volkswagen.

“I’m delighted by the opportunity to work with Carlos and his team on this potentially industry-changing combination,” said FCA CEO Mike Manley in a joint press release. “We have a long history of successful cooperation with Groupe PSA and I am convinced that together with our great people we can create a world class global mobility company.”

The partnership between FCA and PSA is expected to see most success in the U.S. and Europe, making little impression on its struggles in the Chinese market. Regardless, with FCA lagging behind its Detroit 3 rivals in electric vehicle development, such a merger can significantly help it cover lost ground. Additionally, both automakers can pool R&D resources on emerging (and expensive) autonomous technology.

Ford-UAW Negotiations

After only three days of negotiating, it looks like Ford Motor Company and the United Auto Workers’ union have struck a tentative deal preventing a strike similar to the much-discussed 40-day standoff with GM.

Details of the four-year contract include an obligation for Ford to pour more than $6 billion into 8,500 jobs and 19 plants, a ratification bonus of $9000 for full-timers and $3500 for temporary workers and overall wage increases without changes to health care costs. The new deal also means Ford will close only one Michigan factory, with all of the displaced workers being transferred to another nearby factory or offered a buy-out.

As of this writing, local Detroit media reported UAW members had begun voting on the tentative deal. All votes are due by November 15, meaning we won’t have to wait long to see how this one ends up.

Tesla Taxi Approved for NYC Streets

Tesla’s Model 3 fully-electric car has been approved to join the familiar bright yellow Crown Vics and Nissan NV200s roaming the city’s grid. The move aims to put a dent in some of the noise and air pollution issues that plague much of NYC’s downtown areas. However, the emissions-free vehicles will face some unique challenges.

From Motortrend: “Taxicabs are some of the hardest-working vehicles on earth. The big question with the Model 3 is if it has what it takes to match its conventional and hybrid counterparts. With range of up to 310 miles, the vehicle’s battery provides plenty of juice for cross-town trips. Still, drivers will need to be more calculated in where and when they recharge. There are currently five official Supercharger stations in Manhattan, with a handful scattered in the outer boroughs, and dozens of destination chargers dispersed throughout the city. Regardless, time spent at a charging station is time spent off the road.”

While some might scoff at the idea of a 100% electric taxi cab, this service isn’t new for the California automaker. Already popular in the Netherlands, Sweden, and Norway, Tesla taxis have popped up in Canada and, most recently, in Columbus, Ohio.

Electric taxis aren’t entirely new for New York City, either. In fact, people were cruising through the city’s streets in fully-electric cabs as early as 1890 as an alternative to horse-drawn methods, before going out of style in the early 20th century.

Will they stick around this time? Uh, have you been inside a Tesla?

How this will pan out for the taxi industry is anyone’s guess, as the automaker has announced plans to eventually branch into self-driving services. However, for now at least, upgrading one’s cab to a shiny new EV could offer an advantage over traditionally-powered Lyfts and Ubers.

DECKED Hosts National Jobber Day Celebration at SEMA 2019

It’s not every day we get to witness the birth of a real-life holiday. Thanks to DECKED, however, National Jobber Day is now a thing!

As a leading manufacturer of slide-out truck and cargo van storage systems, DECKED knows how important jobbers are to the auto industry. These are the hard-working folks who put in the elbow grease to craft your tonneaus, tinker with your suspension and, of course, install your top-quality DECKED products.

So, in an effort “to celebrate and honor the hard work and dedication of those who make it all possible,” DECKED has officially made November 6, National Jobber Day. Celebrate with the company—and your fellow professionals—at this year’s SEMA Show. The National Jobber Day Kick-Off Party takes place Wednesday, November 6 from 3:00 pm-5:00 pm at the DECKED Booth (#34125) in South Hall Upper. All you need is your business card to get in and enjoy nachos, beer, raffles, and more!

Looking for some tips & tricks to survive SEMA 2019? Click here.

Around the Circuit

Formula 1

Despite Valtteri Bottas taking the checkered flag this weekend at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, his teammate Lewis Hamilton stole all the headlines.

Locking up his sixth F1 championship with a second-place finish in the United States Grand Prix, Hamilton is now in reach of tying Michael Schumacher’s all-time record of seven championships and sitting among the legends of British sports history.

After the race, Hamilton took some time to ponder the historic accomplishment. “It’s beyond surreal that my life journey has brought me to this point in winning the sixth title,” Hamilton said. “I remember watching this sport when I was younger. It’s odd to watch it and see someone in the TV set and now to be the person in the TV set and to be doing something like the great that I saw in Ayrton [Senna] and the great I saw in Michael.”

Even Hamilton’s rivals had to give him credit for his historic win, taking time after the race to give the Englishman his flowers. “Only one title is already a huge achievement. To win six is just incredible. He deserves it. He has done an incredible season. I grew up watching him on the TV and just huge congratulations to him,” said  Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. Four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel added: “If someone wins the title six times, then he deserves all of it. That’s what I told him as well.”

Drivers will have a chance to put a mild damper on Hamilton’s historic season at the Brazilian Grand Prix at the Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace on November 17.

NASCAR

Monster Energy Series

Kevin Harvick blazed to the front of the pack in the race for the title, finishing first at Texas Motor Speedway this weekend. Harvick jumped ahead early, locking in his third straight Monster Energy Series playoff race in Texas.

Leading a race-high 119 laps and finishing a full 1.594 seconds ahead of Aric Almirola in second, this one was never really in doubt for the pole winner.

The first-place finish for Harvick gives him some breathing room ahead of the final round of 8 race at ISM Raceway in Phoenix, a track Harvick has dominated in the past.

“It’s just been a lot of work put into this race. We knew this was a good race track for us. Felt like it fit the styles of our cars, and, man, did it,” said Harvick, who won for the fourth time this season and the 49th time in his career, tying him with SHR co-owner Tony Stewart for 14th all-time.

Next up for Monster Energy series drivers is the Can-Am 500 at Phoenix Raceway on November 10.

Xfinity Series

Christopher Bell overcame an early brake issue to lock in an impressive win at Texas Motor Speedway this weekend. The Joe Gibbs racer stole the headlines, winning the O’Reilly Auto Parts 300 by a staggering 5.635-second victory and keeping his championship run alive.

This marks Bell’s eighth win of the year, a career-best for a single season, and secures his spot in the championship round in two weeks at Homestead-Miami Speedway. He led 101 laps to lock up his first win at the track and the 16th of his career, sweeping the first and second stages on his way to the points.

“That’s pretty special to win here at Texas,” said Bell. “I have a lot of family here. This (checkered) flag right here is for my nephew (Trip). I promised him years ago that if I ever won, I’d give him the flag at Texas.

Next up for XFinity Series drivers is the Desert Diamond West Valley Casino 200 at Phoenix Raceway on November 9, a chance to lock in their spots alongside Bell.

NHRA

In a thrilling weekend of NHRA action at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, it was the ladies who stole the headlines.

Brittany Force took first place in the Top Fuel category during the 19th annual Dodge NHRA Nationals, capturing the 151st overall win for females in NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series history. A win that came on the heels of Erica Enders locking in the 150th female victory in Pro Stock.

It’s fair to say that Force is the talk of the sport, and rightfully so, as she had one helluva weekend. On Friday, Force set the national speed record in the class with an impressive 338.17 mph run. And on Sunday, she broke the track E.T. record in the final round, holding off Steve Torrence in an epic final-round duel.

“This weekend has been incredible for this team,” said Force, who earned her first Vegas victory. “I’ve always wanted to win here. We set the MPH record here and we’ve accomplished a lot, but what we’re really going after is a championship together. I felt good coming in and we got the job done. It was pretty cool to (win) 151 and 150 with Erica today.”

The NHRA season wraps up November 14-17 at the Auto Club Raceway in Pomona. For official race standing after Vegas, click here.