The strike at the Audi plant in Puebla, Mexico, which began on January 24, continues as workers have voted against the latest offer from the company [694c276c]. Out of 4,161 workers, 3,139 voted against the offer, which included a 7% wage increase [694c276c]. The strike has had a significant impact as the Audi plant in Puebla is the only Audi plant in North America and the only supplier of the Audi Q5 model and its derivatives for the world market, except China [694c276c]. The plant produces about 750 luxury SUVs daily, translating to $41 million in revenue each day [694c276c].
The strike is also significant in the context of Audi's plans to transition to electric vehicles (EVs) [694c276c]. Audi has announced plans to end all new combustion engine models by 2026 and their production by 2033 [694c276c]. This transition to EVs has already resulted in job cuts in Audi Germany, and the shift to EVs is expected to lead to a historic jobs bloodbath in Mexico [694c276c].
The ongoing strike at the Audi plant in Mexico highlights the challenges and conflicts surrounding the transition to electric vehicles and the impact on workers' rights [694c276c].
In a separate development, the union representing workers in the Automotive Property Registry offices in Argentina has called for a total strike starting on May 6 in response to the closure of 40% of the offices [335af955]. The closure of the registries and the reduction of staff are part of the government's measures to reform the automotive registration system [335af955]. The union is demanding the protection of workers' employment and the legal security of citizens' registration [335af955]. The strike will continue indefinitely until the Ministry of Justice calls for dialogue [335af955]. The strike will begin at 8:30 am on May 6 and will cover all Sectional Registries throughout Argentina [335af955].
These strikes in the automotive industry, both in Mexico and Argentina, reflect broader labor unrest and conflicts over workers' rights amidst the transition to electric vehicles and government reforms [694c276c] [335af955]. The strikes highlight the challenges faced by workers in the industry and the need for dialogue and negotiation to address their concerns and protect their rights [694c276c] [335af955].
In India, Audi has opened a new Audi Approved: plus facility in Mangalore, Karnataka [6e44fceb]. The facility guarantees high-quality pre-owned Audi vehicles, which undergo mechanical, bodywork, interior, and electrical inspections at 300+ multi-point checks [6e44fceb]. The program also offers 24x7 roadside assistance, complete vehicle history, easy financing, and insurance benefits [6e44fceb]. The Head of Audi India, Balbir Singh Dhillon, stated that the pre-owned luxury car segment is a critical growth driver, and the company aims to be the benchmark for pre-owned luxury car ownership in India [6e44fceb]. The CEO of Jubilant MotorWorks, Amit Jain, mentioned that the facility represents their commitment to delivering exceptional performance, luxury, and customer experience [6e44fceb]. The Audi Approved: plus pre-owned car business grew at 50% in FY23-24, and the brand plans to add three more pre-owned car facilities this year [6e44fceb].