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Union to launch Toyota organization drive in Canada

Toyota may be heading toward some labor issues in the Great White North, as employees at a pair of Canadian Toyota factories may be set for a certification vote. The Unifor union, which was the result of a merger last year between the Canadian Auto Workers and the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers union, will be holding the vote.
Over 40 percent of the employees at the Woodstock and Cambridge, Ontario factories have signed union cards, cresting the minimum percentage required to instigate a legal certification vote, according to Reuters. The Woodstock factory is responsible for RAV4 production, while Cambridge builds the Lexus RX350 and RX450h, as well as the Toyota Corolla. The two factories employ nearly 7,000 people.
It's unclear when the union will hold a certification vote at the two factories, but what is rather clear are the worker complaints. Employees are concerned about workers being hired on temporary contracts which lack the benefits of full employment, John Aman, head of organizing for Unifor, told Reuters.

Kyle Busch breaks leg in big crash, will miss Daytona 500

NASCAR driver Kyle Busch suffered a compound fracture of the lower right leg and a mid-foot fracture of his left yesterday at Daytona during the 112th lap of the Alert Today Florida 300, the season-opening race of the 2015 NASCAR XFINITY Series. Busch came into contact with the infield wall just past the pit lane exit, an area where there is currently no SAFER barrier, which is designed to reduce the risk of injury in a crash. Fellow racer Ty Dillon, the third-place finisher in the race, expressed a common refrain following the news of Busch's injury. "I think we're to the point now in NASCAR we should have SAFER barriers at a place like this, we're going so fast. I think we could probably afford it," said Dillon. Matt Crafton will drive the No. 18 Toyota today at the Daytona 500 today as a substitute for Busch, but it's not yet clear if he will continue to drive the car following Daytona. Kurt Busch, Kyle's older brother, will also miss the Daytona 500 due to the domestic violence case against him in Delaware. Video footage of the wreck can be seen above. It goes without saying, but we wish Kyle a speedy recovery and a return to his stock car as quickly as possible.

Recharge Wrap-up: TRD Toyota Prius, new Hyundai Tucson Fuel Cell dealer

A new study predicts that biofuels capacity will grow to 61 billion gallons per year by 2018. The findings from Lux Research also suggest that biodiesel and ethanol will make up 96 percent (about 5.76 billion gallons) of that. Sixty-four percent of biofuels will come from the Americas, led by the US and Brazil, but with Colombia and Argentina emerging as important producers. Other large emerging producers are China, Indonesia, and Thailand in Asia, and Portugal, Poland, and France in Europe. A large share of next-generation biofuels are expected to come from waste oils. Read more at Domestic Fuel. Images of Toyota Racing Development equipment for the 2016 Prius have leaked. The images show what are likely cosmetic upgrades for the JDM version of the hybrid, including a rear spoiler, front spoiler lip, extended side skirts and a selection of wheels ranging from 15 to 18 inches. Also shown are LED daytime running lights and a dual-tip, centrally mounted exhaust. Expect to see the official reveal of the TRD Prius at the Tokyo Motor Show, where there will surely be more details about the add-ons, including the possibility of some interior features. See the leaked images and read more at Motor1. A fourth Hyundai dealer in southern California now sells the Tucson Fuel Cell. Keyes Hyundai in northern Los Angeles has met the requirements to sell the hydrogen-powered CUV. So far, Hyundai has delivered more than 75 Tucson Fuel Cell vehicles, which have logged almost 700,000 miles on southern California roads. "Keyes Hyundai is thrilled to be added as a qualified dealer for Hyundai's zero-emissions Tucson Fuel Cell hydrogen electric vehicle," says David Kohan, the dealership's general manager. "Our location in the northern Los Angeles region makes it even more convenient for local residents to conveniently acquire their new Tucson Fuel Cell CUV, helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions." The other qualified dealerships are located in Anaheim, Carson and Tustin. Read more in the press release below. Keyes Hyundai In Los Angeles Added To Growing Collection Of Hyundai Tucson Fuel Cell Dealers Keyes Hyundai Joins Tustin Hyundai, Win Hyundai in Carson and Hardin Hyundai in Anaheim as a Qualified Hydrogen Fuel Cell Dealer LOS ANGELES, Sept. 22, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Keyes Hyundai in Los Angeles became the fourth qualified dealer for Hyundai's zero-emissions Tucson Fuel Cell hydrogen electric vehicle today. Hyundai is the only manufacturer in the U.S.