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VW Chattanooga plant very close to UAW representation

After months of fighting from both sides, it looks like the Volkswagen factory in Chattanooga, TN, might unionize under the United Auto Workers after all. According to a letter acquired by The Associated Press, VW and the UAW reportedly struck a deal last spring where the union agreed to stop its challenge of the organization vote with the National Labor Relations Board to help clear the way for the CrossBlue to be produced in Tennessee. In exchange, the automaker would recognize the UAW at the plant. Leaders of the Local 42 at the facility reportedly signed the letter.
It seems that such an agreement would clear the way for the factory to unionize after months of dispute. According to The Detroit News, under Tennessee law, workers aren't required to join the organization. Although, that might not be a problem. As of a few months ago, Local 42 already claimed to have signed around 700 of the plant's roughly 1,500 workers.
Controversy has constantly swirled around the possible unionization at the Chattanooga plant. The UAW held its official decision in February and lost 712 to 626. However, there were allegations of intense political pressure to make sure the ballot failed. A later report also found that VW was offered $300 million in incentives well before the vote to make sure things progressed to the "satisfaction of the State of Tennessee," but the deal was later retracted. In July, the UAW opened Local 42 on the campus in hopes of signing up a majority of the workforce by volunteering to be a part of it.

Giorgetto Giugiaro sells shares in legendary styling house to Audi

Giorgetto Giugiaro undoubtedly stands among the great automotive designers of the 20th century, having penned the original Volkswagen Golf and Delorean DMC-12, among countless others. However, the great stylist is now longer an employee or even an owner of the company that bears his name. According to Automotive News, Giugiaro and his son, Fabrizio, sold their remaining 9.9 percent of Italdesign Giugiaro to Audi on Sunday, June 28, and the two resigned from the business the following day. The news about this just came out, though. The exact reason that the two men left the company hasn't been made entirely clear. According to Automotive News, a statement said that Giorgetto Giugiaro went "to dedicate more time to his personal interests." Italdesign Giugiaro remains open and intends to keep growing, though, the same announcement asserts. After stints at Bertone and Ghia, Giugiaro founded Italdesign in 1968. He created some masterpieces there, including '70s wedges like Maserati Merak, Lotus Esprit, and much more. The 2000s weren't so kind and 90.1 percent of the company was sold to Volkswagen Group in 2010. Former Audi design boss Wolfgang Egger took over styling duties there in late 2013, but he only lasted for about a year, leaving in late 2014. Since the sale, Italdesign has continued to work, including with the Gea concept at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show and the very mean-looking Parcour in 2013. Giugiaro's designs are still highly prized, as well. On September 5, Bonhams is auctioning the Maserati Boomerang concept by him and expects to get around $4 million for it. The gallery above offers a few more examples of his and Italdesign's concepts for VW Group over the years.

The VW diesel scandal is now a Halloween costume

Can't figure out what costume to wear at your upcoming Halloween party? Love cars? Have a bunch of auto enthusiast friends who appreciate a super timely joke? Well, fear not. You're set for this season. HalloweenCostumes.com presents the VW Diesel Scandal costume, complete with toxic gas mask, fuel canister, and a cute little car blowing a plume of smoke. It's a full do-it-yourself job, and the site shows all of the necessary parts you'll need to make your very own scandalous outfit. And no, we aren't sure why the male model isn't wearing a shirt. "I'm a car guy and a Passat driver before it broke down, so I never wanted to make light of the VW scandal. I actually really like the brand," HalloweenCostumes.com's Marlon Heimerl tells Autoblog. "But I'm also an environmentalist and marketing manager for a Halloween company. So fair is fair, just doing our job." "The biggest news stories and scandals in particular always find their way to the top of the list for the topical costumes of the year," HC's vice president of marketing, Troy Eaves, writes to Autoblog. "Sure, car scandals happen all the time, but on a much smaller scale both in terms of the total number of cars effected, and the actual parts in question are usually replaceable through a recall. This one was much larger scale, affected millions of consumers, and the damage can't really be undone. This rings 'big costume' for the Halloween industry." Credit where credit is due, this is pretty funny. Now, bring on the Sexy VW Diesel Scandal treatment.