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The UAW's 'record contract' hinges on pensions, battery plants

DETROIT - After nearly four weeks of disruptive strikes and hard bargaining, the United Auto Workers and the Detroit Three automakers have edged closer to a deal that could offer record-setting wage gains for nearly 150,000 U.S. workers. General Motors, Ford Motor and Chrysler parent Stellantis have all agreed to raise base wages by between 20% and 23% over a four-year deal, according to union and company statements. Ford and Stellantis have agreed to reinstate cost-of-living adjustments, or COLA. The companies have offered to boost pay for temporary workers and give them a faster path to full-time, full-wage status. All three have proposed slashing the time it takes a new hire to get to the top UAW pay rate. The progress in contract talks follows the first-ever simultaneous strike by the UAW against Detroit's Big Three automakers. The union began the strike on Sept. 15 in hopes of forcing a better deal from each major automaker. But coming close to a deal is not the same thing as reaching a deal. Big obstacles remain on at least two major UAW demands: restoring the retirement security provided by pre-2007 defined benefit pension plans, and covering present and future joint- venture electric vehicle battery plants under the union's master contracts with the automakers. On retirement, none of the automakers has agreed to restore pre-2007 defined-benefit pension plans for workers hired after 2007. Doing so could force the automakers to again burden their balance sheets with multibillion-dollar liabilities. GM and the former Chrysler unloaded most of those liabilities in their 2009 bankruptcies. The union and automakers have explored an approach to providing more income security by offering annuities as an investment option in their company-sponsored 401(k) savings plans, people familiar with the discussions said. Stellantis referred to an annuity option as part of a more generous 401(k) proposal on Sept. 22. Annuities or similar instruments could give UAW retirees assurance of fixed, predictable payouts less dependent on stock market ups and downs, experts said. Recent changes in federal law have removed obstacles to including annuities as a feature of corporate 401(k) plans, said Olivia Mitchell, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School and an expert on pensions and retirement. "Retirees want a way to be assured they won't run out of money," Mitchell said.

GMC Canyon AT4 OVRLANDX concept previews potential Bison-like model

GMC is signaling a move into serious off-road territory with this Canyon AT4 OVRLANDX concept. As its name suggest, this one-off was put together as a demonstration of what an overland-style GMC midsizer could potentially look like, but a glance beneath the surface reveals the bones of what we expect to be the forthcoming Canyon AT4X.  While "AT4" has been trickling down through the GMC lineup for the past few model years, AT4X kicks the basic off-road formula up a notch, a la Chevrolet's Colorado ZR2, which gains extra underbody protection, locking front and rear differentials and Multimatic's phenomenal DSSV dampers.  GMC Canyon AT4 OVRLANDX Off-Road Concept View 23 Photos OVRLANDX takes that to the next level, borrowing (and building upon) cues from the even-more-rugged ZR2 Bison, including rocker panel guards, cast-iron control arms, a custom front bumper with an integrated winch, built-in front recovery points, wheel arch trim with integrated LED task lighting, and guy lines for protecting the windshield from low-hanging branches. The custom rear bumper is even from American Expedition Vehicles (AEV), with whom Chevy partnered to produce the Bison's unique exterior bits. Does that seem like a wink and nod to you? “We wanted to showcase GMC Canyon with this concept and punctuate GMCÂ’s commitment to premium, off-road capable vehicles,” said Buick & GMC Global Vice President Duncan Aldred. "Consumer reaction to this conceptÂ’s design will help us further serve the growing market of buyers leading authentic outdoor lifestyles." This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. To that end, they threw a few more goodies at the concept. In a way, the roof-mounted tent, awning, cooler and kitchenette are just there to disguise the fact that GMC will likely build a production pickup with much these same specs when the new model debuts for the 2023 or 2024 model year – or perhaps even sooner. While this concept is built around GM's existing 3.6-liter V6 powertrain, the redesigned Canyon is expected to be offered with just one engine: a 2.7-liter turbocharged four-cylinder lifted from the Silverado and Sierra pickups.  Rumors have pointed to a GMC variant of the Colorado ZR2 since the midsize pickup adopted the AT4 branding for its off-road variant.

GMC Hummer EV fan's Lego build is functional and even has Crab Mode

Lego creates some pretty amazing automotive models, but the Lego hobbyist community sometimes does better. Evidence of that comes to us in this fully-functional GMC Hummer EV Lego Technic model spotted by Road & Track and created by YouTube user Alain B. And while it's a one-off for now, there is the possibility it could become a kit you could bring home. As you can see in the video, the model looks the part with a body that closely matches the real thing. It's an impressively solid body, too, something that's sometimes difficult to achieve with Technic pieces. But that's only the tip of the iceberg. It's also got electric motors and is remote controlled. It has four-wheel-steering that can emulate the Hummer's famous Crab Mode setup. The fully independent suspension can raise for more ground clearance. And on top of all of that, it's even got a fully operational MultiPro tailgate and front trunk. The design is also listed on the Lego Ideas page. This is the site where Lego builders can submit their creations, and if they get enough votes, they'll be considered by the company for becoming a real production kit. You can visit the page at this link to lend your support (it doesn't cost anything). That page also reveals some other neat details, including the fact that it's made of about 2,200 pieces. While enough votes will get the design to be considered by Lego, there are other factors that determine whether it makes production. Some of them include getting the license from General Motors, and other undisclosed reasoning. But Lego has done a number of large, technical and somewhat pricey kits with licensing from other companies. So this seems like a great one for the company. Related video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.