2008 Nissan Pathfinder Se Sport Utility 4-door 4.0l on 2040-cars

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Foreign automakers pay from $38 to $65 per hour to non-union workers

As leaders for the United Auto Workers gather in Detroit for their Special Convention on Collective Bargaining to work out the negotiating stance for this year's new labor agreements with the Detroit 3 automakers, what they most want to do is figure out how to eliminate the two-tier wage scale. However, the lower Tier 2 wage has allowed the domestic automakers to reduce their labor costs, hire more workers, and compete better with their import competition. As it stands, per-hour labor rates including benefits are $58 at General Motors, $57 at Ford, and $48 at Fiat-Chrysler – a reflection of FCA's much greater number of Tier 2 workers. The Center for Automotive Research released a study of labor rates (including benefits) that put numbers to what the imports pay: Mercedes-Benz pays the most, at an average of $65 per hour, Volkswagen pays the least, at $38 per hour, and BMW is just a hair above that at $39 per hour. Among the Detroit competitors, Honda workers earn an average of $49 per hour, at Toyota it's $48 per hour, Nissan is $42 per hour, and Hyundai-Kia pays $41 per hour. The lower import wages are aided by their greater use of temporary workers compared to the domestics. Automotive News says the ten-dollar gap between those foreign camakers and the domestics turns out to about an extra $250 per car in labor, which adds up quickly when you're pumping out many millions of cars. That $250-per-car number is one that, come negotiating time, the Detroit 3 will want to reduce, as the UAW is trying to raise both Tier 1 and Tier 2 wages. Another wrinkle is that the domestic carmakers are considering the wide adoption of a third wage level lower than Tier 2. Some workers who do minor tasks like assembling parts trays kits and battery packs already make less than Tier 2, but the UAW will be quite wary about cementing yet another wage scale at the bottom of the system while it's trying to fight a bigger battle at the top. News Source: Automotive News - sub. req., BloombergImage Credit: AP Photo/Erik Schelzig Earnings/Financials UAW/Unions BMW Chevrolet Fiat Ford GM Honda Hyundai Kia Mercedes-Benz Nissan Toyota Volkswagen labor wages collective bargaining labor costs

Recharge Wrap-Up: Georgia lawyers love the Nissan Leaf, 2B vehicles by 2035

Loads of lawyers at a firm in Georgia are taking advantage of the state's EV tax credit. Georgia offers a tax credit on leases and purchases of electric vehicles for 20 percent of the car's value, up to $5,000. This has created a trend among lawyers at Arnall Golden Gregory, who one after another have been switching from gas-powered cars to the all-electric Nissan Leaf. They appreciate the environmental benefits, as well as toll exemption and access to HOV lanes, but the tax credit seems to be the biggest motivation to switch. Says lawyer Scott Wandstrat, "Everybody is signing up, now that all the cool kids are doing it." Read more at Daily Report. (Thanks to Kevin D. for the tip!) There's an easy way to see what kind of battery pack a Tesla Model S is using. Underneath the car on the passenger side, just behind the front wheel is a sticker on the outside of the battery pack. At the top is the battery size, 60 kWh or 85 kWh. Below that is a part number, followed by a letter. According to this Tesla Motors Club wiki, those numbers denote new or refurbished battery packs. The A, B or D following that number refers to the generation of battery, which also corresponds to charging capabilities. Knowing how to decode a Tesla pack could be useful if you ever need to replace your battery. Get more details at Teslarati. There will be 2 billion vehicles in use by 2035, according to a forecast by Navigant Research. The group who brought you the fuel consumption figures we shared with you previously estimates that there are currently almost 1.2 billion light-duty vehicles in use today. Navigant expects stop-start technology to grow, with 45 percent of vehicles on the road being equipped with it by 2035. Read more at Green Car Reports. The Hybrid Shop, which specializes in reconditioning batteries, is now an AskPatty Certified Female Friendly Auto Repair Facility. AskPatty, an automotive website which offers advice for women, credits The Hybrid Shop for providing a safe and comfortable environment for women, as well as offering valuable automotive services. The Hybrid Shop has launched its own corresponding microsite, which offers the resources most requested by women. Learn more in the press release below.

2013 Nissan e-NV200 taxi will carry Catalunians quietly beginning next year

The Nissan e-NV200, currently in the final phases of testing with FedEx fleets in various countries, will be getting more demanding cargo next year in Barcelona when it goes into service as a taxi. Unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show by Carlos Ghosn and with the mayor of Barcelona, Xavier Trias, in attendance, the e-NV200 is the van slightly reworked into a unique design and resting on a Leaf electric powertrain.
The NV200 van is built in Barcelona, and when the electric version goes into production there next year it will begin its public beta will as part of a set of initiatives the Spanish city has for zero-emissions transportation. Nissan will be helping with the build-out of infrastructure such as charging stations, while the city elders get to work on allocating privileges and special spaces for the e-NV200 taxi drivers.
After the Catalonian debut Nissan says the electric hauler will make its way to other parts of the world. Nothing's been said yet about whether it will join our combustion-engined NV200 taxis in New York. You can take a look at the fare-driven future in the high-res gallery above, and read more about it in the press release below.