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The UAW has launched an unprecedented campaign to unionize the entire US auto sector at once, with thousands of auto workers at 13 companies announcing simultaneous unionization campaigns.

After UAW’s big strike win, winning 25%+ pay increases at the “Big Three” American automakers after a simultaneous strike at GM, Ford and Stellantis, the union is looking to maintain that momentum and go bigger.

Immediately after declaring victory, UAW President Shawn Fain said that in the next negotiation in 2028, UAW wants to come back to the bargaining table to negotiate not just with the Big Three, but with “a Big Five or a Big Six” – implying that the union planned to expand to other automakers. And President Biden said that he would support a UAW push to unionize Tesla and Toyota.

Now we’ve seen an official announcement that UAW isn’t just looking to unionize two or three more automakers, but all of them at once. Typically, unionization campaigns focus on a single company at a time, but here UAW is targeting a whole sector with simultaneous campaigns at each individual company. This seems like a tall order, but UAW’s triple-strike against the Big Three seemed to work out well, so it’s now applying that simultaneous tactic to organizing new union drives.

In service of its goal, UAW launched a new website at uaw.org/join, asking workers at each company to sign their union card. The website mentions several automakers by name, and has links to individual campaigns for each automaker where workers can go to express their interest in unionizing:

The campaign was accompanies by a video narrated by Fain making his union pitch. In short, UAW says that automakers and investors are making record profits, but that worker compensation has not kept up. The video specifically mentions Tesla and Rivian’s recent quarterly results, and also states that the Japanese/Korean automakers have combined to make $470 billion in profits, and the German automakers have made an additional $460 billion, in the last ten years.

Since the UAW’s big wins, other automakers have moved to increase pay to (partially) keep up with pay increases at the Big Three. VW, Hyundai, Toyota and Honda have all announced hikes in pay, showing how union wins can buoy an entire industry by making automakers compete for workers with higher pay.

But UAW doesn’t want to stop at a few voluntary pay hikes from other companies, it thinks that unionizing those companies can give workers a better deal. One worker at Toyota’s Georgetown, Kentucky plant put it thusly:

We’ve lost so much since I started here, and the raise won’t make up for that. It won’t make up for the health benefits we’ve lost, it won’t make up for the wear and tear on our bodies. We still build a quality vehicle. People take pride in that, but morale is at an all-time low. They can give you a raise today and jack up your health benefits tomorrow. A union contract is the only way to win what’s fair.

Jeff Allen, 29-year Toyota assembly worker

UAW also quoted workers at Hyundai, VW, Mercedes and Rivian in its release, focusing on how they think unionization would improve safety and benefits at these automakers.

Electrek’s Take

Unions are having a bit of a moment in the US, reaching their highest popularity ever since surveys started asking about them.

Much of union popularity has been driven by COVID-related disruptions across the economy, with workers becoming unsatisfied due to mistreatment (labeling everyone “essential,” companies ending work-from-home) and with the labor market getting tighter with over 1 million Americans dead from the virus and another 2-4 million (and counting) out of work due to long COVID.

Unions have seized on this dissatisfaction to build momentum in the labor movement, with successful strikes across many industries and organizers starting to organize workforces that had previously been nonunion.

But union membership has been down over several decades in the US, and as a result, pay hasn’t kept pace with worker productivity and income distribution has become more unequal over time. It’s really not hard to see this influence when you plot these trends against each other.

It’s quite clear that lower union membership has resulted in lower inflation-adjusted compensation for workers, even as productivity has skyrocketed. As workers have produced more and more value for their companies, those earnings have gone more and more to their bosses rather than to the workers who produce that value. And it all began in the 80s, around the time of Reagan – a timeline that should be familiar to those who study social ills in America.

All of this isn’t just true in the US but also internationally. If you look at other countries with high levels of labor organization, they tend to have more fair wealth distribution across the economy and more ability for workers to get their fair share.

We’re seeing this in Sweden right now, as Tesla workers are striking for better conditions. Since Sweden has 90% collective bargaining coverage, it tends to have a happy and well-paid workforce, and it seems clear that these two things are correlated. And while that strike is continuing, meaning we haven’t yet seen the end of it, most observers think that the workers will eventually get what they want since collective bargaining is so strong in that country.

These are all reasons why, as I’ve mentioned in many of these UAW-related articles, I’m pro-union. And I think everyone should be – it only makes sense that people should have their interests collectively represented and that people should be able to join together to support each other and exercise their power collectively instead of individually.

This is precisely what companies do with industry organizations, lobby organizations, chambers of commerce, and so on. And it’s what people do when sorting themselves into local, state, or national governments. So naturally, workers should do the same. It’s just fair.

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DHL takes delivery of its first Tesla Semi electric truck, says more to come next year

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December 8, 2025

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DHL takes delivery of its first Tesla Semi electric truck, says more to come next year

Tesla Semi DHL electric truck

The Tesla Semi program is gaining momentum with another major logistics player officially joining the fleet. German logistics giant DHL confirmed that it has taken delivery of its first Tesla Semi.

For a long time, PepsiCo was the only company operating the Tesla Semi in any meaningful volume outside of the automaker itself. But as we move closer to volume production in Nevada, we are seeing more units land in the hands of major customers like Walmart, Costco, and Sysco.

Now, DHL is officially on board.

In a press release issued last week, the logistics giant confirmed the delivery of its first all-electric Tesla Semi to be integrated into its US operations. This follows a pilot program in Livermore, California, where DHL tested the truck’s capabilities on real-world routes.

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According to the official announcement, during a 390-mile long-haul route, the Tesla Semi averaged 1.72 kWh per mile while hauling a gross combined weight of 75,000 pounds (34 metric tons). We previously reported on the successful pilot program last year.

Jim Monkmeyer, President, Transportation, DHL Supply Chain North America, commented on the performance:

“Our pilot of the Tesla Semi exceeded expectations, proving its ability to efficiently haul a typical DHL freight over long distances on a single charge. Integrating the Tesla Semi into our fleet is an important step toward achieving our decarbonization goals and delivering more sustainable solutions for our customers. With its range of up to 500 miles, the Semi unlocks opportunities that were previously beyond the limits of heavy-duty EVs, and we’re excited to partner with Tesla to make that a reality.”

This efficiency of 1.72 kWh/mile is critical. When Tesla first unveiled the Semi, they promised consumption of “less than 2 kWh per mile.” Many skeptics doubted this figure for a fully loaded Class 8 truck, but DHL’s real-world data confirms that Tesla is not only hitting that target but beating it significantly, even with a 75,000 lb load.

The truck is now operating out of Central California. Interestingly, DHL notes that for its current daily operations, the truck travels about 100 miles per day and only requires charging “about once per week.”

Dan Priestley, Director of the Tesla Semi program at Tesla, commented on the partnership:

“DHL has been a great partner to work with, and we appreciate their early and longstanding support for the Semi program. We are excited to support their deployment in North America, and their experience as a trusted logistics provider will help us make the product even better for future global markets.”

DHL says this delivery expands its fleet of Class 8 electric vehicles in North America to over 150 units. The company plans to add more Tesla Semi trucks in 2026 “as Tesla begins its volume production.”

After planning to start production in 2025 for the past 2 years, Tesla has recently delayed Tesla Semi production into 2026.

Electrek’s Take

For years, we’ve heard arguments from legacy truck makers and industry analysts claiming that battery-electric trucks can’t handle long-haul duties because the batteries are too heavy and the efficiency is too low.

DHL just proved them wrong.

Getting 1.72 kWh per mile with a 75,000 lb gross combined weight is impressive. To put that in perspective, at typical commercial electricity rates, that’s a fuel cost of roughly $0.20 to $0.25 per mile. Diesel trucks often cost $0.60 to $0.80 per mile in fuel alone.

The economics are undeniable.


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Lectric Christmas Holiday Sale with up to $893 e-bike savings + multiple price cuts, EcoFlow EV charger hub bundle $1,199, more

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December 8, 2025

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Lectric Christmas Holiday Sale with up to 3 e-bike savings + multiple price cuts, EcoFlow EV charger hub bundle ,199, more


We’re kicking off this week’s Green Deals with more winter holiday savings, led by Lectric’s Christmas Holiday Sale with up to $893 savings on e-bike bundles, price cuts on multiple models, and up to 25% accessory discounts – with e-bike pricing starting from $999. Right behind it is EcoFlow’s final Cyber Week flash sale (before the main event ends tonight and switches to its next seasonal event), which includes the brand’s Power Pulse EV Charger bundled with a Smart Home Panel 2 at a new $1,199 low. There’s also Segway’s Navimow i and X3 series robot lawn mowers at their second-best prices starting from $699, a return low on a popular Autel level 2 EV charging station with voice controls, and more waiting for you below. And don’t forget about the hangover deals from last week down below, collected together in our latest edition of Electrified Weekly.

Head below for other New Green Deals we’ve found today and, of course, Electrek’s best EV buying and leasing deals. Also, check out the new Electrek Tesla Shop for the best deals on Tesla accessories.

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Lectric Christmas Holiday Sale e-bike banner

Lectric Christmas Holiday Sale offers up to $893 savings on e-bike bundles + multiple price cuts, more – all from $999

Lectric has officially switched gears from its previous Black Friday/Cyber Week event to its latest Christmas Holiday Sale, continuing many of the offers with up to $893 savings and 25% accessory discounts, alongside some new change-ups, including price cuts on more models than we’ve seen at once before. Of course, across all your options from this brand, my personal pick for holiday scores is the XP4 Folding Utility e-bike with $227 in FREE gear at $999 shipped or the XP4 750 Folding Utility e-bikes with $514 in FREE gear at $1,299 shipped. Without the usual discounts on the bundles themselves, you’d be paying $1,226 and $1,813 for these packages at full price, with the standard models seeing a shrunk-down bundle that still beats the usual $79 package we’ve mostly seen over 2025, and the 750 model continuing over its previous bundle size which has been the largest we’ve seen since it released in early summer. Head below to browse the full lineup of deals across all models from this brand – and you have until December 15 to get orders in to receive them ahead of Christmas.

Whether you’re shopping for a loved one or treating yourself, you really can’t go wrong with Lectric’s XP4 e-bikes, which I have not only incorporated into my life (and loving), but also raved about in my hands-on review here. Your choice primarily depends on how much power and travel range you need, with the standard XP4 e-bike equipped with a 500W brushless geared hub motor (1,092Wh peak) and a 10.4Ah battery that delivers up to 50 miles of pedal-assisted travel. On the flip side, the XP4 750 e-bike boasts a more powerful 750W motor (with a greater 1,310W peak) and larger 17.5Ah battery to give you up to 85 miles of travel range. Both models’ motors also sport upgraded Stealth M24 tech to perform at quieter levels, all while providing up to 20/28 MPH top speeds that depend on what your state laws allow.

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They share features from there, especially the new upgrades, including a zero-degree stem, detachable TFT display, repositioned side key and charging port, and also keyless riding to meet fan expectations/asks. Your riding also benefits from hydraulic disc brakes, puncture-resistant mixed-terrain tires, an integrated brake-activated taillight with turn signaling, an 8-speed Shimano Altus derailleur, and more.

Lectric Christmas Holiday Sale XP4 e-bike bundles:

Lectric XPedition 2.0 e-bike bundles:

ONE LR Belt-Drive e-bike bundle + price cut:

XPress 750 e-bikes bundle:

XP Lite 2.0 LR e-bike bundles:

XPeak 2.0 e-bikes with price cuts:

XP Trike2 price cut offers:

Lectric’s Christmas Holiday Sale accessory deals:

You can also browse Lectric’s full Christmas Holiday Sale lineup here, including the up to 25% accessory discounts.

EcoFlow EV charger in garage powering EV

EcoFlow’s final Cyber Week flash sale offers Power Pulse EV charger + Smart Home Panel 2 at new $1,199 low (Save 57%), more

As part of the final day of its Cyber Week Sale before transitioning into its winter holiday seasonal events, EcoFlow has launched a 24-hour flash sale on four different bundles – three of which are add-on accessory packages, while one is a first-time inclusion of the Power Pulse EV Charger with a Smart Home Panel 2 at $1,199 shipped. Normally carrying a $2,798 MSRP, we’ve been mainly seeing it keep down at $2,199 since September, un-budged to lower rates even during major holiday events like Black Friday. That’s changing today, as this flash sale is not only including it in the lineup for the first time since its release, but also providing a larger-than-ever 57% markdown that cuts $1,599 from the tag for a new all-time low price.

If you want to learn more about this particular pairing, or any of the add-on accessory bundles, be sure to check out our original coverage of this flash sale here while it lasts until tonight.

Segway navimow robot lawn mowers in grass in front of home

Segway Navimow’s i series + newest X3 series robot lawn mowers up to $500 off at second-best prices from $699

Through its official Amazon storefront, Segway is offering its Navimow i105N Robot Lawn Mower at $699 shipped, while the Navimow i110N Robot Lawn Mower is down at $909 shipped, which both match their direct website pricing. Not only these, but you can also find the latest X3 series of models at their second-best prices collected for you here. Segway’s i series of robots would normally run you $999 and $1,299 at full price, which we’ve seen taken as low as $664 and $864 this year back during last month’s Black Friday event. If you missed out on those lows, you can score them here at their second-best prices (the all-time low for the i105N and the second-best annual price for the i110N), saving you up to $390 while upgrading your lawn care routine with smarter functionality. You can also shop Segway’s latest Christmas Holiday Sale deals on EVs right now, too.

If you want to learn more about these two robot lawn mowers, or browse the additional X3 series of offers, be sure to check out our original coverage of these deals here.

man using Autel EV charger to power EV

Save $151 on Autel’s MaxiCharger AC Lite 40A level 2 EV charger with voice controls back at $319 low

Coming at us through the official Autel Amazon storefront, you can pick up the brand’s MaxiCharger AC Lite Home 40A Smart AI Level 2 EV Charger back at $319 shipped right now in both colorways, matching the price directly from the Autel Website (where you have a choice between a J1772 or NACS connector). Normally fetching $470 in full, discounts over the year mostly kept costs between $399 and $376, though it did drop as low as $352 until Black Friday when this same rate first appeared. Now, you’re getting another shot at this all-time low price, complete with a $151 markdown. If you want to go with a more powerful EV charging station, you can still find the MaxiCharger Home Level 2 50A EV Chargers starting from their $398 lows.

If you want to learn more about this EV charger’s capabilities, be sure to check out our original coverage of this deal here. You can also find Tesla’s Universal Wall Connector retaining its Black Friday price cut here.

ecoflow delta pro ultra x power station in front of several solar panels
ecoflow delta 3 ultra power station with solar panels in grass

Best Winter EV deals!

Best new Green Deals landing this week

The savings this week are also continuing to a collection of other markdowns. To the same tune as the offers above, these all help you take a more energy-conscious approach to your routine. Winter means you can lock in even better off-season price cuts on electric tools for the lawn while saving on EVs and tons of other gear.


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Toyota’s new EVs are finally catching on in China, and the flagship model is about to drop

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3 hours ago

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December 8, 2025

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Toyota's new EVs are finally catching on in China, and the flagship model is about to drop

Toyota's-new-EVs-China

After falling behind in China, Toyota’s new electric vehicles are starting to find their footing. Now, it’s about to launch a new flagship model.

Keeping pace in an intensifying EV market

Although nearly every global automaker has struggled to keep pace in China’s fast-moving auto market, Toyota has been one of the hardest hit.

After its sales in China dropped by 7% in 2024, Toyota blamed the shift to new energy vehicles and “severe market conditions”, including an intensifying price war.

The Japanese automaker has been notoriously slow in the transition to fully electric vehicles, standing by its multi-pathway strategy that still includes hybrids and gas-powered vehicles.

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In China, Toyota has had no choice but to adapt. As part of its China R&D 2.0 strategy, Toyota has tapped China’s biggest tech giants, including Huawei, Xiaomi, and Momenta, to help it compete with domestic brands like BYD.

So far, it seems to be paying off. Through October 2025, Toyota’s sales in China are up 3.5%. Now, Toyota is crediting strong demand for its new EV, the bZ3X, for the growth.

Toyota-$15,000-electric-SUV
Toyota bZ3X electric SUV during winter testing (Source: GAC Toyota)

Toyota’s new EVs help boost sales in China

Toyota’s joint venture, GAC-Toyota, announced that bZ3X sales topped the 10,000 mark for two consecutive months.

The bZ3X is Toyota’s “first 100,000 yuan-level pure electric SUV,” starting at just 109,800 yuan, or roughly $15,000.

Toyota's-EVs-China
Toyota bZ electric vehicles in China (Source: Toyota)

It’s about the size of a RAV4 at 4,645 mm long, 1,885 mm wide, and 1,625 mm tall, but it looks and feels very different from the Toyota models we’re used to, with advanced ADAS features, an intelligent voice assistant, smart storage, and much more.

Now, the Japanese automaker is preparing to launch its new flagship EV, the bZ7. According to Toyota, the bZ7 “possesses a higher level of intelligence than any of Toyota’s offerings in global markets.”

Toyota's-new-flagship-EV
The Toyota bZ7 flagship electric sedan (Source: GAC-Toyota)

GAC-Toyota claimed the new flagship EV “generated significant interest” at the Guangzhou International Motor Show last month, thanks to advanced tech and features.

Like the bZ3X, the flagship electric sedan features a minimalistic interior with a floating infotainment screen, a smaller driver cluster, and a head-up display.

Toyota-bZ7-EV-interior
The interior of the Toyota bZ7 (Source: GAC-Toyota)

The bZ7 is the brand’s first vehicle to feature Huawei’s HarmonyOS intelligent driving system, which controls everything from the infotainment to navigation and climate control.

It’s also equipped with Momenta 5.0, providing nearly 50 new ADAS features, including Navigation on Autopilot in cities and on highways.

Toyota-bZ7-interior
The interior of the Toyota bZ7 (Source: GAC-Toyota)

With Xiaomi’s “Human x Car x Home” smart ecosystem, drivers can manage smart home devices directly from the vehicle’s infotainment or smartphone.

The bZ7 is about the size of the Tesla Model S and the BYD Han L, measuring 5,130 mm in length, 1,965 mm in width, and 1,500 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 3,020 mm.

Toyota’s new flagship EV will be available with 71.35 kWh and 88.13 kWh battery packs, offering a CLTC range of up to 600 km and 710 km, respectively.

Official prices and more information will be revealed closer to its official launch in early 2026, but GAC-Toyota said the bZ7 is “a top choice among 200,000 RMB [$28,000] luxury pure electric sedans.” The company added that the flagship EV is “poised for a strong start, aiming to achieve one million units in production and sales.”

Can it compete with BYD, Tesla, and others in China? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.


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