Business

Product in a grocery store. Background with selective focus. Chicken eggs in disposable trays

Misguided CEOs With AI Egg on Their Faces

You can’t make this stuff up! Ford CEO Jim Farley last October made headlines prognosticating that “artificial intelligence is going to replace literally half of all white-collar workers in the U.S.” He opined that “AI will leave a lot of white-collar people behind.” Given that Farley’s mistaken embrace of electric…

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Rows of new, advanced military tanks are leaving the production line in a brightly lit, modern factory, showing the strength and readiness of the armored vehicles

Munitions Mary and GM’s Weapons of War

GM CEO Mary Barra’s ability to reinvent herself rivals that of a career politician switching platforms on the campaign trail. First there was “No More Crappy Cars Mary,” a promise she made on CNBC when she oversaw the automaker’s new product development. Then there was “Mechanic Mary,” a moniker she…

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The man is very tired of driving a car and sleeping on the steering wheel.

Uber Screws Drivers and Riders. CEO Got $184M

Uber’s business model—which I feared from the get-go would morph into a platform engineered to exploit drivers and riders—has always been personal to me. As I’ve noted several times on this blog, I drove a Toronto taxi when I was in college, and it was a very lucrative gig. In…

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New York, US - March 29, 2018:  The front facade and sign of the New York Stock Exchange at wall street

Stock Buybacks Helped Elon Musk Mint $1 Trillion

I’ve warned for some time about America’s rigged economy fueling a dangerous level of wealth inequality that has mutated into a direct threat to our national security. Until the other day, I mistakenly thought I was a choir of one. Turns out, people far better credentialed than me agree. I’m…

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Wealth management, Businessman and construction site manager looking at team making gold coin step stair.

American Axle and the Crushing of U.S. Labor

It is disheartening that truly thoughtful journalism, the kind that takes considerable smarts and experience to produce, is rarely noticed or appreciated by the corporate media, even at the publications where it appears. A case in point is this column by Greg Ip, the Wall Street Journal’s economics columnist. Ip’s…

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Kokomo - May 5, 2024: Dodge Durango RT display at the Stellantis Transmission plant. Dodge offers the Durango in SXT, SRT and GT models. MY:2024

Stellantis: A Poor Excuse for an Auto Company

It’s hard to imagine a company with a more uninspiring name, disjointed branding, and muddled messaging than Amsterdam-based Stellantis, parent of more than a dozen auto brands ranging from moribund Chrysler to Maserati. Perhaps in Europe the name Stellantis evokes some passion, but it strikes me as some dreaded STD,…

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A vibrant platter showcases an assortment of cured meats, fresh greens, and decorative fruits. Guests enjoy the delightful spread at a cheerful social event, sharing laughter and conversation.

A Deli Platter and Jamie Dimon’s Quality of Mercy

JPMorgan’s $4.25 million defeat over a $642.50 deli platter is understandably generating plenty of yuks on social media. Here’s why the award is no laughing matter and another indictment of Jamie Dimon’s leadership.

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Drive a car and use smartphone. Reading messages holding a cell phone while driving. Transportation and new automotive technology concept. Infotainment, navigation, multimedia communication device

GM’s $12.8M Love Tap for Spying on Californians

GM CEO Mary Barra has previously raved that California is home to the best technologists. Here’s another reason she’s come to appreciate The Golden State.

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PARIS - OCTOBER 14: Chevrolet Volt front view at the Paris Motor Show 2010 at Porte de Versailles, on October 14, 2010 in Paris, France

Bob Lutz’s Chevy Volt: The Hybrid Before Its Time

Bob Lutz, an auto executive who held senior positions at the Detroit 3 and BMW, saw hybrids as the future.

He championed a vehicle acclaimed for its technology and beloved by its customers. GM abandoned it.

Toyota shared Lutz’s vision—and is cleaning up.

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