It's extraordinarily difficult to break into the automotive industry as a young company and expect to find an advantage. Legacy automakers have made vehicles for decades, in some cases over a century, and have expertise that isn't easily copied overnight.

The barrier to entry is difficult enough that it might cause investors to shy away from companies such as Rivian (NASDAQ: RIVN). But one advantage Rivian has that many investors overlook is currently playing out.

Investors knew Union Auto Workers (UAW) labor contracts were going to be tough to swallow. From the beginning of the latest round of negotiations, the UAW was seeking what the union president called the "most audacious and ambitious" contract in decades, and by the time the book was closed on negotiations, the UAW had won historic gains from Detroit's big three automakers. Let's cover what the new contract means for Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) and General Motors (NYSE: GM) and why Rivian won a battle it wasn't even fighting in.

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Source Fool.com