
Good morning and welcome to The Downshift, also known as TDS.
Concise, focused, and quick to read, TDS compiles the most recent automotive news from across the globe and presents it all in one location. Each story is distilled into a single sentence with a link for those who wish to learn more.
Just completed my second cup of coffee, it’s projected to be around 50 degrees in Minneapolis today, and there’s practically no snow. Let’s dive in.
🚘 What I’m driving: Spending the week with the 2026 Volkswagen GTI and am already annoyed with the touch-sensitive climate control and volume buttons.
👨💼 Nissan’s new CEO, Ivan Espinosa, is transparent about the automaker’s plight, emphasizing it’s severe with an expected annual net loss of $4.2 billion for 2026 after a $4.5 billion loss last year; Espinosa remarked, “it’s becoming progressively tougher for companies of our scale to stay relevant in this environment. You must remain open and adaptable,” and in response to a question about the possibility of a sale, he stated, “anything can happen in this unpredictable world.”
📸 The Mitsubishi version of a rebranded Nissan Leaf was seen testing on public streets.
⛽️ Audi’s CEO indicated that the automaker plans to retain gas-powered vehicles well into the 2030s due to changing market demands in different areas.
🛻 The new 2027 Chevrolet Silverado series will maintain a single-cab option as prototypes were observed testing on the road.
🔌 The 2026 Toyota RAV4 PHEV lineup has seen a price reduction of $3,315, now starting at $42,950.
🧑⚖️ Iowa is taking legal action against General Motors and OnStar for selling the data of Iowa residents without permission.
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