Good day and thank you for joining The Downshift, or TDS for short.
Quick, concise, and free of fluff, TDS collects the latest automotive news from across the globe and consolidates them in one place. Stories are presented in a single sentence along with a link for those who want to know more.
It’s chilly and there’s snow on the ground once more in Minnesota. The first cup of coffee is finished, and it’s certainly time for a second, so let’s dive in.
🚘 What I’m driving: My spouse’s 2015 WK2 Jeep Grand Cherokee High Altitude equipped with the Hemi V8, and I continue to adore this vehicle. On Nokian Hakkapeliitta winter tires, this thing is an absolute beast in the snow.
🔋 BMW is targeting electric vehicle sales to equal that of its gasoline-powered cars within four years, continuing its launch of next-generation electric vehicles; the current sales gap is significant, with the German manufacturer projecting only 17.9% of its deliveries in 2025 to be electric.
💰 Audi is pinning its hopes on the premium Q9 SUV to help stem losses and enhance 2026 profits.
🔋 LG announced plans to manufacture batteries in Michigan for Tesla amounting to $4.3 billion for the automaker’s energy storage division.
🏭 VinFast announced it will restart operations at its North Carolina facility this year despite increasing losses.
🧑⚖️ Tesla’s Cybercab name is facing an issue: the name is already owned by a French beverage firm.
🇯🇵 Nissan is following Honda and Toyota in importing U.S.-manufactured vehicles to Japan, starting with the Murano.
🛻 The 2026 Ram 1500 BackCountry represents the latest off-road addition from the automaker, slotting between the Warlock and the Rebel.
⚙️ Porsche is in the process of developing a new shift-by-wire system that would allow a gearbox to alternate between automatic and manual configurations.
🏷️ A prototype for a Mullen EV appeared on Facebook Marketplace.
🔋 The Audi A2 nameplate is officially making a comeback with an electric hatchback, although it’s unlikely to be available in America.
🔨 RENNtech is reviving the Mercedes-Benz AMG Hammer featuring a handcrafted V12 engine.
🔌 Toyota has filed for two patents for plug-in hybrid truck powertrains.
💸 Amazon is reportedly on the hook for nearly $10 million in idling fines owed to New York City.
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