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Good day and welcome to The Downshift, or TDS for short.
Compact, nimble, and precise, TDS compiles the latest automotive happenings globally and presents them in one location. Articles are distilled into a single sentence with a link for those wanting additional insights.
I’m enjoying my first cup of coffee, so let’s dive in.
🚘 What I’m currently testing: I’m still getting to know the 2026 Lucid Air, and it’s proving to be absolutely phenomenal in the snowy conditions of Minnesota, surprisingly calculating in the chill, and an overall wonder. However, it does have some initial software hiccups, and one of my children is certainly not a fan of its low ceiling.
🌭 Oscar Mayer has opened applications for its 2026 Wienermobile drivers, known as “Hotdoggers,” seeking to hire 12 recent college graduates to operate its six 27-foot hot dog-shaped vehicles; the company typically attracts over 5,000 applicants each year.
🤖 Nissan is planning to undercut Tesla with a $4,000 “self-driving system” by early 2028; the automaker currently offers a hands-free driver-assistance system called ProPilot Assist.
🚙 The 2026 Maserati Grecale lineup has been trimmed down with the elimination of the four-cylinder engine; base models now come equipped with a detuned variant of the Trofeo trim’s twin-turbo V-6, and the electric Folgore receives a range extension courtesy of an all-wheel-drive disconnect.
🤖 Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe has been hinting at and discussing autonomous vehicles, self-driving, and AI for weeks, culminating in today’s Rivian AI Day with major announcements expected from the electric automaker.
🧑🎨 Audi has sold its majority stake in Italdesign to a technology firm.
🔌 BMW electric vehicles have gained access to Tesla’s Supercharger network.
🇺🇸 Chevrolet has launched the Stars & Steel Collection to commemorate 250 years of America.
🪫 Ford has concluded its battery joint venture with South Korea’s SK On; the Blue Oval will fully own the Kentucky battery facility post-separation, while SK On will retain ownership of the Tennessee plant and concentrate on energy storage solutions.
🛶 NASA and the USPS have ceased utilizing Canoo electric vehicles despite the CEO asserting commitment to the startup.
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