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Good morning and thank you for joining The Downshift, or simply TDS.
Brief, engaging, and early, TDS compiles the newest automotive news from across the globe and presents it all in one place. The stories are encapsulated in single sentences with links for those desiring further details.
The first cup of coffee is finished, and I’m on to the second one, so let’s dive in.
🚘 What I’m driving: Heading into the weekend with the 2026 Lucid Air Touring as an arctic air wave heads to Minnesota with temperatures not even reaching 0 for the weekend. I’m eager to see how the Air performs in these frigid conditions, but thus far, I must admit I’m incredibly impressed by its handling in the snow, although the software still has some growing pains.
📉 Tesla’s U.S. sales for November have plummeted to a near four-year low, despite the company’s swift efforts to reverse the trend by rolling out less expensive versions of its best-selling electric vehicles; the Cybertruck is reportedly a massive disappointment.
🏁 NASCAR has resolved a dispute that included significant concessions from the racing body, involving team owners such as Michael Jordan regarding the series’ charter agreements.
🔌 Volkswagen may change its approach and offer range-extended electric vehicles in the U.S. and Europe to alleviate drivers’ range anxiety concerns.
🤖 The investigation by the U.S. Federal Government into Waymo’s self-driving taxis in the vicinity of stopped school buses has escalated to a full recall impacting 3,067 taxis, prompting a software update to correct the problem.
🎉 The 2027 Porsche 911 GT3 lineup will include a limited-edition 90 F.A. Porsche model to honor what would have been Ferdinand Alexander Porsche’s 90th birthday.
🪓 The plug-in hybrid Mercedes-Benz AMG C63 has not been well received in the market and is reportedly facing discontinuation after just three years, but it seems sales aren’t the reason for its demise; rather, looming new sound regulations may ironically be the cause.
🪫 It is reported that Europe is prepared to revoke the 2035 ban on new gasoline-powered vehicle sales, with confirmation expected on Tuesday.
𝑴 BMW XM project manager Alexander Karajlovic has been named the new Vice President of BMW’s M division for upcoming product development.
🐎 The 2026 Ford Mustang’s front trunk will be optional in an effort to reduce costs and lower the price on the window sticker.
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