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Welcome to The Downshift, or TDS for short, The Drive’s morning automotive news roundup, bringing you the biggest headlines from around the globe.
The Downshift sums up stories in short blurbs with links to the source for the full report. Here’s the news worth catching up on for Wednesday, July 15, 2026.
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🫎 Volvo is said to be entertaining the prospect of a new electric midsize sedan and wagon for the U.S. that would supposedly launch in 2028, per Automotive News, citing sources familiar. These cars are said to already be in development for the European market, so this effort would simply certify them for sale on the opposite side of the pond. Production of Volvo’s last wagon for the U.S., the V60 Cross Country, ended in April. [Automotive News]
💥 The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is reviewing reports of fourth-generation Honda Odyssey minivans unexpectedly deploying their airbags without a high-G-force trigger. The model in question was produced from 2011 through 2017 and totals more than 800,000 vehicles in the U.S. This isn’t a recall yet, though it could rise to one; per the department, 10 owners have reportedly described the same phenomenon. [Autoblog]
⛽ Earlier in the decade, Cadillac was expected to leave all gas cars behind by 2030. That’s not the plan anymore, with a report saying that some long-running fuel-burning models, like the CT5, XT5, and XT6, will see redesigns or extended production runs. [Automotive News]
📉 Lucid’s shares plummeted by more than 50% on Tuesday after a report emerged suggesting that the young EV maker was considering taking itself private or filing Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Lucid has since confirmed that it is working with a restructuring advisor but denied the bankruptcy claim. [Bloomberg]
🆕 Toyota has announced the 2027 Corolla Hatchback with a $700 price increase. Now starting at $26,095, the latest model swaps in a larger infotainment screen with physical buttons for volume instead of a knob, as well as an optional new 12.3-inch instrument cluster on the higher XSE grade. [Toyota]
🤑 A 1990 E30 BMW M3 Sport Evolution just set a record at the RM Sotheby’s Woodcote Park Auction, selling for £404,375, or $523,000. This coupe has just 2,798 miles on the odometer, and it’s worth noting that the lighter and more powerful Sport Evo spec is much rarer than a standard E30 M3, with only 600 built. [CarBuzz]
🧑🔬 BMW and Toyota are running a pilot program in Spain to test 20 vehicles on Repsol’s synthetic fuel over a six-month period. [BMW]
Got a tip or feedback for TDS? Reach out to tips@thedrive.com
Backed by a decade of covering cars and consumer tech, Adam Ismail is a Senior Editor at The Drive, focused on curating and producing the site’s slate of daily stories.
