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Welcome to The Downshift, or TDS for short, The Drive’s morning news roundup bringing you the biggest automotive headlines from around the world.
The Downshift recaps news briefly, with links to full stories for those seeking more info. This is your bulletin for Tuesday, June 16, 2026.
🆕 Mercedes-AMG’s product offensive is taking shape, with CEO Michael Schiebe telling Bloomberg that the brand is planning more than 27 new vehicles in the next three years. At the same time, the number of different engines used across AMG products will be pared from 10 down to four. The upside for enthusiasts is that more of them should be V8s. Remember when Mercedes sold like five AMG-badged models? [Motor1]
🎱 AMG’s momentum begins today, with the new Mercedes-AMG GLS63 and GLE63S, two SUVs powered by the company’s new M177 Evo 4.0-liter flat-plane V8, making 603 horsepower and 627 lb-ft of torque. [Car and Driver]
🪖 General Motors is reportedly negotiating a deal with Lockheed Martin to supply parts for the defense contractor’s weapons. [Wall Street Journal]
🛜 Ford is seeking permission from the U.S. Department of Commerce to be able to continue selling its China-built Lincoln Nautilus SUV next year. Authorization is required due to a new law prohibiting vehicles with software installed in China from sale. Ford isn’t alone in this, as Volvo, Polestar, and GM will also need to seek clearances for vehicles they currently sell in the U.S. [Reuters]
⏩ Nissan says it’s leveraging new AI and digital tools to bring upcoming cars to market in half the time it previously needed, and the first beneficiary of this plan will be the new Skyline. According to the automaker, the upcoming sedan will have taken about 26 months to launch, by the time it emerges this winter, down from the usual 55. [Nikkei]
🛻 In other Nissan news, the company has announced pricing for the 2027 Frontier pickup, and it will start at $34,235, including destination, for a two-wheel-drive S model. [Nissan]
🗳️ United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain has announced he will seek reelection for a second four-year term this fall. [Reuters]
⏱️ The Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut just set a new speed record for the quarter-mile, reaching 189.76 mph. It’s the first production car to clock over 186 mph in that distance. [Motor1]
🔌 Rivian will partner with ChargeScape, itself a company launched by a consortium of automakers, to allow its EVs to interface with utilities to reduce charging prices and help balance the grid. [Electrek]
🔋 EPA documents have seemingly revealed the Tesla Cybercab’s specs, and they include a 219-hp front-axle motor and 50-kWh battery. [Car and Driver]
⚡ In a surprising deviation from the industry’s current trends, Stellantis has announced that its upcoming “E-Car” minicars intended for Europe will in fact not utilize a range of powertrains, and instead will be all electric. These will include a rebooted Citroën 2CV and a similar Fiat-badged model. [Automotive News]
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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.
