--- title: "Honda Will Now Make Hybrids the β€˜Core’ of Its Business: TDS" date: "2026-05-19" modified: "2026-05-19" authors: - name: "Joel Feder" job_title: "Director of Content and Product" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/joel-feder" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/honda-will-now-make-hybrids-the-core-of-its-business-tds" categories: - "News" - "The Downshift" --- # Honda Will Now Make Hybrids the β€˜Core’ of Its Business: TDS ![Honda Prototype 2026]() *\Honda\* Good morning and welcome to *The Downshift*, or *TDS* for short. Quick, dense, and short, *TDS* gathers the latest automotive headlines from around the globe and places them in one spot. Stories are summarized in a single sentence accompanied by a link for those seeking more information. The first cup of coffee is gone, and a second is needed. Let's get into it. 🚘 What I’m driving: Spending the week with the 2026 Lexus GX and am truly interested to see how I feel about this thing after the weekend and a road trip up north. At the launch, in a short, curated session I loved the GX and felt it challenged the Land Rover Defender, but after spending a week with it road tripping and towing in the real world I found it loud, crude, thin, and annoying despite it's gorgeous design. It's been two years, let's see how things shape up this time in a new timeline. πŸͺ« After bailing on the electric future and taking a massive loss [Honda America planning chief Gary Robinson said]() hybrids will form the "core" of the automaker's business and are now expected to overtake pure gas-powered vehicle sales later this decade; Acura's lineup will shift to be almost all hybrids while Honda's showroom will be a little more selective on which vehicle gets which powertrain. 🚨 [Jeep recalled 61,711 Cherokee SUVs]() because the two-speed power transfer unit in the transmission might experience catastrophic failure. πŸ”‹ BMW is [working on a less expensive Neue Klasse EV]() that will wear the 1 Series nameplate. πŸ’° [Tesla raised Model Y prices]() by $500 to $1,000. πŸ’² The [2027 Volvo EX60 lineup was priced]() with a 300-mile variant costing less than $60,000; the electric EX60 also costs less than a comparable plug-in hybrid XC60 model. πŸ€‘ Congress now [wants you to pay $130 a year ]()to drive an electric car; lawmakers say EV drivers have to "pay their fair share" since they won't be paying a gas tax, though many states are already charging EV drivers a fee to compensate for the lack of gas tax income. πŸ”‹ Volvo confirmed the now dead EX30 will be [replaced with an affordable, larger, EV]() next year; the replacement is expected to wear the EX40 badge. πŸ‡¨πŸ‡³ BYD aims to [take on the Land Rover Defender]() with the Ti7 seven-seat hybrid SUV in the UK later this year. πŸ‡¬πŸ‡§ Ford's set to [launch five "rally-bred" cars]() in Europe by 2029. *Got a news tip or feedback? Drop us a line at tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Overseeing what you see, read, touch, hear, and interact with from the vast lakes of Minnesota, Joel Feder shapes how The Drive looks and operates as the head of content and product initiatives. On a daily basis, Joel leads the newsroom and editorial staff playing point on both short-term coverage and long-term strategic plans. His mission is to help ensure The Drive shapes the future of automotive media by helping the team execute original reporting, breaking news, and exclusive opportunities. Regarded as an industry insider and recognized by colleagues, fellow journalists, and manufacturers as a point-person and leader in the industry, Joel owns and runs the largest automotive professionals group on Facebook in an effort to serve and help others. Joel serves as a juror for the World Car Awards. In addition, he is the board chair and chair of the governance and nominating committee for Move Forward MN, a local non-profit that helps at-risk youth with barrier-free mental health and housing services. While you’re reading this he’s either on his computer or iPhone chasing the latest news or drafting a story. ### Author social links [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]() [Bluesky]() [Email]()