--- title: "Oscar Mayer Seeking New Wienermobile Drivers Known As ‘Hotdoggers:’ TDS" description: "Good morning and welcome to *The Downshift*, or *TDS* for short." date: "2025-12-11" modified: "2025-12-11" 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/oscar-mayer-seeking-new-wienermobile-drivers-known-as-hotdoggers-tds" categories: - "News" - "The Downshift" --- # Oscar Mayer Seeking New Wienermobile Drivers Known As ‘Hotdoggers:’ TDS ![Oscar Mayer Wienermobile]() *Photo | Bill Uhrich | MediaNews Group/Reading Eagle | Getty Images* Good morning and welcome to *The Downshift*, or *TDS* for short. Tight, light, and right, *TDS* gathers the latest automotive news from around the world and puts it in one place. Stories are summarized in a single sentence accompanied by a link for those seeking more information. I'm currently sipping the first cup of coffee so let's get into it. 🚘 What I’m driving: Still spending time with the 2026 Lucid Air and it's proving to be truly incredible in the Minnesota snow, surprisingly efficient in the cold, and an overall marvel. Though, it definitely has some software teething issues and one of my kids is definitely not a fan of its low roofline. 🌭 Oscar Mayer [opened applications for its 2026 Wienermobile drivers](), which the company calls "Hotdoggers," with the aim of hiring 12 recent college graduates to drive its six 27-foot hot dog-shaped trucks; the company typically receives more than 5,000 annual applications. 🤖 Nissan aims to [undercut Tesla with a $4,000 "self-driving system"]() by early 2028; the automaker currently offers a hands-free driver-assist system known as ProPilot Assist. 🚙 The [2026 Maserati Grecale lineup has been scaled down]() with the death of the four-cylinder engine; base models now feature a detuned version of the Trofeo trim's twin-turbo V-6, and the electric Folgore gets a range boost thanks to an all-wheel-drive disconnect. 🤖 Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe has been teasing and discussing self-driving cars, autonomy, and AI for weeks and it all leads up to today, it's [Rivian's AI Day with big announcements expected]() from the start-up automaker. 🧑‍🎨 Audi [offloaded its majority stake in Italdesign]() to a tech company. 🔌 BMW EVs [gained access to Tesla's Supercharger network](). 🇺🇸 Chevrolet [announced the Stars & Steel Collection]() to celebrate 250 years of America. 🪫 Ford [ended its battery joint venture with South Korea's SK On](); the Blue Oval will fully own the Kentucky battery plant after the partnership break while SK On will fully own the Tennessee plant and focus on energy storage systems. 🛶 NASA and the USPS have [stopped using Canoo EVs]() despite the CEO claiming pledged support for the start up. *Have feedback on the formatting of TDS? Send us a note: 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]()