--- title: "Rivian CEO Says China’s ‘Cars Are Actually Better:’ TDS" description: "Good morning and welcome to *The Downshift*, or *TDS* for short." date: "2025-09-03" modified: "2025-09-03" 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/rivian-ceo-says-chinas-cars-are-actually-better-tds" categories: - "News" - "The Downshift" --- # Rivian CEO Says China’s ‘Cars Are Actually Better:’ TDS ![Yangwang U8]() Good morning and welcome to *The Downshift*, or *TDS* for short. Tight, right, and light, *TDS* gathers all the latest automotive news bubbling around the globe and puts it in one place. Stories are summarized in a single sentence with a link for those looking to dive deeper. 🚨 A quick heads up, I'll be out on vacation (fishing) and will hand the *TDS* wheel over to Editor-In-Chief Kyle Cheromcha and Senior Editor Adam Ismail through Monday. See you all on the road again Tuesday, and think "big muskie" while you're at it. The first cup of coffee is gone and I'm just starting in on the second, so let's get into it. 🚘 What I’m driving: the 2025 Chevrolet Suburban left and was replaced by a 2025 Cadillac Escalade V, and yes, that's the supercharged one that does 0-60 mph in 4.4 seconds with 682 horsepower. 🇨🇳 Rivian CEO [RJ Scaringe said]() everyone's fixation on the cost of China's EVs is wrong because it's "that the technology is much better" and "if I were an existing manufacturer, I'd get less hung up on the cost and more focused on 'the cars are actually better.'" 🤖 Waymo's next stop for its self-driving taxis will be [Denver and Seattle starting this week]() with both the Jaguar I-Pace SUV and Zeekr van. 📈 Audi plans to [simplify its lineup]() with less options, less models, and less variants including going from over 100 steering wheel designs to just three or four in a bid to [grow sales to 2 million annually]() in a bid to chase BMW. 📄 Tesla's "[Master Plan Part 4]()" is less focused on cars and building a business around selling vehicles and more of a mess laying out AI-driven products and services, unifying hardware and software, and robots, while also revealing two never before seen ... vehicles that look like a [Cyber SUV and Cyber Van](), neither of which are likely to ever see the light of day. 🇸🇪 The electric [Volvo EX60 will debut]() January 21, the Swedish automaker announced. 🪫 Volkswagen will [pause production of the electric ID.4 ]()in its Chattanooga, Tennessee plant in late October as part of a "market-driven decision, based on aligning our production volume to market demand," spokesperson Michael Lowder said. ⚙️ Nissan Americas chairman Christian Meunier revealed the [Z Nismo will gain a manual transmission option](), as the sports car is currently only available with a 9-speed automatic transmission. *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]()