--- title: "Toyota and Nissan Admit Their American-Made Cars May Have Thin Paint, Panel Gaps, and Leftover Residue: TDS" description: "Good morning and welcome to *[The Downshift]()*, or TDS for short, *The Drive*'s morning news roundup that gathers the latest automotive headlines from around the globe and places them in one spot." date: "2026-06-24" modified: "2026-06-24" 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/toyota-and-nissan-admit-their-american-made-cars-may-have-thin-paint-panel-gaps-and-leftover-residue-tds" categories: - "News" - "The Downshift" --- # Toyota and Nissan Admit Their American-Made Cars May Have Thin Paint, Panel Gaps, and Leftover Residue: TDS ![Tundra TRD Pro]() Good morning and welcome to *[The Downshift]()*, or TDS for short, *The Drive*'s morning news roundup that gathers the latest automotive headlines from around the globe and places them in one spot. *The Downshift* summarizes stories into a single sentence and provides a link for those seeking more information. Here's what's happening on Wednesday, June 24, 2026. πŸ”Š The latest episode of *[The Drivecast]()*, *The Drive’s* weekly podcast, will go live today on [Apple Podcasts](), [Spotify](), and wherever you get your podcasts. πŸ’… Toyota and Nissan are now importing American-made vehicles to Japan, but in an embarrassing plot twist, the automakers are selling these vehicles [with a notice telling buyers]() the quality is not up to Japanese standards, warning there might be thin paint, panel gaps, or leftover residue. ❌ Porsche is now shedding non-core assets and [might cut its workforce]() as the iconic automaker pushes forward with turnaround efforts. 🐎 Ferrari [replaced its marketing chief]() with the former BMW exec, Massimiliano Di Silvestre, after unveiling the Luce EV. πŸ’» Nissan plans to [slash software development time]() from months to hours by using AI in an attempt to catch up to software-defined vehicles from China. 🏭 Subaru said it will [shift to "ultra-efficient production" after a $362 million write-down]() on EVs and product delays in an effort to streamline operations and remain competitive in the age of electrification. πŸ“± The 2027 Audi A3 [trades buttons for bigger screens](). ⛽️ Porsche CEO Michael Leiters said there will [never be a fully electric 911](). 🚨 Ford has already [recalled 11.2 million cars]() this year. 😍 Morgan [revealed the stunning Midsummer hard-top](), which will be limited to just nine cars. πŸ”‹ The long wheelbase Tesla Model Y L will [reportedly launch in North America this fall](). πŸ§‘β€βš–οΈ Rivian is [facing a class action lawsuit]() over its first-generation R1 models after originally marketing the vehicles as capable of Level 3 autonomy and true hands-free driving. *Got a tip? 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]()