--- title: "Toyota CEO Calls RAV4-Based Truck β€˜ An Opportunity for Us:’ TDS" description: "Good morning and welcome to *The Downshift*, or *TDS* for short." date: "2026-05-15" modified: "2026-05-15" 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-ceo-calls-rav4-based-truck-an-opportunity-for-us-tds" categories: - "News" - "The Downshift" --- # Toyota CEO Calls RAV4-Based Truck β€˜ An Opportunity for Us:’ TDS ![2026 Toyota RAV4 Woodland front]() *Toyota* Good morning and welcome to *The Downshift*, or *TDS* for short. Quick, tight, and dense, *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. It's Friday, we made it, and I'm up in Northern Minnesota at the cottage. Let's get into it. 🚘 What I’m driving: Currently spending the week with the 2026 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro. This one stands out thanks to its Wavemaker Blue paint and is louder than normal thanks to the TRD Performance package, which adds a catback exhaust system along with a dual intake setup. πŸ›» Toyota Motor North America CEO [Tetsuo Ogawa said]() that "a RAV4-based pickup is an opportunity for us, and the dealers are waiting; maybe they say we need today or tomorrow, but it takes time." πŸ›» The [2027 Nissan Frontier Sport debuted]() as a budget-friendly off-roader. πŸ¦Έβ€β™‚οΈ The [Jeep Wrangler America250 special edition debuted]() as a tribute to America's 250th birthday; it looks like Captain America's Wrangler. πŸͺ« Subaru's [delaying in-house EV development]() after a $362 million charge. 🏭 Toyota's considering [an additional assembly line in Texas](), which would cost the automaker $2 billion. 🀝 Stellantis and Dongfeng agreed to a $1.17 billion deal that will see [electric Peugeots and Jeeps built in China](). 🏎️ HWA will now [sell you an EVO race car]() that will compete at the 24-Hour Nurburgring race. 😱 The Pagani Zonda continues to live; a [new Pagani Zonda Roadster has debuted]() as a restored and reimagined example dubbed the "Cervino." ⛽️ Michael Lohscheller, the boss of Polestar, said drivers are now [suffering from "pump anxiety" ]()due to rising fuel prices. ⚫️ Rolls-Royce [debuted the Black Badge Cullinan]() by Cyril Kongo. *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]()