Welcome to The Downshift, or TDS for short, The Drive’s morning news roundup bringing you the biggest automotive headlines from around the world.
The Downshift recaps news briefly, with links to full stories for those seeking more info. Here’s your bulletin for Friday, July 10, 2026.
⏳ Toyota has delayed the launch of its first-ever Highlander EV originally scheduled for later this year. It’s unknown when the model will enter now hit the market, but in the meantime, the gas and hybrid versions will remain in production. The company’s official line is that it is making “additional adjustments to the vehicle prior to launch.” [Cars.com]
👎 Volkswagen is reportedly angling to cut half of its model lines across all brands as part of its massive looming restructuring. However, the plan as proposed by the automaker at its latest supervisory board meeting was voted down by labor representatives, 12-7. Union members and the state of Lower Saxony hold a majority presence on the company’s board. [Automotive News]
🌏 Meanwhile, VW has reported an 8.6% drop in second-quarter deliveries globally. Chalk it up to the usual suspect: weak demand in China. Sales in the country are down 20% compared to the same period one year ago. The performance of legacy makes in the region has been sinking for so long, it’s almost surprising they haven’t already bottomed out. [Reuters]
📈 Meanwhile, BMW had a strong Q2 in the U.S., where sales increased 13% versus the same period last year thanks to the strength of the 3 Series, X3, and X5. First-half deliveries are also up 4.7% in the States. [Automotive News]
⚡️ Lexus is demonstrating its upcoming LFA electric supercar at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, and it’s apparently “almost finished” and still on track for a 2027 launch, according to one of the vehicle’s designers. [Autocar]
🏭 General Motors appears to be seriously prioritizing the Corvette Grand Sport amongst all of the sports car’s trims for 2027, save for the base Stingray, according to purported production numbers that surfaced on an enthusiast forum. [CarBuzz]
🛜 BMW has announced that Verizon will supply 5G connectivity for all of its new models sold in the U.S., as well as those of Mini and Rolls-Royce. [BMW Blog]
🏁 Weekend races to watch (all times Eastern)
- NASCAR Crafstman Truck Series at Lime Rock Park: Saturday at 1 p.m. on FS1
- IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park: Saturday at 1:20 p.m. on YouTube
- NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series at EchoPark Speedway: Saturday at 7 p.m. on CW
- MotoGP German Grand Prix: Sunday at 8 a.m. on FS1
- FIA WEC 6 Hours of Sao Paulo: Sunday at 10:30 a.m. on truTV
- IMSA SportsCar Championship at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park: Sunday at 2 p.m. on Peacock
- NASCAR Cup Series at EchoPark Speedway: Sunday at 7 p.m. on TNT
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