Ford’s investment in electric vehicles, which has not paid off, will result in a loss of $19.5 billion for the company: TDS.

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      Good morning and welcome to The Downshift, or TDS for short.

      Concise, engaging, and straightforward, TDS compiles the latest automotive news from around the world in one convenient location. Each story is summarized in a single sentence with a link for those interested in more details.

      I’m on my first cup of coffee and will soon be ready for a second, so let’s dive in.

      🚘 What I’m driving: The 2026 Lucid Air has left my driveway, and I’d be lying if I said I’m not a bit sad to see it go. I loved it and would gladly use that car as a daily driver. Taking its place is the 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid. After just a few drives around with the kids, I’ve already discovered several things I like, along with a few complaints about this second-generation people mover.

      💸 Ford has announced it will discontinue the electric Lightning truck as we currently know it, but the nameplate will return with a new generation that includes a gas-powered range extender. The company is fully transitioning to a hybrid and range-extended electric vehicle lineup, which will result in a $19.5 billion loss on its books due to the struggles of its EV division.

      💰 President Trump stated that the changes his administration made to emissions regulations would save consumers money; however, data from the NHTSA indicates that consumers will actually incur higher total vehicle ownership costs.

      🚗 Contrary to previous reports, the Nissan Altima is not discontinued and will continue into 2026, maintaining a base price of $28,825, which is only $200 more than last year's model.

      🪦 Maserati's four-cylinder engine is no longer in production.

      💨 Nissan plans to expand its performance sub-brand Nismo, with plans to introduce 10 new models in the coming years.

      🚨 Stellantis has issued a recall for an additional 6,000 plug-in hybrid Dodge and Alfa Romeo crossovers due to an issue where the brake pedal may break off.

      🤖 Tesla reported another incident involving its Robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, in October, marking the eighth crash since the service launched in July. This occurred even though a human safety monitor with a kill switch was present; this news follows CEO Elon Musk's recent comments about testing Robotaxis without a human safety monitor on board, despite lacking the necessary approvals or permits.

      🤑 The updated 2026 Honda Pilot now has a higher starting price of $43,690, an increase of $1,995 compared to last year's model, and that price is for the front-wheel-drive version.

      🏎️ The name for Audi's Formula 1 team for the 2026 season has been officially announced as Audi Revolut.

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