Honda's shift in stance on electric vehicles has resulted in the demise of Sony's electric car, according to TDS.

      Sony Honda Mobility

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      Welcome to The Downshift, or TDS for short.

      TDS is designed to provide you with all the major automotive headlines each morning. Stories are condensed into a few sentences, with links available for those who want to delve deeper. Happy Wednesday, let's take a look at today's news.

      🔊 Episode 9 of The Drivecast, The Drive’s new weekly podcast, will be released later today. Be sure to tune in, whether you’re listening on The Drive, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.

      🪦 It’s official: Sony Honda Mobility has halted the Afeela project after Honda ceased production of its 0 Series EVs, as the joint venture announced this morning. The Afeela 1 electric sedan was intended to share a platform with the now-canceled EVs, so Honda's change of plans effectively brought an end to SHM as well. This marks the conclusion of a journey for Sony that began back in 2020 when it first unveiled its Vision-S concept at CES before Honda's involvement. SHM has stated it will refund all reservation holders.

      📹 Toyota is recalling nearly 145,000 Lexus models, which include the NX250, NX350, RX350, and TX350, due to malfunctioning rearview cameras that may not operate correctly while reversing. Dealers will update the necessary software at no cost.

      🎥 Ford is also recalling about 255,000 SUVs, such as the Explorer and Lincoln models including the Aviator, Nautilus, and Navigator, due to issues with image processing modules that might affect both the backup camera and advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS). This issue should be resolved through an over-the-air update if owners cannot bring their vehicles in for servicing.

      🌟 Stellantis' North American design chief, Scott Krugger, confirmed to the media that the company remains committed to the Chrysler brand amid recent leadership changes. “There’s a lot happening in the studio, and there’s significant interest in [Chrysler] from the top levels of this company right now. We recognize there is a future for Chrysler,” Krugger stated, as reported by Automotive News.

      🇦🇺 Australians enjoy their pickups just as much as Americans do, but the Ford F-150, which was launched in the country three years ago, has faced challenges due to quality-control “teething issues,” according to CarSales. Ford Australia has announced a new process to address these problems, including conversions from left- to right-hand drive.

      🚐 Mercedes-Maybach has hinted at the VLS, a particularly luxurious version of the upcoming VLE van that the brand is branding as a “grand limousine.”

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