VW CEO Declares Real Buttons and Door Handles as ‘Essential’: TDS

      Volkswagen

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

      The Downshift compiles all the automotive headlines you need to kick off your day. News is condensed into a sentence or two, with links for further details. The week is almost over, we’re nearly there! Let’s get started.

      🔘 Volkswagen CEO Thomas Schäfer has reiterated his commitment to reintroducing buttons in the automaker's models, stating at a recent brand event with Top Gear, “There are two things that are absolutely non-negotiable for me: door handles and buttons. I don’t understand why anyone would prefer [touch-sensitive] sliders.”

      📈 Hyundai has announced at its annual shareholder meeting that it plans to introduce 36 models in North America by 2030, according to Reuters, as the region is deemed its most profitable.

      🔌 According to Reuters, citing online car retail data, sales of used EVs in Europe have surged due to the war in Iran increasing oil prices. As mentioned earlier this week, now is a great time to consider purchasing a secondhand EV for the same reasons.

      🎞️ Lewis Hamilton has revealed that his new production company, Dawn Apollo Films, has prepared scripts for a sequel to last year's F1 film. The driver mentioned that the company is also working on TV series and documentary projects, as reported by Motorsport.com.

      🐎 Ford has revealed yet another special edition Mustang, this time in collaboration with Troy Lee Designs. This model is based on the EcoBoost package and features unique side decals, bronze wheels, a red interior, and some GT body panels for an additional $3,000, as stated by Ford Authority.

      ⚫ Lotus has launched a limited-edition Emira for North America named the Scura. Only 60 units will be produced, and it appears to be a standard Emira but with an all-black theme, including paint, window tints, interior trim, and lighting, according to Motor1.

      📉 Volkswagen is discontinuing Skoda in China this year, withdrawing the Czech brand from the market after annual sales plummeted from approximately 300,000 units less than a decade ago to just 15,000 by 2025, reports Reuters.

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