Volvo's Sales in the US Drop by 32% as Inventory Accumulates: The Decline

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

      TDS is dedicated to bringing you the essential headlines from the automotive industry every morning. Each bulletin provides a brief summary with links for more in-depth reading if you’re interested.

      It’s Monday, and for those suffering from allergies, it’s that time of year. We’ll get through this together. Let’s get started.

      ⬇️ Volvo's sales in the U.S. have dropped by 32% in the first quarter, and dealers are reportedly quite frustrated, according to Automotive News. An anonymous dealer remarked, “They don't care about building brand value or increasing transaction prices; it’s simply ‘take more cars,’” highlighting that the brand is sitting on over 90 days of inventory.

      ⛽ Amid recent concerns about rising gas prices, Ford is now providing gas cards with the purchase of select new models in certain markets, as reported by CarsDirect. This promotion could save buyers up to $3,500 on fuel, but it seems it cannot be combined with other incentives.

      📉 Volkswagen's global first-quarter sales figures are down 4% compared to last year, primarily due to decreased demand in the U.S. and China, as reported by Reuters.

      🛻 In related news, Volkswagen's American division acknowledges the arrival of competitors in the pickup truck segment and has contemplated entering that market, according to Autoblog, although there are no concrete plans at this time.

      🤖 Jeep is embracing the ’90s aesthetic with its new Wrangler and Gladiator Rewind special editions, inspired by an Easter Jeep concept featuring synthwave-style decals reminiscent of that era.

      🚙 Bentley has announced that the next-generation Bentayga, set to launch in 2028, will be a plug-in hybrid rather than an EV, as it has decided to forego its previous goal of releasing five fully electric models by the decade's end, according to Autocar. The new Bentayga will share its platform with the Porsche Cayenne and Audi Q9.

      🔧 Stellantis has opted to reduce Opel’s engineering workforce in Germany by 40%, according to Auto News.

      🏁 Weekend Race Results:

      NASCAR Cup Series at Bristol — Ty Gibbs took the win for Joe Gibbs Racing.

      NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series at Bristol — Connor Zilisch won for JR Motorsports.

      NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series at Bristol — Christopher Bell clinched victory for Halmar Friesen Racing.

      WRC Rally Croatia 2026 — Takamoto Katsuta secured a win for Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT.

      Formula Drift at Long Beach — Conor Shanahan emerged victorious for Jerry Yang Racing.