VW Finally Reintroduces Physical Buttons in a Car Not Available for Purchase: TDS

      Volkswagen ID 3 Neo interior.

      Volkswagen

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

      TDS compiles the most significant automotive industry headlines from the morning into a quick read, allowing you to catch up and continue with your day. Each item includes a link for more detailed information, but it doesn’t come with coffee—so be sure to get your own.

      Happy Wednesday, here’s what’s going on.

      🔊 The newest episode of The Drivecast, The Drive’s weekly podcast, will be available later today. Make sure to tune in, whether you listen on The Drive, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.

      ☝️ Volkswagen has unveiled its new ID 3 Neo electric vehicle. Although it won’t be available for sale in the U.S., it demonstrates VW’s commitment to incorporating feedback, featuring a dashboard that replaces nearly all capacitive touch controls with real physical buttons.

      💸 In other VW news, the end of ID 4 production at the company’s Tennessee facility to make room for the new Atlas is expected to impact its first-quarter earnings, as reported by Reuters based on a management call.

      🚐 Honda is recalling around 440,000 Odyssey minivans from model years 2017 to 2022 due to side airbags that may deploy unexpectedly, for instance, when encountering potholes or speed bumps. Owners will need to bring their vehicles in for servicing, which will require a software update that can’t be completed wirelessly.

      😇 BMW informed Australia’s CarSales that it will consider introducing new “brand shapers” (enthusiast or halo models) only after it has fully refreshed its core lineup.

      🔌 Ionna, the North American EV charging network created as a joint venture among eight automakers, has announced a partnership to install 350 charging stations at Circle K locations. They are also still trying to popularize the term “rechargery,” which is rather unfortunate.

      🔋 Chinese battery leader CATL has revealed a new collaboration with SAIC-GM-Wuling to introduce 10-minute charging as it competes with BYD, according to Electrek.

      💷 A brand new, V8-powered Jensen Interceptor, named the Interceptor GTX and produced by Jensen International Automotive—a firm focused on restoring the British brand’s classic vehicles—will make its debut this spring, as reported by Autocar.

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