Tesla Has Extended the Model Y to Compensate for the Absence of the X: TDS
Tesla
The latest auto news and reviews, no nonsense
Our daily newsletter delivers the most important stories right to your inbox every weekday morning.
Good morning and welcome to The Downshift, or TDS for short, a news summary from The Drive that compiles the top automotive headlines from around the world.
The Downshift condenses news into brief summaries and offers links for further reading. We hope you enjoyed your Fourth of July weekend. Here’s what’s happening this Monday morning.
🆕 The long-wheelbase, three-row Tesla Model Y is now available in the U.S. as a temporary alternative to the larger, discontinued Model X. This model of the electric crossover was initially launched in China last year and in Australia earlier this year. [Automotive News]
📈 In other Tesla updates, the electric vehicle manufacturer has reported its best quarter in years, selling 480,126 vehicles globally. This figure surpasses analysts' predictions by approximately 80,000 units and marks a 25% increase compared to Q2 2025. Analysts credit the surge to strong performance in China and Europe. [Bloomberg]
💥 Moreover, the first known fatal incident involving a Tesla Semi occurred last week in Nevada when the truck hit a vintage Volkswagen Beetle, resulting in the deaths of its two occupants. The Semi does not offer Full Self-Driving features, and while investigations are ongoing to ascertain the cause, preliminary statements from the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office suggest that the truck driver may have fallen asleep. [Forbes]
🗺️ Over the past year, Walmart has increased its EV charging station network from zero to more than 70 stations and 600 connectors. [InsideEVs]
🔃 A new patent from General Motors suggests a method for connected vehicles to share crash reports after an accident. [Autoblog]
✋ Nissan CEO Ivan Espinosa remarked that the Japanese carmaker and its alliance partner Renault are “collaborating better than ever,” even after Renault opted not to vote for the reappointment of a longtime Nissan director. [Bloomberg]
🪫 The vice president of leading EV battery supplier CATL stated that “Processing is not the bottleneck, but mining [for essential minerals] is,” highlighting the industry's challenges. [Bloomberg]
🖌️ A design for a Volkswagen sports car created by an intern at the German automaker is arguably the most impressive you'll see today—possibly this month—and it brings back memories of models like the W12 Nardo. [CarBuzz]
🏁 Weekend race results:
NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series at Chicagoland: Brandon Jones secured a victory for Joe Gibbs Racing.
Formula 1 British Grand Prix: Charles Leclerc took first place for Ferrari.
IndyCar Grand Prix of Mid-Ohio: Pato O'Ward triumphed for Arrow McLaren.
NASCAR Cup Series at Chicagoland: Chase Briscoe emerged victorious for Joe Gibbs Racing.
Do you have a tip or feedback for TDS? Contact us at tips@thedrive.com.
Other articles
Trump Grants Pardons to 9 Diesel Tuners Accused of Removing Emissions Equipment
As the Trump administration steps back from enforcing regulations on diesel emissions, the president states that the pardons are simply a matter of common sense.
Cadillac Issues Recall for Vistiq EVs Due to Potential Child Entrapment in the Third-Row Seat
The third-row seat of the Vistiq has the potential to entrap passengers, leading to a recall and a stop-sale directive for all Cadillac dealerships.
Trump Grants Pardons to 9 Diesel Tuners Accused of Removing Emissions Devices
As the Trump administration steps back from regulating diesel emissions laws, the president claims that the pardons are simply a matter of common sense.
Jiffy Lube has been acquired by a private equity firm in a deal valued at $1.3 billion.
Previously owned by Shell, the fast auto-service chain has been acquired by a group known as Monomoy Capital Partners in a deal worth 10 figures.
This Chevy Truck Operates on Wood, and It Recently Set a Speed Record.
The truck's maximum speed may not be remarkable on its own, but when was the last occasion you witnessed a wood-powered vehicle at a standing-mile competition?
Spotted: Ford's $30,000 Electric Truck Seen Alongside an Expedition
Ford's upcoming electric truck includes authentic door handles and a large touchscreen display.
Tesla Has Extended the Model Y to Compensate for the Absence of the X: TDS
Tesla has introduced the extended Model Y in the U.S. to compensate for the recent discontinuation of the Model X, following its most successful financial quarter in several years.