Volkswagen's efforts to reduce costs may jeopardize the Jetta, Porsche Taycan, and 718, according to TDS.

Volkswagen's efforts to reduce costs may jeopardize the Jetta, Porsche Taycan, and 718, according to TDS.

      Volkswagen

      The latest in automotive news and reviews, no fluff.

      Good morning and welcome to The Downshift, or TDS for short, The Drive's daily news compilation that brings together all the recent automotive headlines from around the world into one convenient location.

      The Downshift condenses stories into a few sentences and includes links for those wanting more details. Here’s what’s happening on Tuesday, July 14, 2026.

      ✂️ Volkswagen’s urgent cost-cutting measures might result in the elimination of models across its various brands. This includes the Porsche Taycan, Cayenne Coupe, and 718 successor, alongside the VW Jetta and Taos, as well as the Audi Q5 Sportback and Q6 E-Tron Sportback. [Bild via Road & Track]

      📦 Rivian’s Commercial Van is quietly becoming one of the automaker's top sellers, surpassing the sales of its R1T pickup and outpacing all its EV cargo rivals by a significant margin. In the period from April to June, Rivian sold over 4,000 units of the van, while General Motors managed only 460 BrightDrops, a model that has already been discontinued. [InsideEVs]

      🔧 BMW is recalling nearly 30,000 vehicles in the U.S. due to a defective starter relay that may corrode and pose a fire risk. The affected models are the 530e xDrive and 740Le xDrive. [Reuters]

      🏋️ Subaru is also issuing a recall, but this one is more humorous than hazardous. The automaker is recalling 541,000 vehicles for incorrectly labeled gross axle weight ratings. [Reuters]

      💵 California is now providing $3,500 to first-time EV buyers, applicable to new cars priced up to $50,000. Additionally, a $1,750 rebate is available for those purchasing used EVs costing under $25,000. [Reuters]

      📐 Infiniti is revisiting its forthcoming QX80 Red Sport to not only enhance its power but also to make it a stronger competitor to the Mercedes-AMG and BMW M SUVs that it aspires to rival. [Automotive News]

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Volkswagen's efforts to reduce costs may jeopardize the Jetta, Porsche Taycan, and 718, according to TDS.

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Volkswagen's efforts to reduce costs may jeopardize the Jetta, Porsche Taycan, and 718, according to TDS.

Several models from the Volkswagen group are said to be at risk of being discontinued across many of the automaker's brands.