Polestar is still seeking clarification on why it faced a ban while Volvo did not: TDS
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Welcome to The Downshift, or TDS for short, The Drive’s morning news summary featuring major automotive headlines from across the globe.
The Downshift condenses news items into a few sentences, providing links to other sites for more in-depth coverage. Here’s your update for Tuesday, August 25, 2026.
🤷 Polestar informed dealers last week that it remains uncertain about the reasons behind the U.S. government's effective ban on its sales while permitting its sibling brand, Volvo, to continue operations. “Essentially, we are currently concentrating on getting the attention of the (Commerce Department) to gather the requested information and comprehend the foundation for the denial,” stated Peter Wexler, the EV maker’s leader in product, retail network, and government relations. [The Wall Street Journal]
🚙 Land Rover has postponed the launch of the next-generation Defender by two years, which means the successor to the SUV that has been available since 2019 is not anticipated to debut until the early part of the next decade. Given that its predecessor was sold from 1983 until 2016, this delay may not be too concerning. [Automotive News]
🤑 Tesla has increased the price of the Cybertruck by $5,000, making the base dual-motor all-wheel-drive model start at $74,990, while the Premium version now begins at $84,990. Looking ahead, the price of the most affordable Cybertruck has surged by $15,000 since a limited-time promotion in February. [Autoblog]
🍁 The potential for significantly higher tariffs on Canadian vehicles and parts has negatively impacted the stock prices of several Canadian suppliers, including Magna (down 6.6%), Linamar (down 8.3%), and Martinrea (down 9.7%). [Automotive News]
😠 Volkswagen Group CEO Oliver Blume and brand leader Thomas Schäfer spoke to around 10,000 employees at a town hall in Germany on Tuesday, emphasizing the necessity for the company to “unite” during its restructuring, while facing boos from the audience. [Bloomberg via Automotive News]
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Hamilton issues an apology following his criticism of Ferrari.
Formula 1 | Lewis Hamilton has expressed regret for his frustrated remarks made during radio and television broadcasts following the Dutch GP, where he was left feeling unsettled by Ferrari's management of team orders.
The FIA responded to the sponsor's claims against Colapinto.
After the finish of the Dutch Grand Prix, Franco Colapinto and his main sponsor Mercado Libre criticized the decisions of the FIA stewards, who penalized the Argentine Alpine driver for overtaking Yuki Tsunoda under double yellow flags.
Abu Dhabi is working to maintain its status as the host for the 2026 Formula 1 finale.
Formula 1 | Organisers in Abu Dhabi are countering the uncertainty surrounding the season-closing races in the Middle East, affirming that the Yas Marina finale (…)
Honda aims for Alonso to remain as part of its Formula 1 comeback.
Formula 1 | Honda has expressed its desire for Fernando Alonso to stay with Aston Martin as the Japanese company aims to navigate its challenging return in 2026 (...)
Hamilton issues an apology following his criticism of Ferrari.
Formula 1 | Lewis Hamilton has expressed regret over his frustrated remarks during radio and television broadcasts following the Dutch GP, where Ferrari's management of team orders left him (…)
In Monza, Ferrari cars will be painted in honor of Schumacher.
In recent years, the Ferrari team has developed a tradition of holding their home Grand Prix in Italy with cars featuring special liveries. This was the case in 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025. The race in Monza this year will be no exception.
Polestar is still seeking clarification on why it faced a ban while Volvo did not: TDS
Polestar states that it is still looking into "the underlying basis" for the ban imposed by the U.S. government, although it does not intend to file an appeal.