According to TDS, even the Kia Niro now begins at over $30,000.

      Kia

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      Welcome to The Downshift, or TDS for short, a morning news summary from The Drive that highlights the top automotive news from around the globe.

      The Downshift provides a brief recap of the news, with links to full articles for those who want to learn more. Here’s your update for Friday, August 28, 2026.

      💸 The entry-level Kia Niro has increased in price by approximately $2,500 for the 2027 model year, bringing the starting cost to $29,890 excluding destination fees. With shipping included, the Niro now costs at least $30,000. Additionally, Kia has discontinued the plug-in hybrid and fully electric variants, leaving only the standard hybrid available. [Autoblog]

      📦 The starting price for the 2027 Ram ProMaster City is just under $40,000—specifically, $39,995, which includes destination charges. [Motor1]

      🙅‍♂️ A representative from Honda has dismissed claims made by Automotive News regarding the possibility of a body-on-frame pickup truck arising from Honda's technology-sharing agreement with Nissan as “purely speculative.” [Road & Track]

      📉 A boost in domestic auto sales did not prevent a decline for Toyota in July, with sales dropping in other regions, including China (down 24.3%), the Middle East (down 44.5%), and even the U.S. (down 0.8%). [Reuters]

      ⚡ Lucid has initiated a recall for approximately 27,000 Air sedans due to an exterior lighting circuit that may overheat, posing a fire risk. Fortunately, this issue can be resolved with an over-the-air update, so if you own an affected Air, please ensure it is installed promptly. Until the update is applied, the NHTSA advises owners to park outside and away from buildings, as a fire could occur at any time, even when the vehicle is off. [Reuters]

      🪪 Rivian's Chief Financial Officer, Claire McDonough, is departing the company after six years. Derek Mulvey, the company’s Vice President of Finance, will serve as interim CFO until a permanent successor is found. [InsideEVs]

      Ⓜ️ BMW M's chief, Frank van Meel, has reiterated that the company has no interest in participating in Formula 1, citing its lack of relevance to road vehicles. He emphasized the significance of IMSA: “The USA, accounting for around 40% of our volume, is our most vital single market for BMW M. We expanded significantly in the USA through motorsport. That’s why IMSA holds immense importance for us,” Meel stated. [Motorsport.com]

      🏁 Weekend races to catch (all times Eastern):

      WRC Rally Del Paraguay: Streaming all weekend on Rally.TV

      NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series at Daytona: Friday at 7:30 p.m. on CW/ESPN

      IndyCar at Milwaukee: Saturday at 2:30 p.m. (Race 1) and Sunday at 1 p.m. (Race 2) on Fox

      NASCAR Cup Series at Daytona: Saturday at 7:30 p.m. on NBC

      MotoGP Aragon Grand Prix: Sunday at 8 a.m. on FS2

      GT World Challenge America at Road America: Sunday at 3 p.m., available for free streaming on YouTube

      Have a tip or feedback for TDS? Reach us at tips@thedrive.com