VW Reduces Another 50,000 Positions and May Eliminate a Brand: TDS
Julian Stratenschulte via Getty Images
Hello and welcome to The Downshift, or TDS for short, The Drive’s morning news summary featuring the most significant automotive headlines from across the globe.
The Downshift offers a brief recap of the news, complete with links to full articles for those interested in more details. Here’s your update for Friday, September 4, 2026. Happy Labor Day and enjoy the extended weekend!
🏭 Volkswagen’s supervisory board has finally ratified a plan to restructure the company, which includes an additional 50,000 job cuts. This raises the total planned reduction in workforce to 100,000, out of a global workforce of more than 650,000. Moreover, instead of shutting down four of its plants in Emden, Hanover, Neckarsulm, and Zwickau, VW will "seek alternatives" for their ongoing operation, which could involve selling them to other automakers. [Reuters]
👕 Apologies for the self-promotion, but we've teamed up with our friends at Blipshift to reintroduce five of our favorite t-shirt designs. They are available for purchase starting today and will be on sale until Thursday, September 17. Make sure to grab them while you can!
💺 A leaked document about VW's restructuring plan suggests that the company may phase out the Seat brand in the coming years, while allowing Cupra—the newer performance-oriented offshoot of the Spanish automaker—to continue. [Autoblog]
🔥 BMW has issued a recall for 190,000 older sedans in Germany, covering 2014 to 2020 model-year 3, 5, and 7 Series vehicles, due to starter relays that are inadequately protected against moisture, potentially leading to corrosion, a short circuit, and consequently, a fire. It's important to note that this recall has not yet been picked up by the NHTSA in the United States, so anyone who believes their vehicle might be affected should contact their local dealer. [BMW Blog]
📃 The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, a coalition of automakers that includes Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Stellantis, Toyota, and Volkswagen, has sent a letter to Congress urging lawmakers to "enact a ban on Chinese vehicles, software, and hardware." This legislation would prevent manufacturers like BYD, Chery, and SAIC from obtaining approvals for U.S. sales, while notably allowing non-Chinese companies that already export cars from China, like Ford and GM, to continue doing so if they wish. [Reuters]
💪 The newly revived Jensen Interceptor, now powered by a Chevy small block, has been fully unveiled, sporting a design that somewhat resembles a recent Camaro. [CarBuzz]
🏁 Weekend races to catch (all times Eastern):
NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series at Darlington: Saturday at 7:30 p.m. on CW/ESPN
Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix: Sunday at 8 a.m. on Apple TV
World Endurance Championship 6 Hours of COTA: Sunday at 2 p.m. on truTV/Max
IndyCar at Laguna Seca: Sunday at 3 p.m. on Fox
NASCAR Cup Series at Darlington: Sunday at 5 p.m. on USA
NHRA Drag Racing US Nationals Finals: Monday at 12 p.m. on FS1
If you have a tip or feedback for TDS, please reach out to tips@thedrive.com.
Other articles
Lexus RX is set to become much more exciting.
The Lexus RX RR 'Morizo' transforms the bulky crossover into a larger version of a performance hatchback.
Berra: The difference between the compositions corresponds to the calculations.
Despite the hot weather, Pirelli had no issues with the tires on Friday...
Save Big: Yakima and Thule Car Racks Are Available at 20% Off During REI’s Labor Day Sale
Bike racks, camping equipment, and various exciting adventure accessories are heavily marked down at REI until September 7.
Cadillac V-One Concept Engineer Reveals Insights on a Customer-Specified Le Mans Hypercar
The Cadillac V-One is more than just a race car with a special paint job. Here’s what truly distinguishes it from Cadillac's factory Le Mans prototypes. Hint: it involves a lot of engineering challenges.
Lolly, Lolly, Lolly, Grab Your Cool Shirts Here!
Hurry, hurry, hurry, grab those awesome shirts now. The Drive's newest merchandise collaboration with Blipshift is available for the next two weeks.
Gran Turismo 7’s major Spec IV update demonstrates that it is attentive to player feedback.
The recently announced free update for GT7 will introduce 12 new cars, two additional tracks, and several highly sought-after features and modes as the game approaches its fifth anniversary.
VW Reduces Another 50,000 Positions and May Eliminate a Brand: TDS
Volkswagen's biggest restructuring initiative has expanded to include 100,000 job reductions and may lead to the discontinuation of one of its oldest brands.