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Good morning. Welcome to The Downshift, or TDS for short, The Drive‘s morning news roundup that gathers all the largest automotive stories from around the globe and places them in one spot.

Here’s a distillation of what’s bubbling accompanied by links for full stories for those seeking more information as we shift into Thursday, June 18, 2026.

The latest episode of The Drivecast, The Drive’s new weekly podcast, is now live on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts.

Mazda, the automaker that swore up and down touchscreens were dangerous and distracting while buttons were safer, has changed its tune; the Japanese automaker’s program manager for the CX-5, Koichiro Yamaguchi, said, “Air conditioning, you can operate with a finger, and if we have to put the physical button, that will be at the lower position. Then the driver has to look down, and [there are] 15 similar looking switches. That means that you rather have to look down and select the correct button—actually, requires the driver [to take eyes] off the road. So rather than that, it’s better to have this control on the screen—minimize this change [distraction].”

Ram is aiming for 60% sales growth by 2030 as part of Stellantis’ turnaround efforts; this would have the truck maker top Jeep as the company’s volume leader in North America and become its most important brand.

Jaguar Land Rover is reportedly looking at building vehicles at U.S.-based Stellantis factories including a U.S.-focused Defender to avoid import tariffs.

Ford’s latest Super Duty debut features a Proud to Honor Package that is a rolling tribute to America if America was a stick-on graphics package.

Ferrari, shocking no one, is reportedly nudging its clients to buy the Luce EV if they want to move up and make the wait lists for its more exclusive gas-powered models.

The Jeep Recon’s EPA rating surfaced as 222 miles of range per charge; shocking no one, it appears the Recon will not be efficient, or have impressive range, despite its large 100-kWh battery pack.

Telo’s tiny electric truck is going to have the ability to charge surprisingly fast thanks to tech that will split the 400-volt battery pack in a parallel configuration enabling a 400-kW peak charge rate on an 800-volt charger.

The first GMA T.50s Niki Lauda supercar debuted, and it’s a stunner.

Waymo recalled nearly 4,000 self-driving robotaxis to stop them from driving into highway construction zones.

Uber plans to bring its premium robotaxi service to Houston, Texas in 2027.

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STELLANTIS has unveiled plans to launch a new generation of affordable electric city cars priced from around €15,000 ($A25,000), as European manufacturers attempt to regain ground lost to increasingly competitive Chinese rivals.

 

The ambitious E-Car project will see production commence at Stellantis’ Pomigliano d’Arco plant in Italy from 2028, with the first vehicles aimed squarely at the continent’s shrinking entry-level car segment.

 

Announced by chief executive Antonio Filosa, the initiative forms a critical part of the group’s long-term electrification strategy and aligns with new European Commission proposals designed to encourage the production of small, locally built electric vehicles.

 

The E-Car program is expected to underpin multiple Stellantis brands and revive Europe’s tradition of affordable urban mobility, a market segment that has contracted sharply in recent years as rising costs, regulatory pressures, and shifting consumer preferences push buyers towards larger vehicles.

 

“The E-Car is a concept that finds its natural match in the small car success that runs deep in our European Stellantis DNA,” said Mr Filosa.

 

“Our customers are calling for a revival of small, stylish vehicles, proudly produced in Europe, which are also affordable and environmentally friendly.”

 

Industry observers, however, question whether European manufacturers can profitably build €15,000 EVs while competing against lower-cost Chinese brands that benefit from extensive vertical integration, lower labour costs, and established battery supply chains.

 

Under the European Commission’s proposed E-Car framework, vehicles measuring less than 4200mm in length would qualify for additional regulatory incentives, including enhanced CO2 credits and simplified homologation requirements.

 

The measures are intended to help restore viability to Europe’s struggling small-car market.

 

One of the first beneficiaries is expected to be Citroen, which is reportedly preparing to revive its iconic 2CV nameplate as a fully electric city car priced below €15,000.

 

A related Fiat model is also expected to emerge from the program.

 

The timing reflects growing concern about the collapse of Europe’s traditional minicar segment.

 

According to industry consultancy Arthur D Little, annual production of A-segment vehicles has fallen from approximately 720,000 units in 2021 to around 320,000 units this year, while segment market share has declined from 9.1 per cent in 2012 to just 3.9 per cent in the first quarter of 2026.

 

Analysts say the economics of affordable vehicles have become increasingly challenging as safety requirements, cybersecurity regulations, software integration, and emissions standards add cost and complexity to vehicles traditionally sold on price.

 

At the same time, buyers are increasingly choosing used vehicles or moving into larger segments where monthly finance repayments differ little from those of a city car.

 

Stellantis believes new development methods, greater supplier integration and strategic partnerships will help overcome those hurdles.

 

The company says its E-Car models will feature dedicated battery-electric technology developed alongside selected partners to accelerate time-to-market and improve affordability.

 

Production will take place at the same Italian facility that has long produced the Fiat Panda, one of Europe’s most successful budget cars.

 

Despite the challenges, industry experts expect affordable EVs to play a crucial role in helping manufacturers meet increasingly stringent European emissions targets.

 

Transport and Environment cars director Lucien Mathieu predicts several €15,000 EVs will reach European roads before the end of the decade as automakers seek to reduce fleet emissions and avoid costly regulatory penalties.

 

Whether European manufacturers can achieve profitability while matching Chinese rivals on price remains the key question.

 

“The challenge extends beyond engineering a €15,000 EV,” said Arthur D Little automotive practice manager Nicola Borgo.

 

“Legacy European automakers must create a development and manufacturing model that can profitably serve an entry-level market that is smaller, more regulated and facing aggressive Chinese competition – or risk ceding the segment entirely.”

 

The E-Car project represents more than a new model range for Stellantis as it is a test of whether Europe’s automotive industry can reinvent affordable mobility for the electric age while keeping production, jobs and technology development on home soil.

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Stellantis is going big because it doesn’t want to go home. That’s at a global level, but America isn’t being left in the cold.

On Thursday, Stellantis said it will expand market coverage in the U.S. by 50% by 2030 thanks to 11 new vehicles delivering 35% more volume. Specifically, nine of those new products will cost less than $40,000 while two will cost les than $30,000.

Details are slim, but it’s all part of the automaker’s over $41 billion investment into the region in the next five years.

This is all part of Stellantis global turnaround plan dubbed FaSTLAne 2030.

Dodge CEO Matt McLear has told The Drive multiple times he see “opportunity” in a basic sub-$30,000 sports car. Whether that will come to fruition as part of this product offensive is unclear. But right now Dodge dealers are basically living off Durango sales.

In April, McLear posed the question to The Drive, “do you need a radio?” The question was rhetorical, but framed in a quest for a back-to-basics entry-level car. Is that what it takes to sell a sub-$30,000 car in 2026? We are going to find out soon.

On Wednesday, Ram announced the return of the Rumble Bee with a four-truck offensive including a range-topping Hellcat-powered SRT-branded model.

What exactly will happen to Chrysler’s lineup, which Stellantis has now deemed a region brand, is unclear. The brand currently lives with just the Pacifica.

Dodge is also now considered a regional brand with Jeep and Ram living alongside the Peugeot and Fiat as the company’s four global brands.

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MEDIA reports say beleaguered Stellantis is exploring potential partnerships with Chinese car-makers as it seeks to strengthen its struggling European business amid rising competition and the ongoing shift to electrification.

 

Separately, the manufacturer is said to considering a deeper collaboration on EV and software technology with its existing Chinese partner Zhejiang Leapmotor Technology Co.

 

According to Bloomberg, the automotive giant has held discussions with other Chinese technology and EV companies including Xiaomi and Xpeng, examining options that could involve investment into its European operations or closer collaboration on manufacturing and technology.

 

For its part, Stellantis has not confirmed any specific plans but acknowledged it “routinely engages with global industry players”.

 

“As part of its normal course of business, Stellantis holds discussions with a range of industry players around the world on various topics,” the company said in a statement.

 

Bloomberg’s report says the talks highlight the challenges facing Stellantis in Europe, where its brands – including Fiat, Peugeot and Opel – are contending with overcapacity, intensifying competition, and the high cost of transitioning to electric vehicles.

 

Chinese manufacturers are rapidly gaining ground in the region, leveraging strong EV technology, and cost advantages developed in their domestic market.

 

A potential partnership could provide Stellantis with improved access to advanced EV and software technology, while also helping to better utilise its European production capacity.

 

In return, Chinese carmakers would gain greater access to the European market, which has become an attractive export destination.

 

According to the report, the discussions come as Stellantis increasingly prioritises investment in North America, where it has committed around $US13 billion ($A20b) to new products and technologies.

 

On a positive note, the company has seen improving demand for key brands such as Jeep and Ram, while regulatory and political conditions in the US make collaboration with Chinese firms more complex.

 

By contrast, Europe remains a more open environment for Chinese investment, despite the introduction of tariffs on some imported electric vehicles.

 

Industry observers say this divergence could lead to greater separation between Stellantis’ regional operations, although the company has rejected suggestions it is considering a formal split.

 

Stellantis states categorically that there is no truth in the suggestion that it is considering a plan to split the company.

 

Against that, reports indicate discussions have included the possibility of Chinese partners taking stakes in parts of Stellantis’ European operations, potentially involving brands such as Maserati.

 

No agreement has been reached however, and there is no certainty that any deal will proceed.

 

For background, Stellantis has recently faced a challenging period financially with its share price declining significantly over the past two years.

 

The company recently announced €22.2 billion ($A37b) in charges and write downs, partly linked to scaling back aspects of its electric vehicle strategy.

 

Bloomberg says the broader automotive transition has also proven uneven, with EV adoption slowing in some markets including parts of Europe and the United States.

 

At the same time, traditional carmakers continue to trail Chinese rivals in battery technology and production costs.

 

“Stellantis is already exploring deeper collaboration with its existing Chinese partner Leapmotor, focusing on affordable EVs and software development for European markets,” the report said.

 

“The company is expected to outline more details on its future strategy at an investor day scheduled for 21 May in the US

 

“For now, Stellantis appears to be weighing a more flexible, partnership-driven approach in Europe as it navigates an increasingly competitive and rapidly evolving global automotive landscape.”