you are welcome downshiftor TDS for short, of drive The Morning News Roundup is bringing you the biggest automotive headlines from around the world.
downshift Summarizes news with links to full stories for those seeking more information. This is your bulletin for Tuesday, June 16, 2026.
🆕CEO Michael Shibe said that Mercedes-AMG’s product is taking aggressive shape bloomberg That the brand is planning over 27 new vehicles over the next three years. Also, the number of different engines used in AMG products will be reduced from 10 to four. The good thing for enthusiasts is that most of them should be V8s. Remember when Mercedes sold like five AMG-badged models? (motor1)
🎱 AMG’s momentum starts today, with the new Mercedes-AMG GLS63 and GLE63s, two SUVs powered by the company’s new M177 Evo 4.0-liter flat-plane V8, producing 603 horsepower and 627 lb-ft of torque. (car and driver)
🪖General Motors is reportedly negotiating a deal with Lockheed Martin to supply parts for the defense contractor’s weapons. (Wall Street Journal)
🛜Ford is seeking permission from the US Commerce Department to be able to continue selling its China-made Lincoln Nautilus SUV next year. Authorization is required due to a new law banning the sale of vehicles with the software installed in China. Ford is not alone in this, Volvo, Polestar and GM also need to get approval for the vehicles they currently sell in the US. (Reuters)
⏩ Nissan says it is taking advantage of new AI and digital tools to bring upcoming cars to market in half the time previously required, and the first beneficiary of this plan will be the new Skyline. According to the automaker, the upcoming sedan will take around 26 months to launch, down from the usual 55 months for it to be launched this winter. (nikkei)
🛻 In other Nissan news, the company has announced pricing for the 2027 Frontier pickup, and it will start at $34,235 including destination for the two-wheel-drive S model. (Nissan)
🗳️ United Auto Workers President Shawn Fenn has announced he will run for re-election to a second four-year term this fall. (Reuters)
⏱️ The Koenigsegg Jesko Absolute set a new speed record for the quarter-mile, reaching 189.76 mph. It is the first production car to exceed 186 mph in that distance. (motor1)
🔌 Rivian will partner with Chargescape, a company started by a consortium of automakers themselves, to allow its EVs to interface with utilities to help lower charging prices and balance the grid. (Electrek)
🔋 EPA documents have revealed the specifications of the Tesla Cybercab, and they include a 219-hp front-axle motor and a 50-kilowatt battery. (car and driver)
✓In a surprising deviation from current industry trends, Stellantis has announced that its upcoming “e-car” minicar built for Europe will not actually use a range of powertrains, and will instead be all-electric. These will include the rebooted Citroën 2CV and a similar Fiat-badged model. (Automotive News)
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