Ford shows dealers a small crossover priced around $25,000 and teases a four-door Mustang. Volkswagen is overhauling its U.S. strategy with a pickup and new leadership. Plus, UL Research Institute’s Adam Barowy breaks down what firefighters are really up against when electric vehicle batteries burn.

Aug. 10, 2026 | Ford previews $25K crossover and 4-door Mustang; EV fire truth vs. fiction

Automotive News Daily Drive

Dealers, could there be untapped revenue on your lot? Protective Asset Protection works with dealers to unlock new revenue streams through reliable protection products across most vehicle types. Visit ProtectiveAssetProtection.com slash Automotive News to learn more.

Welcome to Daily Drive. For Monday, August 10th, 2026, I'm Kellen Walker in Las Vegas. Today on the show, Ford announces its most affordable vehicle yet and a new four-door Mustang. Volkswagen is retooling its U.S. playbook with a pickup truck and a new America Boss. And Unifor heads to the bargaining table with GM and talks could get complicated.

Plus, we'll hear from a researcher who has literally burned 18 cars to learn the truth about EV fires. Really, the fundamental challenge is getting whatever it is you're trying to extinguish the fire with onto the fire. Let's run through all the news you need to know to keep up in the auto industry. Ford gave dealers a first look at how it plans to compete at the affordable end of the market.

At a private meeting in Las Vegas, executives previewed a small crossover with a starting price around $25,000, available in gas and hybrid versions, with a target on-sale date of 2029. That would make it Ford's most affordable model, slotting below the Maverick.

Ford also brought out an early prototype of a four-door Mustang, promising a starting price under $40,000 and a 0-60 under 4 seconds. We'll have more on this story in a minute with our own Michael Martinez. Volkswagen is overhauling its U.S. strategy, and a pickup truck is part of the plan. A company source told Reuters that VW Group plans to bring a pickup to market before the end of the decade, built in the U.S.

Aug. 10, 2026 | Ford previews $25K crossover and 4-door Mustang; EV fire truth vs. fiction

Read the full transcript

The candid version is on a podcast,
not the earnings call.

Aug. 10, 2026 | Ford previews $25K crossover and 4-door Mustang; EV fire truth vs. fiction

Read the full transcript

The candid version is on a podcast, not the earnings call.

The candid version is on a podcast,
not the earnings call.