The Volvo XC60 is a luxury SUV, meaning it’s a nicer, more feature-focused family vehicle. The podcast says it will start being built in the US soon, which matters because it can change how quickly cars are available.
A ratification bonus is extra money union members get if they vote to approve a new contract. It’s like a one-time thank-you tied to accepting the deal.
The Honda Passport is a midsize SUV, meaning it’s a larger vehicle meant for families and road trips. The podcast says it’s getting a lift and more rugged features, which usually helps it handle rougher roads better.
The Honda Accord is one of Honda’s most important everyday cars. This episode says the next update isn’t just small cosmetic changes—it also updates the look and the inside features.
A mid-cycle refresh is a halfway update to a car model. It’s usually meant to keep the car looking current and adding improvements, without replacing it entirely.
The front and rear fascia are the main outer styling parts of the car’s front and back. If those change, the car’s look—like the grille and lights—gets updated.
The front fascia is the car’s front styling area. When headlights are better integrated into it, it means the lights are reshaped and positioned to look more seamless with the front design.
The infotainment system is the car’s main screen and controls for things like music, navigation, and phone features. Updates to it usually mean a better screen or improved software.
A step-gear system uses fixed gear “steps” instead of a smooth, continuously changing ratio. That can help the car shift in a more familiar, noticeable way.
Honda’s S Plus shift system is a way to make a hybrid feel more like a traditional manual transmission. It’s designed to make gear changes happen quickly and feel more connected, similar to how a double-clutch shift works.
Double-clutch shifting is a method used in manual transmissions to make gear changes smoother. The idea is to match engine speed to the next gear so the shift feels fast and clean.
The Honda Civic hybrid is expected to get the same kind of hybrid shifting update. The host is saying Honda wants this feature to show up on more than just one model.
This is the SUV “category” Honda is competing in—bigger than the smallest crossovers, but not as large as the biggest SUVs. Saying it would be the tallest in the segment means it would likely sit higher than most rivals.
R&D means research and development—basically the work a company does to design and test new technology. Here, it’s talking about Honda’s hybrid technology planning and engineering.
TRD is Toyota Racing Development, Toyota’s performance and off-road branding used on certain models and trims. The segment frames Honda’s Passport updates as targeting Toyota’s TRD off-road versions, which are typically aimed at buyers who want more rugged capability and styling.
The Toyota 4Runner is an SUV made for tougher driving, including dirt roads and trails. The podcast brings it up because it’s known for off-road versions and it’s being compared to other rugged SUVs.
Supply issues means the company can’t make or deliver enough cars. The host says Toyota had problems because it was updating its factories for new production.
Retooling means a factory is being updated—new machines or setups are installed so they can build something different. That can slow down production for a while, which affects how many cars are available.
LIVE
Welcome to Daily Drive for Thursday, June 11th, 2026.
I'm Kallen Walker in Las Vegas.
Today on the show, the UAW and Dow have a deal at a key American axle plant in Michigan.
Volvo's top U.S. manufacturing chief is out just months before the launch of its bestselling
model on American soil.
And the Gordy Howe Bridge was supposed to open Friday.
It's not.
Plus, Honda is going after Toyota on two fronts, and our own Urbash Krakaria says the timing
is no accident.
Toyota has famously had some supply issues because of retooling at their factories.
So from what I understand, Honda is like, you know, let's strike while the iron is hot
with these updates.
Let's run through all the news you need to know to keep up in the auto industry.
The UAW and Dow have a deal and a strike that threatened GM's most profitable trucks
may be over.
After 10 days on the picket line at an American axle plant in Three Rivers, Michigan, about
a thousand union workers are expected to head back to work if they ratify the agreement.
The tentative deal boosts wages 36% over four years, getting production workers to $30 an
hour by 2030.
UAW President Sean Fane called it, winning back a big chunk of what was taken from them.
We'll have more on this in a minute with Kurt Nagel of our sibling publication, Crane's
Detroit Business.
Volvo's top US manufacturing chief is out after less than a year on the job.
Miguel Tvera, Volvo's vice president of America's manufacturing and supply chain, has resigned
after just nine months.
Volvo confirmed the departure, but didn't say why.
Global production chief, Nicholas Geebear, is filling in for now.
Here's why it matters.
Volvo's $1.3 billion South Carolina plant is about six months away from launching the
XC60, its best-selling model built on US soil for the first time.
Whoever steps in has to hit the ground running.
And the Gordy Howe Bridge was supposed to open Friday.
Now it's going to have to wait longer.
The Windsor Detroit Bridge Authority announced Thursday that the $4.6 billion crossing is
delayed while the US and Canada iron out their differences.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said it would open by the end of the week.
But a White House official told Bloomberg News that President Trump hadn't budged.
No new date has been set.
For an auto industry built on just-in-time delivery, this border crossing isn't just
a bridge.
It's a way to ease one of the biggest trade bottlenecks in North America.
And those are today's headlines.
You can find more details on all those stories at AutoNews.com.
Joining me now is Kurt Nagel, reporter at our sibling publication Crane's Detroit Business,
who has been covering the Doubts strike.
Kurt, welcome back to Daily Drive.
And thanks for having me.
Alright, so workers would get a 36% wage increase over four years.
What else is in the deal?
Yeah, so the other big thing is no healthcare premium cost increases over the life of the
contract.
That was a big thing that the UAW was trying to push, was make members pay a little more
out of pocket.
That was a big win.
Additionally, there's more holidays, more time off for Christmas, MLK Junior Day, Veterans
Day, and nine vacation days for those with a year of seniority.
And finally, icing on the cake, a $2,000 ratification bonus for members as well.
Nice.
So what do we know if anything about how the rank and file are reacting to this as they
get ready to vote on ratification?
Generally, I think they are feeling really positively about the deal, the tentative agreement
that management and UAW have reached.
They've been on strike for about 10 days, and most of the top things that they were
asking for have been achieved.
So I'd be really surprised if it didn't get ratified by a simple majority here in the
next couple of days.
Alright, good stuff.
Kurt Nagel, thank you so much for joining me.
Thank you.
Honda has been scrambling to reset its production strategy after pivoting hard toward EVs.
And now it's turning its attention back to its core models.
The Accord is getting what sources describe as far more than a typical mid-cycle refresh.
And the Passport is getting a suspension lift and ruggedness upgrade on its trail sport trim.
The timing sources say is deliberate.
Toyota has been dealing with supply constraints from factory retooling, and Honda wants to
take advantage.
Our own Ervash Kakaria wrote about it this week for automotive news.
He sat down with our own Jake Nier to talk about what's changing on both models, what
Honda is hoping to accomplish, and what it tells us about where the brand is headed
now that EVs are off the table.
Ervash, welcome back to Daily Drive.
Thanks for having me back.
Okay, so we've been talking about these new updates for Honda models.
Let's start with the Accord.
So is this simply a mid-cycle refresher?
Is it more than that?
Yeah, so this is technically a mid-cycle refresh, but according to people familiar with this
update, it's a lot more than just a minor tweak to the front and rear fascias, which
is what a typical refresh is.
From what I understand, the Accord is sort of getting a design update.
People who have seen it describe it as more modern and futuristic.
The rear is getting a bit of a makeover.
It's becoming more angular, sharp-edged versus more of the curvy lines of the existing Accord.
The front is also getting changes with tweaks to the grille.
The grille has been described as being more sleek, more slender.
The headlights have been also better integrated into the new front fascia.
And again, on the inside, there have been changes.
It's being described as ergonomic.
I guess that means that the layout has been improved a little bit and the infotainment
system has also increased.
So all in all, it's a pretty hefty update to Accord as Honda tries to take more market
share from Toyota.
The Accord's market share is number two after the Camry and it recently overtook the Nissan
Altima.
So Honda is doubling down on sedans.
They see the opportunity as the Detroit 3 and several other manufacturers have exited
the market.
And with current fuel prices being high, affordability being an issue across the industry,
sedans sort of maybe having their renaissance and Honda wants to be there for it.
Are there any changes to the powertrain options here?
Yeah, so as far as I understand, the engines are carrying over the ICE engines.
However, Honda is potentially going to introduce its S Plus shift system, which is essentially
a step gear system.
It's a quick reacting simulated manual mode for its hybrids that kind of mimic a double
clutch shifts.
And so they are thinking of bringing it, they're considering bringing it to the Accord with
this refresh.
It debuted on the prelude and it's also going to be expanded to the Civic hybrid in the
fall.
So that would kind of be an interesting little update for the Accord hybrid.
And longer term from what I understand is that the Accord could go hybrid only once the
redesign comes around towards the end of the decade.
So that's another interesting thing to watch regarding this model.
So what about the Passport?
It's interesting because it seems like the timing is especially interesting with the Passport.
I think it's only been, what, it hasn't been too long since some updates on that model.
What's new?
Right, so the Passport is interesting.
They're bringing an update to the midsize crossover at the end of this year in Q4 2026.
And that's about a year after they redesigned the vehicle.
However, this update is focused on the rugged trail sport trim.
And it might be that Honda is essentially introducing an additional trim from what
my sources have said.
This version would be more lifted.
It would basically get about an inch, a little over an inch of ride height, making it the
tallest vehicle in its segment, which is the midsize crossover segment.
And again, here, Honda is sort of making a play for the adventure-oriented market.
The Passport has always been a rugged vehicle, marketed as a rugged vehicle,
but this is taking it to the next level.
One person described this as Honda giving the Passport more testosterone, essentially
referring to it as being more muscular, more rugged.
While the biggest change is this update to the suspension and related tweaks,
which will make the Passport or which will make this version more capable for off-road driving,
there will be some minor changes to the body, primarily the front fascia and the grille,
to give it a distinct look from the more mainstream Passport.
So overall, taking all of this as one thing, what is Honda really hoping from this?
There's been a lot of news around their product lineup lately.
What's the goal?
Yeah, I mean, the goal, these are incremental changes.
The goal, obviously, is to figure out where the brand goes from a product standpoint.
Now that the EVs are off the table, all the focus on EVs essentially led Honda to take
their ball off the hybrid R&D, which is what they are scrambling to now address.
Longer term, in the next two years and onwards, they will be launching their next-generation
hybrid powertrains, both for their smaller cars, but also for their large vehicles.
In this case, with these two updates, really the focus is to take on Toyota in two distinct areas.
With the Accord, they're going after, obviously, the affordable sedan market, competing with the
Camry, and with the Passport changes, they're going after the TRD, the off-road TRD trims
of Toyotas, primarily the Forerunner, which is the competitor to Passport.
They kind of hope to gain market share.
Toyota has famously had some supply issues because of retooling at their factories.
So from what I understand, Honda is like, let's strike while the R&D is hot with these updates.
If Toyota is not able to supply the market, here we are with these freshened products.
Revex Karkaria, always on top of it for us at Automotive News. Thank you so much for joining us.
You're welcome. Thank you, Jake.
That's Daily Drive for today. I'm Kellen Walker. Thanks to Automotive News Executive
Producer Jake Nier, as well as our on Kurt Nagel, Anna Fafelsky, and David Egert of our sibling
publication, Crane's Detroit Business. You can get the latest news on the UAW's Dowk Strike,
Honda's product strategy, and everything happening in the auto industry at AutoNews.com.
We'd love to hear from you. Let us know what you think of the show and the topics we covered today.
Send us an email at dailydrive at autonews.com or leave us a voicemail at 313-444-2774.
And if you enjoy the podcast, remember to like, leave a review, and subscribe,
so you never miss an episode.
About this episode
A tentative UAW deal is in place at a key Michigan axle plant, with about a thousand workers expected to return after 10 days on the picket line if members ratify. The agreement boosts wages 36% over four years, reaching $30 an hour by 2030, plus a $2,000 ratification bonus. Volvo’s XC60 launch timing and a delayed US–Canada bridge highlight supply-chain pressure. Honda counters with Accord and Passport updates aimed at Toyota competition, including a new hybrid “S Plus” simulated-manual shift system.
