Joyful Tuesday! It is December 16, 2025, and that is The Morning Shift — your every day roundup of the highest automotive headlines from all over the world, in a single place. That is the place you may discover an important tales which can be shaping the best way People drive and get round.
On this morning’s version, we’re yet one more NHTSA investigation into Tesla’s doorways, in addition to Waymo’s makes an attempt to make its automobiles work when visitors lights do not. We’ll additionally have a look at Toyota’s November numbers, and Hyundai’s newest recall.
1st Gear: NHTSA investigation into Tesla doorways expands to Mannequin 3
The Nationwide Freeway Site visitors Security Administration has been investigating Tesla’s doorways for the small difficulty of “trapping passengers inside whereas they burn to demise.” That investigation initially solely centered on the Mannequin Y, however now it is expanded to incorporate the Mannequin 3 as effectively. Given how related Tesla’s handles are throughout its lineup, do not be shocked if the Mannequin S, Mannequin X, and Cybertruck get hit too. From Reuters:
Dec 24 (Reuters) – The U.S. auto security regulator stated on Wednesday it has opened a defect investigation into Tesla Mannequin 3 compact sedans over considerations that emergency door launch controls is probably not simply accessible or clearly identifiable in an emergency.
The Workplace of Defects Investigation stated the probe covers an estimated 179,071 mannequin 12 months 2022 automobiles.
The investigation was opened on December 23 after the company obtained a defect petition alleging that the automobiles’ mechanical door launch is hidden, unlabeled and never intuitive to find throughout emergencies.
Simply final week, Bloomberg discovered not less than 15 fatalities attributable to the ill-advised design of Tesla’s futuristic handles–one the auto trade at giant sadly appears eager on adopting. However nailing down such a quantity is difficult, and the precise physique rely may very well be even increased.
2nd Gear: Waymo is updating its automobiles after San Francisco robotaxis floor to a halt
Final week, Waymo automobiles throughout the Bay Space got here to harmful standstills in the course of intersections, blocking roadways after visitors lights had been hit by an influence outage. Now, the corporate is doing its greatest to make sure its automobiles do not do this once more. From Reuters:
Alphabet unit Waymo stated on Tuesday it should replace software program used to function its self-driving automobiles and enhance its emergency response protocols after its robotaxis stalled in components of San Francisco on Saturday as a consequence of a widespread energy outage that snarled visitors and gridlocked components of town.
Waymo paused service Saturday night following a hearth at a PG&E substation that knocked out energy to roughly one-third of town, affecting about 130,000 residents and forcing some companies to shut briefly.
A lot of movies posted on social media confirmed Waymo robotaxis caught at intersections with their hazard lights turned on as visitors lights stopped working as a result of outage.
Waymo stated its self-driving automobiles are designed to deal with darkish visitors alerts at four-way stops however they might often request a affirmation verify.
If Waymo automobiles are “designed to deal with darkish visitors alerts,” however did not really handle to deal with these darkish visitors alerts, it appears like they don’t seem to be functioning as designed. Only a reminder that each one robotaxis are beta merchandise, and corporations are testing them by simply handing software program management of hundreds of kilos of steel and glass that would effectively hit you at any time.
third Gear: Toyota had a mediocre November, and China’s in charge
Toyota is among the world’s largest automakers, however it’s not infallible. Working example, it struggled in November due to drops in gross sales in maybe the world’s most essential automotive market: China. It is probably not Toyota’s fault, although — the corporate could be caught up in some worldwide relations points. From Bloomberg:
Toyota Motor Corp.’s gross sales and manufacturing fell in November, weighed down largely by a pointy drop in China because the nation discontinues subsidies meant to spice up the gross sales of electrical and fuel-efficient automobiles.
World gross sales — together with at subsidiaries Daihatsu Motor Co. and Hino Motors Ltd. — fell 1.9% within the interval from a 12 months earlier to 965,919 items, the Japanese carmaker stated Thursday. Manufacturing shrank 3.4% to 934,001 automobiles.
Toyota and Lexus model gross sales in China fell 12% in November, the corporate stated, citing the tip of trade-in subsidies in main cities as funds ran dry. The figures had been launched in opposition to a backdrop of diplomatic tensions which have been brewing between China and Japan since November, when Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi made remarks about Taiwan that angered Asia’s greatest economic system. China responded by warning its residents in opposition to touring to Japan.
Numerous automakers have been blaming current drops in gross sales on the cessation of EV subsidies in China and the U.S., however Toyota provides fewer EV fashions than most. The trade-in subsidies are a extra possible perpetrator right here, however it’ll be attention-grabbing to see if different automakers confronted the identical points as extra numbers for the month roll out.
4th Gear: Hyundai recollects 52,000 automobiles over fireplace threat
Hyundai is recalling almost 52,000 Tucsons for trailer wiring harnesses that would begin fires, however the points aren’t actually Hyundai’s fault. The harness, which comes from a third-party provider, appears completely in charge. From Reuters:
Hyundai Motor is recalling 51,587 automobiles within the U.S. as a result of a brief circuit in non-functioning trailer lights, attributable to incorrect set up of the wiring harness, might enhance the danger of fireside, the U.S. Nationwide Freeway Site visitors Security Administration stated on Wednesday.
As a treatment, homeowners are suggested to park outdoors and away from constructions till the recall restore is full. Sellers will exchange the trailer wiring harness, freed from cost, NHTSA added.
The Tucsons themselves aren’t even addressed in the recall notices — technically, the recall is for the trailer wiring harness itself. Provided that the harness solely matches the Tucson, although, you’ll be able to guess which homeowners will probably be getting notices to take their automobile in to the supplier.
Reverse: Linda Blair was born harmless
On The Radio: Kali Uchis – ‘Ridin Spherical’
Apparently I’ve by no means used this observe as an On The Radio gear, and that must be remedied instantly. The one model, which is simply higher than the model off “Por Vida.”