Read Jim Farley’s Lips: No Boring Fords – Jalopnik

Happy Monday! It’s November 2, 2026, and that is The Morning Shift — your each day roundup of the highest automotive headlines from all over the world, in a single place. This is the place you may discover crucial tales which can be shaping the best way Americans drive and get round.

In this morning’s version we’re taking a look at Ford’s want to make its lineup extra attention-grabbing, and the results of our Canadian commerce struggle on Michigan’s election. We’ll additionally have a look at corporations preparing for a midterm rout, and BMW’s plans for autonomy. 

If you want a recap of the most recent auto information despatched to your inbox every weekday, you may join Jalopnik’s free Morning Shift e-newsletter right here.

Ford needs its gross sales again to pre-pandemic ranges, and it has a brand new method that CEO Jim Farley hopes will get the corporate there: Make vehicles which can be truly attention-grabbing. Wild idea, I do know, however maybe it’s simply loopy sufficient to work. From the Wall Street Journal:

Ford Motor expects to promote 5 million vehicles a yr by early subsequent decade, Chief Executive Jim Farley advised employees this week, a gross sales quantity the corporate hasn’t reached since earlier than the pandemic. 

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The firm’s international technique activates Farley’s emphasis to not make “boring” automobiles, which for now has left it with out the budget-friendly small sedans and SUVs it used to present precedence to. Farley has stated that making reasonably priced automobiles stays a precedence, nevertheless, and Ford is planning to launch 5 new fashions priced under $40,000 by the top of the last decade, together with an all-electric pickup truck.

Ford as soon as determined to kill off practically all its attention-grabbing vehicles in favor of constructing crossover slop, so this shall be a reversal of that. Of course, the crossover slop acquired Ford to the gross sales numbers it is now attempting to return to, so who is aware of what’s finest. 

Michigan’s race for Senate is a closely-watched one, and it is made headlines just lately as (former?) Democrat Haley Stevens turned away from supporting her (former?) party-mate Abdul El-Sayed to return Republican Mike Rogers. But inside Michigan, there’s one other issue taking part in in voters’ minds: The commerce struggle with Canada. From Automotive News: 

The Michigan seat is essential for Democrats to get a Senate majority. It’s additionally a race the place Trump’s commerce struggle with Canada has grow to be a poll field subject.

The economies of Michigan and Canada have lengthy been built-in and Trump’s tariffs have had a major influence on the state. The auto trade on either side of the border has been battling the 25 per cent auto tariffs for automobiles completed in Canada — which Trump has threatened to extend to 50 per cent subsequent yr.

The Detroit Regional Chamber has repeatedly stated the tariff battle causes financial ache on either side of the border. Multiple polls have proven most Michiganders — irrespective of their political affiliation — disapprove of Trump’s tariff assault on Canada.

Midterm elections are sometimes a judgment on the continued administration, and this midterm might form as much as be the most important blue wave in latest reminiscence. Pocketbook points just like the commerce struggle with Canada are a serious a part of that, as folks no matter political inclination really feel the financial sting of coverage. 

Corporations have a tendency to take a position closely in U.S. elections, hoping to purchase candidates that shall be pleasant to their technique of doing enterprise. As analysts predict a rebuke of the Trump administration, although, some industries resembling AI, protection, and extra are involved that the winds might flip towards them. From Reuters:

Nov 2 (Reuters) – As the US midterm elections method, Corporate America is bracing for a possible shift within the steadiness of energy in Washington.

In case of a robust Democratic displaying, analysts and strategists say clear vitality, housing and healthcare shares may gain advantage, whereas AI, knowledge heart and protection names might draw better scrutiny from lawmakers.

Of course, it is an open query how a lot a blue wave would actually have an effect on something. Many Democrats have been doing their finest to show as far proper as attainable — Abdul El-Sayed and Zohran Mamdani stand as uncommon exceptions to the Tallaricos and Newsoms of the nation — so it is attainable Dem management would not rock the boat too onerous.

BMW needs to incorporate the required {hardware} for a Level 2 driver help system on an enormous vary of its vehicles, beginning as soon as the corporate’s software program can match the {hardware}. The solely downside? BMW solely stated this concerning the {hardware}, there’s nothing concerning the software program being included. From Automotive News:

BMW plans to launch a Level 2 driver-assistance system that may deal with turns, lane adjustments and roundabouts in metropolis site visitors, with the required {hardware} changing into commonplace on a number of key mannequin traces from 2027.

The automaker expects to launch the improved system in Germany, pending regulatory approval that’s anticipated in early 2027, the automaker stated in an announcement on Nov. 2.

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BMW plans to make the required {hardware} commonplace on the brand new iX3 and iX4, in addition to all variations of the next-generation X5, 3 Series and seven Series. Future automobiles primarily based on the automaker’s Neue Klasse structure can even obtain the tools.

If this sounds acquainted, each Tesla for years now has include “all the hardware for full self-driving” regardless of that being patently unfaithful for a lot of older automobiles. With automakers getting ever extra concerned about subscriptions, it is possible the {hardware} is all you may get included in your buy. 

I ought to rewatch “The Aviator.” 

Prices are ever-dropping, it appears, although who is aware of if that rumor about nuking Iran will change into true. Gotta nuke one thing. 

Marissa Paternoster rocks so onerous.