Good morning and welcome to our daily digest of automotive news from around the globe, starting with…

GM Is Parking 1,000 SUVs And Trucks Every Day As It Awaits Chips

The semiconductor crisis continues unabated, as a new report claims that more than 10,000 big SUVs from GM’s Texas plant have been parked, with the number growing 1000-fold by the day. It’s a similar story at GM’s Wentzville assembly plant and Lansing Delta Township plant.

Audi Skysphere Concept Is A Striking Shape-Shifting EV With An Expandable Wheelbase

Audi says that the Skysphere Concept is the first of three concepts that will provide an idea of what tomorrow’s production cars will look like. The Skysphere Concept is a two-seater convertible roadster inspired by the Horch 853 roadster. It features a raft of autonomous tech, can retract and expand its wheelbase to alter the driving experience, and is powered by a single electric motor in the rear axle producing 624 hp (465 kW / 632 PS) and 750 Nm (553 lb-ft) of torque.

Nissan To Unveil New NISMO Model On August 17 And It Looks Like It’s The Note Aura

Nissan says that a new NISMO-branded car will appear on August 17th at 12:00 AM Japan Standard Time (1:00 PM on August 16th ET). While we can’t be sure exactly which model will debut, we suspect it has something to do with Nissan’s Note Aura. The Aura uses an e-Power hybrid drivetrain that uses electric motors to drive the wheels and a gas engine to charge the batteries. If it is indeed a NISMO-fied version of the Aura, expect it to feature similar modifications to 2018’s Note e-Power NISMO.

Toyota’s Road-Going Hypercar Might Have Been Axed

Toyota was set to reveal a road-going version of the GR010 Hybrid Le Mans Supercar. But now a report suggests that the production version may have been canceled thanks to a pre-production prototype catching fire at the Fuji Speedway. Potentially called the GR Super Sport, it’s suspected that the hypercar could have been based on the concept car that was shown at the 2018 Tokyo Auto Salon.

2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz First Reviews In And Here’s What They’re Saying

Hyundai’s mini pick-up has been released to members of the motoring press. Each has weighed in on what they think of the much-anticipated addition to the South Korean manufacturer’s lineup. First impressions seem good, albeit many pundits tend to think the Santa Cruz is less truck, and more SUV — ideal for those who like their comfortable SUVs, but want something with an open bed.

Big Chinese-Market Audi SUV Caught Testing Out VW’s MEB Platform

China’s electric car market continues to grow, and Audi is looking to cash in. Pictured here appears to be a Chinese market Q4 or Q5 e-tron that was first previewed in April at the Shanghai Auto Show. Using the Volkwagen MEB platform, the new SUV will appeal to the vast majority of Chinese buyers who value interior space and legroom. And shortly after we reported on the spy images a new leak came to light detailing what looks to be a finalized design.

NYC’s Sheriff Office Seizes 76 Cars For Having Counterfeit Paper License Plates

Unrelated to the story of Washington having to resort to issuing paper license plates, the New York City Sheriff’s Office seized 76 vehicles found to run counterfeit paper license plates. The bogus plate racket appears to be extensive, as Texas charged three people for creating and selling over 600,000 fraudulent plates. One of those charged with the Texas offense is suspected to be at the root of the New York story.

What Else Is Making The News

I Am Legend Writer Reaffirms Film Was Made Up In Face Of Anti-Vaxxers

A co-writer for 2007’s post-apocalyptic film “I Am Legend,” took to Twitter to clarify that the film he helped pen was, in fact, made up (shocking, huh?). Akiva Goldsman, who was also an executive producer of the film, commented after seeing a screenshot from a New York Times article. The quote cited one woman’s fears that vaccines would lead to a disaster similar to that predicted in the film.

NASA’s Goal Of Returning To The Moon Not Feasible Says Watchdog

NASA’s plans to return to the moon by 2024 may be wide of the mark according to one inspector, reports CNN. The concerns raised surround Nasa’s new generation of spacesuits, which have been subject to significant delays. It’s concluded that the new suits wouldn’t be ready until April 2025 at the earliest.