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

Audi Reportedly Inches Closer To F1, Official Decision Expected In Early 2022

A report from Autocar claims that Audi is very close to joining Formula 1. The outlet cites a letter sent from the German automaker to the FIA, stating that they are “close to the finish line” and that will “confirm our Formula 1 entry early next year.” Audi’s entry to the F1 grid may be made possible thanks to the new power unit rules that will come into play in 2026.

Maserati MC20 Convertible Teased With Special Cloud-Themed Wrap

Although its Grecale SUV may be delayed, it’s not the only new car on the horizon from Maserati. The MC20 Convertible has recently been teased, with a few design changes over the coupé variant. There’s a different roof structure and what looks to be a folding roof mechanism hidden in the rear deck.

China’s Geely Reportedly Forming New JV With Renault, Could Allow Duty-Free Cars Into The U.S.

Renault and Geely are about to get into bed with each other, according to a report from Reuters. The two companies are expected to form a new hybrid-focused JV to sell cars in China. Geely will provide its architecture, while Renault will handle design. Other plans include the Chinese automaker gaining access to the Renault Samsung plant in South Korea, which could be used as a workaround for the Geely to enter the U.S. market with duty-free Korean-built cars.

Nikola Agrees To Pay $125 Million To Settle Fraud Charges With SEC

Nikola Corp has agreed to pay $125 million to settle civil charges leveled against it by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Nikola was on the hook for violating  U.S. securities laws with a number of misleading statements about its in-house production capabilities, reservation book, and financial outlook between March and September 2020. Many of those issues are thanks to the company’s former CEO, Trevor Milton, who had charges filed against him in July.

Tesla Removes Roadster’s Pricing Info From Website, Stops Taking Reservations For Founders Series

Tesla has removed all mention of the upcoming Roadster’s pricing information from its website. The company had started taking $50,000 reservations for the standard model and $250,000 for a Founders Series car, although the latter can no longer be purchased, signaling that it may be sold out.  The latest estimates suggest that the Roadster will start shipping in 2023 “if there’s no major drama.”

New York City Gets Its Very First Ford Mustang Mach-E Yellow Cab

A yellow cab Ford Mustang Mach-E has begun ferrying passengers around Manhatten. Available to be hailed on the street or through a standard yellow taxi app, the Mach-E is finished in Rally Yellow and comes equipped with dynamic passenger controls, including a 22-inch display screen that allows passengers to take selfies, listen to music, or watch videos. The startup behind the taxi, Gravity, plans to have a fleet of 50 EV cabs, which will also include Teslas.

2021-2022 Tesla Model Ys, Model 3s Built After Radar Removal Earn IIHS Top Safety Pick+ Award

Tesla’s 2021–2022 Model Y and Model 3 have earned the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) “Top Safety Pick+” award. The accolade comes despite the Ev automaker moving away from radar to a camera-only system for advanced driver assistance. According to IIHS testing, the crossover’s standard front crash prevention system earns superior ratings in both the vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian tests. The previous radar systems earned only an “advanced” rating in the vehicle-to-pedestrian evaluation.

What Else Is Making The News

Jeremy Clarkson Chops Thumb 

https://www.instagram.com/p/CXa3XqushCC/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Earlier this month, The Grand Tour and Clarkson’s Farm presenter Jeremy Clarkson shared an image of a bloodied and bandaged thumb. According to his latest column for the Sunday Times, Jeremy detailed how he was slicing potatoes using a mandolin “with much vigor” until the sharp contraption took “a big crisp-sized slice” of his thumb off.

Musk Says He’s Sold Enough Stock

In addition to slamming California for “over-taxation,” Elon Musk claims he has now sold enough Tesla stock, as he aimed to sell 10 percent of his shares. “I sold enough stock to get to around 10% plus the option exercise stuff, and I tried to be extremely literal here,” he said in the interview with satirical website Babylon Bee.