EV startup Canoo has delivered its first customer vehicles to NASA to transport astronauts on the Artemis II mission. Get all the latest auto industry news in the Executive Briefing.

Today’s headlines:

+   In a one-hour online meeting, Volkswagen CEO Thomas Schafer declared an immediate spending freeze and called for $11.2 billion in budget cuts, warning that “the roof is on fire.” More at Autoevolution. 

+   After two years of delays, Tesla has completed its first customer-spec Cybertruck at the EV maker’s plant in Austin, Texas, where it is planning volume production by the end of the year. More at Reuters. 

+   Reeves Callaway III, the founder of Callaway Cars and builder of many memorable tuner Corvettes including the Sledgehammer and the SuperNatural racer, has passed away at 75. More at Hemmings. 

+   Co-driver Erin Kelly, 48, was killed in a single-car crash in the New England Forest Rally, an event based in Western Maine sanctioned by the American Rally Association. More at New England Cable News. 

+   Kjell Gruner, who recently announced his departure as chief executive officer at Porsche North America, is said to be joining EV maker Rivian in a role to be determined. More at The Drive. 

+   Shareholders in Black Spade Acquisition, a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) with plans to merge with EV maker VinFast,  have redeemed 80 percent of their shares. More at World Auto Forum.  

+   Nissan is issuing a global recall of about 1.38 million cars including the Note, Kicks, Serena, and Leaf models to correct a defect that could cause sudden acceleration. More at The Detroit News. 

+   Mazda has filed six patent applications in Japan for rotary engines, three relating to rotor configuration to “improve fuel efficiency” and three for exhaust gas recirculation methods. More at Motor Authority. 

+   California-based EV startup Canoo has delivered its first customer vehicles, a fleet of three vans specially outfitted to transport astronauts on the Artemis II lunar mission. More at Autoblog.

+   Formula One Group CEO Stefano Domenicali says the series is giving serious consideration to lighter, simpler, more powerful, and noisier engines for its future race formula. More at Motorsport.com. 

Photo courtesy of NASA. 

Review the previous MCG Executive Briefing from July 14 here. 

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