RICHMOND, Va. — During National School Bus Safety Week, the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) is highlighting how propane autogas buses help school districts across the country deliver on their most important priority: getting students to and from school safely, reliably, and responsibly.

More than 1.3 million students nationwide ride to school each day on 22,000 propane-powered buses. The technology is trusted in more than 1,000 school districts coast-to-coast due in part to the energy source’s low emissions profile. Propane autogas school buses produce 96 percent fewer nitrogen oxides (NOx) than diesel. That significant reduction helps improve air quality around schools and neighborhoods, which benefits students, drivers, and communities.

The buses are also noticeably quieter than diesel models, allowing drivers to focus on the road and better hear what’s happening inside and outside the bus.

“As a former school transportation director, I know that nothing matters more than getting students to school safely,” said Joel Stutheit, senior manager of autogas business development at PERC. “I trusted propane autogas in my fleet because of its proven track record of keeping students and drivers safe on every ride.”

Equally as important as a clean, quiet ride, propane autogas school buses provide an additional layer of reliability. A recent U.S. Department of Energy report warns that, without major upgrades, the U.S. could see up to 100 times more grid disruptions by 2030. Unlike electric models, propane autogas buses don’t rely on grid power to stay in operation, providing a layer of security when schools need to safely transport students even during emergencies.

Depending on the tank size, propane autogas buses have a range of up to 400 miles on a single refuel, providing flexibility and peace of mind for school districts and parents. And unlike diesel or electric models whose performance can vary when temperatures plummet, propane autogas buses start in cold weather without any additives or heaters.

“School transportation directors want solutions that make sense not just on paper, but on the road, too,” said Stutheit. “With propane autogas, school districts can lower emissions, keep buses running on schedule, and give students a safer, quieter ride. It’s a solution for today and well into the future.”

To learn more about the safety, performance, and environmental benefits of propane school buses, visit betterourbuses.com.

About PERC: The Propane Education & Research Council is a nonprofit that provides leading propane safety and training programs and invests in research and development of new propane-powered technologies. PERC is operated and funded by the propane industry. For more information, visit Propane.com.

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YARDVILLE, N.J. —During National School Bus Safety Week (NSBSW), highlighted on October 20 through October 24, 2025, organizations from across the country including the National School Transportation Association (NSTA), Roush Fenway Keselowski (RFK) Racing, Blue Bird Corporation and ROUSH CleanTech are joining the nationwide call to remind motorists that stopping for a school bus is not optional—it’s the law and will prevent avoidable tragedies.

To raise awareness, RFK Racing driver Ryan Preece appears in a new video campaign showing that even professional drivers stop for school buses. In the video, Preece, who drives the No. 60 car, reinforces the message that safety around school buses is everyone’s responsibility—no matter how much experience you have behind the wheel.

You can access the video here: RFK Racing & Ryan Preece PSA

This message is especially critical in light of recent findings released by the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS). Each school day, millions of students across the U.S. depend on the yellow school bus—the safest form of student transportation—to get to and from school. Yet, new data from the NASDPTS reveals that illegal passings of stopped school buses remain a major threat to student safety.

According to NASDPTS’s thirteenth annual National Stop Arm Violation Survey, released at the 2025 NSTA Annual Meeting and Convention in Boston, 114,239 school bus drivers in 36 states and the District of Columbia reported 67,258 vehicles illegally passing their stopped buses in just one day during the 2024–2025 school year. When projected across all U.S. school bus drivers, that’s more than 39.3 million violations per year. Although this marks a decrease from 45.2 million violations in the previous year, the issue remains alarming.

The annual survey, conducted since 2011, highlights the ongoing need for education, enforcement, and vigilance to prevent these dangerous incidents. In recent years, several states have strengthened penalties, authorized camera-based enforcement, and implemented new awareness campaigns—all steps toward safer roads for students.

Additionally, NSTA has spearheaded a national effort to raise awareness about the dangers of illegal school bus passings through their support of the “Brake for Kids Act” (H.R.2348/S.2812) – an initiative sponsored by Reps. Pete Stauber (MN-08), Rudy Yakym (IN-02), Julia Brownley (CA-26), Seth Moulton(MA-06), and Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), as well as Senators Todd Young (IN) and Gary Peters (MI).

According to its description, the bill directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to produce and distribute a national public safety campaign on the dangers of illegally passing stopped school buses. Specifically, the campaign must increase awareness and education about the issue through a variety of media, including television, radio, and social media advertising. “Illegal school bus passings have continued on our roadways, despite the best efforts of student transportation professionals to curb this dangerous and illegal practice. Public Awareness campaigns like this provide the ability to reach a wide target audience with the hope that our message resonates,” said Patrick Dean, NSTA President, as well as President of Dean Transportation in Michigan.

“As evidenced by the release of this video, student transportation stands unified in our quest to eliminate incidences of illegal school passings throughout the United States. Public messaging remains one tool at our disposal, and I call on motorists, law enforcement, and the court system to do their part as well to help alleviate this vexing problem,” Curt Macysyn, NSTA Executive Director concluded. NSTA would like to thank the Michigan Association for Student Transportation (MAPT) and ROUSH CleanTech for their leadership in this project. For more information about school bus safety, please go to School Bus Facts – website hosted by NSTA at https://www.schoolbusfacts.com

The post When the School Bus Reds are Flashing, There is No Passing Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Driver Ryan Preece Reminds Motorists to Protect Students on the Road appeared first on School Transportation News.

ARLINGTON, Va. – The National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS) supports School Bus Safety Week and is a proud sponsor of the video campaign featuring RFK Racing drive Ryan Preece who proclaimed, “even professional drivers stop for school bus” https://youtu.be/wGEDFwkRfys.

While during School Bus Safety Week we celebrate the professionals that ensure the safe travel of students to and from school each and every day, NASDPTS estimates there were more than 39.3 million illegal passings of stopped school buses in the past year based on our 2025 survey (https://www.nasdpts.org/stop-arm-violations“) NASDPTS reminds all drivers to slow down and to stop for stopped school buses. The safety of every child depends on it,” offered NASDPTS President Mike Stier. “We in the school transportation industry have a very important job to do, and we take great pride in doing our job well, but the safe transportation of children to and from school takes every one of us. Drivers aren’t paying attention, and they aren’t focused on the right things. What could be more important than the safety of a child?” added Stier.

NASDPTS thanks the Michigan Association for Pupil Transportation (MAPT) for the opportunity to co-sponsor the Ryan Preece video and appreciates their efforts to draw attention to the problem of illegal passing of stopped school buses.

Additional School Bus Safety Week information can be found here: https://nasdpts.org/SBSW

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Historically, School Transportation News has looked at school bus driver pay and benefits as it relates to staffing. But developing a standout department starts at the very top, as proven by the Top Transportation Teams awards sponsored by Transfinder and presented at STN EXPO West (learn more about the 2025 winners on page 28). What factors encourage transportation directors to stay at their current district versus jumping the bus to another? No surprise: The overwhelming answer is support from administration and department culture.

For Colby Stevens, spending his career at Teton County School District in Wyoming makes sense. A 2023 STN Rising Superstar, Stevens started driving a school bus for the district in 2011. Over time, he took on more responsibilities, eventually becoming a secretary and now the director of transportation, a position he’s held since 2018, when he was 29 years old.

“Though it wasn’t something that I had dreamed of, it provided an opportunity to get full-time, year-round work, which was appealing,” he said of first moving into the secretary role.

Stevens became the assistant director in 2016 and served for two years. He credited becoming director to his relationships in the department and his experience working up through the ranks. He noted that he has a very positive relationship with the district administration, which encourages him to stay at Teton Conty.

“I feel like I have the trust of the district, and they have mine,” he said. “That’s a huge reason why I’m not really interested in going elsewhere. I feel like I have support if I need it, but I also feel like I’m not micro-managed. I’m given a long leash to do my job, and so that gives me the weighty responsibility of doing what’s supposed to be done. But at the same time, I don’t feel like I’m on my own. And I think that balance, from what I have found, is rare, but it’s super important. I can imagine that would be one reason why there is burnout and turnover with directors.”

He shared that his college degree is in an unrelated field and it’s the on-the-job training that has attributed to his success. “Interacting in every sphere really prepared me for the job as well as just learning early on and [receiving] a lot of informal training from our former director,” he explained. “Learning the power and the importance of relationships, the importance of treating people with integrity and treating people with respect.”

He noted another key piece has been his involvement in the Wyoming Pupil Transportation Association, for which he is a director-at-large.

Amy Scopac and her on-the-job training has proven advantageous to her nearly 20-year career at Temple Independent School District in Texas. She explained that when her children became school age, she wanted to rejoin the workforce yet be on their same schedule. She started looking for opportunities available within the school system.

“In that pursuit, I was led to transportation at Temple ISD, where I began my 19th year in June [this year],” she said. Scopac started in the department as secretary in 2007,
shortly thereafter becoming the safety and training supervisor. She became operations supervisor and then assistant director of transportation from 2012 through 2020. She has served as director since January 2021.

Certifications have been instrumental in her career development, especially as she said she sees the industry steering away from requiring traditional degrees. She currently holds the certifications of Director of Pupil Transportation (CDPT) and Supervisor of Pupil Transportation (CSPT) from the National Association for Pupil Transportation, and a Texas Pupil Transportation Official (CTPTO) from the Texas Association for Pupil Transportation. She also holds driver trainer and special needs supervisor certificates from TAPT and a School Bus Driver Trainer certificate from the Texas Engineering Extension Service.

Scopac is also a certified Texas Department of Public Safety CDL third-party examiner. She served as TAPT president from 2018 to 2019 and has served as president of her local TAPT chapter twice (2011 and 2021). She is also a certified professional development instructor through TAPT.

She noted that the requirement for a degree is gradually disappearing from job descriptions, as in the example of a recent director job posting at nearby Hutto ISD, which
states, “Qualifications include a bachelor’s degree or comparable knowledge gained through work experience.

“This shift signifies a changing trend in the industry, where the significance of a degree is diminishing,” she said. “The knowledge and skills necessary to excel as a director in this industry are not solely acquired in a college classroom. On-the-job training plays a critical role in developing these essential skills.”

She noted that a successful transportation director is a leader with strong operational and management skills. “They are required to have in-depth expertise in transportation logistics, encompassing route planning, scheduling and optimizing workflow to maximize efficiency and cost-effectiveness,” she continued. “Additionally, they are responsible for developing and overseeing substantial budgets, monitoring expenses and negotiating contracts with vendors to effectively manage costs.”

Plus, directors must understand all local, state and federal laws, regulations and safety standards and be adept at “utilizing technology, including fleet management software, student monitoring software, GPS tracking, and data-driven analytics, to streamline operations, monitor performance, and make informed decisions based on data,” she noted.

Like Stevens in Wyoming, she said the most important aspect to staying at a district is leadership and culture. “Having the support of your supervisor, superintendent and school board are critical,” she said, adding that transportation can be a demanding job.

“Having a positive workplace culture fosters engagement, productivity and loyalty. Our senior leadership team in Temple is remarkable. They support their employees and are huge proponents of professional development. There is no doubt they truly believe in you. They make you feel connected and engaged. We function like family with a real focus on collaboration, teamwork and employee well-being. Our Superintendent Dr. [Bobby] Ott signs his emails to us ‘your biggest fan,’ and there is no doubt that is the absolute truth.”

Scopac shared that being a Temple Wildcat is “truly special,” as it’s the only high school in the district. Scopac, a native of Temple, said she loves serving her community, which is experiencing a growth in population.

A Fork in the Road
For others, however, changing districts helped align with their professional growth and goals. Karim Johnson has worked in 10 school districts across four states along the East Coast and has even run his own school bus contracting and motorcoach company. He started in pupil transportation right out of high school, working as a part-time bus driver while in college. He said what started as a means to pay bills, turned into a career he fell in love with.

He’s worked in various roles in transportation, from school bus driver to dispatcher to operations manager and driver trainer. To the management side, serving as a supervisor, regional manager, director and executive director. Johnson is currently the director of student transportation at Dorchester County School District Four in South Carolina.

“My career path really breaks down into two chapters,” he said. “Early on, from the time I started driving after graduating high school through my early 40s, I moved around mainly for growth. I wanted to see the industry from every angle, so I took on opportunities that stretched me and gave me new responsibilities. Some changes were also tied to personal and family needs, but most were about pushing myself to keep learning and advancing.”

Now, he said, he looks at things differently. While professional growth is still important, he also values balance. “At this stage, the biggest factor in staying with a district is culture,” he shared. “I want to work in a place where transportation isn’t treated as an afterthought, but as a critical part of student success. When a district invests in its people, its facilities and its fleet and when leadership understands that smart investments can actually drive efficiency and save money, it creates an environment where both students and staff can succeed. That’s the kind of alignment that makes me want to plant roots and stay long term.”

While pay and benefits are importance, culture, he said, is the centerpiece. He said a district having a student-focused culture and one that understands how instructional goals and operational support work hand in hand, sets the foundation for success. “At the same time, competitive pay and solid benefits can’t be overlooked,” he added. “They allow
employees to care for their families and show up fully at work. When a district finds the right balance between culture, compensation and support, that’s when both students and staff are in the best position to thrive.”

Johnson said one of his strengths as a director is stepping into challenged operations, finding the systemic issues and leading the turnaround—all not possible without leadership that backs the process. “I don’t expect them to know every operational detail, but I do look for a willingness to make the necessary infrastructure investments, set realistic timelines for change and understand that improvements don’t happen overnight,” he said.
“Just as important, I value when leadership listens to the recommendations of their transportation professional and trusts the process. With that kind of support, transportation programs can truly transform and without it, even the best plans can stall.”

Meanwhile, Mitzii Smith, president of the Maine Association for Pupil Transportation and a 2024 STN Rising Superstar, started her career in 2005 with Bonny Eagle School District (MSAD6), when her oldest child was starting kindergarten. Smith drove a school bus and
transitioned to lead driver. In 2021, she stepped into the building to become the administration assistant. A few months later, she became the assistant director.

On July 1, she started a new role as director of transportation for Gorham School District. “My decision to leave Bonny Eagle after 20 years wasn’t an easy one to make,” she shared. “I had an amazing opportunity for career advancement. Gorham is a neighboring district in a wonderful community. This is a unique opportunity to build on an already solid transportation department. It’s exciting to bring my vision to a new team and promote professional development and growth.”

She noted that as a new director, one of the most important benefits is a strong district culture. “When there is mutual respect, open communication and a shared commitment to student success, transportation becomes more than just getting students to school; it becomes an essential part of supporting their overall educational experience,” concluded Smith, who is also a school safety specialist.

Editor’s Note: As reprinted from the October 2025 issue of School Transportation News.

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DENVER — EverDriven, the leader in alternative student transportation, today announced the finalists for its inaugural Modern Student Transportation Awards, a first-of-its-kind recognition program spotlighting school district leaders who are embracing modern tools, inclusive practices and a commitment to safety and accessibility in student transportation.

The awards recognize district leaders who are improving student transportation for diverse populations, including those experiencing housing instability and requiring specialized services, through thoughtful innovation and care. Finalists stood out for their efforts to make transportation more inclusive, reliable, and safe, whether by utilizing new technologies, designing flexible systems to meet diverse student needs, or demonstrating exceptional compassion in how services are delivered.

“We’re at an exciting moment in student transportation, where school districts across the country are extending the boundaries of what’s possible through modern, student-centered solutions,” said Mitch Bowling, CEO of EverDriven. “The Modern Student Transportation Awards celebrate that spirit of innovation and collaboration, and it’s an honor to recognize all of the nominees who are shaping the future of how students get to school safely and efficiently.”

Award Categories

Finalists were nominated across four categories, each representing a core pillar of modern student transportation.

Equity in Education Accessibility Award
Honors district leaders who deliver scalable and inclusive transportation solutions for underserved student populations.

Humanitarian Award
Highlights extraordinary care and compassion in ensuring every student gets to school safely and consistently.

Safety & Reliability Award
Recognizes standout practices that enhance the safety and consistency of student transportation.

Top Innovator Award
Celebrates the most impactful use of modern, AI-enabled technology in school transportation.

Meet the Finalists

The district leaders below were selected for their outstanding contributions to student transportation related to the categories above.

• Jameelah Davis, Program Coordinator – Orange County Public Schools, Orlando, FL
• Kayla Denaco, Assistant Director of Transportation – Lewiston Public Schools, Lewiston, ME
• Laura Hill, General Manager, Transportation Services — Hillsborough County Transportation School Department – Hillsborough School District, Tampa, FL
• Earl Kent III, Route Planning Manager – Denver Public Schools, Denver, CO
• Lori Knochelmann, McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Coordinator – Covington Independent Public Schools, Covington, KY
• Marla Lynn, Director of Transportation – Grandview School District, Grandview, MO
  Sarah Nanny, Transportation Department Secretary – Escambia County School District, Pensacola, FL
• Quanika Dukes-Spruill, Executive Director – Newark Public Schools, Newark, NJ
• Jeremy Stowe, Director of Transportation – Buncombe County Schools, Asheville, NC
• Pat Ward, Former Director of Maintenance and Transportation – Allen Park Public Schools, Allen Park, MI

Winners To Be Announced

Winners will be announced on November 6, 2025. The winners are selected by a panel of judges that scored nominations across four dimensions:

Tangible student impact: Presenting clear evidence of real, measurable benefits for students (attendance, safety, accessibility, well-being, etc.).

Comprehensiveness: How fully the initiative addresses the challenge — depth of planning, execution, and stakeholder involvement.

Scalability and sustainability: Potential for the initiative to be expanded within the district, adopted by others elsewhere, and that it will endure over time.

Creativity: Delivers a fresh, forward-thinking approach; challenging the traditional model with inventive solutions, bold ideas, or unconventional strategies that break from “the way it’s always been done” to achieve better student outcomes.

The judging panel includes Mitch Bowling, CEO of EverDriven; Barbara Duffield, executive director of SchoolHouse Connection; Kevin Gordon, president at Capital Advisors; and Glenna Wright-Gallo, vice president of policy at Everway.

Each winner will receive:

A $2,500 college scholarship to be awarded to a student in their district who qualifies under the McKinney-Vento Act or receives special education services:

• A full conference pass and paid travel to the 2025 TSD Conference, November 6 to 11;
• A customized plaque;
• A digital winner’s seal for use across marketing materials and social media.

About EverDriven

EverDriven delivers modern student-centered transportation that’s safe, consistent, and built for those who need it most. EverDriven specializes in transporting students across a wide range of needs — from everyday support to the most complex circumstances — including students with disabilities, students experiencing housing instability, and other high-need populations. Serving more than 800 districts across 36 states, the company completed over 2 million trips last year, 99.99% of them accident-free with 100% safety compliance. EverDriven’s deeply human, fully compliant, and AI-powered approach helps districts get students on the road in hours, not days, while maintaining consistent, high-trust rides that complement traditional yellow bus fleets. For more information, visit everdriven.com.

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The Ford Mustang has a long history of offering California special editions and we can add one more to that list. The latest is based on the electric 2026 Mustang Mach-E GT and will go up for order on October 22.

Sporting a subtle makeover, the California Special is distinguished by an illuminated Rave Blue pony emblem as well as special 20-inch wheels with a carbonized gray and black finish.

They’re joined by special badging as well as a hood graphic inspired by the California coastline. The latter is dark and dull, but Ford exterior designer Stefan Taylor said it has “radiating sunset lines in layered gray, black, and a blue accent representing the ocean.”

Review: Ford’s Electric Pony Car Gets Better With Age

The upgrades extend to the cabin, which has performance seats wrapped in Navy Pier ActiveX upholstery as well as a Miko material. The navy color can also be found on the steering wheel and center console, with the latter sporting “GT/CS” badging.

Elsewhere, there are special floor mats with blue and silver stitching that matches the design found on the seats.

Since the special edition is based on the Mustang Mach-E GT, it features a 91 kWh battery pack as well as a dual motor all-wheel drive system producing 480 hp (358 kW / 487 PS) and 600 lb-ft (813 Nm) of torque.

This setup enables the model to accelerate from 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) in 3.8 seconds and travel up to 280 miles (451 km) on a single charge.

While the upgrades are minor, the price tag isn’t as the California Special package costs $2,495. That means customers will need to shell out at least $55,890 before factoring in the destination fee.

Electric cars have a lot of negative myths that swirl around about them but they often carry a kernel of truth. While there are potential risks around charging, it’s rare that they pop up in reality.

More: There Are More Public Charging Stations Than Ever, But That’s Still Not Enough, Study Finds

Yet, every so often, one of those outliers surfaces, and in this case, it happened in Canada, where a charging adapter was destroyed by a short circuit, and it was all caught on camera.

A Tesla driver was trying to charge his car at a non-Tesla commercial charging station in British Columbia. To do so, he used an A2Z adapter that allows the charging station to plug into the car.

What Actually Happened?

When he plugged the charger with the adapter connected to it into the Tesla, there was an arc flash explosion. Thankfully, the man was a few feet away from the connection when the explosion happened.

While he experienced minor scrapes and abrasions, the man escaped serious injury. His spouse, sitting in the front passenger seat, was unharmed. An investigation into the incident found that the charging adapter and the charger itself had issues that led to the explosion.

More: Chinese EV’s Fire Fix Shoots Battery Into Traffic And Makes It Their Problem

The adapter wasn’t certified for use in Canada because the standards hadn’t been created yet when the unit went on sale. In addition, the charger itself sent “abnormal voltage,” into the adapter. When that happened, the arc explosion took place and blew the adapter into multiple pieces.

Lessons From a Flash

Bob Porter, of the Vancouver Electric Vehicle Association told the Vancouver Sun that “There are risks with third-party things if they aren’t approved. They haven’t been tested for safety. You don’t jerk around with electricity.”

The Tesla owner mentioned that he’d used the same setup for two years without issue, which makes the event a reminder that even supposedly reliable gear can fail suddenly if it hasn’t been certified or tested under the right standards.

This clearly isn’t a major issue across the industry, but it’s a good reminder that when things go wrong, they can go seriously wrong in the blink of an eye.

Photos Technical Safety BC

Dodge was confident that the all-electric Charger Daytona would spark a new era for muscle cars, but the reality has been far less electrifying. Reality, however, has been less kind. Reception has been lukewarm at best, and increasingly troubled as early issues begin to surface.

Not only has Dodge already dropped the base R/T models, but a growing number of drivers are now voicing concerns about serious faults with the car.

Read: Charger Daytona Owner Says His New Car Is ‘Practically Useless’ After Endless Problems

One owner describes the new Charger Daytona as a car that “drives and performs phenomenally,” but only when it works. And, it seems it doesn’t work as it should much of the time. Among the most troubling issues is inconsistent charging performance.

What’s Wrong With Charging?

Writing on Reddit, the driver explains that they’ve never managed to charge the vehicle reliably at public stations. Sessions frequently stall, forcing them to unplug and reconnect every 5 to 10 percent, which is understandably maddening.

At one charging station, he said he had to trick the app into thinking his Charger was a Cadillac Lyriq just to get the session started. He also mentioned that the home charger included with the purchase has yet to arrive.

There’s also an issue with the rear seat, as we’ve reported previously. When you pull forward the front seat to allow a rear-seat passenger to get out, the front seat will slowly slide forward before automatically sliding backward, potentially pinching someone trying to climb out from the rear.

Terrifying Brakes

The “last straw” was a fault they experienced with the brakes. While stopped outside a store, the brake pedal was pressed firmly to the floor, yet the car attempted to surge forward several times

Moments later, the dashboard lit up with multiple warning lights, traction control switched off on its own, and the Daytona eventually shut down completely. It stayed that way for several minutes before it would restart.

More: Only A Dodge Charger EV Could Get Ticketed For A Loud Exhaust

Stellantis hasn’t been much help, according to the poster. The company denied a buy-back request but did agree to cover a rental while the Charger is being repaired. Unfortunately, the allowance is capped at $60 a day, while the least expensive rental available costs $80.

“I’m at a loss with options, and I just want to warn anyone considering purchasing or leasing this vehicle,” they added. “I unfortunately went the purchase route since I drive so many miles a year.”

Given the extent of these problems, his best option may now be to pursue legal help under lemon laws to force a buy-back.

BUYER BEWARE: Dodge Charger Daytona – Numerous Issues – Lack of Support.
byu/hobobumpkins inDodge

The big selling point for Slate Auto’s electric pickup truck was always going to be its price, promising to start at under $20,000 in the United States. However, the removal of the federal EV tax credit has forced Slate to jack up the truck’s estimated starting price, and it may also be shockingly expensive to lease, considering how few features you get.

While the company has yet to confirm a final price for the model, Cars Direct speculates that it could cost upwards of $500 per month. The outlet has come to this conclusion by estimating a $27,500 price tag, which, over a typical 36-month lease with no money down, could work out to be $468.

Read: Slate’s Affordable Electric Truck Just Got A Whole Lot More Expensive

Add in the first month’s payment and an estimated acquisition fee of $700, and this will effectively jump to near $500 per month, before taxes and fees. Had the EV tax credit still been around, the equivalent price would drop to $341 a month, a hefty difference of $127.

However, it’s worth noting that actual lease prices for the truck may be different. The publication based its estimate on a money factor of 0.00292 or 7 percent APR and assumes a residual value of 55 percent.

This or a Ford Maverick?

If Slate Auto wants the back-to-basics EV to be successful, it’ll have to convince many shoppers to buy it instead of a Ford Maverick. It’s currently possible to lease a 2025 Maverick XLT AWD with the EcoBoost engine for as little as $289 per month over 36 months with $3,709 due at signing.

Admittedly, leasing a hybrid version of the Maverick is more expensive. Depending on location, the hybrid Mavericks generally start at around the $430 per month mark, and that usually doesn’t account for a hefty $3,000+ payment due at signing, bringing effective monthly payments to over $500.

Sources: CarsDirect

You’d expect Germany’s own automakers to dominate the German Car of the Year (GCOTY) awards and not necessarily because the judges are partisan. BMW, VW and Mercedes cars work well on German roads because they’re developed both for them and on them.

It’s a home-field advantage that usually shows. Yet like a WWII GI cutting in on a beaten German soldier’s dance to steal his girl, two American cars have just walked away with major wins in the 2026 competition.

Related: Cadillac Confirms New Gas-Powered Sedan

The awards, which group contenders into five categories, including Budget, Compact, Premium, Luxury and Performance, are voted on by a panel of 40 German and international motor journalists. While the overall winner won’t be revealed until November 17, we already know the victors in each category.

American Upset

The Lucid Air Sapphire, America’s electric interpretation of a luxurious hyper-sedan, took home the crown in the Performance segment. That’s hardly a shock once you’ve looked at its numbers.

With 1,234 hp (1,251 PS / 920 kW) and an ability to break 2 seconds to 60 mph (97 kmh; with rollout) the Sapphire is like a four-seat physics experiment. One that makes German heavy-hitters like the BMW M5 and Porsche Taycan Turbo GT look slow.

Meanwhile, over in the Luxury category, Cadillac’s 615 hp (624 PS / 459 kW) Vistiq took top honors. Cadillac only recently returned to Europe, but the sleek Vistiq is proof that Cadillac’s EV push isn’t just resonating in the States.

And this isn’t the first time GCOTY judges have had their heads turned by a Caddy. This year’s Luxury win follows last year’s success for the Cadillac Lyriq, which won the same class, but was beaten to the overall GCOTY title by the BMW 5-series and i5. Maybe the Vistiq can do better.

To take outright gold, Cadillac’s three-row EV will have to beat not only the Air, but three strong European and Asian entries. Dacia’s Bigster is the 2026 GCOTY Budget Car of the Year, the electric Skoda Elroq scooped the Compact award and Hyundai’s Ioniq 9 was named best Premium car.

Changing Currents

In case you hadn’t noticed, that means four out of the five class winners are EVs, and it’s that shift to electric power that has helped American cars up their relevance game in Europe.

Perhaps most telling of all, not a single German brand made the winners’ list this year, with the nearest contender being Skoda, a Czech marque under the VW Group umbrella.

The long-awaited 2027 Chevrolet Bolt arrived earlier this month, carrying a host of mechanical upgrades while retaining a shape that feels immediately recognizable.

Only time ans sales will tell if this new model proves to be a success, but GM is eager to follow it up with several other affordable EVs. Evidently, it has the confidence that demand for cheap electric cars will rise.

What’s Coming Next?

While recently speaking about the company’s future plans, GM president Mark Reuss said a family of new EVs is on the cards, but he kept many important details close to his chest.

Read: New Chevy Bolt Is Back But Costs Thousands More Than The Leaf

“What comes after this, whether it’s called a Bolt or not, will be a family of things that is low-priced,” Reuss told InsideEVs. “And when I say family, they won’t be adopted. They’ll be in the same vein of size and price.”

What this likely means is that some of these models will probably be Bolt-based, while others will be distinct models, likely similar in size and price to the Bolt. According to Reuss, some of these models will slot into “white spaces” across the industry.

“I also think there’s some white spaces in size, class, of forms—not only the Bolt that we just introduced but also some different things, for different people’s styled tastes,” he noted.

Bolt Tech

The new Bolt is underpinned by a 65 kWh lithium-ion phosphate battery pack, offering up 255 miles (410 km) of driving range in standard guise.

The new battery also supports 150 kW DC fast charging, a big increase from the 50 kW of the old model. Future affordable EVs from GM could be offered with the same battery.

Reuss noted that their new EVs will use different cell technology from old models, potentially indicating the wider adoption of LFP batteries like the Bolt.

GM is also known to be developing lithium manganese-rich batteries that are expected to launch in 2028. These new batteries promise improved range and higher energy density than LFP cells.

The federal gravy train for EV buyers has reached the end of the line. As of September 30, 2025, Uncle Sam officially stopped footing the bill for your next electric car, causing concern among automakers about plummeting demand.

However, that doesn’t necessarily mean there’s no help available. Depending on where you live, your state might still have you covered with its own tax credits scheme.

Who’s Still Paying Up?

But some states are downright stingy with their cash, meaning there’s no one-size-fits-all discount like the old $7,500 federal aid. According to new data from the Tax Foundation, the state-level landscape is a messy patchwork of perks, penalties, and paperwork.

While some states are still rolling out the red carpet for EVs, others are quietly slapping owners with new registration fees to make up for lost gas-tax revenue, highlighting how different attitudes are to green policies across the country.

More: Ford And GM Drop EV Tax Credit Loophole After Being Accused Of Bilking Taxpayers

A few states remain firmly on the side of the buyer, including Colorado, which from this November will provide rebates of up to $9,000 to low and middle-income families trading in an old gas car for a new electric vehicle, and as much as $6,000 on a used one.

Oregon and Maine both offer $7,500 of credits, Oklahoma gives up to $5,500, and Connecticut and Vermont will cut the price of your EV by $5,000. Illinois, Kansas and New Jersey make $4,000 available and various other states will throw in between $1,500 and $3,500 to encourage you to go electric.

Where EVs Cost You More

Then there are the less friendly states. Georgia has no EV incentives at all and charges drivers $235 per year just to register their electric vehicle. Indiana is arguably even worse: it also has no EV incentives, charges $230 to register one, and $77 to register a hybrid.

Perhaps surprisingly, given its history of leading on green matters, California no longer offers state help for EV buyers. Governor Gavin Newsom recently claimed it wasn’t economically viable to offer aid right now, though his office has since suggested a scheme might be introduced next year.

Some states don’t simply rely on EV registration fees to help offset lost gas revenue, but also add tax to the cost of charging at public charging stations. Those states include Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky and Oklahoma, the Tax Foundation reports, while also noting the flaw in their plan: drivers who charge at home escape the duty.

The takeaway here is that the government taking federal tax credits off the table doesn’t necessarily mean you can no longer afford that EV. You just need to check out where your state stands on the issue.

EV Tax Credits By State (Tax Foundation)

Tax Foundation

We’ve simplified this table from the Tax Foundation. To check out the original, which contains notes about which states offer other help, like an exemption from sales tax or the option of choosing to be taxed on miles driven instead of paying registration tax, click here.

Does MG have a runaway car problem? With heightened scrutiny on the safety of Chinese-made EVs, there seems to be a worrying trend of reported issues seemingly going unresolved. Be it in China or in Europe, reports continue to stack up.

For one MG5 owner in the UK, that concern turned into something more immediate. After what appeared to be a charging fault, their electric estate reportedly behaved as if it had a mind of its own, a story that uncomfortably echoes a 2023 case involving an MG ZS EV that also lost control.

Runaway 5

Writing to The Guardian, the MG5 owner recounted how their electric estate reportedly went “out of control” after charging at a motorway service station. According to the owner, the car wouldn’t respond to any input, forcing them to call the AA roadside assistance service for help.

Read: These Two Cars Managed To Earn A Shocking Zero-Star Safety Rating

When the AA patrolman tried to back the car up the car, it reportedly “surged forward” when reverse was selected. The car subsequently collided with the AA van, yet continued to spin its wheels. The roadside assistance operative was eventually able to shut the MG5 down from outside the car, and unsurprisingly deemed the car unsafe to drive.

Despite this, and a £2,500 repair bill (which was footed by the AA), the report states that MG then investigated the problem, charging the owner of the car an additional £500, and closed the case.

It took further intervention from The Guardian for the company to carry out a more detailed 25-mile test drive, but again concluded that “no malfunctions with any of the relevant in-vehicle equipment” were found, attributing the issue to an unspecified external error.

However, to MG’s credit, they reportedly didn’t charge for the second test and retracted the previous bill.

Same Same, But Different

A second incident back in 2023, reported by the BBC, saw a Glasgow driver’s MG ZS EV lose all braking function while traveling at 30 mph. Brian Morrison, 53, was forced to call 999 when his car became stuck at speed. Police officers carried out a “controlled halt,” instructing Morrison to drive into the back of a police van to stop the runaway vehicle.

More: EU Regulators Say Drivers Are Dying Inside Cars With Electric Door Handles

When the RAC later inspected the car, the technician reportedly found “pages of faults” in the diagnostic log and refused to restart it.

While both drivers escaped unharmed, the incidents have left owners unsettled, especially given the growing reliance on complex electronic systems in modern EVs.

With MG’s UK sales having surged in recent years, maybe these cases underscore the urgent need for transparency and swift investigation when software or control faults are suspected in electric vehicles. Or perhaps they require swifter intervention or investigation from the authorities as well.

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The latest Leaf has arrived, and Nissan wants drivers to see it as something more than another electric hatchback. It represents years of accumulated know-how from across the brand’s lineup, from mainstream cars to the Z sports car’s precision DNA.

Now, Christian Spencer, Nissan’s senior manager of Marketability and a long-time engineer, explains to Carscoops how the new Leaf embodies what it means to drive a Nissan.

A Familiar Feel or Something New?

Spencer has worked across nearly every segment, including trucks, sedans, SUVs, and sports cars. In his view, making a car drive like a Nissan isn’t about one singular type of experience but rather an attitude that begins at the design phase.

Review: Nissan’s $29,990 Leaf Costs Less But Feels Like So Much More

“We have people who stick around this company for a very long time, and they really like it because it’s a hands-on company,” he said. “That doesn’t mean you make a Z drive like a LEAF, or a LEAF drive like a Pathfinder, but you carry the passion through and make sure the customer experience is right.”

Engineers applied Z-inspired strategies like steering precision and controllability to the Leaf, adapting them to an EV platform without overcomplicating the car.

“You can still enjoy driving the car even though it’s not a high-performance sports car,” Spencer said. “We want it to be enthusiastic, fun, and intuitive for the customer.”

Comfort and Quality Above the Segment

The 2026 LEAF’s rear multilink suspension comes from the larger Ariya, reducing impact stiffness by nearly 30%. Redesigned motor mounts soak up vibration, the floor is 80% stiffer, and the doors are better insulated, giving the EV a quieter, more refined ride.

More: Nissan Says We Made A Mistake With New Leaf’s Taillights

“It really was more luxurious with more refinement than [other options] at the price point it was,” Spencer said. This pursuit of comfort is intentional. The team focused on creating an accessible EV that feels high-quality without overcomplicating features.

“We wanted it to be simple, efficient, and around $30,000, with 300 miles of range,” he explained. “That was how we kept the costs down while still giving the customer a premium-feeling product.”

On top of that, the LEAF integrates both NACS and J1772 charge ports. In other words, owners can use both Tesla Superchargers and traditional home units. Spencer emphasized the importance of prioritizing what the customer actually needs over copying competitors.

“If we were going to bet on how you’re going to charge the car, our solution is probably going to be the best for you today as the customer.”

Now, the question is whether or not these big changes will lead to big sales. What’s unquestionable is that Nissan has taken a bold new tack in the design of this Leaf.

Despite delays and setbacks, Porsche’s next-generation 718 Cayman is creeping closer to reality. So close, in fact, that in these latest spy shots you could almost reach out and touch it. Our photo team got up close to the first-ever electric Cayman outside the Nürburgring, capturing key design details for the first time.

Previous prototypes always hid the shape of the rear-quarter window line with false bodywork and heavy vinyl, but now we can finally see how the real thing will look. The test car still wears fake chrome trim to disguise the outline, as if trying to fool us into thinking we’re looking at a 911.

Even so, it’s clear that the next-generation 718 will have a much more pronounced kick-up in the window line behind the door than its bigger brother does.

Related: Porsche Is Sneaking Gas Power Back Into The Next 718

The kick isn’t as extreme as the one on the current Cayman, though. Looking back at the 2021 Mission R electric racecar concept that gave us our first taste of how a next generation Cayman could look, you can see the exact same line, along with headlights that appear very similar to the trick LED Matrix units fitted to this prototype.

Active Aero

The front and rear bumpers remain covered, but enough is visible to confirm some version of the vertical aero slats seen on the new 911 GTS and Turbo models. That detail, along with a set of optional carbon-ceramic brakes, shows Porsche isn’t letting the switch to electric dull its performance focus.

Expect the active aero elements and clever airflow management to play a major role in both battery cooling and aerodynamic efficiency.

Underneath, the Cayman EV rides on a dedicated electric architecture with the batteries mounted vertically behind the driver.

Power figures remain secret, but Porsche insiders have hinted at dual-motor all-wheel drive setups and sub-4-second 0-62 mph times for the higher trims. Base cars will get a single motor and rear-wheel drive.

Baldauf

An ICE Comeback

For anyone mourning the end of the flat-six era, there’s a glimmer of hope. Porsche recently confirmed that, due to strong customer demand, combustion-powered versions of this next-generation 718 are also in development.

The petrol models will sit at the very top of the range, likely limited-production specials aimed at purists who still crave a manual gearbox and exhaust noise.

They’re some years away though, meaning all eyes will be on the electric Cayman and its convertible Boxster sibling when they debut next year.

If Porsche knew five years ago what it knows now about the health of the electric market, it probably wouldn’t have gone all-in on electric power for the 718s, and it’s true some Porsche fans will be turned off by the idea of them being EVs.

However, having sampled the electric Taycan sports sedan, we’re in no doubt that it’ll still be great to drive. We’ll find out for sure in 2026.

Baldauf

When the GMC Hummer EV came out, it broke the internet. Fans were eager for its return, huge celebrities endorsed it, and the first units went for hundreds of thousands of dollars. Dealers asked for double MSRP, but times have since changed. Like a lot.

Now, even with discounts that reach $40,000 or even more in some cases, GM is finding it difficult to move its mighty electric giant. To put that in perspective, the markdown alone exceeds the price of a brand-new BMW 228 Gran Coupe, which starts at $39,600 in the US!

Market Reality

That’s not to say that suddenly GMC‘s truck is a stellar deal. Expressway GMC in Mount Vernon, Indiana, demonstrates both sides of this coin beautifully. One 2024 Hummer EV SUV 3X Omega Edition has a list price of $99,780, including a $42,550 rebate.

Read: Depreciation Crushed This Tesla So Hard After Just 18 Months, It’s Almost Laughable

According to GM Authority, Jerry’s Buick GMC in Weatherford, Texas, isn’t far behind with a discount of $40,648 off another Omega Edition. As a reminder, the Omega Edition is basically a fully-loaded Hummer EV with every bell and whistle, along with unique matte Neptune Blue paint.

Apparently, the rich features haven’t been enough to justify the price, and buyers have withered up.

Oversupply Blues

GMC provides an online tool to search for units nationwide, and there are 130 Omega Editions sitting around waiting for buyers. In addition, another 155 Hummer EVs are also gathering dust on dealer lots.

Oh, and those are just the 2024 model year units that have basically been around since late 2023. In addition, there are over 2,300 units from the 2025 model year and another 1,816 already on lots as 2026 units.

Also: This Hummer EV Lost $45K Without Ever Touching a Driveway

In other words, if you’re in the market for a GMC Hummer EV, you’re spoiled for choice with over 4,400 of them sitting around. To help dealers move these units, GM is using a program called Dealer Rent A Car (DRAC).

In essence, dealers temporarily use Hummer EV units as loaners, and after they accumulate a few thousand miles, the dealers sell them at steep discounts.

The moral of the story? For anyone who didn’t cave to early markups, patience has officially paid off… for some, to the tune of six figures.

BMW officially entered its Neue Klasse era after unveiling the 2026 iX3 at last month’s Munich Motor Show. Not only does it usher in a new period for the broader BMW model range, it also has the ingredients to be competitive on the world stage.

And based on early responses, consumers appear to be excited about the new-age model.

Read: BMW Is Cranking Out Cars “Like Pretzels” And Says Even China Can’t Keep Up

Less than two months after the Munich unveiling, BMW Group head Christian Ach shared that interest in the iX3 has surpassed even their most optimistic forecasts. “We have received over 3,000 orders for the iX3 in the first six weeks after its launch at the IAA in Munich,” he told Automobilwoche, likely referring to demand within Germany alone.

One might argue that 3,000 orders sound modest compared with figures from China, but the context tells a different story. Germany recorded 2.8 million new passenger car sales last year, while China’s total exceeded 31 million.

The response appears all the more impressive given that BMW hasn’t begun offering test drives. In Germany, the 2026 iX3 will start at €68,900 ($80,600), with a lower-priced variant expected next year, starting closer to the €60,000 ($70,200) mark is expected next year.

Just one version of the iX3 will be available at launch. Known as the iX3 50 xDrive, it employs two electric motors to deliver a combined 463 hp and 476 lb-ft (645 Nm) of torque and can hit 60 mph (96 km/h) in a rapid 4.7 seconds.

Of equal, if not more, importance is the driving range: 400 miles (644 km) as per the EPA, thanks to the 108 kWh battery pack, which can charge from 10-80 percent in just 21 minutes.

While speaking with Automobilwoche, Ach added that the company’s planned production rate for the iX3 through 2026 “will not be able to meet the high demand”.

The next model in BMW’s Neue Klasse lineup will be the i3. Despite the familiar badge, this version will arrive as a fully electric 3-Series rather than the compact, unconventional hatchback or MPV the name once denoted. It’s expected to share much of its powertrain technology with the iX3.

Sources: Automobilwoche

Tech-brand-turned-car-maker Dreame has serious form for stealing iconic Western designs. First, it released renders of a luxury sedan that’s the twin of Bugatti’s Chiron. Then it followed up with an SUV that makes no attempt to hide its designers’ admiration for the Rolls‑Royce Cullinan.

So when a new SUV starts appearing on social media, looking every bit like Bentley’s luxury model but isn’t, you’ll forgive us for suspecting the same gang is responsible.

More: Dreame’s Bugatti Rip-Off Debuts In 2027 With EV And Range Extender Options

After all, their CEO did say they were developing a second luxury brand following the one modeled after Bugatti, this time aiming to take on Bentley and Rolls-Royce with comparable models. And we’re not the only ones who think so, as all major Chinese outlets and plenty of commentators also suspect Dreame is behind it.

The images circulating on Chinese social media show an SUV with a tall, upright roofline, a deep chrome surround that mimics the Bentayga’s signature grille but with subtle tweaks, and side windows that match the proportions of a Bentley almost exactly.

The front end is slightly squarer and the roofline more boxy, and sure, there are no Bentley badges, but this is IP theft, plain and simple.

Before the Cullinan renders appeared, we’d already reported that Dreame had been benchmarking both Bentley and Rolls-Royce models in preparation for the launch of its car division. If the mystery SUV is truly Dreame’s, the timing makes sense.

The company is trying to jump into the luxury-EV realm by 2027 and plans to open a new production facility in Berlin, allegedly right next door to Tesla’s Gigafactory.

Electric with Range-Extender Options

The fake Cullinan is confirmed to have a 100 kWh battery, four electric motors, and an optional range-extender petrol engine. Rear passengers are treated to a pair of aircraft-style reclining chairs with up to 1.2 meters (47 inches) of legroom, something made possible by the long 3.2-meter (126 inches) wheelbase.

Some commenters on the posts where this mysterious SUV started circulating have suggested the pictures could be AI-generated. Considering how far the technology has come, now capable of producing everything from hyper-realistic cars to videos of SpongeBob being pulled over by police, it’s not hard to see why.

Related: Dreame’s Cullinan SUV Clone Might Be Rolls-Royce’s Worst Nightmare

However, after taking a closer look, we see no evidence of that and we’re inclined to believe these images are entirely real, even if we’re still waiting for confirmation of which company is responsible.

Is this a copycat step too far, or did the designers of this Bentley wannabe manage to create a better-looking Bentayga? Drop a comment below and let us know.

In politics, few things vanish faster than inconvenient promises. Policies that once seemed carved in stone tend to crumble the moment the weather changes. The US may have stepped back from its federal EV tax credits, but in the heart of Europe’s car industry, the story is moving in the opposite direction.

Two years after Germany scrapped its incentives for electric vehicles, a move that triggered a sharp drop in demand as we widely reported, the country is preparing to bring them back. The new purchase program will take effect in January 2026.

Renewed Push For Affordability

The new scheme will be introduced at a pivotal time for the European car industry as it struggles with US-imposed import tariffs and new competition from China.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz revealed earlier this week that €3 billion ($3.5 billion) will be allocated for zero-emission vehicle purchase incentives through 2029, targeting low- and middle-income households.

Read: Germany’s EV Sales Crash 28% In First Full Year Without Subsidies

It’s understood that the program will offer incentives worth up to €4,000 ($4,600) on the purchase of a new EV that’s priced under €45,000 ($52,600). That is a big change from the previous scheme that had a higher price limit of €65,000 ($76,000).

Importantly, plug-in hybrid vehicles will not be included in the program, although used EVs will, for the first time, be eligible, too according to German media, as reported by Autonews.

Who Qualifies

While some finer details about the program are still being ironed out, an income cap of around €45,000 ($52,600) is expected. While speaking about the new incentives, Social Democratic Party secretary-general Tim Kluessendorf said that “everyone must be able to afford the [electric] transition.”

“What is important to me in designing the subsidy program is that it must benefit the German and European automotive industry in particular,” he added. “The Ministry of the Environment will ensure that this is the case. The future is electric, and we want it to be written in Germany.”

The remark suggests the incentives could be limited to vehicles produced by European manufacturers, though no official confirmation has been made. We’ll have to wait and see if this case, but the local car industry could do with all the help it can get at the moment.

Germany’s previous EV subsidy scheme paid out roughly €10 billion ($11.7 billion) to buyers between 2016 and 2023 before being shut down due to budget constraints.