A webinar sponsored by Zonar saw Katrina Falk, director of transportation routing and training compliance at Madison Consolidated Schools in Indiana, share tools and tips that help her maximize student safety and school bus routing efficiency.

Falk, also a certified pupil transportation specialist through the National Association for Pupil Transportation and frequent speaker at events organized by School Transportation News, Transfinder and Zonar, said Thursday technology provides accountability and efficiency opportunities for managers dealing with ever-rising fuel costs, which have increased to over $5 per gallon for diesel in her area.

When it comes to evaluating planned versus actual routes, she said she uses Zonar maps and reports to carry out route reviews or high-level audits in mid-August and during spring break.

“We do a quick shakedown to make sure everything is going to work properly when school is in session again,” she commented.

She explained that she works with route sheets turned in by drivers, updated student housing or eligibility information, and special education or related accommodations. Her audit keeps safety as the bottom line by confirming safe and appropriate bus stop locations, verifying that students end up where they need to be, and ensuring drivers comply with state and local laws.

She shared the benefits of updated, accurate route sheets, including reduced operational costs, fuel savings, route consolidations or reduction, accurate information on parent apps and therefore happier parents, and improved driver adherence.

Quality data received means quality decisions made, not “garbage in, garbage out,” Falk quipped. She explained that decisions the transportation department makes rely heavily on information flowed in by parents and schools, such as enrollment information and authorized bus stop locations.

She noted that small data entry errors can create large operational and money-wasting problems, such as a bus repeatedly going miles out of the way on a country road to pick up a student who is not there because they moved. Accurate, timely updates about new enrollments, withdrawals, or schedule changes are essential, she said.

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Falk reviewed two scenarios of school bus drivers deciding to deviate from planned routes for seemingly innocuous reasons that created major safety concerns. In one case, a time-saving change canceled planned right-hand curbside stops which forced students to cross an unsafe curved road with a history of speeding and stop-arm violations.

The other scenario was a driver adding an unauthorized shortcut, which backed the bus down obstructed roads and an uncontrolled intersection. A bigger issue was the driver habitually running late on her morning run and attempting to make up time by making these on-the-spot decisions.

“This is an accident waiting to happen,” Falk pointed out.

A third situation involved incorrect geocoded locations keeping students from showing up on the routing software, preventing almost 1,000 students from being routed correctly. Suitably utilizing technology and manually reviewing it to catch glitches prevents issues from snowballing, Falk stated.

Bryant Maxey, product marketing manager for Zonar, reviewed triggers such as opened doors or stop-arm deployments that capture data points managers can later review, comparing where the bus really went to where it was supposed to go.

Alerts can also be captured for illegal passing incidents, but Falk added that proving stop-arm violations requires data showing bus performed the stop procedures correctly.

Falk advised transportation supervisors to regularly check their incoming data and request updated information or suggestions from drivers.

“Your local knowledge cannot be replaced with technology,” she declared.

Leave the office, take the wheel of a bus, or watch your routes in real-time, she encouraged.

“Make deliberate, decisive changes backed by data and your local knowledge,” Falk said. “All of these pieces have to be there for the puzzle to work.”

Concluded Maxey: “At the end of the day, we’re all trying to be the most efficient and optimized we can be.”

Watch the webinar on demand. 

The post “An Accident Waiting to Happen”: Transportation Director Gives Routing Advice appeared first on School Transportation News.

The family of a 12-year-old Georgia girl who died days after collapsing following a fight near her school bus stop is calling for a transparent investigation, as authorities review evidence and await autopsy results.

Jada West, a sixth grader at Mason Creek Middle School in Douglas County west of Atlanta, was hospitalized after a fight on March 5 in her Villa Rica neighborhood, according to family members. She died days later.

Cellphone video of the fight shows West briefly wrestle with another girl before they both fall to the ground. It appears West hit her head on the asphalt but gets up and walks away. Within minutes, police officers were dispatched after receiving a report of a juvenile in cardiac arrest in the street.

“When we actually arrived, paramedics were on the scene, and they were already loading her up and performing CPR,” Sgt. Spencer Crawford, a police spokesman, told local news reporters. “Paramedics told us there was an adult on the scene performing CPR when they arrived.”

Investigators are reviewing evidence, including the cellphone video of the fight. They will thenconsult with prosecutors, who will decide whether any charges will be filed.

Cellphone video of the fight, which has circulated widely on social media, shows two girls arguing at an intersection near West’s home as a group of students looks on. The footage shows both girls setting down their backpacks and exchanging punches before falling to the pavement. After a brief struggle, both stand up as an adult intervenes. West appears to walk away at the end of the clip.

It remains unclear what happened next. Authorities said West did not make it home before collapsing.

West’s mother, Rashunda McClendon, posted on social media asking for prayers when her daughter was hospitalized. A relative later announced West’s death in a separate post.

Douglas County District Attorney Dalia Racine told local reporters her office is aware of the investigation but declined further comment.

West was described by Douglas County School System in a statement to local reporters as “an upbeat, kind, and vibrant student.” The school district reiterated that the incident did not occur on school property or during school hours, and there was no indication the bus stop fight was related to prior on-campus activity.

Shaquille O’Neal Donates to West’s Family

Meanwhile, NBA star Shaquille O’Neal said he is covering funeral expenses for West after learning about her death.

“Jada’s story touched my heart the moment I saw it in the media,” O’Neal said in a statement to local news reporters. “As a father, my heart goes out to Jada’s family. No parent should ever have to bury their child, and if there is anything I can do to ease even a small part of that burden, then it is the right thing to do.”

O’Neal, who serves as director of community relations for the nearby Henry County Sheriff’s Office, said the community should support the family during the difficult time.

“Our community must surround this family with love, support, and compassion during such a painful moment,” he said.

Near the scene of the fight, a small memorial was erected in West’s honor. A sign read “RIP JADA WEST” alongside flowers and other tributes.

The investigation remains ongoing.

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The post Bus Stop Fight Claims Life of 12-year-old Georgia Girl appeared first on School Transportation News.

Mercedes is in the process of revamping their entry-level lineup and this has already seen the company introduce the redesigned CLA and GLB. The brand’s most affordable model in America, the GLA, is next in line and spy photographers recently snapped a prototype undergoing cold weather testing.

Dressed in swirly black and white camouflage, the crossover sports a fully enclosed grille that resides above a wide intake. We can also get a glimpse at unique headlights, which will undoubtedly be infused with stars on the production model.

More: Mercedes Baby G Spied With Big Brother Looks

Moving down the sides, we can see streamlined bodywork and flush-mounted door handles. They’re joined by an upward sweeping beltline, a sloping roof, and aerodynamically optimized five-spoke wheels as we’re looking at the fully electric EQ variant.

The rear end sports an evolutionary design, but the license plate recess has been moved from the liftgate to the bumper. We can also see squared off outer taillights with a three-pointed star graphic.

While the interior is heavily disguised, it carries over from the CLA and GLB. As a result, we can expect an optional MBUX Superscreen with a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, a 14-inch infotainment system, and a 14-inch front passenger display. They’ll be joined by an MBUX Virtual Assistant with a “living avatar” that takes the form of a Mercedes star.

SHProshots

Powertrain options will also carryover and this means we can expect a GLA 250+ with a rear-mounted motor developing 268 hp (200 kW / 272 PS) and 247 lb-ft (335 Nm) of torque. It should be joined by a GLA 350 4MATIC with a dual-motor all-wheel drive system producing a combined output of 349 hp (260 kW / 354 PS) and 380 lb-ft (515 Nm) of torque. Both versions should have a roughly 85 kWh battery pack and an 800-volt architecture that allows for a DC fast charging capability of up to 320 kW.

The instrument cluster shows the battery has 268 km (167 miles) of range remaining at 55%, but we shouldn’t read too much into that as it implies an overall range of around 487 km (303 miles). However, the CLA offers up to 793 km (493 miles) of range, while the GLB has up to 632 km (393 miles).

Later on, we can expect hybrid variants with a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine, a 1.3 kWh battery, and an electric motor that is integrated into an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. In the CLA, this allows for outputs of between 134 hp (100 kW / 136 PS) and 187 hp (140 kW / 190 PS), before accounting for the extra 30 hp (22 kW / 30 PS) contributed by the electric motor.

SHProshots

BMW may have taken a one-size-fits-all approach with the current i5 and 5-Series, but that strategy is already on borrowed time. Looking ahead, the next generation is expected to split the two paths entirely, following the template set by the newer i3 / 3-Series and iX3 / X3, where each powertrain gets its own dedicated platform.

The transition is already underway. BMW has begun rolling out its Neue Klasse era with the all-electric iX3 SUV, and the i3 sedan close behind. It has also officially confirmed that Neue Klasse styling and technology will be applied to as many as 40 new and updated BMW models by 2027.

More: BMW Leak Reveals Two Very Different Futures For 2028 X5 And 7-Series Facelift

Joachim Post, BMW’s board member for R&D, explained the company’s thinking in a conversation with Auto Express:

“When we as BMW develop a new technology, we’re making 2.5 million cars a year in a lot of derivatives. What is always important for us is to scale. We are a global player, and we must scale our technology into the whole fleet to get that economy of scale. That gives you a feeling that once we do things, we don’t do it for just one car,” he told the magazine.

Neue Klasse Platform Expansion

Beyond individual components such as electric motors, battery packs, infotainment systems, and ADAS, those comments extend to the EV-focused Neue Klasse architecture. Post suggested that the platform will eventually underpin larger models, including future iterations of the i5 and i7. That would clearly separate them from their combustion-powered 5-Series and 7-Series counterparts, which are expected to continue using the CLAR platform.

More: BMW’s Already Facelifting The Facelifted Neue Klasse 5-Series

The current 5-Series and i5 arrived in 2023 and are expected to receive a facelift in 2027. That timeline points to a full generational replacement toward the end of the decade. A similar pattern applies to the 7-Series and i7, which debuted in 2022 and are now approaching their own mid-cycle update with revised styling and technology.

EV Proportions Shift

By moving away from the constraints of platforms designed around inline-six engines and traditional transmissions, BMW designers gain significantly more flexibility. While a cohesive family identity will likely remain, dedicated EV models will inevitably feature different proportions and packaging compared to their ICE counterparts.

The first clear example will be the next 3-Series, expected to arrive as a heavily updated evolution of the current model. Spy shots already indicate a different dash-to-axle ratio compared to the i3 sedan, even though both share similar visual cues.

More: BMW’s New 3-Series Wagon Just Crashed The i3 Party

Similarly, shifting the next i5 and i7 onto dedicated EV platforms should bring shorter overhangs, longer wheelbases, and more cab-forward silhouettes. The focus here leans heavily toward interior space and aerodynamic efficiency.

BMW, however, appears keen to avoid the rounded, egg-like profiles seen on the Mercedes-Benz EQE and EQS, which struggled to win over buyers. Mercedes itself is now pivoting, with future EVs set to more closely resemble their combustion-engine equivalents.

The NHTSA has intensified its scrutiny of Tesla’s Full-Self Driving system, focusing on how it copes when visibility drops. That escalation pushes the probe closer to a potential recall, one that could affect more than 3.2 million vehicles across the United States.

The agency first opened a preliminary evaluation in October 2024 to assess FSD’s ability to detect and respond appropriately in reduced roadway visibility. That probe has now been upgraded to an engineering analysis, which will examine how the vision-only system behaves in adverse conditions and whether it can alert drivers with enough time to react.

Read: Tesla Owners Furious After FSD Transfer Rules Change Again

According to regulators, Tesla developed and implemented a degradation detection system after transitioning to its camera-based vision setup in mid-2021, abandoning radar and other sensors. The company began working on an update to this system in June 2024, following a report of a fatal crash involving one of its vehicles on November 28, 2023

Rain Is FSD’s Enemy

In its preliminary evaluation, the NHTSA began piecing together how Tesla’s Full Self-Driving system behaves in less-than-ideal conditions. The agency learned from Tesla that FSD’s ability to detect and respond to poor road conditions may have contributed to 3 of the 9 incidents identified by the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI).

In the crashes reviewed, the system failed to recognize common roadway conditions that affected camera visibility and did not issue alerts when camera performance degraded until just before impact.

A subsequent review of Tesla’s responses uncovered other crashes that occurred under similar circumstances. In these cases, the FSD system also lost track or “never detected a lead vehicle in its path.” The NHTSA also notes that Tesla says internal data and labeling limitations have prevented a uniform identification and analysis of crash events with the system engaged, meaning there is a possibility of under-reporting crashes.

The probe covers an estimated 3,203,754 Tesla vehicles, including the 2016-2026 Model S and X, 2017-2026 Model 3, 2020-2026 Model Y, and 2023-2026 Cybertruck models equipped with FSD.

Hyundai’s smallest EV is getting a taste of the finer things. The automaker is taking its most compact electric vehicle upmarket with the debut of the Lounge trim for the Casper Electric in South Korea, also known as the Inster in export markets. The new micro-SUV trim serves as a premium alternative to the rugged Cross model, sitting at the top of the range.

On the outside, the Lounge is distinguished by a new grille pattern, an exclusive Glow Mint paint option, a lighter Medium Metallic Paint finish for the plastic cladding, and a set of 17-inch futuristic-looking alloy wheels. Like the Cross, it now comes standard with full-LED headlights and taillights.

Review: The Hyundai Inster Ticks Many Boxes Except The One That Counts

The interior is where the Lounge truly sets itself apart from its siblings. The headline feature is genuine leather upholstery, which remains genuinely rare in this segment. Hyundai has also fitted knit-material headliner and sun visors, along with Kevlar cone speakers for improved sound quality.

Hyundai Casper Electric Lounge

The 10.25-inch infotainment display and matching digital instrument cluster are both standard, as is Level 2 ADAS. A sunroof and wireless charging pad are optional extras. Hyundai also offers a range of accessories including interior storage solutions, pet-friendly items, roof racks, a retractable awning, and an inflatable mattress.

Powertrain And Pricing

Mechanically, the Casper Electric Lounge uses the more potent 113 hp (84.5 kW / 115 PS) electric motor paired with the larger 49 kWh battery pack. Driving range is rated at 295 km (183 miles), which is 10 km (6 miles) more than the Cross but 20 km (12 miles) fewer than the Inspiration, a gap attributed to the different wheel size.

Hyundai Casper Electric

Predictably, the Casper Electric Lounge is the most expensive version of the urban EV on sale in Korea. It is priced at ₩36,410,000 ($24,500), or ₩1,260,000 ($850) more than the Cross. According to the Korean Car Blog, however, the effective price drops closer to ₩20 million (around $13,400) once EV subsidies in Seoul are factored in.

More: New Hyundai Inster Is A Tiny Electric Crossover For The Masses

Hyundai has yet to confirm whether the new flagship trim will reach export markets under the Inster name, following the precedent set by the Cross.

The automaker also continues to offer an gas-powered Casper in Korea, featuring a 180 mm (7.1 inches) shorter wheelbase than the Casper Electric. It is available with naturally aspirated and turbocharged versions of a 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine, though it misses out on the Lounge and Cross grades offered on its fully electric sibling

Hyundai Casper Electric

Jaguar’s radical pivot to electric vehicles, anchored by a four-door GT sedan, has proven deeply controversial. And once you learn about some of the planned future Jaguar models that had to be killed to make way for the Type 00, you may deride Jaguar’s EV shift even more.

For years, it was known that Jaguar had been developing an all-new XJ before abruptly changing course, cancelling the project mere months before it was ready. The car was going to be electric, but the platform was flexible enough to support a six-cylinder engine if the market demanded it.

Read: Secrets Of The Ill-Fated Jaguar XJ Revealed

In a recent chat on the Road to Success Podcast, Jaguar’s former design director Ian Callum revealed he had also designed a new XF sedan and an F-Pace SUV before departing the company in 2019. Both were scrapped to clear the path for the Type 00. The most painful revelation, perhaps, is that a successor to the F-Type was also in development.

What Could Have Been

Callum didn’t say how far work on a second-generation F-Type had progressed when he left. He considers the original one of the last great Jaguars, before the company’s strategy shifted beneath it. At a time when sleek, front-engined two-door sports cars are disappearing from the market, losing the F-Type to make room for a grand touring EV is a difficult pill to swallow.

Speaking about the company’s new EV, Callum described it as a “handsome car,” adding that “it’s bold, it’s brave, and it’s got a lot of good design attributes about it, but it’s not beautiful and Jaguars need to be beautiful.” He also said the Type 00 is “too retro.”

What Can We Expect From The Type 00?

Jaguar wants to establish itself as a legitimate rival to Bentley and Rolls-Royce with the Type 00, abandoning its pursuit of volume sales and chasing the likes of BMW, Audi, and Mercedes-Benz. The production model will stick true to the concept’s radical design, though it will add two extra doors and have a longer wheelbase.

Power comes from three motors, a 350 hp unit up front and two at the rear producing a combined 950hp, with Jaguar promising at least 1,000 hp total along with just over 1,000lb ft of torque. According to Top Gear, that translates to a 0-62 mph (100 km/h) sprint in around 3.3 seconds, a limited top speed of 155 mph (250 km/h), and a driving range of approximately 430 miles (692 km).

Smart may be best known for its pint-sized two-door hatchbacks, but its lineup has been steadily expanding to include SUVs and coupe-style crossovers. Now it is pushing further upmarket with something entirely different. The Geely and Mercedes-backed brand has unveiled its first fastback, pairing an aerodynamic silhouette with what it describes as, “shark-inspired” styling cues.

More: You’re Not Wrong, The New Mercedes GLB Looks Suspiciously Like A Smart

Following its earlier appearance in regulatory filings, Smart has now released a fresh batch of images of the #6 EHD. Mercedes-Benz was responsible for the exterior, and Smart says the whole thing takes its cues from marine predators.

At the front, the hood integrates functional air channels that Smart has branded “Bionic Shark-Gills.” Around the rear, a four-stage adjustable spoiler is said to echo the movement of a shark’s tail Or so the company claims, so take that with a pinch of seal salt.

Other details include tightly drawn body surfacing along the profile, aggressive LED headlights linked by a central grille element, and full-width LED taillights set within a sculpted rear panel.

At 4,906 mm (193.1 in) long, the #6 sits in executive sedan territory, being closer to a Mercedes E-Class or BMW 5-Series than anything Smart used to build. The 2,926 mm (115.2 in) wheelbase is the longest the brand has put into production, which should pay dividends for cabin space.

The interior has yet to be revealed, but spy shots suggest it will feature a tall center tunnel and a large infotainment display with the latest tech, similar to the Smart #5 SUV.

Electrified Powertrains

The Smart #6 sits on Geely’s PMA2+ architecture, a further development of the widely used SEA platform that also underpins models like the Zeekr 007 and its GT counterpart. It will debut as a plug-in hybrid, with fully electric versions set to follow, including a range-topping Brabus variant.

More: Smart’s About To Drop A #2 On The City Car Segment

The EHD, short for Extended Hybrid Drive, uses Geely’s NordThor 2.0 system. It pairs a turbocharged 1.5-liter gasoline engine with a front-mounted electric motor, delivering a combined 429 hp (320 kW / 435 PS). The headline figure is range, with a claimed 1,810 km (1,125 miles) on the CLTC cycle, including up to 285 km (177 miles) in electric-only driving.

The Smart #6 EHD is scheduled to launch in China in the coming months, ahead of a global rollout. Pricing will be announced at a later date.

Smart

Exclusivity is a powerful currency in the car world, and it’s not just reserved for exotics. Mahindra is now learning that the hard way. After two rapid-fire sellouts of its officially licensed BE 6 Batman Edition, the automaker is now dealing with pushback from early buyers and has rolled out a 30-day buyback scheme.

The BE 6 Batman Edition first appeared in August 2025, bringing a mix of exterior and interior details inspired by the Dark Knight. It was initially pitched as a 300-unit run, but demand quickly changed those plans. Mahindra expanded production to 999 units, and they were gone in a claimed 135 seconds.

More: Mahindra’s Confused Formula E SUV Looks More Dakar Than Formula

By March 2026, Mahindra went back for another round, reopening orders for a second batch of 999 units on the back of what it called “unprecedented demand”. Those didn’t hang around either, selling out in just seven minutes and confirming there’s strong appetite for anything with a hint of Bruce Wayne about it.

Disappointment Among The “Founding Owners”

What was pitched as a 1-of-300 collector’s piece quickly ballooned into a 1-of-1,998 run. So much for exclusivity. Unsurprisingly, owners weren’t thrilled, and social media filled up fast with complaints accusing Mahindra of watering down what was meant to feel special.

More: You Can Buy Four Of These Wrangler Clones For One Jeep And Still Have Cash Left

In response, Mahindra has taken the unusual step of offering a way out. First-batch buyers now get a 30-day window, from March 18 to April 17, to return their Batman SUVs for a full refund. Hand the keys back, and you’ll get ₹27.79 lakh ($29,900), the original ex-showroom price, rather than the slightly higher ₹28.49 lakh ($30,700) attached to the later batch.

Whether owners will actually hand the keys back is anyone’s guess. Some might take the guaranteed refund, others may hold on and hope values recover. Not long ago, low-mileage first-batch cars were advertised at up to ₹45 lakh ($48,500). Since the second wave landed, that’s slipped to roughly ₹29–31 lakh ($31,200–33,400).

The Electric Batmobile

So why all the noise in the first place? This special edition came together through a collaboration with Warner Bros Discovery Global Consumer Products. Underneath the themed styling, it’s based on the range-topping BE 6, packing a 282 hp (210 kW / 286 PS) electric motor and a 79 kWh battery.

More: You Can Pretend To Be Batman With This Bulletproof Lamborghini

Visually, the Batman Edition is distinguished by the Satin Black shade with gloss black graphics, an Alchemy Gold finish for the suspension and the brake calipers, 20-inch alloy wheels, and countless bat emblems around the bodywork.

Inside, it leans fully into the theme. Black suede and leather cover most surfaces, broken up by gold accents that make sure you don’t forget this is the special one. Then come the details. Custom puddle lights, bespoke welcome animations on the infotainment screen, unique sounds, even an illuminated bat logo set into the glass roof.

Despite the production increase, the “Founding 999” units still hold a slight edge because they are the only units with the numbered dashboard plaques.

As for Mahindra, it’s sticking to the script. The company says these kinds of editions are about “celebrating passion and individuality,” and hints that more of these themed projects are already in the pipeline for 2027.

Mahindra

The high-end EV market is facing some struggles, but despite this, Ferrari is plowing ahead with its first-ever electric car, the aptly named Luce. While the brand is perhaps the last you’d ever expect to enter the EV world, it’s confident the model will offer all the driving thrills expected of a Prancing Horse.

During a recent interview, Ferrari chief executive Benedetto Vigna insisted that the Luce will deliver each of the five key drivers of driving thrills, ensuring it is befitting of the brand’s badge and can succeed where some EVs have failed: to tug at the emotional heartstrings.

Read: Ferrari Breaks Its Silence On Luce Trademark Rights After Mazda Filing

Speaking with Autocar India, Vigna said one element “is longitudinal acceleration,” agreeing with the interviewer that perhaps this acceleration in EVs is too linear, and also “too much, because sometimes it’s disturbing our brain.” He went on to reveal that Ferrari has worked with NASA to “understand what is the level of acceleration that is disturbing people,” and that too much acceleration is not a good thing.

Sounds And Shifts

SHProshots

Another important contributor to driving thrills is “transversal acceleration, followed by the braking experience, the gearshift, and the sound. As recent images of the Luce’s interior revealed, it will include paddle shifters, and unlike some EVs, these won’t be used to adjust the level of brake regeneration but instead to adjust the level of torque engagement.

Vigna stopped short of confirming that the system will mimic traditional shifts, as in the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, but it certainly sounds like that is what Ferrari is aiming for. Then there’s the all-important sound.

As patents have revealed, Ferrari won’t aim to mimic the sound of an internal combustion engine with the Luce, and instead will amplify the sounds of the electric motor.

“The electric motor is not silent,” he said, “there is a sound there. The problem sometimes today [is that] most of us associate the sound of electric motor with something high frequency that is disturbing. But, there are also low frequency, there are also ways to pick up the sound in an authentic way, in the original way, to avoid the two looking like a DJ.”

Vigna went on to add that the Luce will have a driving range of over 311 miles (500 km), and while that may not sound all that impressive, he noted it has not been designed with track use in mind, indicating that the battery technology is not in a place to make such cars achievable.

A North Carolina man was arrested after authorities say he exposed himself at a neighborhood school bus stop, where children and families were gathered, reported Fox 8.

Police arrested Angel Esteban Marte, 24, March 5 and charged with felony indecent exposure after the incident in Harnett County.

Deputies said Marte exposed his private parts at the bus stop, and investigators said the act was committed “for the purpose of arousing and gratifying the defendant’s sexual desire.”

Marte also faces a misdemeanor indecent exposure charge in connection with the incident.

The exact location of the bus stop was not specified. The offense is listed as a violent crime on a condition of release order.

According to the article, Marte was being held without bond at the Harnett County Jail. He was scheduled to make his first court appearance.

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Related: Florida Man Arrested for “Exposing” Himself to Kids on School Bus

The post North Carolina Man Accused of Indecent Exposure at School Bus Stop appeared first on School Transportation News.

DENVER, Colo. —EverDriven, the nation’s leader in Alternative Student Transportation, today announced the launch of its Consolidated Routing Services, unifying routing across yellow buses, vans, and alternative transportation as a continuously optimizing solution. Designed as a complement to a district’s existing routing strategy, it acts as an accelerant on top of current approaches — pairing advanced route intelligence with deep human expertise to make every route deliver the best outcome

The launch marks a pivotal shift in how districts approach transportation planning. Many districts manage separate, disconnected processes for every mode. This is a fragmented reality that can drain budgets and slow down service. EverDriven’s Consolidated Routing Services replaces that with a unified solution that learns, adapts, and improves in real time — driving measurable cost savings, faster ride times, and district-wide operational performance.

As the pioneer in the industry, EverDriven has spent 20+ years tackling the hardest transportation challenges in K-12 education — from students with disabilities to those experiencing housing instability. Consolidated Routing Services brings that same depth of knowledge to every student a district serves. Working alongside leading AI-enabled technology that layers real-world expertise on top of a district’s current approach — analyzing ridership patterns, modeling route adjustments, and surfacing optimization opportunities before they become challenges, in ways that automation alone cannot deliver.

“Over the past 20 years, we’ve learned a lot and gained deep expertise supporting the students who need it most — and now we’re bringing that same rigor to every student a district serves,” said Mitch Bowling, CEO of EverDriven. “What sets this solution apart is the combination of industry-leading technology and the deep human expertise to act on it. Our Consolidated Routing Services give leaders a reliable way to modernize planning, operate with greater confidence year-round, and ensure every student arrives at school safely and on time.”

Following a thorough evaluation of a district’s routes, EverDriven’s team gets to work delivering measurable results: up to 15% reduction in route costs, shorter ride times for all students, stronger on-time performance, and faster turnaround when daily changes arise. For transportation directors, CFOs, and superintendents, one of the most immediate opportunities lies in identifying vacated and unassigned routes. These hidden costs often compound over time and can go unnoticed without the right level of visibility. Through EverDriven’s ability to optimize routes and improve fleet utilization across the entire operation, districts gain clear insight into these inefficiencies. This creates a straightforward and compelling case for action, especially for districts operating under increasing budget pressure.

“Fragmented routing is one of the most expensive invisible problems in K-12 transportation,” said Greg Jackson, General Manager of School Bus Services at EverDriven. “Most districts are managing separate processes for general education, students with disabilities, and McKinney-Vento students—creating daily inefficiencies that add up fast. By delivering visibility and unifying those workflows, we help teams cut costs, shorten ride times, and deliver more consistent service for the students who depend on it most.”

EverDriven’s Consolidated Routing Services support districts with:

Cost-neutral routing services.
Route-building prior to each semester.
Two weeks of dedicated on-site planning and testing timed with back to school
Ongoing route optimization as student needs change.
Technology-agnostic integration that works alongside your existing routing software.
Comprehensive end-of-year data analysis and performance report.
Districts ready to explore the impact of consolidated routing can learn more at everdriven.com.

About EverDriven:
EverDriven delivers modern student-centered transportation that’s safe, consistent, and built for those who need it most. EverDriven specializes in routing and transporting students across all ranges 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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REDWOOD CITY, Calif., -Zūm, a leader in student mobility, today announced unaudited 2025 financial highlights, reflecting sustained growth at scale as the company expands in the $50 billion student mobility market, the largest segment of the mass mobility industry, and one of the last segments still underserved by AI and cloud technology. While the industry has historically been defined by fragmented, analog transportation services, Zum is pioneering a mobility experience that is replacing traditional approaches to operating yellow buses with a modern, fully integrated mass mobility ecosystem.

2025 Financial Highlights:

Revenue of $333 million, up 35% year-over-year.
Four-year revenue CAGR of greater than 40%.
Over $2 billion in Total Contract Value (TCV).
Adjusted EBITDA1 breakeven and steadily improving contribution margin.

“Every weekday, 26 million American students ride the school bus — three times more passengers than U.S. airlines carry — making it the largest mass transportation system in the country and one of the last to undergo technological transformation,” said Ritu Narayan, Zum Founder and CEO. “For too long, families have faced morning anxiety, wondering if the bus will arrive, if it is safe, and when their kids will get home. We are redefining mobility by moving far beyond legacy models to create a connected, intelligent system for the communities we serve. In student transportation, that means replacing legacy infrastructure with a dynamic, technology-enabled platform — transforming what was once a standalone service into a responsive ecosystem that anticipates and adapts to the needs of districts and families.”

Durable Business Model Driving Scalable Growth
Across the United States, forward-thinking school districts have moved away from the status quo and adopted Zum as their transportation provider. In these districts, Zum has transformed their transportation systems into state-of-the-art operations characterized by enhanced visibility, improved safety standards, real-time data that provides full transparency, and measurable performance outcomes.

Today Zum serves more than 4,000 schools across 15 states, including major districts such as Branford (CT), Kansas City (MO), Los Angeles (CA), Oakland (CA), Omaha (NE), Roanoke City (VA), San Francisco (CA), and Seattle (WA). Zum’s business model is built on structural advantages to drive predictable, profitable growth:

Long-term contracted revenue: 5-10 year agreements with school districts, delivering predictable cash flow, with an established track record of improving profitability.

Exceptional retention: Strong customer loyalty, with growing revenue as existing customers expand their utilization of Zum services.

“Our strong unit economics and long-term contracted revenue demonstrate the scalability of our platform,” said Daniel Berenbaum, Zum’s Chief Financial Officer. “We achieved Adjusted EBITDA breakeven while growing revenue 35% year-over-year, validating our disciplined approach to expansion. Student mobility is one of the last major undigitized sectors, representing a $50 billion segment of the mass mobility industry. While legacy competitors manage physical assets, Zum is deploying a modern, scalable system driven by technology, operational excellence, and safety – using real-time data to connect people, vehicles, and the energy grid, delivering better outcomes for all.”

AI-Powered Technology Driving Reliability and Safety
Zum uses AI and advanced technologies to ensure drivers take the most efficient, logical routes, a significant departure from traditional routing methods that have been used for decades. The system is designed specifically for the unique requirements of student mobility, from complex routing algorithms that account for tiered bell schedules and custom needs, to safety protocols that meet and exceed both bus company and ride-share standards. Zum’s platform also includes mobile apps and web dashboards for students, parents, drivers, dispatchers, and school administrators, enabling enhanced visibility, greater trust, streamlined communication, and incident-tracking capabilities, all powered by real-time data in a single integrated platform.

Modernizing Infrastructure and Powering the Grid
Zum’s electrification strategy represents yet another step in modernization, turning an underutilized asset into an energy resource to power the grid. Zum’s groundbreaking vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology transforms school bus parking yards into virtual power plants, storing and distributing energy to support grid resilience. Zum made history in the 2024–25 school year by deploying the nation’s first fully electric school bus fleet in the Oakland Unified School District in California, and recently announced plans to launch a fully electric fleet with V2G capabilities for Branford Public Schools in Connecticut beginning in the 2026–27 school year.

Delivering Measurable Impact at Scale
Zum’s impact is measurable and significant:

Reliability: On average, 98% on-time performance.

Cost Savings: San Francisco Unified has cut annual transportation costs by up to 10% using Zum’s technology-driven platform to optimize routes, fleet utilization, and daily operations. That budget flexibility can enable districts to reinvest directly in classroom priorities such as instructional resources, staffing, and student support, strengthening both academic outcomes and long-term sustainability.

Transformational Customer Impact: With Zum, school districts use up to 25% fewer assets by utilizing a multi-size vehicle fleet, spend up to 20% less time through optimized routes, and report 30% higher asset utilization throughout each day.

Efficiency: Through intelligent routing, Oakland Unified has cut one‑hour or longer commutes from 70% to under 10%, and San Francisco Unified has reduced average bus stop time from 3 minutes to just 8 seconds.

Student Experience: Parents have rated Zum with a 4.9 out of 5-star rating in student experience across 1.5 million reviews.

Attendance: After partnering with Zum, Kansas City Public Schools saw an 89% increase in ridership driven by improved reliability and reduced transportation-related absences in secondary schools from 25% to 5.6% during the 2024–25 school year.

Growth: Safely completed 68.5 million student rides in 2025, up 120% over 2024.

About Zum:
Zum is revolutionizing mass mobility with a fully integrated platform that connects and coordinates people, vehicles, and operations in real time. In the $50 billion student mobility market – the largest segment of the mass mobility industry – Zum is designed to deliver a predictable, safe, and seamless experience for students and families. Today, more than 4,000 schools across 15 states rely on Zum’s advanced platform, with customers now deploying its groundbreaking vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology to modernize vehicles and strengthen grid resilience. Recognized globally for its innovative approach and operational execution, Zum has been named to Fast Company’s World’s Most Innovative Companies, CNBC Disruptor 50 and Changemakers, the World Economic Forum, and the Financial Times Fastest Growing Companies lists. Zum is backed by leading investors including Sequoia Capital, GIC, and SoftBank. Learn more at www.ridezum.com.

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LOS ANGELES, Calif.—HopSkipDrive, the leader in safe, fast, and simple supplemental student transportation, today released its seventh annual Safety Report. The data reveals that in 2025, 99.7% of rides were completed without a safety concern of any kind—a consistent benchmark maintained even as the company doubled its partner network to serve over 2,000 school districts, government agencies, and nonprofits nationwide.

To date, HopSkipDrive remains the first and only company in the student transportation industry to proactively publish comprehensive safety data annually, reporting on not just collisions or accidents but on all safety incidents, including interpersonal and behavioral concerns. The 2025 report reveals a 99.99% accident-free record and a 0.000% critical safety incident rate—benchmarks supported by a track record of over 130 million safe miles driven since the company’s founding.

This vast experience includes a deep commitment to specialized populations, having safely facilitated nearly 3 million rides for youth in foster care and 1.7 million rides for students with IEPs. These results, driven by more than 50 proactive safety products, features and initiatives—underscore a safety-first approach that extends to millions more rides for students in Career and Technical Education, General Education, after-school activities, and extracurriculars. This record is made possible by HopSkipDrive’s industry-leading technology, rigorous regulatory oversight, and direct relationships with CareDrivers, which together enable the sector’s most responsive turnaround times and a sophisticated, data-driven standard of care.

“Safety has never been a secondary checklist item for us. The need for safe transportation is a core reason HopSkipDrive exists,” said Joanna McFarland, CEO and Co-founder. “Since day one, we’ve led the industry by staying ahead of the curve, constantly innovating the specialized care we provide to the children and families who depend on us. In 2025, we demonstrated our ability to significantly scale our impact while maintaining a near-perfect safety record. This data reflects the tireless work of our team and CareDrivers, who lead with a simple, personal standard: ‘What would it take to put our own children in this car?’

This results-driven culture ensures that as we get bigger, we also get better, safer, and more inclusive. But we’re never done when it comes to safety. Every mile driven is an opportunity to improve and innovate and ensure every child arrives at school safe and ready to learn.”

Key product developments from 2025
To maintain this record while scaling, HopSkipDrive introduced several key product developments in 2025:

● Achieved SOC 2 Type II compliance, making HopSkipDrive the first and only supplemental student transportation platform to achieve this high-level security attestation for data and privacy.
● Nationwide specialty transportation expansion, which scales wheelchair-accessible vehicle (WAV) and Rider Assistant support to districts across the country.
● Specialized driver education, featuring a neurodiversity-focused curriculum developed with child development experts to support students with diverse sensory and behavioral needs.
● Qualitative video screening, a new addition to the 15-point CareDriver certification process designed to evaluate situational judgment and empathy.
● Enhanced “Must Be Met” protocols, which provide a vital safety net by requiring specific verification for safe student handoffs to authorized adults.
● Caregiver Great Start Program, a proactive outreach initiative designed to ensure 100% of eligible families are equipped with safety protocols and ride-tracking features before their first trip.
● Dedicated rider supportline, providing students with direct text or call access to the Safe Ride Support team for autonomy and peace of mind.
● Advanced CareDriver qualifications, a verified in-app system ensuring rides requiring specialized training or equipment are only matched with expert CareDrivers.

Key roadmaps and launches in 2026
As we move into 2026, HopSkipDrive continues to evolve its platform with marquee offerings focused on inclusive technology and enhanced oversight through advanced recording.
● Track My Ride is a new feature that allows riders to monitor their own journeys via secure, masked SMS links. By providing real-time visibility without requiring a smartphone app, we’ve ensured inclusive access for students using wearables, smartwatches, or school- or government-issued devices.
● Ride Recording: In-App enhances our safety offering by providing a secure, integrated audio and visual recording system within the CareDriver app to complement our existing hardware-powered dashcams. This approach allows for encrypted oversight that is automatically wiped from driver devices after the ride to ensure student privacy. It also enables network-wide across all HopSkipDrive markets, which will include 100% of rides this Fall.

Safety is more than just data points; it’s about understanding the unique needs of the children in HopSkipDrive rides. Our Safety Advisory Council provides us with an externally led expert framework that informs our end-to-end safety protocols. By integrating child development and mental health expertise, we ensure our operational standards are grounded in a human-centric understanding of student well-being, providing a level of care that technology alone cannot achieve.

The complete 2025 Safety Report demonstrates HopSkipDrive’s ongoing commitment to transparency and continuous improvement. In the coming weeks, the company will introduce additional 2026 initiatives, further raising the bar for safety standards across the industry.

About HopSkipDrive
HopSkipDrive is the leader in safe, fast, and simple supplemental student transportation. Modernizing the $30 billion school transportation industry through its care-centered transportation marketplace which supplements school buses by connecting kids to highly-vetted caregivers on wheels, such as grandparents, babysitters, and nurses in local communities.

HopSkipDrive also offers its industry-leading transportation intelligence platform, RouteWise AI, to address critical challenges, including budget cuts, bus driver shortages, and reaching climate goals. With this technology, HopSkipDrive has supported over 14,500 schools and over 2,000 school districts, government agencies, and nonprofit partners. Since its founding in 2014 by three working mothers, HopSkipDrive has surpassed more than 100 million safe miles driven. This record includes nearly 3 million foster and McKinney-Vento rides and 1.7 million Individualized Education Program (IEP) rides, alongside millions of additional trips for General Education, Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, and extracurricular activities.

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It’s been only two years since the Xiaomi SU7 hit the market, and it has quickly become one of the most popular electric sedans in China. An updated version has just been launched, and it promises to be even better while still remaining an absolute bargain.

Ordinarily, it takes car manufacturers four or five years to update a model, but Xiaomi is more like Apple than a traditional car brand, and it’s used to updating its products on a yearly basis, so it’s perhaps no surprise the SU7 has already been refreshed. Like before, it’ll continue to be sold in Standard, Pro, and Max configurations, and it took just 8 hours for local enthusiasts to place 15,000 orders.

Read: Xiaomi Finally Fixed A Feature Owners Said Was Fake, For Real This Time

The base SU7 Standard is equipped with a 73 kWh lithium-iron phosphate battery and a rear-mounted motor with 315 hp (235 kW). It has a claimed CLTC range of 447 miles (720 km), and starts at just 219,900 yuan or around $31,900. Sitting above it is the SU7 Pro, fitted with a larger 96.3 kWh LFP battery and the same 315 hp (235 kW) motor, boosting its range to 560 miles (902 km) and bumping up the price to 249,900 yuan, roughly $36,200.

The SU7 Max comes equipped with a 101.7 kWh ternary lithium battery, dual motors delivering 681 hp (508 kW), and a 519-mile (835 km) range. It starts at 303,900 yuan or $44,000. There’s no word on whether an update is also being readied for the hypercar-rivaling SU7 Ultra, but changes are likely in the works.

Visually, the new model looks largely the same as the outgoing SU7, though all versions now come with a roof-mounted LiDAR, a 4D millimeter-wave radar, and the Nvidia Thor-U computing system. A new radar has also been added up front, and the rear tires are slightly wider, perhaps to improve grip and reduce the risk of crashes like this.

An Important Door Solution

Xiaomi has also added a new door unlocking mechanism with a triple-redundancy system, no doubt to ensure drivers don’t get stuck inside should they be involved in a serious accident. The mechanical release on the front passenger doors is also now finished in bright red, making it easier to spot in an emergency.

The rest of the interior is familiar, although the infotainment screen is slightly bigger at 16.1 inches. The dual wireless phone chargers have been retained, but Xiaomi has repositioned the cupholders from a vertical configuration to a horizontal one. It’s also removed the vertical row of buttons that had been fitted to the console, instead shifting them between the charging pads and the cupholders.

The Lanzador crossover, the fourth Lamborghini model, and the one that was supposed to be its first EV, will now be a hybrid arriving before the end of the decade. That much we knew. But the brand’s CEO made clear this week that he hasn’t completely shut the door on a fully electric car. He’s just going to make sure he gives us plenty of V8s and V12s first.

“The recent announcement of a fourth hybrid model reinforces a long-term industrial vision focused on sustainable value creation, without compromising the future development of a fully electric model,” the company said this week as it announced its latest financial figures.

Related: Lamborghini Scraps EV Supercar After Admitting Interest Was ‘Close To Zero’

So it sounds like an EV is still on the cards, but don’t bank on seeing it any time soon.

The Lamborghini Lanzador EV Concept.

“Resistance to EVs has increased significantly worldwide in our segment”, Lambo’s boss Stephen Winkelmann told Reuters. “Many customers have tried EVs, but let’s say their experience didn’t quite live up to their expectations”.

The brand is still putting time and money into EV tech in readiness for the luxury and supercar market reaching a point where it’s ready to buy electric cars in large numbers. But Winkelmann, who recently described EVs as “an expensive hobby,” is in no rush.

“I can’t see the trend today, and I don’t see it for tomorrow either,” he added.

Revuelto Variants Incoming

What’s happening right now is much more exciting anyway, if you like noise and mechanical drama. Lamborghini has already confirmed new, unnamed debuts for 2026 that will appear at events like Goodwood and Monterey Car Week, and everything points to a growing family of Revuelto- and Urus-based models leading the charge.

A Revuelto Roadster definitely feels like a solid bet at this point. The V12 hybrid flagship has been around long enough that a roofless version is overdue, and it’s hard to imagine Lamborghini resisting that opportunity. But don’t expect it to stop there.

A hotter, more driver-focused Revuelto variant is almost inevitable, though perhaps not this year, and you can bet a Roadster version of that won’t be far behind. Lamborghini knows exactly what its core audience wants, and it isn’t silence.

Performante Goes PHEV

Alongside the V12 fireworks, the V8-powered Urus and Temerario aren’t being left alone either. A more aggressive Performante-flavored plug-in hybrid version of the US is expected to arrive soon, building on the potent Urus SE with even more power and sharper dynamics. We’ve already seen the new Performante PHEV testing, so a launch can’t be far off. And roofless and angrier Temerario variants are surely in the pipes.

Making Bank

And here’s why Lamborghini can afford to double down on this formula. Business is good. The company delivered 10,747 cars in 2025, its best year ever and the third straight year above 10,000 units. And revenue climbed to €3.20 billion ($3.67 bn), up 3.3 percent on the previous year.

Operating income came in at €768 million ($881 m) with a 24 percent margin, only slightly down despite external pressures like exchange rates, tariffs and the costs of changing up its Direzione Cor Tauri (towards electrification) strategy to switch the Lanzador from an EV to a hybrid.

So yes, an electric Lamborghini is coming. Just don’t expect it to steal the spotlight from the V12 anytime soon.

Lamborghini

Geely has begun taking the necessary steps to launch its vehicles in Canada and could start sales as early as this year. The move places it in direct competition with BYD, as both aim to become among the first Chinese EV-focused brands to enter the Canadian market following a recent trade deal between the two countries.

They are both locked in a race against Tesla, which appears positioned to secure, if not all, then most of the first batch of 24,500 Chinese-made EV permits available at a reduced tariff rate.

Geely Group chief executive Andy An says the company expects to secure the required certifications from Canadian officials soon, clearing the way for local sales. The automaker has been steadily climbing the ranks among the world’s largest car manufacturers and is now setting its sights on expansion across several key markets.

Read: Canada Could Give China’s Biggest Carmaker A Backdoor Into The US Market

“We’re not only considering the Canadian market, but also Brazil, South America, Eastern Europe, and Southeast Asia,” An told Bloomberg. “Geely’s globalization is mostly through exports right now, but we will look to localize production.”

Geely ranks just behind BYD as China’s second-largest car manufacturer, and it already has a foothold in both Canada and the United States through Polestar and Volvo. Even so, steep 100 percent tariffs have long made exporting additional China-built models to Canada a tough business case.

Things are changing. Earlier this year, Canada and China agreed to a pivotal new trade deal, announcing that up to 49,000 Chinese-built EVs will be eligible for importation into the country at a reduced tariff rate of just 6.1 percent. That ceiling is expected to climb over time, reaching roughly 70,000 vehicles annually.

With those barriers easing, Geely, along with rivals like BYD and Chery, is lining up a Canadian market entry. The simplest route is to ship existing EVs from China, but local production, either through partnerships or independent operations, is very much on the table. Chery, for its part, is already recruiting in Canada as it prepares for its own arrival.

BMW may have just revealed the new i3 sedan, but behinds the scenes, it’s already working on another EV. A redesigned iX1 is on the way, and fresh spy shots make one thing clear, it is moving in a very different visual direction.

The brand’s smallest electric SUV now appears to be taking heavy inspiration from the iX3, effectively shrinking down that model’s look while adopting the Neue Klasse design language that is gradually rolling out across the brand’s lineup.

Read: BMW’s New Compact SUV Spills Its Innermost Secrets

While the company has gone to the trouble of wrapping the prototype in its typical black-and-white camouflage, there’s no hiding some of the biggest design changes. Most notably, we can see that the large kidney grilles of the outgoing EV have been ditched in favor of small, vertical units, similar to the iX3, which are also being added to the new X5.

Trick Tech And Quick Charging

Baldauf

The new grille will be joined by new headlights and a redesigned bumper. The side profile also looks noticeably cleaner than the outgoing iX1, and includes flush door handles. The rear is hidden from view, but we can see parts of the new LED taillights.

Based on early reviews, it looks like the second-generation iX3 is BMW’s first competitive offering against the tidal wave of Chinese electric SUVs. It’s equipped with the company’s sixth-generation battery pack and electric motors, providing it with class-leading range and performance.

Baldauf

The new iX1 will use similarly innovative tech for a, hopefully, dramatic improvement over the existing model. We don’t know yet if it will have the same 108.7 kWh battery as the iX3, given its smaller size, but if it shares its 800-volt electrical architecture, it will enable charging speeds of up to 400 kW.

These images don’t show the cabin of the new iX1, but earlier ones from December did, revealing the same basic interior setup as the iX3, including BMW’s new Panoramic iDrive system and tilted central infotainment display. In all likelihood, the iX3’s odd four-spoke steering wheel will also come standard, like in the all-new i3 sedan.

Baldauf

Mercedes-AMG might be talking a big EV game, but behind closed doors, it’s the return of a fire-breathing V8 that’s really getting hearts racing.

One of the biggest, rarest stars of the coming model blitz is the new CLE 63, and AMG isn’t playing it safe. Just 30 examples will reportedly be built worldwide, each believed to be equipped with a seriously spicy version of Benz’s new flat-plane crank V8. The intel claims an output of 646 hp (655 PS), though since the Germans love their nice round kW figures, we suspect it could be 637 SAE hp, which would be 475 kW or 646 PS.

Related: AMG’s New Super Sedan Reveals Components Not Seen On Other Testers

Whatever the true number, enthusiasts will be thrilled to see it debut after the whole four-cylinder C63 experiment fell flat on its face. And this AMG-ized version of the V8, already doing business in the latest S-Class, won’t be restricted to just 30 CLE hot rods. It’s expected to spread across the lineup, potentially finding its way into future models, like the next C 63 sedan. Hopefully it’ll find its way into the new two-door GT Black Series that the same report also says is coming.

What Are AMG’s New EVs?

Of course, AMG isn’t ditching electrification. Far from it. Dealers were shown a trio of upcoming electric GT models, according to Auto News, including the sleek four-door GT coupe and two crossovers riding on a dedicated AMG platform. One has a stance similar to a Cayenne, while the other sits lower with a sportier, sloping roofline.

They sound quick, with strong range figures in the region of 400 miles (644 km) of range for the coupe and at least 300 (483 km) for the utilities, but not everyone’s convinced. Some dealers are already worried that three closely related electric AMGs could crowd showrooms and dilute the brand’s edge.

G-Class Blows Its Top

But all dealers need to do to reassure customers AMG is still bad-ass is show them the G-Class Cabriolet, which returns after a three-decade absence, and this time it’s finally heading to the US. The G 63 Cabriolet skips EV power, as it goes for the current G 63’s twin-turbo V8, and swaps in a fabric roof for maximum Insta flex.

G Cabrio production is expected to kick off in 2027, with American buyers firmly in focus. And that’s really the bigger story here. This entire product blitz is aimed squarely at North America, because with China flatlining, the US and Canada are the only hopes for growth for both Mercedes and AMG.

Due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, oil prices have surged to a four-year high and are fast approaching $100 per barrel. Regardless of where you live, this means that if you’re driving an ICE-powered car, you’ll be paying more to fill it up. It’s perhaps the perfect time to own an EV instead.

A recent study indicates that last year’s increased adoption rate of EVs reduced oil consumption by 2.3 million barrels per day, and these fuel savings will continue to grow as more EVs are sold. By 2030, EVs could help to reduce global oil consumption by 5.25 million barrels per day.

Read: The $8 Gallon Is Here, If You’re Dumb Enough To Pay For It

As noted by BloombergNEF, a key contributor to the reduced oil demand is two- and three-wheeled EVs, which have surged in popularity, particularly across Asia. A separate, more conservative study that factors in how often plug-in hybrid vehicles run on fossil fuels pegged last year’s daily oil savings at 1.7 million barrels.

At this rate, and with average prices of $80 per barrel, the analysis says that China would save more than $28 billion a year in oil imports thanks to its massive EV industry. Similarly, Europe would save $8 billion, and India could save $600 million per year.

Is This The Break EVs Need?

The war in Iran has made regular fill-ups for ICE drivers far more expensive. Just this week, Bloomberg expects US drivers to pay an additional $1.65 billion at the pump. With gas prices showing no signs of stopping, it should come as no surprise that interest in EVs has jumped this month.

CarEdge reports that search traffic for electric vehicles jumped 20 percent in the week following the attack on Iran. Search traffic also nearly doubled for many of the market’s most popular EVs, including the Chevrolet Equinox EV and Tesla Model Y.

Of course, surging oil prices will likely also lead to increased electricity costs, meaning charging an EV could become more expensive. However, electricity rates won’t rise by as much, as only roughly a quarter of a typical US power bill is directly tied to fuel costs.