Training school bus drivers to respond to inclement weather emergencies is a crucial part of student transportation safety training, but sometimes even the best training can’t fully prepare for the harsh reality of a real-life emergency situation.
Transportation Supervisor Kelly Bennett at Three Rivers Community Schools in Michigan confirmed for School Transportation News that this is how her team of bus drivers felt when a tornado suddenly appeared the afternoon March 6.
“On the day of the tornado, there was no indication that severe weather was approaching. No watches had been issued, and it seemed like a normal, beautiful day,” said Bennett.
Bennett shared that in-house training has led to Three Rivers school bus drivers practicing a variety of responses to emergency situations including inclement weather during Beginning Bus Driver School.
A local news outlet reported that the tornado was severe enough to down trees and rip roofs off buildings. Superintendent Nikki Nash shared a letter on social media March 8 saying that the “rapid and severe” weather emergency struck at the “most challenging time possible: During afternoon dismissal.” With many school buses already on the road transporting students home, it was crucial to act quickly.
Bennett explained that when the tornado warning sirens sounded, most bus drivers did not hear them because they were on routes, but the transportation office staff were alerted on their phones and through the radio. Dispatch then contacted the drivers immediately and directed the buses to re-route to safe locations at the nearest school building.
According to the local news report, within 10 minutes all students were accounted for.
Both Bennett and Nash commended the district’s school bus drivers for their quick response to the inclement weather emergency (Photo courtesy of Kelly Bennett)
Nash thanked the drivers and staff for their heroic actions and tornado response. “While we recognize that these emergency protocols caused significant delays and inconveniences for many of you, the safety of our students and staff is our absolute top priority,” she said. “I want to thank our students for their bravery, our staff for their quickly thinking and you- our families- for your patience and cooperation as we worked to ensure every child was out of harm’s way.”
Unfortunately, the district’s new transportation building that houses the district’s 20 buses “took a direct hit,” as the tornado passed through. Nash shared in her statement that they “lost the garage roof with several damaged vehicles, including buses in the parking lot.”
Bennett said that the damage was confined to the garage and did not impact the office, so transportation staff that were onsite during the tornado were unharmed.
“Due to the extent of the damage, we are unable to operate from that facility,” said Bennett. “In the meantime, we have returned to our old building, where the mechanic is handling repairs, and the office staff is now working out of the middle school. Although the transition has been challenging, we are continuing to adapt and make it work. Once the garage is secured, we will be able to return to operating out of the office.”
Tornado Response Hinges on Adequate Training
Bennett shared that her advice to other transportation directors “is that there is never such a thing as too much training, especially when it comes to safety.”
She continued that it’s imperative to make this safety training a priority, regularly review procedures during department meetings and investing in additional training opportunities beyond in-house resources.
“Our drivers are trained to prioritize safety above all else when transporting students. In emergency situations, I expect them to remain calm and maintain control, as their response will influence how everyone on the bus reacts,” said Bennett, adding that she emphasizes another facet of school bus safety, “clear and concise communication over the radio.”
She advised “keeping messages brief and direct so others can quickly understand and respond,” which aides safety efforts for both the 16 drivers in the district and the 1,194 students they transport each day.
The local media report also shared that the community banded together for recovery and rebuilding efforts, and the bus drivers drove their normal routes on Monday following the tornado response to ensure that routes were safe for students to return to school.
“Our thoughts and prayers of support go out to everyone who was personally impacted by this event,” stated Nash. “We know that the cleanup process will take days and even weeks, but our strength remains unshaken.”
CONCORD, N.C. – The Green Bus Summit at STN EXPO East featured school bus manufacturers discussing products, technology, innovations and support for school districts looking to run cleaner, safer and more efficient school bus operations.
Blue Bird: EV Myth vs. Reality: What’s Actually Driving Adoption?
“We’ve taken the lead on the EV side,” declared Brad Beauchamp, EV product segment leader for Blue Bird, reviewing how the company entered the field eight years ago.
Noelle White, channel partner marketing specialist for Blue Bird, led attendees through a gamified quiz on common electric school bus myths.
Attendees correctly identified answers to questions such as what regenerative braking does (charges the battery while slowing), time required for infrastructure upgrades (six to 18 months), and how much of a total EV project cost is tied to infrastructure (25 to 40 percent).
Although cold weather reduces electric school bus range by 10 to 30 percent, Beauchamp noted that technology advances and operational techniques allow for improvements in this area.
Level 1 chargers are commonly used by most districts today, but Beauchamp recommended Level 2 chargers, which he said are best for overnight charging.
Infrastructure readiness most commonly delays electric school bus projects since the work “doesn’t stop on the first wave of buses,” Beauchamp cautioned.
Operational planning significantly shifts during the move from diesel to electric due to routes and weather, to name a few factors, Beauchamp reminded attendees.
“As you start to use [electric school buses], there is a learning curve,” he said. “On the great side for EV, a lot of things can be corrected without even leaving your yard.”
Viewing electric bus deployment as equivalent to a straightforward vehicle purchase is a common pitfall, explained Beauchamp. Instead, he said districts must consider infrastructure, utilities, load planning and route modeling early in the process. He added that data gathered from onboard telematics helps transportation directors in this crucial planning phase.
“It’s going to take a team,” he said, especially as not all aspects of electric school bus implementation happen sequentially.
In fact, the bus purchase from the OEM is “the easy part,” he quipped.
“Eighty percent of routes in the U.S. can be covered with an EV,” Beauchamp continued.
He advised putting an electric school bus on shorter routes until success is achieved, and then operations can branch out.
“Figure out what your long-term strategy will be,” he said.
When districts purchase an electric school bus with federal funds, they are required to decommission and scrap an old diesel bus rather than keep it as a spare, Beauchamp cautioned. He advised planning for scalability, not simply pilot projects.
Lastly, he reviewed EPA Clean School Bus program updates, noting that state and local funding opportunities also help keep electric school bus projects afloat. He advised performing preventative maintenance on both the bus and charger.
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Brad Beauchamp, EV product segment leader for Blue Bird, speaks at STN EXPO East 2026.
IC Bus: Leveraging Technology Solutions for Efficient Fleet Management
Matt Milewski, market segmentation director for IC Bus, reviewed how First Student announced last September that it was outfitting its fleet of 46,000 school buses with Samsara technology.
Jason Kierna, vice president of information technology for First Student, spoke to the company’s customer-focused motivation rather than just adding technology for its own sake.
“We’ve got thousands of customers and all of them want to use technology in a different way and that’s why it’s more about the process for us than it is about the technology,” he said.
He explained how the new AI-powered HALO offering combines vehicle inspections, driver coaching, AI cameras, predictive analytics, and more to improve safety for students and transparency for parents.
“Parents today are expecting more objective evidence when incidents occur,” agreed Scott Jobe, head of public sector strategists for Samsara.
He noted that AI is “maybe not the best when you deal with human interaction or conversation, but when it comes to objectivity, we think of AI as like a force multiplier.”
Kierna elaborated that hazard alerts or safety behavior remediation that HALO provides, can help school bus drivers proactively self-correct so a reactive supervisor conversation is unneeded. He added that some First Student drivers now refuse to drive a bus without the technology.
Kierna related an incident in which a bus was struck at over 60 mph and said the driver would have been injured if she had not been wearing her seatbelt, which she had just put on properly due to the AI powered camera’s alert. Jobe added that another district saw a reduction in risky behaviors by drivers, illegal passing incidents, bus crashes and maintenance costs due to the AI technology.
“What does safety mean to your organization?” Kierna rhetorically asked the audience.
Milewski emphasized IC Bus’ support for what Jobe termed a “frictionless experience” in technology integration for school district and bus contractor clients. Kierna reiterated the commitment of all three companies to overall safety for students.
Kierna underscored that empowering drivers and lobbying for safety initiatives are two of the many aspects that are directly related to the effective gathering and leveraging of data.
“Integrated technology is the future,” Jobe agreed. He shared a pothole detection feature in development, in which information gathered via onboard cameras, bus location and G-forces the bus undergoes can be sent directly to cities for repair escalation.
“We have so much data that we can turn into real actionable insights,” he said.
In answer to an attendee question on staff who may struggle with technology, Kierna said the AI assistant helps put things in plain language for users.
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Matt Milewski, market segmentation director for IC Bus.
Jason Kierna, vice president of information technology for First Student.
Thomas Built Bus: Let’s Talk Fuels – What Legislative Uncertainty Means for School Transportation
Mark Childers, direct sales and technology sales manager for Thomas Built Buses, reviewed current challenges and uncertainty surrounding fuel choice. “You’ve got to make some decisions,” he said.
“Where we stand today is that in 2027 all of the manufacturers are subject to EPA’s low NOx rule, so that is the new multi-pollutant criteria rule that’s going to deal with NOx and particulate matter that is coming in 2027,” explained Alissa Rector, policy advisor for Thomas Built Buses parent company Daimler Trucks North America. “Even though EPA’s greenhouse gas regulations have been rolled back in 2027, we are still subject to the existing greenhouse gas phase 2 standard at [the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration] NHTSA so there’s not a lot of change that you’re going to see on the greenhouse gas side compared to where we are today.”
Jim Ellis, director of pupil transportation for Henrico County Public Schools in Virginia, has 600 school buses and is receiving 25 electric buses in July. When managing his bus fleet, he said he must balance getting the best bang for his buck with environmental concerns for cleaner air.
“I think that the key lesson is to just know change is going to continue to happen and just continue to take one step at a time,” declared Brittany Barrett, deputy director of operations and implementation for the World Resources Institute. She advised staying on top of fleet data, so it is easier to pivot and make decisions.
Rector discussed the differences between local pollutants like NOx, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and particulate matter, as opposed to greenhouse gases like carbon and CO2 which enter the atmosphere.
Whitney Kopanko, vice president of school bus sales and marketing for Sonny Merryman, noted that the Thomas Built Buses Virginia dealer has put 300 electric school buses on the road. She spoke to dovetailing student transporter priorities of getting students to and from schools with community and regulatory pressure for cleaner air.
She and Ellis agreed that it’s crucial to provide numbers and data to stakeholders during decision-making processes.
WRI provides helpful tools and resources, Barrett informed attendees. Kopanko added that AFLEET suite from the U.S. Department of Energy can be used to compare fuel types. Fuel choice is a hyper localized decision based on what each district needs, she stated.
Though most school buses currently run clean diesel and will continue to, Rector prognosticated that the future will be mixed fuels with interesting developments in hydrogen. “Any future roadmap is going to have a lot of different options on it,” she declared.
Diesel fuel doubling in price due to the war in Iran is currently juxtaposed with conversations on propane or electric implementation, said Ellis.
While changing fuels may look tempting, Kopanko advised considering availability of alternative or drop-in fuel, infrastructure needs, driver and mechanic training, and the extra accountability involved in abiding by rules for government subsidies.
Barrett said electric buses have the range to meet 90 percent of the routing requirements for districts she works with, but infrastructure is the biggest question mark. “It’s not insurmountable but it requires a plan,” she said.
She praised Sonny Merryman’s electrification project with Dominion Energy in Virginia.
Panelists advised working closely with dealers, gathering all available fleet operation data, considering urban versus rural needs to determine what type of bus goes where, taking part in vigorous training and education, and keeping abreast of the rapidly changing regulatory landscape.
They also answered questions from attendees on electric school bus range, charging time, battery degradation and V2G.
(Left to right) Alissa Rector, policy advisor for Daimler Trucks North America, and Brittany Barrett, deputy director of operations and implementation for the World Resources Institute, speak at STN EXPO East 2026.
The 2026 STN EXPO East conference in Charlotte-Concord, North Carolina featured six days of the best in student transportation training, exciting networking experiences and insightful educational sessions. Check out the videos that captured the real-time energy and events of the conference.
Tony and Taylor review the most compelling takeaways from STN EXPO East in Charlotte, Nroth Carolina this past week. From rock star leadership and workplace culture advice, to a bus mirror training that went viral, to the latest in cutting edge tech shown on the Trade Show floor, attendees and vendors connected in meaningful ways.
Last year, bus window and glass provider Lippert acquired seating supplier Freedman Seating and HVAC manufacturer Trans/Air. Dan Cohen, vice president of sales for Lippert’s transportation products group, and Austin Lehnert, regional sales manager for Trans/Air by Lippert, join us to share new safety technology innovations.
Volkswagen is considering a next-generation Touareg.
If approved, the redesigned SUV would be fully electric.
Porsche Cayenne Electric could offer hints at what to expect.
Volkswagen recently stopped accepting orders for the Touareg as the company prepares to sunset the model. However, the automaker is reportedly considering an electric successor that would enable them to hold onto well-heeled customers.
In an interview with Autocar, Volkswagen’s sales and marketing boss said ,”We are the brand for the people,” but the Touareg has “its place and this is why we are looking into opportunities for a next-generation. ”
Martin Sander went on to acknowledge low sales, but noted there’s a certain type of customer that wants “great design and space, and a very high level of quality and sophistication but, for whatever reason, do not want to be associated with a premium brand.”
In essence, it’s for people that want the luxury and style of an Audi, but with a Volkswagen badge. Sander went on to describe Touareg customers as “very down-to-earth people who are affluent,” but “low-key” and don’t want to show off. He went on to note many are business owners and it might send the wrong signal if they show up to a customer’s home in a vehicle like a Porsche Macan.
Little is known about the next-generation Touareg but, if approved, Sander said it would be fully electric and a large SUV. This suggests the model could be based on either the PPE or SSP platform. The former underpins the electric version of the Porsche Cayenne and that model has typically been closely related to the Touareg.
If history repeats itself, the ID. Touareg could follow in the footsteps of the entry-level Cayenne Electric and have a roughly 113 kWh battery pack, a 390 kW DC fast charging capability, and a dual-motor all-wheel drive system producing a combined output of around 435 hp (324 kW / 441 PS). Of course, the Volkswagen could be less advanced to help keep prices down.
Lexus must be feeling artistic as the company has introduced two separate one-off vehicles in the past week. One embraces style, while the other is focused on music.
Without further ado, the automaker teamed up with Alex Alpert to unveil a unique IS 350 at EXPO Chicago. It embraces the artist’s “signature line-art style” and features black lines that largely accent the shapes of Lexus’ entry-level sedan, giving it the look of something sketched before it was built.
The F Sport variant has black wheels, matching mirror caps, and dark window trim. It should also have a familiar 3.5-liter V6 developing 311 hp (232 kW / 315 PS) and 280 lb-ft (379 Nm) of torque. This enables the sedan to accelerate from 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) in 5.9 seconds before hitting a top speed of 143 mph (230 km/h).
Besides the art car, Alpert will paint custom IS 350 hoods at NYCxDesign and Art Basel. They’ll feature a “series of symbolic illustrations that connect to Lexus brand values and Japanese heritage, including motifs representing Lexus’ elite and precise craftsmanship, hospitality, engineering precision, performance, and smooth driving.”
RZ Blue In Green
The second model is an RZ that celebrates what would have been the 100th birthday of musician Miles Davis. It was created in collaboration with Laufey and was inspired by her “reimagined interpretation of Davis’ iconic composition Blue In Green.”
As part of the makeover, the electric crossover features a unique paint job that “shifts from deep blue to green as light moves across its surface.” The model also sports a custom illuminated “L” badge as well as brass-colored brake calipers that are a nod to Davis’ trumpet.
The brass theme continues inside, where it’s joined by red and black upholstery. Other highlights include written lyrics in the cargo area as well as a unique startup sequence that plays the first notes of Davis’ Blue In Green.
Geely claims its latest batteries charge faster than BYD’s mk2 Blades.
Energee Golden Brick charges from 10-70 % in just 4 minutes 22 secs.
BMW warns extreme charging speeds could bring durability trade-offs.
Forget zero to 60 mph (97 kmh) times, the EV world has a new kind of electric performance battleground and China’s Geely just claimed top honors. It says its new batteries can charge even faster than the BYD batteries that sent us into a spin last month with their crazy top-up times.
Geely’s Lynk and Co brand says its latest 95 kWh battery – the hopefully not prophetically named 900V Energee Golden Brick – can charge from 10 to 70 percent in just 4 minutes 22 seconds. That compares with BYD’s megawatt flash charging results of 5 minutes for the same race, an achievement that itself is way ahead of anything European or American automakers can deliver.
Stretch the experiment from 10-80 percent and the Geely EV does the job in 5 minutes 32 seconds, and even going from 10-97 percent, which takes account of batteries charging more slowly as they get close to full, the clock only registers 8 minutes 42 seconds. BYD’s second-generation blade battery needs 9 minutes to get to 97 percent when hooked up to one of the company’s new megawatt flash chargers.
Destroys Western EVs
The secret sauce is a high voltage setup paired with seriously beefy charging hardware. We’re talking peak power of around 1,100 kW with strong input of more than 500 kW at 75 percent charged, and 350 kW at 97 percent. That 350 kW figure is higher than the peak charge rate achieved by all but the fastest-charging Western EVs.
There is a catch though, or more likely several. These charge speeds rely on next level charging stations that aren’t exactly everywhere yet. Geely’s network is growing, but it’s way behind BYD in terms of super-fast rollout, being about one quarter the size, Car News China reports. So while Geely may have bragging rights today, the real winner could still be whoever builds the infrastructure fastest.
BMW Not Convinced
Not everyone’s convinced this race is worth winning anyway. BMW has been openly skeptical about the obsession with ever faster charging.
“You always have to be careful with those kinds of announcements,” BMW’s battery production boss, Markus Fallböhmer told Carsales last month. “It is possible to optimize one single performance indicator, but you have to make compromises on other sides.”
That’s BMW’s polite way of saying there’s no free lunch. Push charging speeds high enough and something else may give, whether that’s longevity, cost, or overall performance.
Lawmakers oppose Chinese automakers building factories in the US.
Trump has expressed support for foreign firms investing locally.
China accuses the US of blocking fair access to its auto market.
While President Donald Trump has shown an unexpected openness to Chinese automakers building cars in the United States, three senators from the other side of the political spectrum have now joined Republican voices pushing to ensure that never happens.
Late last week, Democratic Senators Tammy Baldwin, Elissa Slotkin, and Chuck Schumer urged the administration not to allow Chinese car companies to manufacture vehicles locally, noting this could severely harm American companies. China is none too pleased and has accused the US of engaging in “trade protectionism.”
“We must be clear-eyed that inviting China’s automakers to set up shop in the United States would confer an insurmountable economic advantage impossible for American automakers to overcome, and it would trigger a national security crisis that could never be reversed,” the senators wrote in a letter to Trump, first reported by Reuters.
They sent the letter to President Donald Trump following comments he made in January. Speaking at the Detroit Economic Club, Trump said that “if they [Chinese companies] want to come in and build a plant and hire you and hire your friends and your neighbors, that’s great, I love that.”
Responding to Reuters about the letter from Baldwin, Slotkin, and Schumer, the White House said that “while the administration is always working to secure more investment into America’s industrial resurgence, any notion that we would ever compromise our national security to do so is baseless and false.”
China’s Not Happy
Chinese car companies have effectively been banned from selling vehicles in the United States due to policies enacted by the Biden administration in early 2025. However, it appears the Trump administration is more open to Chinese companies coming to the US than ex-President Joe Biden was, particularly if it can help to reverse the trend of ongoing job losses in the manufacturing sector.
According to the Chinese Embassy in Washington, the US has “engaged in trade protectionism and set up obstacles, including discriminatory subsidy policies to obstruct access to the U.S. market by Chinese-made cars.”
Jim Farley says Ford will ditch generic cars in favor of passion products.
New affordable electric pickup will redefine mainstream EV appeal in US.
Europe gets small EVs with attitude via Renault partnership and technology.
Jim Farley has been saying it for a while now, and he’s not backing off. Ford’s CEO doesn’t want to build boring cars, and now that promise stretches from American pickups to small European EVs, with even a supercar tease thrown in for good measure.
Farley first floated the idea back in 2024, but in a new chat with Top Gear, he reasserted his position, this time with Europe firmly in his sights.
“No more generic vehicles,” Farley told TG’s reporter at an interview in Detroit recently. “People loved Focus and Fiesta because they were affordable vehicles with great driving dynamics. They were not boring vehicles.”
But it sounds like their replacements, built around the same Renault AmpR platform that’s helped make the 5 a hit, will be much funkier, and also tangibly different from Renault’s own products.
Aspirational Appeal In Europe
“Our EV strategy is changing in Europe and we intend to compete differently,” Farley says. “The cars will have a specific feel that is not mid-market. Even in the EV world I think that’s possible, but we’re going to have to take some risks.”
He even reached for a big-name comparison to underline the point.
“We’re making passion products, this is not a marketing conversation. This is a Steve Jobs kind of conversation. I’m challenging the concept that the Fiesta ST is the best example of democratized performance at Ford. Whether they’re based on a VW or Renault platform, we’re going to execute those cars with a swagger that’s specific to Ford of Europe.”
Affordability For America
Meanwhile, in the US, Ford’s taking a different route to the same destination. Instead of chasing premium EVs, it’s working on a smaller, cheaper, $30k electric pickup (seen above) aimed squarely at the mainstream. The idea is simple: build something affordable that people actually want, not just something that ticks regulatory boxes.
It’s all part of a broader rethink that also pushes hybrids and new production methods designed to cut costs and complexity. If it works, Ford could finally crack the code on making electrified vehicles both desirable and profitable.
A New GT?
And then there’s the wildcard. Right at the end of the interview, Farley hinted that a new halo performance car has already been decided, and suggested his team was way past the question of what kind of car it should be.
“We’re not pondering, we’ve already answered it,” he teased. Farley didn’t spill details, but the message was clear. Ford wants excitement back at every level, from entry EVs to whatever sits at the very top.
Jaecoo 7 leads UK sales charts after a strong March debut run.
Plug-in hybrid demand drove most of the SUV’s early momentum.
Electrified vehicles reached record highs across the UK market.
The UK’s sales charts don’t usually throw up surprises, yet March 2026 did exactly that. A relatively new Chinese SUV, the Jaecoo 7, jumped straight to the top spot, becoming the best-selling new car in the country. It’s the first time a Chinese model has led the UK market, landing right in the middle of the industry’s busiest sales month, which also saw electrified vehicles and BEVs hit record numbers.
The compact SUV from Chery, carrying styling that leans heavily on Range Rover cues, has even picked up a nickname online, with some calling it the “Temu Range Rover” in a tongue-in-cheek dig to its bargain-luxury vibe and resemblance to the real thing.
It racked up 10,064 registrations in March, enough to push past familiar heavyweights like the Ford Puma, which logged 9,193 units, and the Nissan Qashqai with 8,718. The rest of the top five followed a predictable script, with the Kia Sportage at 7,310 units and the Vauxhall Corsa close behind at 6,315.
Since arriving in the UK in September 2025, the Jaecoo 7 has steadily hovered around the top ten, but this latest jump changes the tone. It now sits second in the year-to-date rankings with 15,569 registrations, closing in on the Ford Puma, which still holds the overall lead for the first quarter of 2026 with 16,128 sales. The gap is small enough to make the next few months worth watching closely.
According to Jaecoo, the plug-in hybrid version equipped with its Super Hybrid System (SHS-P) has quickly become the star of the lineup, accounting for 85% of the SUV’s sales in March.
In the UK, the Jaecoo 7 starts at £29,105 ($38,600) for the gasoline model, climbing to £35,175 ($46,600) for the range-topping PHEV. Even at the top end, it undercuts plug-in hybrid rivals of similar size, which gives it a clear pricing edge. It also manages up to 56 miles (90 km) of electric-only driving, enough to land in a lower tax bracket and make it appealing to fleet buyers.
The Chery-owned brand leans on a 7-year warranty to ease the usual doubts that come with a new badge. Its UK presence is growing quickly too, with a retail network now up to 124 locations. Together, sister brands Omoda and Jaecoo have moved more than 80,000 vehicles in the UK in just 19 months. March alone accounted for 17,861 registrations.
The Biggest Month On Record For Electrified Vehicles
The UK’s new car market picked up pace in March, with the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders reporting a 6.6% increase to 380,627 registrations, making it the strongest month since 2019. Private buyers led the charge with a 10.1% jump, while fleet sales rose 3.5% and business registrations climbed 18.8%.
Electrified vehicles delivered a record-setting month, led by a 46.9% surge in plug-in hybrids. Self-charging hybrids followed with a 7.3% increase, while battery electric vehicles climbed 24.2%. It also marked the strongest month on record for fully electric cars in the UK
In market share terms, plug-in hybrids took 13%, self-charging hybrids reached 15.8%, and battery electric vehicles claimed 22.6% of UK sales in March. That last figure looks strong, but it still sits well short of the government’s 33% Zero Emission Vehicle target for 2026.
UK New Car Registrations 2026
Model
March 2026
Model
Year To Date 2026
1. Jaecoo 7
10,064
1. Ford Puma
16,128
2. Ford Puma
9,193
2. Jaecoo 7
15,569
3. Nissan Qashqai
8,718
3. Kia Sportage
14,190
4. Kia Sportage
7,310
4. Nissan Qashqai
12,853
5. Vauxhall Corsa
6,315
5. Vauxhall Corsa
10,552
6. Volvo XC40
6,311
6. Volvo XC40
9,288
7. MG HS
6,135
7. VW Golf
9,176
8. VW Golf
5,890
8. MG HS
9,147
9. Tesla Model Y
5,177
9. Nissan Juke
8,512
10. BMW 1-Series
4,936
10. Mini Cooper
8,109
SWIPE
Source SMMT
Clouds On The Horizon
Even with record numbers on paper, the mood behind the scenes is far less celebratory. SMMT says automakers are leaning heavily on discounts just to keep momentum going. At the same time, battery costs are running about 30% higher than expected, while public charging prices have climbed 140% over the past five years. That combination leaves margins looking increasingly fragile.
The situation is further complicated by the ongoing Iran crisis. While the conflict has pushed fuel prices sharply higher and nudged more drivers to consider EVs, it also risks eroding consumer confidence as everyday costs rise across the board.
Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said:
“The strongest new car market since 2019, with the highest ever volume of EV registrations, is a boost to the industry and the economy. However, the headlines belie the costs incurred and the challenges involved. Much of March’s performance will be from orders placed before the start of the Iran conflict, which threatens to raise the cost of living, undermining consumer confidence. Against this backdrop, and with the EV market falling further away from mandated levels despite record levels of incentives, an urgent review of the transition is required to secure a sustainable market, economic growth and the UK’s net zero ambitions.”
The R2 Performance will have an EPA range of up to 335 miles.
By comparison, the Tesla Model Y Performance has a 306-mile range.
The R2’s dual electric motors offer a combined 656 hp and 609 lb-ft.
We already had a solid picture of the new Rivian R2, but fresh EPA testing data fills in a few remaining gaps. Positioned below the R1S in price yet still focused on performance and practicality, the all-electric R2 is shaping up to be a crucial model for the brand.
According to internal reports shared on the Rivian Forums, the range-topping Performance variant will use an 86.8 kWh usable battery pack and come with a choice of 20-inch or 21-inch wheels. Wheel and tire setup makes a noticeable difference. Models fitted with 20-inch wheels and all-terrain rubber are rated at up to 314 miles (505 km), while versions on 21-inch, road-focused tires stretch that to 335 miles (539 km).
While the R2 looks quite boxy, it has a better range than the Tesla Model Y Performance, which comes with an EPA-estimated range of 306 miles (492 km). The Tesla, however, is significantly lighter, weighing 4,466 lbs (2,025 kg), making it 784 lbs (356 kg) lighter than the R2 Performance at 5,250 lbs (2,381 kg) when equipped with 21-inch wheels.
The published documents also reveal that Rivian has developed a proprietary heat pump for the R2, aimed at improving cabin cooling in hot weather while reducing NVH levels. It should also perform better in cold climates, thanks to a high-voltage coolant heater. The R2 will also feature an integrated battery health monitoring system.
There’s More To Come
The only R2 variant referenced in the EPA tests is the $57,990 Performance, which will be the first to launch. Later this year, Rivian plans to introduce the more affordable R2 Premium, starting at $53,990. It’s expected to produce 450 hp and 537 lb-ft (727 Nm), compared to the Performance model’s 656 hp and 609 lb-ft (825 Nm). There’s no official range estimate yet, though it should exceed that of the R2 Performance.
A more accessible R2 Standard is also scheduled for 2027. It will deliver 350 hp and 355 lb-ft (481 Nm), with early estimates pointing to a 345-mile (555 km) range. The lineup is expected to be completed in late 2027 with an entry-level R2 featuring a smaller battery, believed to offer around 275 miles (443 km) of range.
The new i7 battery pack promises more range and faster charging.
BMW and Rimac spent five years developing the battery together.
Facelifted i7 and 7-Series will debut at Auto China 2026 in Beijing.
BMW has confirmed the next phase of its partnership with Rimac Technology that will see the Croatian firm supply high-voltage battery systems for the upcoming facelifted i7, which is expected to debut later this month.
For CEO Mate Rimac, the deal brings things full circle. His journey into the EV space started back in 2009 with a modified E30 BMW 3-Series. Now, the company he founded is delivering the most critical component for BMW’s flagship electric sedan. Rimac Group also holds a controlling stake in Bugatti Rimac, the hypercar joint venture with Bugatti.
Rimac shared the news via his personal social media channels, noting that development work on the battery has been underway with BMW for the past five years.
BMW / Rimac
The battery unit was developed in Jankomir, Croatia, and is now built locally at Rimac’s sprawling 90,000 square meter (968,751 square feet) campus in Zagreb. From there, completed battery packs are shipped to BMW’s Dingolfing plant in Germany, where final vehicle assembly takes place.
Production capacity stands at 300,000 modules per year, translating to around 50,000 full battery systems annually. Rimac says the scale of the operation likely makes it the largest industrial project in Croatia’s history, which puts into perspective just how ambitious this setup really is.
According to the Bugatti Rimac CEO, the dedicated production line for the BMW i7 battery carries a €130 million ($150 million) price tag. That figure actually surpasses the €120 million ($139 million) cost to build the entire campus.
The high-voltage battery pack blends BMW’s Gen6 cell chemistry with its Gen5 module-based architecture. It uses 4695-format cylindrical lithium-ion cells, delivering a 20% boost in energy density compared to the prismatic cells used in current batteries.
BMW says the new setup will bring “significantly increased range” and “much faster” charging than the outgoing i7, effectively injecting some Neue Klasse thinking into the brand’s flagship EV sedan.
Rimac added: “BMW has always been known for pushing engineering to the highest level, which made this collaboration especially exciting for us. Together, we developed a high-voltage battery system that unlocks the full potential of the new cylindrical cells in record time, delivering significant improvements in energy, range, and charging performance. We are proud to now see this system being produced at scale at our new Rimac Campus.”
The updated BMW i7 is set to make its global debut alongside the combustion 7-Series facelift at the Auto China 2026 in Beijing at the end of April. Teasers, leaks, and recent spy shots all point to a redesigned front end and a refreshed interior.
Brazil adds BYD to labor abuse registry over construction worker treatment.
Chinese workers faced passport confiscation, poor housing, and wage restrictions.
Carmaker denies knowledge, but authorities say it shoulders the responsibility.
BYD sells more EVs than any other carmaker on the planet, but Brazil’s government doesn’t like some of the methods it used to get there. Lawmakers in the country have just placed the Chinese automaker on a “dirty list” due to mistreatment of workers.
The issue doesn’t involve people building cars for BYD in Brazil, but those who built the plant at Camaçari. A group of 163 Chinese laborers brought in by contractor Jinjiang Group allegedly faced conditions that sound less like a modern construction job and more like something from the 1800s.
Investigators found workers living in overcrowded housing, with dozens sharing limited facilities and basic comforts noticeably absent, Reuters says. In one raid, 31 workers were found squashed into a single house with only one bathroom.
Reports also suggested the workers’ passports were taken away and a chunk of wages never made it into their hands, instead being routed to China. They even had to hand over a $900 deposit just to start the job, which was only returned after they had completed six months on the site.
BYD Blamed Contractor
The 2024 scandal raised serious questions about how closely BYD was watching what was happening on its own project. The company has said it wasn’t aware of any wrongdoing until the situation became public, but Brazilian authorities aren’t buying the idea that responsibility stops with the contractor.
Officials argue that if your name is on the factory, then the buck stops with you, even if someone else handled the hiring. That stance has now resulted in BYD being formally added to a government registry reserved for companies linked to deeply unacceptable labor practices.
Being on that list isn’t just a bad look. It can also limit access to certain financial support from Brazilian institutions, which could complicate future expansion plans in BYD’s biggest market after its home country. But since its ability to produce and sell cars like the Camaçari-built Dolphin Mini (Seagull in China; Dolphin Surf in Europe) isn’t affected, BYD is going to remain a major thorn in the side of every other brand operating in the region.
The new electric SUV uses VW and Xpeng’s advanced CEA architecture.
A high-tech driver assistance system will come standard on the new model.
VW is also working on Chinese EVs with its other local joint venture partners.
Volkswagen is working on yet another addition to its burgeoning range of electric cars sold in China. Whereas the brand’s range of EVs offered in Western markets is starting to feel a little old, some of its Chinese models appear to be up to the task of rivaling local brands.
Its latest model is being brought to life through the FAW-Volkswagen joint venture, rather than the Volkswagen Anhui partnership with JAC, which is responsible for the new ID. Unyx 08. Photos published online by VW show its next Chinese EV will be a large SUV sitting above the Unyx.
A final name for the model has yet to be confirmed, but we know this SUV will form part of VW’s ID.Aura family, previewed last year with a sleek, low-slung sedan. Like the ID. Unyx 08, it’s reported that this model is based on the CEA architecture that VW has co-developed with Xpeng, complete with 800-volt tech.
Advanced Driving Tech
These images indicate the first ID.Aura model will be slightly more conventional in its shape than the Unyx. We can see it will have a split-headlight design and a front fascia that sits quite upright. Other notable elements of the design include bulging fenders and a LiDAR unit positioned above the windshield.
Elsewhere, this prototype can be seen sporting roof rails, a sunroof or panoramic glass roof, and a fairly traditional-looking tailgate. Small parts of the LED taillights are also visible.
It’s understood that the first model from the ID.Aura family will use an advanced driver assistant system developed by VW and Horizon Robotics, known as Carizon. Limited other details about it are known, including what powertrain it will have, what charging speeds it will support, and what kind of driving range will be on offer.
The Jaguar GT has been fitted with a very unusual steering wheel.
A curved display has been perched on top of the car’s dashboard.
Jaguar has also added a pair of rather unusual steering wheel stalks.
Jaguar’s controversial EV is edging closer to a September reveal, and while its exterior remains concealed under camouflage, the company has now offered a first look inside. It marks a clear departure from anything the brand has produced before. As expected, the cabin design doesn’t follow familiar Jaguar themes.
As development enters its final phase, Jaguar recently invited a small group of journalists and social creators to get behind the wheel of the EV, currently referred to as the GT, though the final name has yet to be confiremd. The exterior is expected to closely mirror the divisive Type 00 Concept, though the production car has evolved from a two-door coupe into a four-door sedan.
With the exterior leaning heavily on straight lines and sharp edges, the interior was always going to follow suit. These photos confirm it, revealing an all-new steering wheel that looks like it could have rolled straight out of a 1970s or 1980s concept car. It features thick horizontal spokes, each packed with large touch-sensitive surfaces handling a wide range of functions.
Stalks, But Not Normal Stalks
It’s hard to say with certainty, but it appears these could be touch-sensitive or haptic-style buttons, rather than physical ones, which is a shame but a sign of the times. Positioned on the left are controls for making calls and the car’s voice function, while the cruise control settings appear on the right. The airbag module also sits lower than normal.
Positioned behind the steering wheel are two large stalks, also with a squared-off design. The one on the left appears to control the lights, turn signals, and windshield wipers, while the right stalk houses Reverse, Neutral, Drive, and Park. While Jaguar wants to rival Bentley, the dash appears quite minimal, with a large, curved infotainment screen and gauge cluster, free of any physical dials.
What About Performance?
Beyond the cabin, we know Jaguar’s new GT is based on the company’s Electric Architecture and tips the scales at about 2,700 kg (5,962 lbs). To help somewhat offset that weight, it’ll be fitted with three electric motors delivering more than 986 hp and 959 lb-ft (1,300 Nm) of torque.
As for driving impressions, Andrew Frankel from The Intercooler notes that it doesn’t offer the same kind of bonkers performance as a Tesla Model S Plaid and has been configured for smooth, progressive performance.
Photos Jaguar, Lead Image SidewalkHustle/Instagram
Authorities in Yellowstone County are investigating after a mother reported that a 6-year-old student brought a vape device onto a school bus in Shepherd, used it and shared it with other children, reported KTVQ News.
The mother, who requested anonymity to protect her daughter’s identity, said via the news report that her child admitted to trying the vape after another student brought it on board.
“She told me, ‘Mom, I have to be honest with you. Another kid on the bus had a vape,’” the mother said. “And I was like, ‘And you tried it?’ and she was like, ‘Yeah, I did.’”
The mother told local news reporters that she immediately contacted school officials after learning of the incident, which she said had occurred days earlier without the school’s knowledge. “The next morning, I went to the school and let them know,” she said. “They didn’t know anything, and this was now day three.”
According to the news report, the Shepherd School District notified the Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Mike Linder said a guardian of the child who brought the vape was initially cited for child endangerment, but that the citation has since been rescinded. The county attorney’s office is reviewing the case.
District officials reportedly declined to comment, citing the ongoing investigation.
The incident has raised concerns among parents about young children vaping. Caroline Joyce, executive director of Parents Against Vaping, said such cases, while rare, reflect a growing trend.
“Vaping is starting to reach more elementary school-aged children,” Joyce said via the article. “These products are widely available and appealing.”
Joyce said vaping poses serious health risks and criticized marketing practices, which target youth. “Six is incredibly alarming,” she said of the child’s age. “It’s an indication of systemic failures.”
She added that addressing the issue will require more than punishment, calling for broader education and prevention efforts.
age, responding to incidents, and managing schedules. AI moves those responsibilities toward decision-making and oversight. Staff are now evaluating AI-generated routes instead of building them from scratch. They are reviewing flagged video clips rather than scrubbing through entire recordings. They are using predictive diagnostic alerts instead of reacting to a bus breakdown.
Bentley’s smaller SUV, likely called Barnato, is set for a 2027 launch.
Pricing is expected to start at the lower end of Bentley’s range.
The new model rides on Porsche and Audi’s shared PPE EV platform.
Bentley’s “urban SUV” has been spied on multiple occasions, but the automaker hasn’t said much about it. That’s slowly starting to change as the company gears up for a debut later this year.
In an interview with Road & Track, Bentley Americas CEO Mike Rocco revealed a teaser campaign is in the works and the crossover will eventually arrive in the United States in the third quarter of 2027. That’s a ways off and the automaker is still fine-tuning pricing.
While nothing is set in stone, Rocco implied the model, which is expected to be called the Barnato, will likely be priced on the “lower end” of its lineup. Bentley doesn’t exactly advertise pricing, but the Bentayga starts around $210,000 and the new model will likely play in the same neighborhood.
SH Proshots
Regardless of the final number, Bentley seems pretty confident in the crossover despite lackluster EV sales. As Rocco explained, “A lot of work, a lot of research has gone into this vehicle.” This includes consumer clinics, where 80% of people who saw the model said they would buy it.
The executive also suggested the crossover won’t necessarily be defined by its powertrain. Instead, people will embrace the fact that it’s a new Bentley SUV, which is street-focused.
We’ll learn more about the vehicle later this year, but the Barnato will ride on the PPE platform that underpins the Audi A6 and Q6 e-trons as well as the Porsche Macan and Cayenne Electric. The latter features a 113 kWh battery pack, a 390 kW DC fast charging capability, and outputs of 435 hp (324 kW / 441 PS), 657 hp (490 kW / 666 PS), and 1,139 hp (849 kW / 1,155 PS).
Speaking of the Cayenne Electric, pricing starts at $109,000 and climbs to $163,000 for the Turbo variant. This means that roughly $50,000 could separate it from the Barnato.
An independent artist blends the 4- and 8-Series into one sleek coupe.
The concept follows Neue Klasse design cues with a more exotic edge.
BMW has yet to confirm any plans to bring back the 6-Series name.
The BMW 6-Series Coupe may have been retired in favor of the soon-to-be discontinued 8-Series Coupe, but interest in the nameplate hasn’t disappeared. For some enthusiasts, the idea of a modern revival still holds real appeal. One of them is digital artist Sugar Design, who has imagined a return of the 6 as a midsize two-door coupe for the Neue Klasse era.
The front end of the digital concept leans heavily on the BMW i3, borrowing its slim LEDs integrated into an illuminated grille. This time, though, the 6-Series sits wider and lower than its sibling. It adds sharper bumper intakes, a more pronounced shark-nose profile, and larger alloy wheels to dial up the attitude.
The profile keeps things clean, taking clear cues from the Vision Neue Klasse concept. It may not match the classic dash-to-axle proportions of earlier models, yet the overall stance still lands as striking and suitably exotic.
Illustrations Sugardesign
The rear end clearly borrows from the limited-run Skytop convertible, itself built on the 8-Series Coupe platform, just like the Speedtop shooting brake. You can see it in the wide, sculpted rear haunches, the razor-thin taillights, and the crisp tailgate edge. Even the diffuser looks like it means business, tying the whole thing together with a properly athletic finish.
Sugar Design didn’t go into detail on the powertrain, but everything about this points to a fully electric setup. The proportions and surfacing suggest it rides on BMW’s Neue Klasse platform, likely sharing its underpinnings with the smaller i3 and iX3.
A Long Bloodline Of Coupes
The digital concept nods to the 50th anniversary of the original E24 generation (1976–1989), still widely regarded as the most attractive 6-Series ever made, though that may not be an especially high bar given its modern successors.
The nameplate returned with the Bangle-era E63 (2003-2010), followed by the F13 (2011-2018), which was also offered in Convertible (F12) and Gran Coupé (F06) variants. BMW also introduced the unrelated G32 6-Series GT (2017-2023) five-door liftback, though it had a relatively short run.
A New Role
The independent designer suggests that a Neue Klasse 6-Series could take on the role of both the 4-Series Coupe (G22) and 8-Series Coupe (G15), much like how the Mercedes-Benz CLE replaced the C-Class and E-Class Coupe/Convertible models.
Such an approach could simplify BMW’s lineup and help reduce development costs, while keeping a larger, more premium coupe in the range.
Even so, it’s hard to say whether putting resources into such a niche segment really adds up, especially when an electric successor to the 4-Series Coupe would likely cover what most buyers actually want.
Rivian delivered more EVs than many of its mainstream rivals managed in Q1 2026.
Toyota came closest, trailing Rivian by fewer than 400 units despite a strong rebound.
BMW counted plug-in hybrids in its total and still came up short of Rivian’s number.
First-quarter sales are in, and they come with a few surprises. One of the more unexpected outcomes is Rivian edging past several established players in the U.S. EV market. During Q1 2026, Rivian managed to outsell Kia, Ford, Toyota, and BMW in electric-vehicle deliveries across the United States.
More specifically, the California-based automaker delivered 10,365 EVs between January and March. During the same period, Rivian produced 10,236 vehicles, 129 fewer than it sold, likely drawing from existing inventory to close the gap. This comes just ahead of the launch of the more affordable R2, which is set to begin deliveries later this spring as a Tesla Model Y rival.
Following these results, the company has raised its annual delivery guidance to 67,000 units for 2026, an increase of 5,000 units over its previous estimate. Rivian will report its full financial results for Q1 2026 on April 30.
Kia America reported 2,023 sales for the EV6 and 2,740 for the EV9, totaling 4,763 units in Q1 2026. The brand also offers an electric version of the Niro in the US, though this likely accounts for only a small portion of the model’s 7,455 total sales, leaving Kia well short of the 10,000-unit mark.
Still, the upcoming Kia EV3, expected in late 2026, could change the narrative. It is also worth noting that Kia’s hybrid models set new Q1 sales records, marking a 73% increase over the same period last year.
Ford’s EV lineup saw an even steeper decline, with sales dropping 70% in Q1 2026 to 6,860 units in the US. The Mustang Mach-E made up 4,600 of those sales, while the F-150 Lightning and E-Transit contributed 2,060 and 200 units, respectively.
Toyota opened the year on a strong note, with the bZ, including the bZ Woodland, reaching 10,016 units in the first quarter, a 79% increase year over year. However, with only 13 units of the newly introduced C-HR arriving in March, Toyota’s total BEV sales reached 10,029 units, just behind Rivian’s 10,365. As the company expands its EV lineup in the US, that gap may not last long.
Finally, BMW recorded 9,856 combined BEV and PHEV sales in the US during Q1 2026, marking a 50% drop compared to last year. This slowdown may prove temporary, as the upcoming Neue Klasse BMW iX3 is expected to play a central role in the brand’s next phase of electrification when it arrives in late 2026.
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