Plans for global growth rarely follow a straight line, especially when politics and international trade come into play. For BYD, one of the world’s fastest-rising automakers, a much-anticipated expansion into Mexico has been put on hold.

The reason? A mix of shifting geopolitical winds and concerns over U.S. trade policy, particularly in light of Donald Trump’s return to the White House. Still, the company isn’t slowing down entirely, and has just opened its first factory outside of Asia, located in Brazil.

Read: Major Carmaker Sued Over One Toilet Per 31 Workers And Other Horrors

As we reported last year, had been scoping out three locations in Mexico for a new factory. However, it paused its search in September to wait to see the outcome of the 2024 US presidential election, likely anticipating that a victory for Trump would likely shake up the status quo of international trade. That’s exactly what the 45th and 47th President has done.

While recently speaking at the opening of BYD’s new factory in Brazil, executive vice president Stella La said the surging automaker is rethinking its strategy.

“Geopolitical issues have a big impact on the automotive industry,” she told Bloomberg. “Now everybody is rethinking their strategy in other countries. We want to wait for more clarity before making our decision.”

BYD’s efforts to establish a base in Mexico were hampered in March, even before President Trump announced sweeping tariffs. That month, China’s commerce ministry delayed approval of the Mexican factory due to concerns the carmaker’s technology could be accessed by the US.

From Pause in Mexico to Progress in Brazil

Although Mexico is no longer in play for the moment, BYD is still moving forward in the region. The company’s new facility in Camaçari, Brazil , is now operational and has room to grow. It currently produces up to 150,000 vehicles a year, with plans to double that figure to 300,000 within two years.

However, the site has not been without controversy. Late last year, Brazilian authorities reported that some international workers at the plant had been living in conditions likened to modern-day slavery.

In response, Li emphasized the company’s commitment to reform. Going forward, she said, BYD will work more closely with local partners to uphold labor and human rights standards.

“We should slow down, step back from the focus on speed,” Li said. “It will take longer, but that’s OK.”

Update 2: A massive cargo ship still smoldering off the coast of Alaska is proving just how complicated, and stubborn, at-sea fires can be. It’s been just over a week since the cargo vessel Morning Midas caught fire near Alaska. According to the latest photos released by the Coast Guard, the blaze, which appears to have started near the stern, has now ripped through multiple decks and engulfed the entire ship.

Salvage operations are slowly taking shape. The tug Gretchen Dunlap has arrived with salvage crews and begun assessing the damage, with two more vessels expected to join the operation in the next two weeks. Zodiac Maritime, the ship’s manager, has appointed Resolve Marine to lead the recovery. Meanwhile, the 600-foot car carrier continues drifting northeast at approximately 1.8 miles per hour, according to the US Coast Guard.

Aside from the total vehicle count and a general breakdown between gas-powered, electric, and hybrid models, there’s still no confirmation of which automakers had cars aboard. The vessel left China and was headed to Mexico when the fire broke out.

Photos US Coast Guard

“The safety of the public, responders, and vessel crews operating in the area remains our top priority,” said Rear Adm. Megan Dean, commander of the Coast Guard’s Seventeenth District. “We are working closely with Zodiac Maritime to ensure a safe and effective plan to address the fire and mitigate any potential impacts to the environment.”

Update 1: The U.S. Coast Guard has provided additional details about the incident that occurred approximately 300 miles south of Adak, Alaska, on Wednesday. The exact number of vehicles aboard the 600-foot, Liberian-flagged cargo vessel, which is managed by a UK company, has been confirmed at 3,048 total vehicles. Of those, 70 are fully electric vehicles, and 681 are hybrid-electric vehicles.

The Coast Guard also reported that the status of the fire remains uncertain, though smoke is still visibly emanating from the vessel. “As the search and rescue portion of our response concludes, our crews are working closely with the vessel’s manager, Zodiac Maritime, to determine the disposition of the vessel,” said Rear Admiral Megan Dean, commander of the Coast Guard’s Seventeenth District. “We are grateful for the selfless actions of the three nearby vessels who assisted in the response and the crew of motor vessel Cosco Hellas, who helped save 22 lives.”

John Halas contributed to this story. Original article follows below.

EV sales might not have caught alight in the way automakers hoped, but news of another shipping fire reminds us that electric cars sure are combustible. The cargo ship was on its way from Asia to North America when a fire broke out forcing the crew to abandon the vessel in the middle of the Pacific ocean, leaving thousands of brand new cars onboard.

Also: The Shipping World Isn’t Ready For The Risk EVs Pose, Here’s Why

The Morning Midas departed China for Mexico on May 26, carrying roughly 3,000 vehicles, including around 800 electric cars. But eight days into its 19-day voyage, just after midnight UTC (7:00 p.m. EST) on June 3, smoke was spotted billowing from one of the decks. UK-based shipowner Zodiac Maritime, which manages the vessel, has since confirmed that the fire originated in the section of the ship carrying electric vehicles.

Firefighting Efforts Failed to Contain the Blaze

“The crew immediately initiated emergency firefighting procedures using the vessel’s onboard fire-suppression systems,” said Zodiac Maritime, the car-carrier’s manager, per Lloyd’s List. “However, despite their efforts, the situation could not be brought under control.”

After contacting the US coast guard the 22-man crew decided to abandon ship, jumping into the lifeboat, after which they were picked up by a nearby merchant ship. With the fire still burning at the time of writing the condition of the thousands of cars still onboard is unknown.

This is far from the first time a boat carrying EVs has caught fire at sea. Three years ago another ship, this one loaded with 4,000 cars, including Porsche, Bentley and Lamborghini models went up in flames in the Atlantic. Attempts were made to tow the Felicity Ace to safety but after burning for two weeks the boat capsized and sank near the Azores.

All 22 crew were also saved on that occasion, but VW Group said the Insurance company was looking at a $155 million bill to replace the lost cars. Lamborghini even restarted production of the discontinued Aventador to replace a customer’s car lost in the accident.

Some shipping companies, such as Norway’s Havila Kystruten, now refuse to carry electric vehicles, judging the risk factor too high. But with EVs set to eventually take over the car market those vehicles are going to have to get from one side of the world somehow, and shipping them is the only realistic method.

We’ll update this story as soon as more details emerge.

Photos: U.S. Coast Guard courtesy of Air Station Kodiak

With just over a year until the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, authorities in the Mexican state of Jalisco are already gearing up for the massive soccer event. They’ve recently added three specially outfitted Tesla Cybertruck patrol vehicles to their fleet, which will be deployed in high-traffic tourist areas during the tournament.

One of these Cybertrucks was recently taken out onto the local city streets and tailed by a pair of F-Series trucks that police are also using. The local mayor, Pablo Lemus Navarro, is keen to maximize safety during the World Cup, although the expensive purchases do seem to have upset some locals.

Read: Las Vegas Gets First Cybertruck Police Fleet In America

The Tesla truck rocks a matte black wrap complete with all the necessary police livery. Flashing red and blue lights have also been neatly incorporated into the front and rear bumpers, as well as the side skirts. Local police have yet to release any photos of the Cybertruck’s cabin, but it’s likely also been modified with all the necessary equipment needed to patrol the streets and target criminals.

These Cybertrucks form just a small part of a much larger fleet of new vehicles that the state is introducing.

Governor Navarro has big plans to improve security in the region ahead of the World Cup. “We also need to work a lot on the perception of security; we are going to deliver 678 patrol cars for the State Police, State Highway Police, and State Police, including some ‘Black Mambas,’ which are this kind of tanks,” he said.

Mexico isn’t alone in adopting the Cybertruck for law enforcement. Earlier this year, Las Vegas announced it would receive 10 of the trucks, thanks to an anonymous donor. Some of these will be put into service with SWAT teams, while others will simply patrol the streets. Who knows? Maybe other cities will soon follow suit.

The 2026 World Cup is set to run from June 11 to July 19 across 16 host cities in the US, Mexico, and Canada, featuring 48 teams. While Jalisco’s decision to roll out high-tech, bulletproof Cybertruck patrol vehicles might look impressive on paper, it also raises questions about whether this extravagant spending is really the most effective use of resources for an event of this scale.

@prensaxtremard El Gobierno de Jalisco presentó esta semana las nuevas patrullas Tesla Cybertruck, blindadas con acero grado balístico y equipadas con inteligencia artificial, cámaras 360°, conexión en tiempo real con centros de mando y acceso directo a bases de datos de órdenes de aprehensión. Estas unidades, capaces de resistir impactos de alto calibre, formarán parte del operativo especial de seguridad previo al Mundial 2026, que tendrá a Guadalajara como una de sus sedes. Además del uso de tecnología de punta, se anunció la instalación de 1,500 nuevas cámaras de videovigilancia en más de 300 puntos estratégicos del estado, incluyendo carreteras hacia Guanajuato, Colima y Michoacán. También se sumarán 678 nuevas patrullas. Para seguir informado, síguenos en #rotativodemexico 📰🌐 #Jalisco #Cybertruck #Tesla #Mundial2026 #Seguridad #Guadalajara #Tecnología #FIFA2026 ♬ sonido original – PRENSA XTREMA RD ✅️

Parents are raising serious concerns after two underage girls wanted for armed robbery boarded a Rio Grande High School bus in Albuquerque’s South Valley and entered the campus, resulting in a lockdown, reported KOAT 7.

The incident occurred May 15, when the unidentified girls managed to board the school bus, entered the high school campus, and hid in a second-floor bathroom stall before being discovered by staff and escorted out.

According to the news report, the girls fled on foot but were quickly apprehended by Bernalillo County Sheriff’s deputies, who confirmed that both girls had outstanding warrants for armed robbery and were facing additional charges from Albuquerque Public Schools (APS) police.

A letter sent to parents explained the timeline of events and how students had reported seeing to “suspicious females” on campus. This report prompted staff to initiate a “shelter in place” protocol, securing classrooms while searching the building.

Parents told local news reporters that they wondered how the girls managed to get on the school undetected. APS told reporters that the incident should not have happened. Additionally, the school districtc stated that school bus drivers are required to contact dispatch via radio when hey encounter an unfamiliar student, to verify the child’s name, address, school and other relevant details. It is unclear if the driver of the bus involved in the incident is facing any consequences for not following protocol.

The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office said suspects are expected to face new charges in addition to their other warrants. As questions are left unanswered, parents demand more transparency from APS and its transportation providers.

The case remains under investigation.

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Related: Man Arrested After Allegedly Stealing a School Bus in New Mexico
Related: Georgia Armed Robber Crashes Into School Bus During Chase
Related: 91% of Parents Believe U.S. School Bus System Needs Improvement, Zum Survey Finds
Related: North Carolina Student in Custody for Bringing Gun on School Bus

The post New Mexico Parents Concerned After Armed Robbery Suspects Board School Bus appeared first on School Transportation News.

A few months ago, Lexus unveiled the 2026 RZ in its European-spec form, featuring steer-by-wire technology and simulated gears. Now, the updated RZ is headed to the North American market, and it comes with several upgrades including a new and improved battery, more power, and increased driving range.

Three versions of the 2026 RZ will be available in the US. Leading the charge at the base of the lineup is the new RZ 350e. It comes with a 74.69 kWh battery pack and a front-mounted electric motor producing 221 horsepower, 20 more than the outgoing RZ 300e. Lexus claims this version can reach 60 mph (96 km/h) in 7.2 seconds and offers an estimated range of around 300 miles (482 km) on a single charge.

Read: 2026 Lexus RZ Gets Yoked Steer-By-Wire And Simulated Gears

Next up is the RZ 450e AWD, which retains the same 74.69 kWh battery but adds an additional electric motor at the rear wheels, boosting the total output to 308 horsepower. This reduction in 0-60 mph time to 4.9 seconds is matched by a range of 260 miles (418 km).

Finally, there’s the new flagship RZ 550e F Sport AWD with a dual-motor setup. It swaps in a slightly larger 76.96 kWh battery, bumps the horsepower to 402, and cuts the 0-60 time to a much quicker 4.1 seconds. However, with an estimated driving range of 225 miles (362 km), it’s safe to say the RZ 550e isn’t exactly setting the standard for range in the EV market.

All 2026 RZ models heading to North America will come equipped with an NACS plug, and Lexus claims the battery can be charged from 10% to 80% in under 30 minutes. Additionally, every model now comes standard with an 11 kW on-board AC charger, a noticeable upgrade from the 7 kW unit found in the previous generation.

Curiously, it does not appear as though new RZ models to be sold in North America will have the same steer-by-wire as those sold internationally, including in Europe. Lexus has made no mention of the system in its local press release, and images released of the locally-specced model show it with a normal steering wheel, rather than the yoke that accompanies the steer-by-wire setup.

Virtual Shifts and a Spiffed-Up Interior

What we do know is that the RZ 550e F Sport AWD is the only version to offer Toyota’s M Mode virtual gear shift, which uses paddle shifters and is supposedly designed to provide “a sportier, more responsive driving feel.” Whether or not that’s true remains to be seen, but it certainly sounds like something designed to make driving an electric vehicle feel just a little more interesting.

Inside, the 2026 RZ gets a few upgrades as well. A panoramic glass roof is now available, and it can switch from clear to opaque with the push of a button. The RZ 550e also gets some stylish black Ultrasuede trim with blue contrast stitching.

Lexus hasn’t revealed official pricing for the refreshed model yet, but it has confirmed that sales will begin later this year. Based on the pricing of the 2025 model year, the base models are expected to start around $45,000, with the new flagship RZ 550e likely pushing beyond $60,000.

Despite the uncertainty created by newly imposed tariffs, sales of electrified vehicles are still surging, with BEVs (battery electric vehicles) and PHEVs (plug-in hybrids) flying off the lots in record numbers. And it’s not just North America leading the charge, as markets like China and Europe are seeing even more impressive growth.

As we reported last month, global sales of BEVs and PHEVs had already topped 4.1 million through the first three months of the year. Now, with April’s figures in, the total for the first four months stands at an impressive 5.6 million units, according to data from RhoMotion.

April alone saw 1.5 million electrified vehicles sold, marking a 29 percent increase compared to the same month last year. That said, it’s worth noting a slight dip of 12 percent from March, which might suggest that the initial rush to purchase before the full impact of tariffs hit has already cooled off.

Read: Electrified Sales Are Surging Globally But A Dark Cloud Is Gathering

Continuing to lead the charge was China. A total of 3.3 million BEVs and PHEVs have been sold this year, representing a 35% jump from last year. Sales slipped 9% in April compared to the month prior, but were up 32% compared to April 2024.

It’s worth noting that the US and China recently announced a reduction in tariffs, including eliminating some and suspending others for 90 days. However, this move primarily affects parts in the auto industry, as Biden’s previously imposed electric vehicle tariffs remains firmly in place.

Across the Atlantic, North America has seen steady, if not explosive, growth. Sales have reached around 600,000 vehicles this year, a 5% increase from last year. While we don’t have a breakdown for the US, Canada, and Mexico, it’s reported that sales in Mexico have nearly doubled year-to-date.

JAN-APR EV & PHEV SALES

After a rough 2024 for EV and PHEV sales in Europe, things are looking considerably brighter this year. In the first four months alone, sales have surged by 25%, reaching 1.2 million vehicles. BEVs are leading the charge, with a 29% increase in sales year-to-date, outpacing the 16% growth in PHEVs. Germany (+42%), Italy (+56%), Spain (+57%), and the UK (+32%) are all reporting significant increases in sales. However, France is still struggling, with sales down 14% so far this year, a decline largely attributed to cuts in consumer incentives.

As Charles Lester, Rho Motion’s data manager, points out, “Ongoing tariff negotiations are dominating talk in the electric vehicle industry, but quietly, domestic manufacturers in China and the EU continue to perform well and grow market share.”

Ms. Borchert,

Thank you for the opportunity to provide written comments in response to the New Mexico Environment Department’s (NMED) draft of the Clean Transportation Fuel Program (CTFP) rule. Growth Energy is the world’s largest association of biofuel producers, representing 97 U.S. plants that each year produce more than 9.5 billion gallons of renewable fuel; 123 businesses associated with the production process; and tens of thousands of biofuel supporters around the country. Together, we are working to bring better and more affordable choices at the fuel pump to consumers, improve air quality, and protect the environment for future generations. We remain committed to helping our country diversify our energy portfolio in order to grow more green energy jobs, decarbonize our nation’s energy mix, sustain family farms, and drive down the costs of transportation fuels for consumers.

We applaud New Mexico’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions through the CTFP. Growth Energy has previously provided extensive comments on similar programs in California, Washington, and Oregon, ensuring those states recognize the carbon reduction value of
increased bioethanol use. In California, biofuels have been among the largest contributors to the success of the LCFS program to date and are poised to continue to do so with appropriate updates to the program. Additionally, as mentioned in the June 28, 2024 Advisory Committee meeting, bioethanol has been a significant credit generator in the Oregon and Washington programs. Like those states, we believe the CTFP has the opportunity to utilize biofuels as a means of immediate greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction in the current light-duty vehicle fleet as future technologies are further developed.

Environmental Benefits of Bioethanol
According to recent data from Environmental Health and Engineering, today’s bioethanol reduces GHG by nearly 50 percent compared to gasoline and can provide even further GHG reductions with additional readily available technologies. The potential for fuels with higher blends of ethanol to reduce GHGs are further illustrated in a national analysis showing more than 146,000 tons in GHG reduction in New Mexico alone if E10 gasoline was replaced with E15. This is the GHG reduction equivalent of removing 32,000 vehicles from New Mexico’s fleet just by using a higher ethanol-blend fuel.

Bioethanol’s other environmental benefits are also noteworthy. As has been researched by the University of California, Riverside and the University of Illinois at Chicago, the use of more bioethanol and bioethanol-blended fuel reduces harmful particulates and air toxics such as carbon monoxide, and benzene.

Use of GREET for Life Cycle Analysis Modeling
We applaud NMED for the use of the Argonne National Laboratory’s GREET model, with parameters specific to New Mexico, to calculate life-cycle emissions of fuels subject to the CTFS. ANL GREET is the most accurate tool to examine the life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions of all fuels and considers a wide range of carbon reduction processes and technologies that bioethanol production can utilize. It is the gold standard for measuring the emissions-reducing power of farm-based feedstocks and biofuels and incorporates up-to-date science that more accurately scores lifecycle carbon intensity (CI) for corn bioethanol and other renewable fuels.

Appropriate Land Use Change Penalties
As has been reiterated throughout the Advisory Committee’s public meeting process and in our previous comments, biofuels have been a major driver of GHG reductions in existing fuel standard programs. They have been able to be so despite onerous, and we believe unnecessary, land use change (LUC) penalties for cornstarch bioethanol of varying values, including 19.8 gCO2e/MJ in California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard. This penalty was designed to mitigate purported land use change with respect to cornstarch bioethanol’s production. We believe these scores to be outdated and not based on the most up to date research. A review of more recent science indicates a decreasing trend in land use values with the newer data indicating values closer to 4 gCO2e/MJ.

Concerns over land use change for cornstarch bioethanol are unfounded. The United States is planting grain corn on roughly the same number of acres as it was in 1900. At the same time, the per acre yield has increased more than 600%. We urge NMED to reconsider the application of a 19.8 gCO2e/MJ LUC penalty for cornstarch bioethanol, consider data based on more recent research and apply a LUC penalty that is reflective of that data.

Expanding E15 and Higher Blends
Emissions reductions through the use of E15, often marketed as Unleaded 88, also come with meaningful consumer cost-savings. During the summer of 2024, drivers saved 10 to 30 cents per gallon by filling up with Unleaded 88 compared to regular, or E10. In some areas, Unleaded 88 saved drivers as much as a dollar per gallon at the pump.

Consumers have embraced E15’s reputation as a more environmentally beneficial, more affordable fuel. Since the US EPA approved E15 in 2011, at which time there were zero retailers offering it, its availability rapidly expanded to what is now more than 3,714 retail sites in 33 states. Since then, drivers in America have relied on E15 to drive 140 billion miles.

Clarifying Carbon Capture and Sequestration
Bioethanol producers constantly make improvements to their production process, increasing economic efficiency and more importantly, reducing CI. Among the newest tools bioethanol producers are utilizing to reduce CI is carbon capture utilization and sequestration (CCUS). The latest research conducted by the Energy Futures Initiative (EFI) Foundation shows that just the use of CCUS in bioethanol production can reduce its CI by as much as 57%, demonstrating the critical role CCUS plays in bioethanol’s path toward becoming a net-zero fuel. We applaud NMED for recognizing CCUS as a means for carbon reduction, and appreciate the inclusion of CCUS in certain Tier 2 pathways (Tier 1 fuels using innovative methods or a process that cannot be accurately represented using the simplified calculators used to calculate Tier 1 carbon intensities) novel to New Mexico.

However, given the wording of the draft rules, it could be interpreted in such a way that precludes fuels listed as Tier 2 fuels, such as alternative jet fuel, from utilizing CCUS. As alcohol-to-jet sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) becomes more prevalent, SAF producers will rely on bioethanol, a Tier 1 fuel, with CCUS to reduce CI. This leaves the question of whether SAF produced with a bioethanol pathway utilizing CCUS will be approved as a Tier 2 pathway.

We encourage NMED to clarify this provision, an whether innovative methods such as CCUS can be used in other Tier 2 fuels such as alternative jet fuel. CCUS is an important tool for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) producers to achieve the carbon intensity reduction necessary to meet our nation’s GHG reduction goals in the aviation sector.

Climate-Smart Agriculture Practices
With the use of the GREET model, we encourage NMED to consider allowing on-farm carbon reduction practices, commonly called climate-smart agriculture (CSA), should also be credited in the CTFS. With GREET’s Feedstock Carbon Intensity Calculator and the USDA’s database of CSA practices, the carbon reduction values can easily be quantified and verified.

Among these practices are the use of cover crops, low or no-till farming, precision fertilizer application, and the use of enhanced efficiency fertilizer. The previously mentioned EFI Foundation study found that those four CSA practices could result in as much as 59% CI reduction for bioethanol. NMED should ensure the inclusion of CSA practices as allowable CI reduction tools for crop-based biofuels.

Allowing Biofuels Producers to Access Crediting for Low-CI Power
Additionally, we continue to advocate for expanded crediting for low-CI power sourcing for biofuels producers through renewable energy certificates (RECs). In the draft CTFP rules, the ability to utilize RECs in a pathway is limited to certain feedstocks. We believe the ability to credit low-CI power sourcing through power purchase agreements should be available to all feedstocks and pathways.

The aforementioned EFI study indicated the use of carbon-free electricity in the bioethanol production process can reduce its CI by 6% while the use of biomass for combined heat and power (CHP) can reduce its CI by as much as 37%. The EFI study suggests biomass CHP can be implemented with minimal costs and it is ready for widespread adoption in the near term.

With bioethanol production occurring entirely outside of New Mexico, the state has an opportunity to become a national leader by encouraging, via the CTFS, the adoption of low-CI power for bioethanol producers in other jurisdictions. We encourage NMED to consider the ability of all fuel pathways to credit low-CI power sourcing in their CI score.

Other Carbon Reduction Processes and Technologies
Below are additional examples of the wide variety of feedstocks and technologies bioethanol producers have available for CI reduction. We continue to encourage NMED to provide crop-based biofuels the widest set of feasible and ready to adopt opportunities for carbon reduction.

Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)
As producers of one of the most scalable feedstocks for SAF production, we appreciate NMED’s attention to development of this key market and the CTFP’s allowance of SAF to generate credits. We encourage NMED to work with SAF producers, biofuel feedstock producers, and airlines to seek ways to accelerate use of these important fuels to help decarbonize the aviation sector.

Thank you for the opportunity to provide input on the draft CTFP proposal. The CTFS will be a critical tool in New Mexico’s decarbonization efforts, and we look forward to working with NMED to ensure the role of biofuels in making New Mexico’s fuel mix more sustainable and help the state achieve its progressive climate goals through the expanded use of bioethanol. Additionally, we are happy to make ourselves available for any questions NMED may have.

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