The all-new Nissan Leaf arrives with the weight of expectation on its shoulders. For Nissan, this car is meant to mark a return to prominence in the electric vehicle space, yet its launch has stumbled out of the gate. Production is set to be cut back from September through November as the company grapples with delays in securing enough battery packs to keep assembly lines moving.

Read: Nissan Takes A Leaf From The Z For Its Mass Market EV

Nissan is currently building the new Leaf at its Japanese plant in the Tochigi prefecture but particularly steep reductions are being made next month and throughout October, with thousands fewer examples now expected to be built.

Battery Bottleneck

According to a report from Nikkei Asia, the Leaf’s batteries are supplied by AESC, but production yields haven’t ramped up as quickly as anticipated. The result is a shortfall that could begin to limit availability in showrooms if it continues. For a car expected to carry so much significance, that’s an awkward complication at the very start of its life.

Underpinning the Leaf is the same CMF-EV platform as the larger Ariya. The entry-level version confirmed for the American market uses a 52 kWh battery pack driving a single electric motor at the front wheels with 174 hp and 254 lb-ft (345 Nm) of torque.

Nissan will also sell the Leaf with a larger 75 kWh pack that’s paired to an electric motor delivering 214 hp and 262 lb-ft (355 Nm). Nissan says the 75 kWh version has a driving range of 303 miles or 488 km.

Pricing and Availability

In addition to selling the new Leaf in the US, it’s been confirmed for launches in Japan and Europe, with other markets expected to follow. Likely the single most important determining factor about whether or not it will be a success will be its starting price.

Nissan recently confirmed that prices for the 2026 Leaf will start at $29,990, making it the cheapest EV on sale in the country, and only representing a small price hike over the decade-old model it replaces. Perhaps even more interesting is the fact that an even cheaper version is in the works, although prices for it have yet to be revealed.

Chinese automakers have never been shy about defending their reputations, and over the years they’ve taken aim at social media users they believe are spreading damaging claims about their vehicles.

Sometimes those accounts are run by ordinary users, while in other cases competitors themselves are suspected of stoking the attacks. Now the Chinese government is stepping in, with a three-month crackdown on online disinformation that it says targets the auto industry.

Collisions Online And Off

Disinformation about many Chinese car manufacturers has become a common sight across local social media platforms, including Douyin, which is the Chinese version of TikTok. Sometimes, its even rival car companies themselves that use social media to target their competitors.

Nikkei Asia reports that, in July, Li Auto shared a video to social media that showed a collision between one of its SUVs and a truck from Dongfeng Liuzhou Motor. While the SUV escaped with very little damage, the cab of the truck was destroyed. Unsurprisingly, Dongfeng took issue with how its truck was depicted, prompting an apology from Li Auto.

Earlier this month, China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said its new enforcement campaign will target malicious disinformation about the auto industry online. It added that steps will be taken against “illegal business practices, exaggerated or false advertising and slander.”

Carmakers Fight Back

It’s not just the government that is fighting back against disinformation, but also the automakers themselves. For example, MG is offering rewards of up to 5 million yuan ($703,000) for information about malicious social media accounts. Similarly, BYD is offering rewards of between 50,000 yuan ($7,000) and 5 million yuan ($703,000) for similar information.

Read: EVs Are So Cheap In China Now Even Xi’s Worried

The reach of some social media accounts cannot be overstated. In 2023, a Douyin influencer posted videos ridiculing the drivers of one particular EV startup in China. While this account was suspended by June 2024, it reportedly had as many as 5.4 million followers, and the damage was arguably already done.

The Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross is dead. Long live the new Eclipse Cross EV. This second generation SUV is a complete departure from its predecessor, pairing the electric foundations of the the Renault Scenic E-Tech with Mitsubishi-specific design elements. Built by Renault in France, the new model will be sold exclusively in Europe.

More: The Most Mitsubishi Thing About Its New Hybrid SUV Might Be The Logo

The Eclipse Cross EV joins Mitsubishi’s growing European lineup of Renault-based models. It follows the Colt (Clio), ASX (Captur), and Grandis (Symbioz) as another example of badge-sharing strategy. Positioned in the compact SUV segment beneath the Outlander PHEV, it also becomes Mitsubishi’s second all-electric model in Europe, after the discontinued i-MiEV city car.

Recasting Renault’s Scenic

The clearest way to spot the Japanese twist on the Scenic is up front. Mitsubishi has reworked the face with distinctive split LED headlights, a redesigned but fully covered grille that looks similar to the Outlander, and reshaped bumper intakes. At the rear, updated LED taillight graphics and a heavier dose of glossy black trim set it apart from the Renault, alongside the fresh branding.

The profile looks familiar but there is a new chrome trim on the D-pillars and more futuristic wheels measuring 19 or 20 inches in diameter. Overall, the new model dropps the coupe-SUV proportions of the first Eclipse Cross, which launched in 2017 and gained a facelift in 2020. In terms of footprint, it is incrementally smaller than its ICE-powered predecessor, measuring 4,470 mm (176 inches) long, although its wheelbase is significantly larger stretching to 2,785 mm (109.6 inches).

Inside, the cabin adopts Renault’s digital setup with a 12.3-inch instrument cluster and a portrait-style 12-inch infotainment screen running Google’s built-in services. For the sake of differentiation, Mitsubishi has added new options for the interior trim and upholstery. Other cool features include the electrochromic glass roof, the LED ambient lighting, and the Harman & Kardon Premium audio system.

A full suite of driver assistance tech is available, offering semi-autonomous driving on the highway. Finally, practicality is served by two rows of seating and a cargo area that ranges between 478-1,670 lt (16.9-59 cubic feet) depending on the position of the rear bench.

Shared Underpinnings

The Eclipse Cross EV rides on the CMF-EV platform (Ampr Medium) which is already used in the Renault Megane/Scenic E-Tech and the Nissan Leaf/Ariya.

More: Mitsubishi’s New Kei Van Channels Its Inner Pajero

Power comes from a front-mounted electric motor producing 215 hp (160 kW / 218 PS), with a 87 kWh battery pack offering a range of approximately 600 km (373 miles). The battery has a water-cooled thermal management system and is compatible with charging speeds of up to 150 kWh.

Mitsubishi has also confirmed that a mid-range version will follow in 2026. This one will most likely use mirror the specs of the entry-level Scenic E-Tech with 168 hp (125 kW / 170 PS) and a 60 kWh battery.

Designed, Manufactured And Sold In Europe

The new EV will be manufactured at the Douai factory in France as part of the Renault-Mitsubishi-Nissan Alliance, starting in Q4 2025. The same facilities are the home of production for the Renault Megane E-Tech, Scenic E-Tech, R5 E-Tech, Alpine A290, and Nissan Micra EV.

While the new Eclipse Cross is not expected to cross the Atlantic, Mitsubishi has confirmed it will launch another electric crossover for North America in the summer of 2026. This one will be slightly smaller and share its underpinnings with the new Nissan Leaf.

Mitsubishi

Mexico is weighing a steep new tariff that could reshape its car market for years to come, proposing a 50 percent duty on vehicles imported from nations without free trade agreements. Importantly, that list includes China, meaning the move could weigh heavily on fast-growing player BYD and even affect Tesla at a time when electric car sales in Mexico are beginning to gain momentum.

Read: Mexico Has Had Enough With Chinese Car Imports

The tariff proposal, made public last week, wouldn’t stop at EVs. It would also hit combustion-powered cars from countries with no trade deals, a group that includes South Korea and China, both global automotive heavyweights, as well as India, Indonesia, and Russia, which play a smaller or more regionally focused role in the industry. Interestingly, American brands would be spared.

Automakers on Edge

Analysts suggest the new levy could put the brakes on BYD’s rapid rise in Mexico. Eugenio Grandio, president of the Electric Mobility Association in the country, put it plainly: “It’s definitely a game-changer. Fifty percent is a very aggressive number.”

Reuters reports that the tariff plan still requires approval from Mexico’s Congress before it can be enacted. General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis would sidestep the new duties thanks to their production plants in Mexico, which let them bring in a share of vehicles without tariffs. On the other hand, while BYD and Tesla have both discussed adding factories to their Mexican portfolios, so far those projects have failed to progress.

Tesla Has Solutions

Tesla’s pipeline to Mexico has so far depended entirely on its Shanghai facility, which has produced every Model 3 and Model Y sold there since mid-2023, Salvador Rosas of the Tesla Owners Club in Mexico, told Reuters. Still, analysts suggest the company has a buffer, with local stockpiles that could give it room to shift supply from other plants, including those in the United States.

BYD’s Mexican Plans Shunted

Back in 2023, BYD said it would build a new car factory in Mexico. However, these plans were ditched earlier this year after pressure from Mexican authorities who were worried approving such a plant could be detrimental to trade relations with the United States and would potentially upset President Donald Trump.

Despite the setback, BYD has enjoyed a meteoric rise in Mexico in recent years. Last year, it sold approximately 40,000 vehicles in the country, accounting for nearly half of all EV and plug-in hybrid sales nationwide. That momentum has continued into this year, with sales on track to double once again.

A new option has joined the growing ranks of Renault’s retro-inspired EV. The 4 E-Tech is now available in two work-ready versions for the French market, known as Societe Reversible and Societe Van. Both are designed for professionals who want the practicality of a light commercial vehicle without losing the everyday usability of the standard model.

More: Renault’s Retro R4 EV Could Get A Whole Lot More Interesting Soon

Styling remains unchanged from the regular passenger model, as the Societe versions keep their glass rear windows instead of adopting blank panels. This choice keeps costs down, but it also means Renault hasn’t followed through with the van-style look first teased back in 2021.

At the time, the brand hinted at a boxier tail inspired by the classic Renault 4 Fourgonnette, which would likely have boosted both visual appeal and carrying capacity, albeit at greater expense for what remains a niche product.

Work-Focused Cabin

Inside, the crossover has been reworked to meet the demands of everyday business use. The rear seats give way to a molded tray lined with an anti-slip mat, tie-down hooks, and a partition separating it from the front. Total cargo space comes to 1,045 liters (36.9 cubic feet), with a hidden 55-liter (1.9 cubic feet) compartment under the floor. The loading length stretches to 1.20 meters (47.2 inches), and payload capacity peaks at 345 kilograms (760 pounds).

The conversion takes place at the Ampere Manufacture in Maubeuge, France, by a company called Qstomize. The Societe Reversible is classified as a passenger vehicle (M1), while the Societe Van is a light commercial vehicle (N1). The latter has tax benefits but is subject to speed restrictions.

According to Renault, the target group of the Societe versions is tradespeople, delivery drivers, service and concierge companies, rental companies, and professional fleets.

Powertrain and Range

Performance is identical to the passenger version, with a single electric motor producing 148 hp (110 kW / 150 PS). Power comes from a 52 kWh battery that delivers up to 409 km (254 miles) of WLTP range. Charging from 15 to 80 percent takes just over three hours on an 11 kW AC unit, or around 30 minutes when connected to a 100 kW DC fast charger.

More: The New Renault 4 E-Tech Makes For A Chic Beach Buggy

In France, the R4 E-Tech Societe is priced from €29,300 ($34,700) for the Evolution trim and €30,900 ($36,600) for the Techno, excluding VAT. Furthermore, buyers benefit from incentives that can reach up to €5,060 (6,000) depending on the variant and the customer profile.

Options, however, can quickly nudge the cost upward. Renault charges between €167 and €917 ($200–1,100) for exterior colors, €167 ($200) for roof rails, and €333 ($400) for the all-weather tires with snow and off-road drive modes. Other extras include a hands-free tailgate at €333 ($400), advanced driver-assist and parking tech for €250 ($300), and a Harman Kardon nine-speaker audio system priced at €500 ($600).

In addition to building some of China’s most advanced electric cars, Xpeng has been quietly pursuing something far more ambitious: an electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. The project has been in development for over a decade, and the company is even constructing a purpose-built factory to produce them.

That long-term vision, however, hit turbulence this week when two of its aircraft reportedly collided and crashed at the Changchun Air Show.

The two aircraft involved in the incident are understood to be the same models designed to fold up and slot into the rear of the six-wheeled Land Aircraft Carrier. Each uses a six-rotor layout with propellers and arms that can fold away, and they are built to operate either under manual control or in autonomous flight mode.

Folding Wings and Six Rotors

It remains unclear whether the test flight was being conducted under manual control or via the autonomous system. What is known is that the accident happened during a rehearsal ahead of the public show’s opening on Friday. One passenger is reported to have been injured, though not seriously, according to Guancha.

Read: Xpeng’s $280,000 AeroHT Mothership Launches 2-Seater Drone From Its Boot

In a statement issued to CNEVPost, Xpeng said that the two aircraft were participating in a formation drill but collided after flying too close to each other. Fortunately, one of the aircraft landed safely, but the other sustained more significant damage and caught fire after it fell from the sky.

Ambitious Production Goals

Despite the setback, Xpeng wants to start production of the six-wheeled AeroHT ‘mothership’ and the eVTOL for paying customers by 2026. Prices will start at approximately 2 million yuan or about $281,000 at current exchange rates, and it’s said that the company has already received thousands of orders for the pricey recreational vehicles. The eVTOL can reportedly operate at up to 500 meters.

Both vehicles will be built at a 180,000-square-meter site in Guangzhou’s Development Zone. The new factory is designed to handle up to 10,000 units per year, underscoring the scale of Xpeng’s ambitions in taking mobility from the road to the sky.

Glenna Wright-Gallo’s upcoming keynote at the Transporting Students with Disabilities and Special Needs (TSD) Conference will feature her expertise in inclusive disability policies and background in work with special needs students to guide student transporters through the world of federal and state requirements.

Wright-Gallo’s will present her keynote, “Staying Mission-Focused: Leading Through Policy Shifts with Clarity and Confidence,” Sunday, Nov. 9 in Frisco, Texas. She recently served as the assistant secretary at the U.S. Department of Education in the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS), from May 2023 until February of this year. Her work there and most recently as vice president of policy at Everway, an educational software company, gives her unique insights into navigating accessible training programs, technology and updated policies regarding transportation services.

During her keynote, she looks to provide TSD Conference attendees with strategies to keep pace with implementing updated policies and ensure reliable and safe transportation services for students with disabilities, and infants and toddlers.

In addition to her keynote, Wright-Gallo is presenting a breakout session the afternoon of Nov. 9 on the importance and role of Dear Colleague Letters issued by the U.S. Department of Education.

Wright-Gallo received her bachelor’s degree master’s degree in special education and teaching as well as a master’s in business administration. She became a special education teacher in 1997 and then served as the state director of special education at the Utah State Department of Education from 2010-2017. She then became an assistant superintendent at the Washington Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction for five years before President Joe Biden nominated her her U.S. Department of Education post in 2023.

Her work in Washington, D.C., included development of national policy, best practices for students with disabilities, recruitment of diverse personnel in special education and furthering state compliance to advance inclusive practices. At Everway, she is leading the Policy Center of Excellence and looks to amplify the voices of individuals with disabilities and people who are neurodivergent. She is also utilizing her experience in systems improvement to use neurotechnology software in the support of those with disabilities and further accessibility in education and workplaces.

Save $100 on main conference registration with the Early Bird Discount, available through Oct. 3. The TSD Conference will be held Nov. 6 through Nov. 11 at Embassy Suites Dallas-Frisco Hotel and Convention Center. Visit tsdconference.com to register and view the conference agenda, which includes four keynotes and dozens of educational sessions all focused on transportation of students with special needs.

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Related: Mother of Sandy Hook Victim Brings Student Safety Message to TSD
Related: TSD Keynote Speaker Looks to Reveal Power of Praise in Student Transportation
Related: Hands-on Training Opportunities for Student Transporters at TSD Conference

The post Former OSERS Leader, Advocate for People with Disabilities to Keynote TSD Conference appeared first on School Transportation News.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. –Ann Arbor Public Schools (AAPS) started off the new school year by welcoming students back safely thanks to the support from its transportation provider, Durham School Services. As part of its back-to-school preparation training, the Durham team refined and practiced various safety and driving skills and performed practice runs of their routes to ensure familiarity and efficiency. In total, Durham runs 112 routes and transports over 5,000 students to and from the school every day for the district.

“The Ann Arbor Public Schools is pleased to be working with Durham School Services who provides the district’s general education and special education bus service. The management staff, led by manager Renae Pickel and her team, partner with us to provide transportation services to over 5,000 students,” said Liz Margolis, Executive Director of School Safety & District Operations, Ann Arbor Public Schools. “The Durham team also works with us to ensure students are scheduled for busing in the most efficient manner and to assess the routes during the first few weeks of school for any improvements in service. Further, they understand our families and the expected level of service. We look forward to a smooth 2025-2026 school year for transportation.”

In addition to celebrating the successful start to the school year, AAPS and Durham are also celebrating a three-year extension to its already decades-long partnership. The new partnership between AAPS and Durham extends through 2028 and plans are currently underway to transition the school’s fleet of buses to electric vehicles (EV).

Durham was one of five providers that submitted a proposal in response to AAPS’ request for proposals and was recommended by the review committee after careful and thorough consideration. In the recommendation letter, which is publicly accessible, it was noted that, “Over the contract term, Durham focused on student safety, on-time performance, and customer service, with an expertly maintained fleet of updated buses. The Durham Ann Arbor operation has consistently been awarded the Michigan State Police Certificate of Excellence for a 100% pass rate for all school bus safety inspections.”

“Maintaining and building a decade-long partnership, as you can imagine, takes significant dedication, effort, and hard work,” said Renae Pickel, General Manager, Durham School Services. “Thanks to our team members, we’ve not only been given the opportunity to continue serving AAPS for another three years but also had our best school start-up in years. We had a driver in every seat covering all 112 routes and all routes ran successfully. That is such an immense achievement, and I can’t help but feel a huge sense of pride for what my team has accomplished through their diligence and immeasurable efforts. Lastly, on behalf of the team, I’d like to express how truly appreciative we are for the school’s trust and recognition of our team’s commitment to always providing the utmost safe, dependable service to their students and community.”

About Durham School Services: As an industry-leading student transportation provider, Durham School Services and its sister brands, Stock Transportation and Petermann Bus, are dedicated to the safety of our students and People. Collectively, for more than 100 years, we have been committed to Excellence and upholding our mission of getting students to school safely, on time, and ready to learn. Through this mission and a grassroots approach to our operations, Durham School Services and its sister brands have earned recognition as a trusted transportation provider among our Customers and the Communities they serve.

The post Ann Arbor Public Schools and Durham School Services Start New School Year with Excellent Service and Partnership Renewal appeared first on School Transportation News.

SEATTLE, Wash. – Zonar, a leader in commercial vehicle fleet health and safety, is advancing its commitment to school transportation with two strategic moves.

Zonar has acquired ez enRoute, a provider of IoT technology and dynamic routing for pupil transportation. The acquisition expands Zonar’s technology portfolio and strengthens its position as the leading provider of smarter, more adaptable solutions for school districts.

Powered by ez enRoute’s independent routing engine, the company is launching Zonar Bus Suite, an integrated, all-in-one routing ecosystem designed to improve safety, efficiency and communication. For districts of any size, Zonar Bus Suite plugs into any transportation system with or without an existing routing provider, making it easy to modernize operations without costly overhauls.

Zonar is trusted with the world’s most precious cargo – our children – and is deeply committed to that responsibility. Every mile, every stop and every innovation are driven by the company’s mission to protect student riders and empower communities. The power of these two fleet technology companies challenges outdated systems and sets a new standard for student transportation: one that keeps families, drivers and schools seamlessly connected.

“Joining Zonar marks an exciting step forward in our mission to transform student transportation,” said Amit Anand, founder, ez enRoute. “Our combined expertise in the school transportation space makes this partnership a perfect fit to evolve our capabilities into a unified, all-in-one platform.”

With Bus Suite, school districts will benefit from advanced technical capabilities, such as:

Independent, Adaptive Routing: ez enRoute’s advanced routing engine, built into Zonar Bus Suite, delivers real-time, turn-by-turn directions without the need for a separate routing provider. Dispatchers can customize routes, make live adjustments and communicate changes directly to drivers and parents through the Zonar platform. Drivers can view assigned stops, students and routes on the Zonar-provided tablet.

Increased Visibility into Student Ridership: By combining Zonar Z Pass® student ridership data, Zonar Bus Suite enables drivers and substitutes to see who has boarded or exited the bus in real time. They also receive alerts if a student boards the wrong bus or exits at the wrong stop, along with special student instructions. This integration helps substitute drivers safeguard student riders.

Cloud-Based Operational Oversight: The Zonar Bus Suite dashboard allows schools to monitor live bus runs, track fleet performance, access student manifest reports and provide parents with accurate ETAs and student location updates in real time.

Integrated Parent Mobile Application: Parents can track school bus locations and receive route notifications and alerts through the Zonar Bus Suite Parent app, ensuring they’re instantly informed of any changes or delays.

“Bringing ez enRoute into the Zonar portfolio enables us to deliver greater value to our customers,” said Charles Kriete, CEO, Zonar. “We’re not just in the school bus business, we’re in the business of access to education, and we take this mission seriously. As districts nationwide face ongoing driver shortages, the launch of Zonar Bus Suite plays a vital role in modernizing operations, keeping families informed and ensuring safe, reliable student transportation.”

Zonar delivers cutting-edge technology to pupil fleets across the Americas. Zonar Bus Suite integrates all aspects of fleet management into one platform, including Zonar’s state-of-charge data for electric buses, predictive maintenance insights, Zonar Coach on-board vehicle cameras, and Zonar Z Pass® for student ridership management to protect everyone on the bus and on the road. The platform gives dispatchers the ability to customize routes and monitor live operations, ensuring full visibility into the entire transportation system.

For the latest updates and announcements, follow Zonar on LinkedIn.

About ez enRoute:
ez enRoute is an IoT/AI company deploying state-of-the-art technology to help make our world smarter and safer. By building an IoT platform through cloud-based services, which includes intelligent routing and logistics software for school transportation, enabling districts to optimize operations and improve service reliability.

About Zonar:
Zonar (https://www.zonarsystems.com/) is the trusted leader in proven fleet management solutions for pupil transportation, small- to mid-sized businesses, enterprise fleets and public sector organizations across the Americas. The Zonar mission is to stand by its customers as a partner to ensure fleets run better, safer and more efficiently. Whatever the fleet size, customers rely on Zonar to help solve real-world problems. Headquartered in Seattle, Zonar has been delivering fleet management solutions to its customers for more than 20 years. Zonar has operations in West Chicago and Cincinnati. Available 24/7, reach Zonar at info@zonarsystems.com or (877) 843-3847.

The post Zonar Acquires ez enRoute and Launches Bus Suite to Modernize Student Transportation appeared first on School Transportation News.

Headlines on tragic violent incidents, electric endeavors, drug testing, a bus fire and more.

Sean Hollas, interim transportation director for Goddard Public Schools in Kansas and a 2025 Top Transportation Teams Award winner, discusses fostering positive workplace culture and leveraging technology for efficiency.

Take a look behind the operational curtain with Brenda Boyd, transportation director for Holland Public Schools in Michigan and the Technology Super User featured on the STN September issue cover.

Read more about operations.

This episode is brought to you by Transfinder.

 

Message from School-Radio.

 

Stream, subscribe and download the School Transportation Nation podcast on Apple Podcasts, Deezer, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, RadioPublic, Spotify, Stitcher and YouTube.

The post (STN Podcast E274) Can I Make a Difference? Tips From Top Transportation Team & Technology Super User appeared first on School Transportation News.

A school bus carrying members of a high school softball team overturned after striking a deer. Seven people were injured, including one adult in critical condition, reported AP News.

The crash reportedly occurred around 9 p.m. Sept. 8 on State Highway 152, roughly 40 miles southwest of Oklahoma City. The bus was on route back from a scheduled game at Riverside Indian School in Anadarko when it hit a deer and flipped, ejecting some passengers.

A total of 17 people were on board at the time of the crash. Among the injured, four students were listed in stable condition as of Tuesday morning. One adult passenger, who was ejected during the rollover, remained in critical condition, Oklahoma Highway Patrol spokesperson Sarah Stewart confirmed via the article.

Initial reports stated eight people were injured, but the Ohio Highway Patrol revised the number to seven. “Some students were taken from the scene by their parents before emergency responders arrived,” said Lt. Mark Southall.

“The scene was cleared around midnight,” Southall noted, adding that an investigation into the crash is ongoing. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol is working alongside the National Transportation Safety Board to determine the exact cause.

Minco School District Superintendent Kevin Sims said only the school bus driver’s seat with a seatbelt. He also announced that classes were canceled Tuesday in response to the incident.

According to the news report, the crash has shaken the small town of Minco, population about 1,500. Minco First Baptist Church opened its sanctuary the evening the crash, offering a space for prayer and support. U.S. Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma expressed his condolences in a social media post, saying he and his wife, Cindy, “join all of Oklahoma in praying for our neighbors in Minco tonight.”

The softball team had reportedly been scheduled to play at Anadarko, about 35 miles southwest of Minco. Authorities continue to investigate the incident and have not released the names of those injured.

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Related: Six Students Hospitalized in Massachusetts School Bus Crash
Related: Over a Dozen Injured in a New Jersey School Bus Crash
Related: A Major Crash in Louisiana Involving a Stolen School Bus
Related: Minnesota School Bus Driver Admits to DUI After Crashing with Students Onboard

The post Oklahoma School Bus Carrying Softball Team Crashes, Injuring 7 appeared first on School Transportation News.

A year after making a major investment in Leapmotor, Stellantis is moving from shareholder to industrial partner. In 2023, the group spent €1.5 billion ($1.77 billion) for a 20 percent stake in the Chinese brand and took a 51 percent share in its international division, gaining the rights to sell and distribute its vehicles outside China. That relationship is now stepping up a gear, with Leapmotor set to build cars at one of Stellantis’s factories in Spain.

Read: New Leapmotor B10 Goes After Europe’s EV Market With Stellantis In Its Corner

Stellantis chief executive Antonio Filosa confirmed the development during a recent financial event. While he stopped short of naming the Spanish facility involved, the agreement will allow Leapmotor to sidestep the steep European Union tariffs placed on Chinese-built EVs, which can reach as high as 30.7 percent.

Tariff Workaround

“We have recently announced an industrial partnership to give Leapmotor capacity at one of our Spanish plants to build their cars on their platform,” Filosa said during the event, reports Auto News. “That will start very soon.”

While Stellantis hasn’t said which Leapmotor models will be built in Spain, a recent report indicated that the B10 electric SUV is the most likely candidate. Leapmotor is thought to be investing up to $200 million into one of Stellantis’s Spanish factories to make it happen. Zaragoza has been reported as a potential location for Leapmotor’s local production base, as Stellantis is building a massive battery gigafactory there with CATL, set to open next year.

Leapmotor’s European Plans

Interestingly, Leapmotor has already dipped a toe into European manufacturing. The brand previously assembled the T03 minicar at Stellantis’s plant in Tychy, Poland, though production ended in April. There had also been plans to build the B10 in Poland, but those have since been abandoned.

Leapmotor lifted the veil on the European-spec B10 late last year and recently opened the order books for it. Positioned as a rival to the likes of the Kia EV3, BYD Atto 3, and Honda Kona Electric, the B10 starts at €29,900 ($35,400).

Photos Stefan Baldauf & Guido ten Brink

Ford’s fiasco in Europe continues to get worse and this time it could cost 1,000 employees their jobs. he workers are based at the Cologne Electric Vehicle Center in Germany, where the Capri and Explorer EVs are assembled. Both models have been struggling to gain traction in the market.

Those two models are essentially reworked versions of the Volkswagen ID.4 and ID.5. The latter was already a niche product and having a Ford version, in the form of the Capri, was a pretty obvious misstep.

Jobs On The Line

Of course, corporate heads rarely roll over these mistakes so workers end up paying the price. In this case, the Associated Press says up to a thousand people could be out of a job. That’s a significant amount as Ford says there are 4,090 employees at the Cologne plant.

More: Ford Walks Back All-EV Promise For Europe By 2030 Due To Wavering Demand

This equates to a roughly 25% cut and the company will thin the herd with a combination of buyouts and voluntary departures. However, there’s little doubt that some people will lose the job they’ve been counting on.

Market Realities

In a statement, the automaker blamed the move on electric vehicle demand that was “significantly below industry forecasts.” The Wall Street Journal also reported the company cited evolving regulations as well as a lack of charging infrastructure investment. Some countries have also reduced or eliminated subsidies, making electric vehicles less appealing.

Thanks to this combination of factors, the Cologne plant is reportedly dropping down to one shift beginning in January. It’s the latest setback for workers as Ford announced plans to cut 4,000 jobs in Europe last November.

Rivian’s on-again, off-again Georgia plant is back in motion as the company held a groundbreaking ceremony in Social Circle. However, it was little more than a dog and pony show as construction isn’t expected to begin until 2026.

The money-losing EV company said surprisingly little about the facility, but noted the plant will be built in two phases with each providing 200,000 units of annual production capacity. That’s a combined total of 400,000 units and these vehicles will be sold domestically and internationally.

What Gets Built Here?

Production plans center on the upcoming R2 and R3. Rivian expects the first vehicles from the Georgia facility to appear in 2028, about two years after R2 manufacturing starts in Normal, Illinois.

More: Rivian R2 Prototype Spied With A Very Interesting Rear Window

The facility is expected to span approximately nine million square feet and it will be located on nearly 2,000 acres of land. Interestingly, Rivian envisions the site will have “recreational trails for employees and customers” as well as a “Rivian experience trail.”

Jobs and Promises

Since Rivian was granted a $6.6 billion loan from the Department of Energy in the waning days of the Biden Administration, it comes as little surprise that stakeholders – including Georgia Republicans – promised thousands of new jobs.

These are said to include 2,000 construction jobs and 7,500 plant jobs by 2030. Nearly 8,000 indirect jobs are also expected and Rivian said all these new openings could “generate over $1 billion in labor income annually – supporting suppliers, vendors and small businesses in the local Jasper, Morgan, Newton and Walton Counties and the surrounding region.”

While only time will tell if the plant lives up to expectations, it’s another feather in Georgia’s electric vehicle cap. As we’ve previously reported, the Peach State is also home to Hyundai’s Metaplant, which builds the Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 9.

In a statement, Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe said “We are cementing Rivian’s future at our Georgia plant, helping ensure America maintains its technology leadership and excellence in automobile manufacturing.” He added, “Our Georgia facility will support our global expansion and provide the scale necessary to get millions of future drivers in our incredible all-electric vehicles, both in the United States and overseas.”

The Concept C stole the spotlight at the Munich Motor Show, but Audi also used the event to highlight an entry-level EV. It’s scheduled to go into production in Ingolstadt next year and slot beneath the Q4 e-tron.

While the company didn’t say much about the new entry-level e-tron model, spy photographers recently caught a mule based on the Volkswagen ID.3 GTX. Unfortunately, there isn’t much to see as the body appears to eschew modifications. In fact, the only changes appear to be sportier wheels and a camouflaged interior.

More: Audi’s Smallest And Most Affordable EV Is Coming In 2026

That leaves us with only hints to work with, but Audi CEO Gernot Döllner has previously described the model as “an electric vehicle in the same class as the A3.” This suggests the car could be called the A3 e-tron, although the A2 e-tron has also been floated as a possible moniker.

There are more questions than answers at this point, but the model will presumably ride on the MEB+ platform, which also underpins the upcoming Volkswagen ID. Polo. The architecture is billed as the “next evolutionary stage” of the electric vehicle platform and is slated to offer two battery capacities as well as four different outputs.

Volkswagen has not shared many specifics yet, but has previously confirmed an ID. Polo GTI with 223 hp (166 kW / 226 PS). We also wouldn’t be surprised to see a variant with 208 hp (155 kW / 211 PS) as was alluded to by the ID. Cross concept.

Shproshots

That being said, the Audi could be significantly larger as the current A3 Sportback measures 171.3 inches (4,352 mm) long. That’s quite a bit bigger than the 160-inch (4,053 mm) ID. Polo and 163.8-inch (4,161 mm) ID. Cross. Of course, it’s also worth noting the ID.3 clocks in at 167.9 inches (4,264 mm).

Details are pretty hazy, but we’ll likely get a better idea of what to expect when fully fledged prototypes start appearing. Given that production is expected to begin next year, this should happen relatively shortly.

Shproshots

The automotive industry’s transition to electrification has been a lot rockier than many had predicted due to shifting customer preferences, ever-changing regulatory hurdles, and market-specific demands, forcing carmakers to respond. While the growth in sales of electrified vehicles has slowed somewhat, new data reveals they continue to gain popularity, accounting for a larger slice of the overall market.

Through the first eight months of this year, an estimated 12.5 million battery-electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles have found homes around the world. This represents a significant 25 percent spike over the year prior and has been led by surging demand in most important markets. However, North America is lagging behind.

A Continent Out Of Step

Read: The World Is Racing Toward EVs While America Barely Leaves The Driveway

According to data from Rho Motion, this year a total of 1.3 million BEVs and PHEVs have been sold in North America, which is just a 6 percent increase from last year. By comparison, sales in Europe are up 31 percent, those in China have increased 25 percent, and sales across the rest of the world have jumped 44 percent to roughly 1 million units.

Canada is dragging the rest of North America down. After the iZEV rebate was paused earlier in the year, Canadian BEV and PHEV sales have fallen one-third year-to-date. By comparison, sales are up in the United States and experienced a particular surge in August due to the impending end of the federal EV tax credit on September 30.

Slowing Momentum

In August alone, global sales of BEVs and PHEVs increased by 15 percent from the year prior, but this rate was the lowest jump since January. In total, 1.7 million BEV and PHEVs were sold in August, representing a 5 percent jump from July.

China, the world’s largest EV market, illustrates the slowdown. Sales still climbed 6 percent compared with August 2024, but the rise fell short of expectations. Last year’s numbers were inflated by unusual surges in July and August, when China broadened its trade-in scheme for new energy vehicles, making this year’s performance look softer by comparison.

Lead image: Stefan Baldauf & Guido ten Brink

Safety has long been central to Tesla’s identity, and the brand often finds itself defending that reputation. While there might be lingering questions around Autopilot and Full Self-Driving (Supervised) for years to come, what seems like an open-and-shut book is how these electric cars protect occupants.

More: Family Says Cybertruck Became A Fiery Trap That Killed Driver

Despite many concerns that the Cybertruck would struggle to keep up Tesla’s excellent crash-test rating, it just sailed through IIHS crash testing with flying colors. At the same time, there’s room to improve in terms of headlights and seat belt reminders.

Solid Crash-Test Credentials

Overall, the IIHS gave the Cybertruck a ‘Good’ rating in the updated moderate overlap front test. The rating applies to examples built after April of 2025, when Tesla updated the front underbody structure. The driver dummy showed low risk of injury to the head, chest, and legs. The rear passenger experienced only a moderate risk of chest injury. These results fall in line with the five-star crash-test rating that the NHTSA gave the Cybertruck.

The Cybertruck also aced collision avoidance tests, where it avoided every collision. That includes at 12 and 25 mph during the day and night. It also includes nighttime testing at 25 mph and 37 mph, where the potential obstacle is traveling in parallel with the Cybertruck. Those are great results considering how much concern there was in the past over the way this car might interact with pedestrians.

Lighting Holds It Back

The biggest thing holding the Cybertruck back from a Top Safety Pick award is its headlights. The IIHS says that “systems that create excessive levels of glare on specific road sections do not receive full credit for visibility readings in that scenario.”

Sure enough, the Cybertruck’s lights did create that glare, and they struggled in other areas too. Illumination was found lacking on the left side of the road and when turning left, leaving gaps in coverage. By contrast, the right side met almost every benchmark comfortably, creating an uneven performance overall.

More: Cybertruck Crushes Safety Tests With 5-Star Rating

That all said, this is just one more good mark for EVs when it comes to safety. The Rivian R1T scores even higher than the Cybertruck and earned an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award in 2024. Last year, it was still a Top Safety Pick as standards became tougher. The only ICE truck to meet that type of score is the Toyota Tundra. If the Cybertruck wants an award, it’ll need to improve its headlight situation, and the IIHS will need to submit it to small overlap and side crash tests. 

Six More EVs Tested

The Cybertruck was not alone in facing the spotlight in this latest round of IIHS safety tests. Six other electric models went through the same moderate overlap front crash test, and most came out well. The BMW i4, Chevrolet Blazer EV, Volkswagen ID.Buzz all earned good ratings, while the Tesla Model 3 was marked ‘acceptable’ due to higher chest-injury risk for rear passengers.

The F-150 Lightning and Ariya fell behind, with the Ford truck posting a poor score after rear dummy readings revealed risks of chest, head and neck injuries, and the Nissan EV receiving a marginal rating for elevated chest injury risk in the back seat.

Beyond crash protection, pedestrian crash prevention and headlight performance played a significant role in the results. The i4, F-150 Lightning, and Model 3 all earned good marks for pedestrian avoidance, with the ID.Buzz rated acceptable and the Blazer holding the same score from earlier testing.

Headlights Prove the Weak Spot Again

Headlights, however, proved to be a universal weak spot. Five of the seven electric models settled at acceptable, while the i4 and Cybertruck were marked down further for glare and poor high-beam illumination. Because of these issues, and the stricter award requirements, none of the seven EVs tested here qualified this time around for a Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+.

Credit: IIHS

Finding fresh roles for used car batteries is becoming a growing focus in the auto industry, and Stellantis has found a particularly human-centered application. Instead of letting end-of-life EV packs sit idle, the company is repurposing them for mobility solutions outside traditional cars.

More: Stellantis Is Quietly Building A Tri-Motor EV Setup That Can Power Itself

One of the most intriguing examples comes through a collaboration with startup Avathor, which has developed a compact EV tailored for wheelchair users and people with reduced mobility. Adding another interesting twist in this story is that the vehicle itself was penned by Italdesign, part of the Volkswagen Group.

This indirect and somewhat unusual collaboration between Stellantis and the VW Group likely stems from the fact that both Avathor and Italdesign are based in Turin. The Italian city is also a key hub for Stellantis, home to the Mirafiori facilities and the company’s main European headquarters.

From Road To Renewal

The process begins with Stellantis brands gathering batteries from retired EVs. These packs make their way to Turin, where SUSTAINera, Stellantis’ circular economy branch, focuses on extending their usefulness and cutting down on waste. A local partner, Intent S.r.l., then disassembles the 15 kWh modules, repackaging them for fresh duties.

For the Avathor One, the modules are reconfigured in 1.4 kWh short-range or 2.8 kWh long-range batteries, offering up to 50 km (31 mph) between charges with a top speed limited to 10 km/h (6 mph).

Avathor / Italdesign

What Is The Avathor One?

The Avathor One was launched earlier this year as the production model derived from the futuristic 2019 WheeM-i concept by Italdesign. It has a rear ramp for wheelchair access, a pull-out bench, and joystick controls.

Measuring just 1,486 mm (58.5 inches) in length, the EV comes fitted with car-like features such as LED headlights, a rearview camera, and collision-avoidance sensors that recognize both obstacles and pedestrians. It can handle gradients of up to 20 percent and climb steps up to 8 cm (3 inches) high.

According to the company, the goal is to launch the Avathor in Italy later this year, followed by Spain in 2026 and other markets in 2027.

Beyond Mobility Aids

Beyond the Avathor project, Stellantis SUSTAINera is also working with utility providers and battery integrators. One notable example is the ENEL X Pioneer system, which stores renewable energy at Rome’s Fiumicino Airport and is projected to cut CO2 emissions by 16,000 tons over ten years.

Of course, Stellantis isn’t the only automaker that is active in the circular economy with second-life batteries. Other brands such as Nissan, Renault, BMW, Kia, Geely, Jaguar, Toyota, Honda, Skoda, and Audi have all been involved in similar projects.

Stellantis

Volkswagen has already confirmed that it’s bringing the Polo name back on the artist formerly known as the ID. 2 electric hatch, adding that an ID. Golf, ID. Tiguan and ID. Roc are all in development, though running behind schedule. But now we hear another long-running combustion name is leaping into electric power as the ID. Touareg.

The Touareg, VW’s flagship SUV in Europe, which is scheduled to die next year, has been around for almost 25 years across three generations, each one sharing a platform with the Porsche Cayenne. But while the new Cayenne Electric, set to debut this winter, is based around VW’s PPE platform, which is the same one used in the Macan Electric and Audi A6 and Q6 e-trons, the Touareg isn’t due to arrive until 2029. That delay allows it to leap straight to VW’s upcoming SSP architecture.

Related: VW Is Killing Its Flagship SUV As It Bets On Cheaper Models

Germany’s Automobilwoche reports that the ID. Touareg will, in fact, be the first VW model to benefit from the new platform. That honor was supposed to go to the ID. Roc, the electric counterpart to the combustion T-Roc, but the launch of both that SUV and the ID. Golf has reportedly been pushed back to 2030.

Worries over costs and complications with shifting ICE Golf production from Germany to Mexico, intended to free up space for SSP models, are behind the delay, a report claimed this week.

Rivian Code, VW Badge

SSP-based models, including the ID. Touareg, will feature zonal architecture and software developed by Rivian, as will the Scout SUV that the Volkswagen Group is developing for sale in North America. But the German publication’s sources say Scout-branded EVs won’t come to Europe, and the ID. Touareg won’t be sold in the US.

That decision reflects history as much as strategy. America did get the Touareg during its initial launch in 2003, but pulled it from sale in 2017, effectively replacing it with the locally-built Atlas, which has a third row of seats that the Touareg has always strangely lacked. Volkswagen seems content to keep those roles divided.

The use of simulations is nothing new in the car industry. Automakers regularly use them to speed up testing and add extra trials that they can’t afford (in time and/or money) to carry out with real cars. But with the upcoming Cayenne Electric, Porsche used computer power to skip an entire process in the traditional car development program.

“This project was the first in which we moved directly from digital whole-vehicle testing to pre-series production,” says Dr. Michael Steiner, Porsche’s deputy chairman and a big cheese on the R&D team.

From Pixels to Prototypes

Instead of moving from the design to the construction phase and then to pre-production prototypes, Porsche managed to skip the construction phase altogether. It says its engineers were sending virtual prototypes on digital test drives as early as the design phase as a result.

Related: The Cayenne EV Coupe Shows Porsche Isn’t Done With Surprises

Porsche hasn’t put a price on how much money this digital-focused strategy saved, but it must be tons. It claims the virtual testing program eliminated the need to build around 120 actual test vehicles, which are not only expensive, but time consuming to produce. As a result, development time was cut by 20 percent.

The virtual test drives included, of course, laps of the Nurburgring, but also took in everyday traffic situations to simulate real world use. Because components like tires, dampers and bushes can be modified in the computer program, it’s relatively quick and simple to work out which spec works best. And each of the approved virtual components is then tested in the real world to provide validation.

Testing Without Drivers

Not all of the simulations require a human to be behind the wheel Gran Turismo-style. Many are run by the computers alone. Porsche developed a brand new test bench to put the motors, battery management and charging systems through their paces under realistic conditions. 

Also: Someone Dropped $125,000 For A 2014 Cayenne V6 And Nobody Can Explain Why

“The machines are so sophisticated that we can even display different asphalt surfaces or tyre slip,” says engineer Marcus Junige, who says one clear goal was that the Cayenne’s powertrain always deliver full power when the driver calls for it, something that demands seriously good thermal management.

Humans Still Required

Naturally Porsche’s AI experiment doesn’t entirely remove the need for physical testing, which fully kicked in at the pre-series prototype stage. A fleet of SUVs was still driven everywhere from the blazing 122 degree (50 C) heat of Death Valley to the freezing -31-degree (-35 C) expanses of Scandinavia, each vehicle covering around 93,000 miles (150,000 km).

Other Western carmakers are sure to employ the same digital tricks to speed up their development, if they aren’t already. One of the major threats posed by the Chinese isn’t simply their aggressive prices, but how much faster they are at getting cars to market, and AI tech will be crucial in helping other nations keep pace.

The Hardware

The Cayenne Electric debuts this winter, and should go on sale early in 2026. Built around a stretched version of the 800-volt PPE platform used in the Macan Electric, it features a 108 kWh battery for a 373-mile (600 km) WLTP range and Porsche’s Active ride suspension. It emits V8-like noises in track mode and will reportedly come in three tunes: 394 hp (400 PS / 294 kW) for the base Cayenne, 592 hp (600 PS / 441 kW) in S trim and 794 hp (805 PS / 592 kW) as a Turbo.

Porsche