Australia may be late to the EV party, but the guest list is growing fast. Despite trailing behind many nations in electric vehicle adoption, recent sales data shows an accelerating shift among local buyers. For the first time, electrified cars have outsold (gasoline) petrol-powered vehicles in a single month.

This could very well mark a turning point, positioning 2026 to potentially become the first full year where battery-assisted cars surpass traditional combustion sales.

Read: Hyundai Slashes $7K From Its Smallest EV, But It’s Still $10K Pricier Than Its Chinese Rival

In December, a total of 35,058 hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and battery-electric vehicles found new homes across the country. This was slightly above the 34,559 petrol cars sold over the same four-week period.

China’s Growing Influence on the Numbers

Zooming out to the full year, total electrified sales reached 355,887 vehicles, securing a 28.6 percent share of the overall market. Pure battery-electric vehicles made up 103,270 of that figure, accounting for an 8.3 percent slice.

Much of this momentum can be traced to the growing presence of Chinese manufacturers, whose expanding lineups have proved popular with Australian buyers. Brands such as BYD, Geely, MG, Xpeng, and Zeekr have led the charge.

Demand for EVs from China will likely grow even more this year. A slew of small and affordable electric offerings will soon hit the market, including Nio’s Firefly, the Geely EX2, and the BYD Atto 1, Australia’s Drive reports.

Petrol Still Leads the Pack

Although demand for electrified cars is increasing, petrol cars still represent the largest slice of the market. Indeed, a total of 475,279 were sold in 2025, which was 38.3 percent of the total market. Diesel models also remain popular, accounting for 29.4 percent, a figure which has remained relatively steady for the past five years.

It’s a long way from the market of a decade ago. Back in 2015, petrol cars accounted for a dominant 67 percent share, a clear sign of how much the market and consumer habits have changed in just ten years.

Traditional hybrids also had a strong showing last year. Australians bought 199,133 of them, giving the segment a 16 percent share. Plug-in hybrids, while still a smaller category, made notable progress as well. With 53,484 units sold, they secured 4.3 percent of the market, suggesting growing interest in flexible, transitional technologies

As Honda doubles down on its electric dreams, tensions are rising inside its own retail network. Honda dealerships are pushing back against the company’s joint EV venture with Sony, arguing that it’s siphoning attention and resources away from the core Honda and Acura lines, especially at a time when EV demand has begun to cool. The company, however, appears unmoved.

Sony Honda Mobility unveiled its near production-ready Afeela 1 electric sedan at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show, preparing it for a limited launch in California in late 2026. Alongside the sedan, the company also teased a second model, a crossover still in development.

Read: After A $90K Sedan, Sony Honda Thinks What America Needs Now Is Another Pricey Electric SUV

Honda will manage all direct sales, vehicle deliveries, and servicing for the Afeela lineup, and will also collaborate with independent repair providers to support ownership beyond the showroom.

Dealers Push Back on Direct Sales

This has rubbed many dealers the wrong way. In August last year, the California New Car Dealers Association filed a lawsuit against Honda and Sony, claiming the direct-sales strategy is illegal under the California Vehicle Code.

Sony Honda Mobility has countered, maintaining that it operates as a separate business entity, and therefore isn’t bound to use Honda’s existing dealership infrastructure.

“While we understand the intent may be to target a different, tech-savvy customer segment, we see no compelling reason to bypass the established dealer network that has supported the brand for decades,” Bill Feinstein, the chairman of the Honda Dealer Advisory Board, told Auto News.

Honda says it has been “clear and transparent” with dealers that they will not be involved in the sale or distribution of the Afeela models.

A Hard Sell?

Feinstein didn’t stop there. “It’s really hard to understand how a premium electric vehicle priced at $90,000-plus makes sense with EV demand softening, high interest rates and intense price competition,” he said.

He also voiced concerns about the broader impact on the business. “We’re deeply worried about the ongoing drain on financial and engineering resources. Every dollar spent in Afeela’s R&D, manufacturing and marketing is a dollar not spent on core Honda and Acura products, where we see greater potential for volume growth and profitability.”

Despite the resistance, Sony Honda Mobility isn’t phased. At last week’s CES in Las Vegas, the joint venture unveiled a prototype of its next model, an all-electric SUV that shares much of its design language with the sedan. The company says this new model could hit the US market as early as 2028

General Motors is finally stepping into the plug-in hybrid game, a move that’s been a long time coming. Despite shifting political winds that have made it easier to build thirsty combustion models, GM still sees full electric vehicles as the ultimate goal.

Read: Chevy Promised 255 Miles, The New Bolt Beats It Anyway

With tariffs weighing on costs, the federal $7,500 EV tax credit now off the table, and fuel economy standards loosened, automakers are being forced to rethink their timelines and adjust accordingly.

While speaking at the Automotive Press Association, Mary Barra confirmed that GM “had to make some fairly significant changes,” including cutting billions of dollars’ worth of EV investments. But she also made clear that new hybrids are in development, Autonews reports.

Plug-In Plans Materialize

“We are evaluating plug-in hybrids,” Barra said. “We have plans to do some. In the past, plug-ins were the only hybrids that actually counted toward the regulatory perspective. So we have plans to do those, and we’ll have hybrids where we think we need to. But again, we’re mainly investing and continuing to work on EVs because we think that’s the end game.”

In mid-2024, Barra revealed there were plans to start selling plug-in hybrids in the US in 2027. In her most recent remarks, she didn’t provide an updated timeline or name any specific GM models slated to receive the new powertrains.

However, she acknowledged that hybrids present their own challenges, particularly the fact that many owners don’t bother to plug them in. Nonetheless, GM is weighing both plug-in and conventional hybrid setups as part of its evolving strategy.

Read: Drivers Buy Plug-In Hybrids And Forget The ‘Plug-In’ Part

“We’re trying to be very thoughtful about what we do from a hybrid and a plug-in hybrid perspective,” she said.

Staying the Course on EVs

Even though GM will invest in PHEVs, it isn’t pulling back from BEVs quite as aggressively as some of its competition. For example, Ford recently took a $19.5 billion writedown after axing several important EV programs and partnerships. GM, by contrast, expects to take a $6 billion charge related to scaled-back EV spending, alongside a separate $1.6 billion charge posted in the third quarter.

Read: Stellantis Quietly Kills Its Plug-In Hybrids In America

During her remarks at the same event, Reuters reports that Barra emphasized GM’s desire to remain adaptable, especially given the uncertain regulatory environment ahead.

“I’m a little surprised at some [automakers] that are really pulling away very quickly, because we don’t know what will be in ‘29, ‘30, ’32.”

Scientists calculate that last year was one of the three hottest on record, along with 2024 and 2023. The trend indicates that warming could be speeding up, climate monitoring teams reported.

(Image credit: Bilal Hussein)

A longtime school bus driver received a heartwarming surprise from Star City School District in Arkansas when the transportation building was named after him.

Eighty-seven-year-old Brames Jackson has dedicated most of his life to serving his community in southeast Arkansas for decades. STN discovered a family connection when reaching out to Star City Transportation Director Kenneth Jackson. Brames is Kenneth’s uncle, and their story reveals a family legacy of outstanding student transportation service.

Brames Jackson became a school bus driver in 1964. He was on the district’s custodial staff, when he was asked to cover a route for a driver that was involved in a school bus crash. He shared that he continued to drive that bus for three months unpaid, simply to make sure that the students on the route got to school. The oversight was corrected, and he was officially put on the transportation payroll.

“When I got on that bus, I asked the Lord to take care of me and the children. And He did that. I didn’t want any child to get hurt and, I didn’t want to hurt any child,” said Brames.

He shared his entire 61-year-long career as a driver is accident free. The only maintenance he said he had was when he got a flat tire while on a route. He also shared that his route was often hard to navigate with lots of mud and rural roads. He proudly shared that he never got stuck, even during extreme weather conditions.

He relayed a story of waking up one day to snow but reported to work and drove his bus to the first stop on his route. The student informed him that she had just been told that school was cancelled due to the snow. For Brames, his focus was always dedication to the students, even in bad weather.

His nephew Kenneth Jackson said that his uncle has always been a source of inspiration to him. Kenneth began driving a school bus in 2009 and was made the transportation director in 2022, leading a fleet of 16 route buses and 22 drivers. Brames shared the advice he gave to Kenneth when he started in his new leadership role which was to focus on doing his job well and to connect with students and district staff. Those relationships with teachers, superintendents and other district leadership, the drivers and especially with the students are what create a lasting and positive impact.

A key mindset Kenneth said he shares with his uncle is the unwavering dedication to student safety, as students on the bus are “precious cargo.” As Brames said he sees the students as “pure gold” to their families and parents and that as student transporters, it’s crucial to see the students in the same way.

Both uncle and nephew said that they treat the students as if they were their own. Brames shared that he often sees adults who rode his school bus as young children and is happy to see them doing well in their lives. While he says he rode the school bus as a child and didn’t give his driver any trouble, he often encountered students having difficult behaviors. He stated that his goal was for students to not get taken off the route but rather address the behavior and keep them on the bus.

One day, Brames discovered a student smoking on board the bus. He told the student he would have to write him up, to which the student responded with a threat. Brames still took the boy to the office, despite the fact that he was armed with a knife.

Many years later, the former student approached Brames and hugged him. “’You made a man out of me. You don’t know how much I love you,’” Brames recalled the man told him. The boy had to go before the school board before he could ride the school bus again, but that moment was a turning point in his life. He later went to college, married a teacher and is successful in his work in the trucking industry.

“I felt like I helped that young man and I felt good over that,” said Brames.

The Arkansas Association of Pupil Transportation honored Brames as the 2025 School Bus Driver of the Year in June.

When Kenneth Jackson learned his uncle was retiring, he went to Superintendent Jordan Frizzell to ask if the school district would rename the transportation building after him. Kenneth said Frizzell enthusiastically accepted the idea and the district shared on its Facebook page last month that the Star City Board of Education officially named the transportation facility as the “Brames Jackson Transportation Building.”

“His commitment, integrity and care have made a lasting impact on generations of students and families,” said the post. “We are deeply thankful for his unwavering professionalism and the encouragement he offered to countless children through the years.”

When asked about his reaction to the news, Brames tearfully said, “I thank God. My nephew, the superintendent, I thank God for the school and the staff.”

Both true family men, Kenneth said that his uncle is well known for throwing the best family cookouts for the 4th of July. Brames, Kenneth continued, is a humble man who doesn’t like to draw attention to his achievements, including the adoption of multiple children over the course of his life.

Kenneth also stated that Brames is remaining active in his retirement as a full-time minister of a local church and president of the local usher board. He said that growing up with his uncle, he fondly remembers Brames’ favorite saying is “By the help of the good Lord.”

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Related: School Bus Driver Knits Beanies to Spread Warmth, Love in Oklahoma City
Related: Virginia School Bus Driver Retires After Over 50 Years of Service
Related: Superintendent Snapshot: Fully Staffed Arkansas District Focus’ on Employees

The post Arkansas School Bus Driver Legacy Honored by School District appeared first on School Transportation News.

Some city cars just aren’t built for speed, and Fiat seems ready to lean into that idea even more. Its famously compact 500 and Panda models might soon become intentionally slower, not due to technical limitations, but as part of a wider strategy to comply with European safety regulations without driving up costs.

Fiat CEO Olivier Francois recently suggested that capping top speeds could be a practical alternative to loading small, affordable models with costly driver-assistance tech.

Review: New Fiat Grande Panda Hybrid Makes Budget Look Cool Again

“I would happily limit my city cars, my smaller cars, to what is today the maximum legal speed limit,” he told Autocar. “It’s already a limitation. There is something weird that I need to over-spec my cars to go above the legal speed limit.”

According to Francois, the average legal top speed across Europe is around 73 mph (118 km/h), adding that most of the safety equipment “has been developed for cars to go way above the speed limit.”

How Fast Should a City Car Go?

But Fiat’s best-sellers, including the 500, Panda, and the newly introduced Grande Panda, aren’t exactly Autobahn material. They spend most of their lives in slow-moving urban traffic, where speed is hardly the point.

Francois doesn’t think limiting their top speed to 73 mph (118 km/h) would make much of a difference, since none of the city cars in question is especially fast to begin with.

More specifically, the electric Grande Panda is already limited to 82 mph (132 km/h), a cap intended to help preserve battery range. The internal combustion and hybrid versions of the subcompact hatchback are less restricted, capable of reaching up to 99 mph (160 km/h).

The Fiat 500e, meanwhile, comes with a limiter set at either 84 mph (135 km/h) or 93 mph (150 km/h), depending on battery size. As for the new 500 Hybrid, it can theoretically hit 93 mph (150 km/h) as well, though based on its acceleration figures, that top speed might be more of a long-term goal than a regular achievement.

Slower Means Safer

Francois thinks that a new speed limiter could serve as a cheaper alternative to more sophisticated ADAS that would inevitably increase the price of the models with little or no benefit to the customer. He also welcomed the proposal for a new small car category in Europe that could be free of the strict safety rules applicable in higher segments.

More: EU Quietly Plans New Car Class That Could See Prices Drop To €15,000

“I have a hard time understanding why we need to install all this super-expensive hardware,” he said. “Sensors, cameras, road sign recognition… All this is a little bit inadequate, a bit crazy, and has contributed to raising the average price of a city car by 60% over the last five or six years. I don’t think that city cars in 2018 or 2019 were extremely dangerous.”

Francois’s suggestion is to take a step back, reducing complexity rather than increasing it. “Our proposal was literally to say ‘let’s go a little bit backward from overloading cars with expensive hardware’.”

He argues that applying the same safety rules across all vehicle categories misses the point, especially when it comes to small cars built for dense city environments. “We fundamentally think that with all these rules, the most unsustainable portion lies in the city cars and urban driving,” Francois said.

These vehicles, he notes, are often inexpensive, bought by younger drivers, and used primarily for short-distance commutes. Their speeds, and the risks involved, are much lower.

If Fiat decides to introduce new speed restrictions across its lineup, it wouldn’t be the first to take that route. Volvo, Renault, and Dacia have already capped some of their vehicles at 112 mph (180 km/h), aiming to lower the risk of severe accidents.

As affordable EVs from China continue to pour into Europe, the question for legacy automakers is no longer if they should respond, but how quickly they can. For Dacia, the solution is straightforward: beat them at their own game by offering budget-friendly electric cars under a European badge.

Also: Dacia Working On New Sub-€18k EV For Europe

The Romanian brand, part of the Renault Group, already sells the Spring across the continent. Built in China, the Spring has carved out a niche as one of the cheapest EVs available in Europe, including Germany, where it can be had for just €11,900 ($13,900) after a massive €5,000 (around $5,900) discount that’s offered for a limited time.

But Dacia isn’t standing still. A second entry-level electric model is set to arrive in the second quarter of next year, priced around €18,000 (about $20,100).

The Twingo Connection

This upcoming model will be based on the new Renault Twingo. Unlike the China-manufactured Spring, the new EV will be assembled in Slovenia, sharing the same Novo Mesto plant as its combustion-powered sibling.

“Our aim is basically to maximize the offer of EV in the [minicar segment],” Dacia sales chief Frank Marotte confirmed to Auto News. “What we see is that the A-segment and probably in the future the B-segment are moving very fast toward BEV models.”

A Different Flavor of Affordable

To avoid cannibalizing sales of the Spring, Dacia says the new model will be “completely different,” not just in exterior styling but in color choices, interior design, and feature mix. The idea is to give each model its own identity, even if they serve similar purposes at the affordable end of the EV spectrum.

Dacia has already dropped a few hints about the design. A teaser sketch revealed a compact hatch with crossover cues and sharp lines, while a more restrained, camouflaged prototype appeared during a quarterly business update. Neither gives the full picture, but both suggest the new EV won’t be a softened copy of the Spring.

Depending on where you live, the newcomer might actually be the cheaper option. In countries like France and the UK, government subsidies currently exclude Chinese-built models, potentially tipping the scales in favor of this Slovenia-produced car. Pricing could fall below that of the Spring once local incentives are applied.

Read: This EV Was Already Cheap, Then Dacia Knocked Off Nearly $6,000

There’s also a regulatory upside. The new EV will help Dacia lower its fleet-wide CO2 emissions average, an important piece of the puzzle as EU targets tighten. The brand missed emissions goals for both 2025 and 2024, but this new model is part of a push to stay within the rules by 2027.

The car will ride on a shortened version of Renault’s AmpR Small platform, the same one underpinning the new Twingo. Power will come from a single electric motor delivering 81 horsepower and 129 lb-ft (175 Nm) of torque, paired with a 27.5 kWh lithium-iron phosphate battery pack. At this stage, only one variant has been confirmed, and the Dacia-branded model is expected to use the same setup

The EPA won't consider the economic costs of harms to human health, at least for now. Legal and health experts are concerned that the change could make it easier for the agency to roll back rules.

(Image credit: J. David Ake)

The first School Transportation News webinar of 2026 started strong by sharing perspectives of two industry veterans on four hot trends in student transportation.

Unifying the Tech Ecosystem

Keba Baldwin, director of transportation and central garage for Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) in Maryland and the STN Transportation Director of the Year, said that having a unified tech stack has helped him be proactive on safety rather than reactive. Building staff capacity to accept and use the technology has been a challenge, but once team members are on board, they also see the benefits, he added.

“Having disparate platforms can cause tension,” agreed Alfred Karam, who returned as interim director of transportation for Shenendehowa Central School District (CSD) in New York after retiring in July 2024.

Baldwin and Karam shared how data results in more accurate reports and improved driver performance.

“All these tools help us be more efficient and save time,” Karam noted.

When implementing multiple technology systems, he advised doing so slowly and ensuring each aspect is accompanied by thorough training.

Meanwhile, PGCPS’s bus tech stack was recently rolled out slowly across each of the 12 bus depots, Baldwin said. He is focused on making sure everything works as it should. Importantly, each department from transportation to classrooms to administration was involved in the process, in order to support it.

Overcoming the Labor Crisis

When lacking a centralized hiring department, as is the case for Shenendehowa CSD, Karam said he actively requested district help on getting the word out through emails and hosting “test drive a bus” events, so the spotlight is constantly on recruitment.

PGCPS does have a hiring department, which Baldwin said he works closely with. He also offers both paid training and bonuses.

Onboard school bus tablets make the job easier for new drivers but are not as readily accepted by older drivers that make up most of his workforce, Baldwin noted.

The average age of drivers at PGCPS is 50, and at Shenendehowa CSD it is 56. Technology acceptance and comfort level are important considerations, commented Craig Berndt, business segment manager of people transportation for webinar sponsor Geotab.

Karam stressed the importance of framing bus technology to supporting and improving driver skills rather than simply blaming drivers.

In response to an attendee question on how many drivers quit during their probationary period, both directors said that keeping a recruit throughout the training process likely ensures they will stay with the district for some time.

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Related: School District Directors Share Strategies for Transporting Students with Disabilities
Related: (STN Podcast E280) Nuts and Bolts: Transportation Director of the Year Talks Data-Focused Oregon Ops
Related: (STN Podcast E283) Onsite at TSD 2025 (Part 2/2): Solution-Driven Partners + TD of the Year Interview
Related: Magician Teaches Transportation Directors About Connection at STN EXPO West
Related: Pasco County Schools Rolls Out New Cash Incentives to Tackle School Bus Driver Shortage

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Balancing ZEV Mandates and Budget

PGCPS had 20 electric buses and several mobile propane-powered chargers when Baldwin joined the district. The district has since canceled the planned on-site infrastructure due to cost concerns. Baldwin therefore advised ensuring local utilities can handle the electricity demand as well as training all staff in case of potential emergencies. He said the World Resources Institute’s Electric Bus Initiative has helpfully provided templates and information on funding.

“We do have areas where EVs can be beneficial and other areas where they won’t be beneficial,” he noted.

The 2035 electrification mandate is still in effect in New York, which meant Karam had to quickly familiarize himself with the related jargon, organizations and procedures. He shared often-overlooked aspects of the conversation such as changing bus purchasing processes. Buying the bus is the last piece of the puzzle, after planning and infrastructure is in place.

He additionally underscored that chargers must be maintained as much as the buses themselves. Also, securing additional charging capacity requires heavy construction and miles of wires brought in – it is not as easy as calling a supplier to bring over extra gallons of diesel fuel, he quipped.

Karam shared that Shenendehowa runs only four out of six electric buses due to utility electricity caps.

Harnessing the Power of AI

AI is more than just a conversation with ChatGPT, Berndt declared. He said Geotab is focused on utilizing it to save human time by gathering data and making predictions on the likelihood of collisions or bus failures, which a human can then make decisions on.

“Everything we do has an AI component,” Baldwin declared. “What we have to do is embrace it and break it down into areas where we can apply it.”

He added that AI helps develop driver scorecards visible to him and his drivers, who then know specifically what to improve on.

“AI is in our hands already,” Karam agreed. “Safety is going to shift from being incident-driven and reactive to being pattern-driven and predictive.”

He shared that he used AI to crunch numbers rather than spending hours working manually with data from routing software. He related how AI-driven tools discovered that some drivers falling asleep at the wheel had sleep apnea.

Rather than stealing jobs and replacing humans, Karam said he sees AI “as a game changer and force multiplier as it matures and is adopted within the transportation system.”

Berndt gave listeners tips to make sure the AI model they are training is secure, so sensitive information stays safe.

Watch the webinar on demand.

The post Student Transportation Veterans Discuss 2026 Hot Industry Trends appeared first on School Transportation News.

Back-from-break headlines cover winter weather conditions, rockstars and leadership at STN EXPO East, updates from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and what impact recent developments in Venezuela could have on the school bus industry.

Keynote speaker and best-selling author Jim Knight, who rubbed shoulders with musicians and celebrities during his tenure with Hard Rock International, discusses building a student transportation brand and improving workplace culture. He will present a keynote and Transportation Director training at STN EXPO East in Charlotte, North Carolina this March.

Read all our latest news.

This episode is brought to you by Transfinder.

 

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

The post (STN Podcast E289) 2026 Kicks Off: Winter Weather, the World Stage & Rock ‘n Roll Leadership appeared first on School Transportation News.

Driving R&D Excellence in Refining Low Carbon Products: Unlocking Brazil’s Untapped Biomass Potential The global refining and petrochemicals landscape is undergoing a fundamental transformation. What was once a linear, fossil-centric value chain is rapidly shifting toward a diversified ecosystem built on low carbon products. This shift is no longer driven solely by compliance pressures—it is …

The post Unlocking Brazil’s Untapped Biomass Potential appeared first on Alternative Energy HQ.

By: Britt Burt, Senior VP of Research for the Power industry A new round of headlines has revived an old storyline about the United States “bringing coal back.” As an expert of nearly four decades, I can confidently say that this interpretation misses what is actually happening on the grid. Coal is not gaining ground …

The post The US Is Seeing Slower Coal Plant Retirements, But Don’t Mistake It for a Return to Coal appeared first on Alternative Energy HQ.

The era of all-electric performance cars from BMW M is nearly upon us. For years, the brand has been feverishly developing its next generation of cars and has confirmed that the first of these new models, the electric M3, will debut in 2027.

BMW isn’t officially calling the prototype shown here the Electric M3, or even the i3 M, though both names might seem like logical picks. If we had to guess, the latter feels like the more likely direction.

What Powers the Neue Klasse M?

At the center of all future electric models from BMW M, starting with the M3, will be an innovative powertrain based on the sixth-generation technologies found across the standard Neue Klasse family. At the front axle, there will be two motors, while at the rear, there will be a further two motors, each of which drives a single rear wheel.

Read: BMW’s Electric M3 Might Be Silent, But It’s Built To Make You Scream

BMW isn’t yet ready to reveal how much power its quad-motor system will produce, but don’t be surprised if future EV Neue Klasse models have four-digit horsepower ratings.

The motors are arranged in parallel, delivering power to one gearbox per wheel. Each of the two drive units also incorporates an inverter. The motors also allow for the precise control of power and torque at each wheel, creating what BMW says is a driving experience “that has never been achieved before.”

Supplying the motors will be a 100 kWh battery pack using BMW’s latest cylindrical cells. Driving ranges will obviously vary depending on the model, but the brand notes the pack has been designed to withstand the rigors of racetrack use. To offset some of the hefty weight of the electric powertrain, these electric M models will include lightweight natural fiber components.

Rear-Drive When You Want It

In news that will no doubt please hardcore driving enthusiasts, M says the front axle can be fully decoupled, turning its models into rear-wheel-drive beasts. Switching into RWD will also improve efficiency and boost driving range, so you can save the planet and spin up the wheels at the same time.

Channeling Hyundai’s Playbook

This isn’t where the driver-focused features will end. Much like the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, electric M Neue Klasse models, like the M3 EV, will include simulated gear shifts and a special soundscape, aiming to add some emotion into the EVs, which are often void of excitement.

The ’Heart of Joy’ high-performance control unit will control all driving-related processes, like control of the wheels and the steering, operating alongside four high-performance computers. To put it simply, M’s Neue Klasse models will be tech fests aiming to put the driver at the center of the experience.

European buyers might soon get another shot at the Jeep Wrangler, after the model was recently discontinued across the continent. You’ll still find it at dealerships through the first half of 2026, but only what’s left in stock. After that, buyers will have to wait for Jeep to introduce the next-generation model.

More: Stellantis Quietly Kills Its Plug-In Hybrids In America

Jeep recently stopped taking new orders the current Wrangler in Europe, including the UK, because it no longer complies with updated GSR2 safety regulations. These require modern driver-assistance and monitoring systems, which the Wrangler lacks, along with updated cybersecurity protections.

On top of that, emissions played a role in its departure. The turbocharged 2.0-liter GME-T4 inline-four used in European models emits up to 269 grams of CO₂ per kilometer, putting it in the same category as some high-performance V8 SUVs. The fact that Jeep discontinued all hybrid variants in the US, probably didn’t help either.

It may be gone for now, but it won’t be gone forever.

Next Chapter in Sight

According to Jeep UK managing director Kris Cholmondeley, the current model has been “a victim of regulation” and he is confident there will be “another incarnation down the line.”

“I’ve had chats with the head of Europe and the head of the global team,” Cholmondeley told Auto Express. “I think we’re all aligned that we’d like to see it back – that’s what I would say. What and when? I don’t know. I honestly don’t know if it could come back as plug-in hybrid or full-electric. I just know the brand; it’s got such heritage, it seems silly to lose that.”

Lessons from the Defender

Although limited details are known about the next-generation Wrangler, it will almost certainly lean heavily on electrification with plug-in hybrid versions, and perhaps even an EV. Cholmondeley is hopeful that Jeep can replicate what Land Rover has done with the new Defender, making a future generation of the Wrangler more refined, while still retaining the off-roading abilities that have made it so iconic.

“Look at [the Land Rover] Defender,” he said. “If you can take something like a Wrangler and have a little bit of refinement, but still keep its personality, you see the hundreds [of sales] going to thousands, don’t you?”

Read: Jeep’s New Special Edition Looks Like It Borrowed A Bronco’s Sunday Best

While the Wrangler is one of Jeep’s most iconic models, the British director said the brand can retain an important presence in Europe, even without it in its range.

“Wrangler has been an enduring icon, but it has always been niche. That’s lovely for the heart – [but] in terms of the ongoing viability, a good brand can die by being too niche and not having a broader commercial appeal,” he told Autocar.

“Our job is to protect the core and the spirit and broaden the appeal. So I love Wrangler and everything it stands for, but I also love Avenger and Compass. They’ve got all that Jeep DNA running through them, but they’ve got much broader appeal.”

Tesla has introduced a new seven-seat version of the facelifted Model Y Premium. It’s available exclusively on the all-wheel drive Premium variant and costs an additional $2,500.

While the company hasn’t provided specifics on the fold-flat third row, it appears nearly identical to the setup found in the pre-facelift Model Y, meaning it can accommodate two small children at best. Unfortunately, they won’t find much back there besides two cup holders and some armrests integrated into the cargo area.

More: Tesla’s Model Y L Gets Bigger And Pricier With New Six-Seat Layout

Pricing starts at $51,490 and the vehicle has an EPA-estimated range of 327 miles (526 km). The crossover can also accelerate from 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) in 4.6 seconds, before hitting a top speed of 125 mph (201 km/h).

In other news, Tesla revealed all Premium and Performance variants will now come equipped with a black headliner and a larger 16-inch infotainment system. That’s up slightly from the previous 15.4-inch display.

Tesla didn’t mention additional changes, but reports suggest the model also gains matte black badging and a new 20-inch wheel design. The latter are known as the Helix 2.0 and they cost $2,000. Unfortunately, the titanium colored wheels lower the range of the aforementioned all-wheel drive Model Y Premium to 303 miles (488 km).

California California is moving to jumpstart electric vehicle momentum in the wake of the now-vanished $7,500 federal tax credit, and it’s bringing serious money to the table. To keep buyers engaged and support EV adoption, the state plans to introduce a new point-of-sale incentive designed to lower the upfront cost of electric vehicles right at the dealership.

The centerpiece of Governor Gavin Newsom’s newly unveiled $348.9 billion state budget proposal includes a one-time $200 million allocation for a point-of-sale rebate program targeting light-duty zero-emissions vehicles. Specifics are still under development, including how many rebates will be offered and which vehicles will qualify.

Next Phase of the EV Push

“Despite federal interference, the governor maintains his commitment to protecting public health and achieving California’s world-leading climate agenda,” California Air Resources Board spokesperson Lindsay Buckley said. “This incentive program will help continue the state’s ZEV momentum, especially with the federal administration eliminating the federal EV tax credit and carpool lane access.”

Read: California Won’t Replace $7,500 EV Tax Credit as Newsom Accuses GM of Selling Out

Car buyers in California rushed to snag new EVs in the third quarter of last year before the tax credit expired. Indeed, a record number of 124,700 zero-emission vehicles and plug-in hybrids were purchased across the state between July and September, the highest number on record. Predictably, sales tapered off in the fourth quarter once the credit was gone.

It’s not just consumers who will be pleased to hear California has incentives up its sleeve. Back in September, a group of automakers including Honda, Hyundai, VW, Audi, and Rivian sent a letter to Governor Newsom, urging the state to create a $5,000 EV rebate to offset the loss of the federal incentive previously scrapped under the Trump administration.

An incentive program won’t just benefit the hip pockets of locals. As reported by the LA Times, transportation is the largest source of climate and air pollution in California, so the more zero-emissions vehicles that can be sold there, the cleaner the air will become.

Also: California Flips On Immigrant Truckers, And Now Washington Wants Payback

Governor Newsom added that the state “refuse[s] to be bystanders” as China and other countries lead the industry’s shift to EVs.

“We must continue our prudent fiscal management, funding our reserves, and continuing the investments Californians rely on, from education to public safety, all while preparing for Trump’s volatility outside our control,” he said. “This is what responsible governance looks like.”

New vehicle prices traditionally peak in December, but last month they really boomed, the average transaction price (ATP) in America reaching an all-time high after breaking the $50,000 barrier for the first time in September of 2025. And it was trucks, appropriately enough, that did the heavy lifting.

Kelley Blue Book says the average transaction price for a new vehicle climbed to $50,326 in the final month of 2025, up 0.8 percent year on year and up 1.1 percent from November. Americans’ desire to put a pickup on their driveway helped fuel that growth, with drivers splurging a staggering $15 billion on full-size trucks in December alone.

Related: Woohoo! We Found A New Honda Prelude With A Discount

Jumbo pickups including the Ford F-150 and Chevy Silverado had an averaged price of $66,386 in December, according to Cox Automotive’s data, that average a modest 1.9 percent higher than the previous December. But over 233,000 of them were sold, turning the segment into a kind of economic leaf blower that pushed the entire industry’s average higher.

Choosing luxury

That truck performance confirms that average prices aren’t simply rising because everything naturally gets more expensive, even when inflation is low. They’re rising because buyers are choosing more expensive stuff. Nearly 20 percent of shoppers went for luxury rides in December, according to Cox and that doesn’t even include high-end trucks, which increasingly behave like luxury vehicles with bed liners.

Transaction Price Versus Incentives

December’s $50,326 ATP, by the way, reflects what buyers are actually paying at the dealership. It wasn’t the only number to hit a new high. The average new-vehicle manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP), often referred to as the “asking price,” also set a record last month, reaching $52,627. That figure is 1.2 percent higher than it was in December 2024. Notably, the average MSRP has stayed above $50,000 for eight straight months.

The industry average incentive rose to 7.5 percent of transaction price, higher than November but lower than last year and far lower than pre-covid levels. That means the sticker shock is real regardless of the difference between ATP and MSRP.

“We typically see elevated prices in December, as the market delivers a strong mix of high-end and luxury vehicle sales,” said Cox Automotive Executive Analyst Erin Keating. “It’s important to remember, the Kelley Blue Book ATP is a reflection of what was sold in a given month, not what is available. Last month, nearly 20% of shoppers bought luxury, a peak for 2025 – and that doesn’t include the volume of high-end pickups that were snapped up by affluent shoppers.”

Big EV Incentives

On the electric front it was a mixed bag, which is hardly surprising given how much uncertainty tariffs and the loss of tax credits has injected into a segment whose growth has slowed. Average EV transaction prices dipped slightly from November but stayed higher than a year ago at just over $58,000 on average.

But much more generous incentives – a record 18 percent, more than twice that for combustion cars – must have played a big role in pushing monthly electric sales above 84,000 units in December. That last figure is the best since credits were axed in September, but 2025’s total EV sales of around 1.28 million is down 2 percent on 2024, Cox analysts say.

Average Transaction Price by segment

Average Transaction Price by automaker

Average Transaction Price by brand

Update: We reached out to Honda for clarification on whether its new logo will appear solely on electrified vehicles (EVs and hybrids) or across all models, including gasoline-powered ones.

“Honda has announced that the new H-Mark will be applied to EV/HEV models launched after 2027,” a US spokesperson told us. “Honda has no details to share regarding gasoline models at this time.”

Honda is preparing for a small but symbolic shift in its visual identity as it steps deeper into electrification. The company has announced that a newly designed emblem will begin appearing on its electrified production vehicles and across other areas of its automotive business, including dealerships and motorsport divisions.

More: Prelude, Type R And CR-V Get Sporty HRC Makeovers, And Honda Didn’t Stop There

The classic H mark has been reimagined with a simplified, borderless design and will make its production debut on future electric vehicles and next-generation hybrids beginning in 2027.

Which Models Get It First?

The new logo made its first appearance on Honda’s 0 Series concepts, revealed in early 2024. The first production model expected to wear it is the 0 SUV, which will be built in Ohio. That vehicle was originally slated to launch in 2026, although the first confirmed use of the new badge is now set for 2027.

Following the 0 SUV, Honda will introduce the closely related 0 Saloon, which also features the illuminated emblem. A third vehicle, the compact 0 Alpha SUV, is being developed as a global model, with particular attention to the Japanese and Indian markets.

Alongside its all-electric lineup, Honda has confirmed the emblem will appear on a series of new hybrids as well. Between 2027 and 2031, the company plans to roll out 13 new vehicles featuring an updated version of its e:HEV hybrid system. The revised setup promises better efficiency, stronger performance, and tighter integration of components.

More: Next CR-V And Civic Hybrids Borrow A Trick From The Prelude To Feel Fun Again

This means the Prelude coupe and the upcoming Super-One hatchback could be among the final new models to carry the current emblem, unless Honda opts to retrofit them with the new badge as part of future model year updates.

While there is no mention of future ICE-powered products, Honda has confirmed that the new branding will be “rolled out gradually across automobile models and other business areas” such as dealerships, communications initiatives, and motorsport activities.

The H mark has served as Honda’s signature since 1963, with previous redesigns arriving in 1969, 1981, 1991, and 2001. The latest version, inspired by the image of two outstretched hands, is intended to symbolize a “second founding” for the brand as it moves through a period of transformation.

Skoda has finally put a name to its long awaited electric seven-seater, and it’s a short one with a lot riding on it. The new flagship will be called Peaq, to reflect its position at the top of the Skoda lineup, and it arrives in summer 2026 as the brand’s biggest and most ambitious EV yet.

Remember the stylish Vision 7S concept from 2022? The Peaq is that car toned down just enough for production and aimed straight at families who want space, comfort and zero tailpipe emissions without jumping into premium brand pricing. Think of it as an electric Kodiaq, only smoother, quieter and more digital.

Related: Skoda’s Kia EV9 Rival Isn’t Fooling Anyone With This BMW Disguise

The Vision 7S was the first full expression of Skoda’s Modern Solid design language, and though Skoda hasn’t yet revealed any pictures of the Peaq beyond its badge and a handful of dark teasers, it’s expected to stick pretty close to that look. That means a blocky, confident shape, a clean Tech Deck front end instead of a traditional grille, flush door handles and distinctive T shaped lighting signatures front and rear.

We’ve already seen heavily disguised prototypes testing at the Nürburgring, and while the camo played tricks with the details, the proportions made one thing clear. This is a big car by European standards at around 5m (197 inches) long, with three rows and a proper road presence.

VW family ties

Under the skin, the Peaq will ride on the Volkswagen Group’s MEB platform, the same architecture used by cars like Skoda’s own, smaller Enyaq, and the VW ID. Buzz and ID. 7. The original concept packed an 89 kWh battery and promised over 373 miles of range on the WLTP cycle, and something close to that is expected for the production version.

Rear-wheel drive and dual-motor all-wheel drive versions are likely, with the quicker model delivering around 335 hp (340 PS / 250 kW), though Skoda could theoretically offer an entry-level model with rear-wheel drive, as VW does with the ID. Buzz in Europe.

Skoda admits the Peaq will be its most expensive model yet, sitting above the Enyaq, but it’ll still pitched as a value choice compared with rivals like the Kia EV9, Volvo EX90 and Hyundai Ioniq 9. If we were heading up those other brands we’d be taking this Peaq threat very seriously.

New Skoda Peaq teaser shots and spy images

Wildfires last January destroyed communities around Los Angeles. Homeowners say recovery has been slowed by fights with insurers to get their claims paid.

(Image credit: Josh Edelson)