More U.S. Environmental Protection Agency news and webinars on funding, plus how clean energy demand intersects with AI’s need for resources. Conversations continue at ACT EXPO this week and the Green Bus Summit at STN EXPO West in July.
“The tragedy will never leave you.” Shocking real-life stories abound in this special extended episode as 91-year-old industry legend and consultant Richard “Dick” Fischer underscores the need for thorough safety leadership and training. He discusses student transportation history, school bus crashes in the news, drunk and criminal drivers, illegal passing and the Danger Zone. See him live at STN EXPO West and email him to sign up for his free safety newsletter.
UK Lotus dealers have slashed the prices of new all-electric Taycan rival.
One dealer’s unregistered EV has been priced down from £140k to £90k.
Lotus will launch hybrid versions of Emeya and Eletra to fight slow sales.
Around the world carmakers are u-turning on their plans to go big – or even all-in – on EVs, and Lotus is no different. The Geely-owned brand is developing hybrid versions of its Emeya sedan and Eletre SUV, but until they arrive, dealers have to focus on finding homes for the electric versions. And they’re offering huge discounts.
The UK’s Autotrader website currently has 15 brand new, unregistered examples of Lotus’s Porsche Taycan rival up for sale at prices that’ll bring tears to the eyes of anyone who paid full price for one of the EVs when they first became available in 2024.
Most of the really crazy deals are on the flagship Emeya R, whose 905 hp (918 PS / 675 kW) bi-motor setup gets the emissions-free sedan to 62 mph (100 km/h) in less than 2.8 seconds. The biggest saving we could find was on a Kaimi Grey car at Endeavour Lotus West London. Originally priced at £140,105 ($189,330), it’s now up for £89,950 ($121,550). That’s a 40 percent (£50,155 /$67,900) haircut.
Not far away in Hatfield, another dealer has two new Rs price well below list, one of them promising a £43,755 ($59,130) saving. And a couple of hours away to the north east of the capital, Endeavour Lotus Colchester has a cut the price of another four Emeya Rs by similar amounts.
New Car, But An Old Badge
Technically, the R is an obsolete model, Lotus having now switched up its base, S, R grade structure for 600 and 900 names that reference the power outputs. But the powertrains themselves are carried over unchanged, so these heavily discounted Rs we’ve found look great value next to a new £129,990 ($175,660) 900 Sport or £139,990 ($189,180) 900 Carbon.
And if you’re determined to have your Emeya in the current trim, dealers are offering some healthy savings on those too, including £15,000 ($20,300) off a brand new 603 hp (612 PS / 450 kW) Emeya 600 GT, which should cost £95,000 ($128,400) with options.
Hybrids This Year
Lotus is working on a hybrid Emeya, which is expected to match the spec of the bizarrely-named Lotus For Me, the new Chinese-market petrol-electric version of Lotus’s new Eletre SUV. Combining a 2.0-liter combustion engine, twin-motor 900-volt electrical system and a 70 kWh battery, the Eletre hybrid makes 939 hp (952 PS / 700 kW), and should arrive in Western markets – minus the silly name – this year. the Emeya hybrid shouldn’t ber far behind.
Would these big savings tempt you into an Emeya, would you rather wait for the hybrid, or skip the Anglo-Chinese Taycan rival altogether?
LAS VEGAS – As the school bus industry awaits the return and final awards of the Clean School Bus Program, propane and battery-electric continue to offer the most consistent operational cost savings.
That was the verdict of the 2026 State of Sustainable Fleets report produced by TRC Clean Transportation Companies and released this morning at the opening of ACT Expo. The published conclusions are derived from a national survey of light-, medium- and heavy-duty fleet operators across not only the school sector, but transit, refuse, delivery, freight, utility, municipal, and private contractors. The report also relied on industry interviews, market data, policy and funding analysis, and lifecycle and cost analysis.
Propane autogas — including renewable propane, which ACT News and the Propane Education and Research Council previously reported is projected to reach 300 million gallons produced by 2030 — and electric arrive at lower total cost of ownership in different ways, the report highlights.
Propane school buses traditionally cost about 10 percent more upfront to purchase than diesel counterparts. The price of EPA’s new rule expected to be updated next month would have resulted in additional costs of $8,000 to $18,000 for each new diesel vehicle. Discussions at last month’s STN EXPO East provided similar figures. But depending on how the pending 2027 federal NOx regulations update is rewritten, increased costs tied to diesel warranties and end-of-life provisions could be cut in half, according to a panel Monday morning on EPA27, with speakers Andrea Lukas of Cummins and David Hillman of International.
The speakers noted that the low NOx requirement of 0.035 g/brake-hp-hr remains with the effective date of Jan. 1, 2027 still ineffect. The separate issue of GHG and the prior regulation in effect mandating the use of battery-electric in California Air Resources Board states to be addressed with the new rule.
Daily operations are more immediately impacted by fuel prices amid the Iran war. The survey found that Midwest school districts were paying $1.31 to $1.90 per gasoline gallon equivalent, or 47- to 63 percent less than gasoline, to fuel their propane school buses. The U.S. Department of Energy said private propane fueling nationwide averaged $2.91 per GGE in January 2025.
Meanwhile, diesel prices at the pump fell $0.05 to a national average of $5.35 per gallon and gasoline increased by 7 cents to $4.12 per gallon, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The State of Sustainable Fleets report found that propane Autogas delivers 50-percent lower daily fuel costs than diesel and 40 percent lower than gasoline.
Overall, 39 percent of the fleets surveyed recovered operational costs savings compared to vehicles replaced by propane.
In terms of GHG emissions, the responding fleets reported that propane offered a 59-percent reduction in California compared to gasoline. Like battery-electric, propane emits zero pounds of sulfur dioxides, according to the U.S. Department of Energy’s AFLEET data. However, that is where the similarities to propane end.
Electric school buses of course emit nothing from the tailpipe. In fact, they don’t have tailpipes. Electricity for charging in California offered a 59-pecent reduction in lifecycle GHG emissions last year compared to diesel. Propane, while reducing NOx by over 90 percent compared to diesel (including biodiesel blends and renewable diesel), emits nearly 640 percent more CO2. It emits slightly higher PM10 than diesel and same levels of PM2.5, the especially fine particles of soot that are most dangerous to children.
Comparative chart of emissions by fuel type. Source: U.S. Department of Energy AFLEET, via World Resources Institute Electric School Bus Initiative.
Tips for Making Battery-Electric Work
The report forecasts that medium- and heavy-duty electric vehicle registrations — which set a record last year — will fall in 2026 due to the loss of the EV tax credits and “pivots announced by manufacturers.” Registrations of electric school buses was up 60 percent, despite the absence of EPA Clean School Bus Program funding but with continued state support in California, New York and Maryland among others. And electric school bus registrations were drastically better than anemic growth in electric big trucks.
EVs are showing improved TCO. Fifty-seven percent of the fleets surveyed reported operational cost savings on medium-duty electric vehicles compared to the vehicles they replaced. The biggest savings occur on routes that fit electric duty cycles, managing vehicle charging and limiting maximum loads. For example, the report found that fleets can also save 30 percent by shifting to off-peak charging cycles, and doubling or tripling charging windows can cut capital and fueling costs by more than half.
Additional best practices include right-sizing charging equipment, maximizing charging windows and charging multiple vehicles per station.
Costly charging infrastructure remains a challenge, but funding assistance continues, despite the termination of the federal EV credit. The report cited a $6 billion investment by electric utility member companies of the Edison Electric Institute to support charging infrastructure through consulting services, customer rebates, make-ready infrastructure, and end-to-end charging solutions.
Overall, 54 percent of the fleets surveyed said the plan is to increase usage of EVs in the next two years. In the school bus sector, the report cites S&P Global Mobility data showing that 2,289 new electric school buses were registered last year, a 59-percent increase from 2024.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency had yet to announce the latest and final funding opportunities under the five-year, $5-billion Clean School Bus Program at this writing. But the remaining $2.7 billion to be awarded will result in more electric school bus orders over the coming years, as well as propane and likely diesel. In addition to California and New York, which have large funding programs to try and meet their mandates that school buses be all-electric over the next two decades, the report cites increased state funding elsewhere, such as new programs in Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey and New Mexico.
Despite the Lion Electric bankruptcy and consolidation of operations to solely serve Quebec, the State of Sustainable Fleets reported positive news for electric school bus manufacturing. It cited Blue Bird’s all-time record revenue and profit posted in the fourth quarter and full year of 2025. Thomas Built Buses also announced its first Type D electric school bus, which is now available to order. IC Bus continues manufacturing and selling its CE Series electric and is offering bundled consulting, financing and maintenance services.
Diesel Continues On
The State of Sustainable Fleets report cited an American Trucking Associations blog in November that the EPA Clean Trucks Plan, which was set to reduce NOx by more than 80 percent and PM by 50 percent for 2027 model year engines, will remain largely unchanged.
A final rule was expected this spring but no announcement had been made at this writing.
“All major manufacturers have developed at least one HD engine capable of meeting those requirements,” the report states.
The report at ACT Expo suggests the final rule may remove warranty and useful life provisions that are expected to increase new diesel vehicle costs in the range of $8,000 to $18,000, with the Cummins-International session earlier Monday again indicating those figures could be less. The new final rule from EPA will eventually result in more specific cost figures.
Still, a “pre-buy, no-buy” dynamic is expected this year and next. The report states that manufacturers are already selling out new build slots for the third and fourth quarters of 2026.
As the industry awaits the Clean School Bus Program announcement and its expected incentives for using biodiesel and renewable diesel, the report found 56 percent of fleets used one of these drop-in fuels, more than double the number from 2023. Twenty-one percent reported utilizing both biodiesel and RD.
Benefits of using RD, the report confirmed, are improved cold-weather performance over biodiesel and fewer diesel particulate filter changes while realizing maintenance savings of approximately $0.015 to $0.02 per mile.
The report also covered CNG, hydrogen and hybrids. But CNG is no longer manufactured as an option for the school bus sector, and hydrogen as yet to be offered as a viable power plant. The school bus industry did test the applicability of hybrids a decade ago and shortly thereafter abandoned those efforts. But hybrid is showing some promise for tractor-trailer trucks, the report notes.
“Adoption of a new technology is almost always driven by a combination of regulation, economic savings and incentives,” Patrick Couch, senior vice president of technical services for TRC Clean Transportation Solutions, told School Transportation News last week. “For hybrid technologies, OEMs will be focused on high-fuel use applications and applications where they are allowed by regulations and operationally more suitable than alternatives. School buses may be a secondary or tertiary focus for hybrid product offerings.”
Nearly new Wagoneer S changed hands for huge discount.
500 hp SUV sold for the price of a base, RWD Tesla Model Y.
Jeep’s maiden EV skips MY26, returns in 2027 with upgrades.
We knew Jeep’s first American EV was having a tough time, but this is something else. A nearly new Wagoneer S Limited 4xe just sold on Bring a Trailer for $38,500 after covering only 91 miles (147 km). That’s roughly $30,000 below its original sticker, and a sharp reminder that EV depreciation can be brutal.
On paper, the deal looks fantastic. The Wagoneer S packs dual motors, all-wheel drive, and a factory-rated output of 500 hp (507 PS) and 524 lb-ft (710 Nm) of torque. The quoted 294-mile (473 km) range from the 100 kWh battery isn’t amazing, but it’s tolerable, and the tailpipe-free Wagoneer is roomy enough for family duty and loaded with kit, making the auction result look like bargain-hunter gold.
This example was a Limited trim finished in white with Jeep’s Dark Appearance package. The Limited stickered at $67,195 including destination and before options, and this one came with a panoramic roof, heated front seats, heated steering wheel, surround-view cameras, adaptive cruise control, wireless smartphone mirroring, a 12.3-inch touchscreen, and an Alpine nine-speaker audio system.
So it’s not exactly a stripped rental special, even if it is a rung below the 600 hp (608 PS), $72,195 Launch Edition.
So why the huge value crash? Because the Wagoneer S has struggled badly since launch. It arrived when automakers believed premium EV demand in America would keep climbing. Instead, the market cooled, incentives changed, and shoppers became more selective about price, charging access, and brand trust.
No More Tax Credits
The biggest blow came when the $7,500 federal EV tax credit disappeared last September. Before that, Jeep reportedly moved more than 10,000 Wagoneer S models across three quarters with the help of some big discounts. In the two quarters after the credit ended, sales fell to just 613 units.
Jeep’s response has been telling. The brand won’t build a 2026 Wagoneer S at all, instead skipping straight to a 2027 model. Stellantis says the pause will allow upgrades to battery performance, software, capability, and interior quality. It’ll also gain a NACS charging port for easier access to Tesla’s growing Supercharger network.
A better Wagoneer S is coming, but we still think whoever bought this one got an absolute bargain. If he can live with uncertain resale and a model facing reboot status, $38,500 bought him a barely driven 500-hp electric SUV with lots of equipment. That’s hard to ignore, even if the first owner probably wishes they had.
BYD profits fell sharply in the first quarter of 2026 overall.
Revenue declined 12 percent year on year during the period.
Slower domestic sales in China drove much of the downturn.
BYD has recorded its steepest quarterly profit decline since 2020, underlining the mounting pressure facing the world’s largest electric vehicle seller in its home market despite success abroad. The company’s latest report showed that net profit in the first quarter of 2026 declined by 55.4 percent from the previous year, falling to 4.09 billion yuan, approximately $597 million.
Revenue dropped by nearly 12 percent to 150.2 billion yuan ($22 million), the third consecutive quarterly decline and the lowest quarterly revenue figure since Q2 2024. However, the result still bested analysts’ prediction that revenue would be around 132-140 billion yuan. BYD sold 700,463 “New Energy Vehicle” (EVs and PHEVS) units in the quarter, down 30% year-on-year and nearly 48% below the record volumes of Q4 2025.
The Chinese market for electric cars is fiercely competitive. BYD has taken over as the market leader because of its low-priced models, yet price wars in its home market are intense. Meanwhile, the government has scaled back subsidies. China exempted NEVs from purchase tax entirely in 2024–2025, but for 2026 and 2027, the relief has been halved to a maximum of 15,000 yuan per vehicle.
This policy shift pulled demand forward into Q4 2025, exacerbating the Q1 2026 slowdown. Sales in China have declined for several consecutive months, and profits are being squeezed even as exports grow strongly.
Global Push Becomes Critical As Domestic Sales Cool
BYD is looking to the overseas market as domestic sales decline. It plans to ship more than 1.5 million automobiles this year in an attempt to overcome sluggish domestic sales. Industry insiders expect massive export growth next year, but overall delivery growth will probably be less aggressive.
This strategic shift was on display at the Beijing Auto Show, where BYD launched new products targeting the premium segment, including the Datang (Great Tang), a full-size electric SUV priced from 250,000 yuan, which attracted more than 30,000 pre-orders on its first day. Moving beyond low-end models is intended to help the company sustain profitability amid the mass-market price war.
There’s a renewed focus on regaining technological superiority, too. The company is enhancing charging speed, among other features, to attract consumers who are not keen on switching from gas-powered cars.
But BYD is at a crossroads as it stands. Its expansion across borders may be the answer to whether it can bounce back. Analysts say the next few quarters will be critical, with domestic EV demand recovery and robust export growth seen as the keys to a profit rebound.
The U9 Xtreme has four electric motors delivering 2,978 hp and hits 308.4 mph.
Last year, the limited-run U9 Xtreme lapped the Nurburgring in 6:57.147.
BYD is selling each YangWang U9 Xtreme for more than 20 million yuan.
Over the past few years, we’ve become accustomed to seeing new BYD models hit the market with absurdly low price tags. The record-breaking YangWang YangWang U9 Xtreme is not that kind of a car. It is, by some distance, the priciest thing the company has ever offered.
Li Yunfei, who runs branding and PR for BYD Group, posted on social media that several U9 Xtreme orders were locked in at the Beijing Auto Show. The price? North of 20 million yuan a pop, or roughly $2.92 million at current exchange rates.
This is more in line with hypercars from the likes of Koenigsegg and Bugatti than what we’d expect to see from BYD. It also makes it more than ten times as expensive as the ‘regular’ YangWang U9, which is available from 1.8 million yuan ($263,000).
Among those to have placed an order for the U9 Xtreme in Beijing was Nick Politis, an Australian businessman estimated to be worth over AU$4.5 billion ($3.2 billion). His car will be the only one sold in Australia and is expected to arrive early next year.
What will shoppers get for their money? Firstly, they get exclusivity, as just 30 units are bound for the production line. In addition, they get a car with four electric motors combining to produce an extraordinary 2,978 hp. This easily makes it the most powerful production car ever and the first to feature a 1,200-volt platform.
What Can It Do?
All of the power means the U9 Xtreme can hit 308.4 mph or 496.22 km/h, a feat it achieved last year to eclipse the top speed of the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+, while easily defeating the official two-way average top speed record holder of the SSC Tuatara, set at 282.9 mph (455.3 km/h). It’s unclear if customer cars will be able to hit these speeds, or if they’ll be software-limited to a slightly more reasonable pace.
The U9 Xtreme is also quite capable around a track. While it’s heavy, it lapped the Nurburgring Nordschleife in 6:57.147, outgunning the Rimac Nevera and Xiaomi SU7 Ultra. Admittedly, it is slower than a 500-hp Porsche 911 GT3 RS and almost 20 seconds slower than the new Ford Mustang GTD Competition.
Ford teased its upcoming $30,000 electric pickup in a LinkedIn post.
It rides on a new in-house platform built by a skunkworks team.
Truck could revive the Ranchero name, unused since the late 1970s.
Ford has trimmed plenty from its electric vehicle plans, but the compact electric truck has survived the cuts, and the company still hopes it will deliver the success the F-150 Lightning never quite managed. A proper reveal isn’t on the cards yet, though a handful of images posted to LinkedIn give an early look at what’s coming.
Company boss Jim Farley posted these images to celebrate Doug Field’s last day with the company. One of the photos shows Field speaking about the new truck with Farley and other Ford executives, and includes a small glimpse of the EV’s bed. A separate image also seems to show the roofline of the new model, while another shows it with several roof-mounted accessories.
While these images don’t give us a good look at the new model, there’s plenty to get excited about. Underpinning the $30,000 pickup will be the new Ford Universal EV platform, developed in-house by a skunkworks team of engineers. This platform will be used by several other vehicles, including SUVs and vans.
Cheaper And More Efficient
According to Ford, the platform has 20 percent fewer parts, 25 percent fewer fasteners, and requires 40 percent fewer plant workstations than an ordinary platform. This will be aided by the new unicasting process, similar to Tesla’s gigacasting, in which important parts will use large single-piece aluminum castings. This process will also significantly reduce costs.
Speaking about the new truck last year, Farley noted its wiring harness will be more than 4,000 feet (1.3 km) shorter and 10 kg (22 lbs) lighter than its first-generation EVs. The company will also overhaul how it builds vehicles on this platform, manufacturing the front, rear, and structural battery pack in separate lines before joining them during final assembly.
Key specifications of the truck remain unclear, but we know it will use lithium iron phosphate batteries. It may also revive the Ranchero nameplate, which Ford hasn’t used since 1979.
Lexus confirms a new electric SUV debut set for May 6.
Teasers point to a Highlander-based three-row electric SUV.
Earlier trademarks suggest it will adopt the TZ moniker.
The teaser drip has begun, as Lexus has confirmed a new SUV for May 6. The name remains withheld, though the smart money is on the Lexus TZ, a model expected to share its bones with the 2027 Toyota Highlander.
The dark teasers shared on social media reveal the silhouette of an SUV positioned as the zero-emission counterpart to the Lexus TX. The proportions read Highlander, but the roofline appears to taper more aggressively toward the rear.
The bodywork is also expected to be redesigned, with a new lighting signature and a hood that leans slightly toward the rugged Lexus GX. Recent spy shots hint at split LED headlights, a covered singleframe grille, toned fenders, sculpted doors, and large alloy wheels. Still, the greenhouse and door handles appear to carry over from the Toyota sibling.
Inside, the cabin should rise to something more befitting the badge, even if certain components, the 14-inch infotainment screen among them, get carried across. A three-row layout is expected, possibly in six-seat configuration.
The footprint of the Lexus TZ will likely align closely with the Toyota Highlander EV. The latter stretches to 5,050 mm (198.8 inches) long, with a 3,050 mm (120.1 inches) wheelbase, riding on a modified version of the TNGA-K architecture.
Lexus filed trademarks for TZ450e and TZ550e back in 2023, hinting at two electric powertrain options. The Toyota equivalent comes in front- and all-wheel-drive forms, rated at 221 hp and 338 hp respectively. Battery options include a base 77 kWh unit and a larger 95.8 kWh pack offering up to 320 miles (515 km) of range.
Baldauf
Rivals include the Kia EV9, Hyundai Ioniq 9, and Volvo EX90. Pricing will sit above the Highlander EV, which is expected to start in the low to mid $50,000s.
The unveiling will be broadcast on YouTube on Thursday, May 7, 2026, at 10:30 am JST, which translates to Wednesday, May 6, 2026, at 9:30 pm EDT. Besides North America, the model will also be sold in the Japanese market. As for production, some reports suggest it will be manufactured in the US, while others point to Japan.
Ford’s next-gen EV tech will help to improve all future models.
Higher aluminum prices could cost the automaker an extra $1 billion.
Company’s $30,000 electric truck will appeal to crossover buyers.
Ford has high hopes for their upcoming mid-size electric truck and CEO Jim Farley recently revealed the company did an “incredible job” creating its UEV platform. However, its advancements won’t be limited to next-generation electric vehicles.
Speaking during an earnings call, Farley said the platform “represents a step change in efficiency and cost, especially for the EV market.” While the company has been touting those benefits for awhile, the executive revealed they’re now integrating these “skunk works breakthroughs” into their mainstream products and processes.
He went on to say the Blue Oval is applying learnings from the program to their high-volume internal combustion and hybrid lines, and this will help to reduce costs as well as improve quality. Farley added that by the end of the decade, 90% of their global nameplates will offer electrified powertrains including hybrid, electric, and range-extended options.
When asked about Chinese automakers, Farley wants to have his cake and eat it too. As he explained, “As America’s largest auto producer, we are totally dedicated to a thriving U.S. auto industry and safeguarding our country’s industrial base.” However, he noted the company leverages global partnerships – including with Chinese automakers – to grow their business.
Despite occasionally partnering with them, Farley wants to keep Chinese automakers out of America. He said it’s not just a case of “economic vitality,” but also “national security.”
The executive briefly addressed the war in Iran by saying they’re monitoring the situation. Farley went on to note the company has successfully navigated the pandemic, chip crisis, and tariff headwinds, so they’re used to making adjustments on the fly.
That being said, the automaker is expecting some impacts including commodity headwinds. This could end up costing them $1 billion more than they originally anticipated and it’s largely due to higher aluminum prices as a result of global supply constraints.
While there was a lot of talk about aluminum, we’ll spare you the boring details and skip right to pickups. Ford is particularly bullish about them, despite a number of new contenders on the horizon including Kia.
As Farley explained, the market continues to broaden and grow. He said car and crossover buyers are moving into pickups, and he’s really excited about their $30,000 EV because its packaging will appeal to both truck and crossover shoppers.
Chinese EVs are blocked from US sale but dominate American social feeds.
A third of US new-car shoppers now say they would buy a Chinese-built vehicle.
A Beijing platform called DCar is helping US influencers to test these EVs.
Chinese car brands can’t even sell their vehicles in the United States, yet they’re creating loyal fans across the country, largely thanks to targeted campaigns with the help of popular automotive content creators. If these brands ever do get the go-ahead to sell cars locally, established players will need to watch their backs.
If you follow any of these influencers, you’ve probably seen plenty of Chinese cars being tested on American roads, despite not being available here. Forrest Jones, who helped to pioneer short-form car reviews on TikTok, has reviewed a bunch of these over the past couple of years, generating tens of millions of views.
Speaking with Bloomberg, Jones says some of his highest engagement comes from his Chinese car content. Last year, tech YouTuber Marques Brownlee tested the popular Xiaomi SU7 in the US, and that video alone, with 10 million views, reportedly generated $1.2 million in unpaid brand exposure for the company.
The Chinese Are Taking Over
Data from Sprout reveals that, thanks to Brownlee’s video and others, Xiaomi’s TikTok following jumped 20 percent in 2025. Remarkably, roughly half of these 7.8 million followers are from the United States. Videos like Brownlee’s also lead to spikes in inquiries from Americans.
According to China EV Marketplace, a popular e-commerce platform that exports Chinese EVs overseas, it received more than 1,000 price-quote requests from the US after Brownlee released his video, with most seemingly unaware that EVs like the SU7 can’t be legally insured and titled in the US.
A Chinese automotive content platform called Beijing Dongchedi Technology Co., or DCar, is helping give Chinese cars exposure in the US. Spun out of ByteDance, the company behind TikTok, in 2023, DCar has been “courting American influencers to create content for its mobile app and showcase Chinese tech,” Bloomberg writes, with 10 million daily active users in China.
Bloomberg reports that in early 2025, DCar funded a trip to Alaska for YouTubers including Richard Benoit, better known as Rich Rebuilds, presenting him with a catalog of electric models such as the BYD Fangchengbao and Wuling Bingo before shipping the cars stateside. DCar covered Benoit’s travel and paid him a fee equal to “the price of a cheap Chinese EV” for his coverage, he told Bloomberg.
The company told the outlet it purchased or rented all the models itself, with no participation from the carmakers, to maintain “objectivity and veracity.” In return, DCar gets a barrage of slickly produced influencer posts introducing it to a wider audience.
For what it’s worth, Chinese brands like BYD and Xiaomi insist they have no immediate plans to start selling passenger cars in the United States. However, with loopholes potentially opening, you can be assured they’ll be lobbying hard to loosen regulations so they can gain access to the American market.
Kia has built a police version of the electric PV5 for South Korean officers.
A roof-mounted drone launches automatically when the van reaches a scene.
Thermal imaging and a 90x zoom camera handle aerial suspect tracking.
The humble delivery van has come a long way. Kia’s PV5, until recently best known as a versatile electric workhorse, has been seconded into law enforcement. The company has signed on with the Korean National Police Agency to build a high-tech, AI-equipped patrol vehicle that also happens to carry a drone.
Visually, the PV5 already looks the part with its futuristic LEDs and sleek surfacing. For its new role, it wears a police livery with blue and yellow graphics over its black and white bodywork. The biggest party trick, though, is the roof extension housing an integrated drone station.
When the PV5 pulls up to a scene, a section of the roof opens and an automated AI police drone takes flight. It handles aerial patrol in tight alleys and hazardous areas, the sort of places where the van itself, and indeed the officers, cannot or should not go.
The drone carries thermal imaging and a 90x zoom camera, useful kit for tracking suspects or finding missing persons. Once the job is done, it flies back to its dock and recharges using the van’s V2L system. As for the PV5 itself, no changes have been reported to the battery or electric powertrain.
The roof structure also carries three AI-powered cameras providing 360-degree coverage with no blind spots. The software is clever enough to identify suspects by clothing or accessories, working through a crowd in real time and flagging up potential matches.
The AI can also detect specific threats like weapon-carrying individuals or injured citizens who may have fallen on the ground. It even includes crowd density monitoring to alert authorities for potential overcapacity risks in public spaces.
The police-prepped Kia PV5 is scheduled to begin pilot operations in June 2026. It will be part of the Metropolitan Preventive Patrol Unit of the South Korean police force, focused on crime prevention and rapid response.
While this particular AI patrol vehicle is exclusive to Korea, it will be interesting to see whether the PV5 will serve as a base for police conversions in other parts of the world.
The Nissan Primera will return in the form of a large electric sedan.
A listing on the Department of Energy Philippines reveals more details.
The technical specifications confirm it will be a rebadged Nissan N7.
Nearly two decades after the last one rolled off the line, the Nissan Primera looks set for another act. While the company itself has yet to confirm the news, the nameplate has surfaced in a filing with the Philippines’ Department of Energy (DOE), and the document points to a very specific electric sedan.
The DOE paperwork suggests the new Primera will run purely on electrons. It also lays out the dimensions: 4,930 mm (194.1 inches) long, riding on a 2,915 mm (114.8-inch) wheelbase, which is enough to outstretch a Toyota Camry. Those numbers tally with months of speculation that the car would be a rebadged Dongfeng Nissan N7 from China.
According to Top Gear Philippines, working from the DOE-certified specs, the Primera will use a single electric motor good for 215 hp (160 kW / 218 PS) and 305 Nm (225 lb-ft) of torque. Those figures match the entry-level N7 exactly. The 60 kWh battery is calibrated a touch differently and promises 500 km (311 miles) of range.
Judging from the shared footprint, we don’t expect any styling changes compared to the Nissan N7 besides a new Primera script on the tailgate. The interior will most likely be carried over as well, including the 15.6-inch infotainment display on the minimalist dashboard.
Nissan is staying quiet on dates, but the company has already confirmed that the N7 is bound for export markets. The model is produced at the Dongfeng Nissan Huadu plant in Guangzhou, alongside the smaller N6 and the NX8 SUV.
The DOE filing suggests that the Primera’s revival is imminent in the Philippines. It will be interesting to see whether the same name will be used in other export markets, something that makes sense as it is far more recognizable than the N7.
A Short History Lesson
The Nissan Primera debuted in 1990 as a mid-size sedan for Japan and Europe, spanning three generations until its discontinuation in 2007. Available in sedan, liftback, and wagon forms, the model built a motorsport reputation by winning the BTCC championship in 1998 and 1999.
While primarily a Japanese and European affair, the first two generations of the Primera were also sold in North America as the Infiniti G20 until 2002. In later years, the Altima assumed the Primera’s role in certain markets. The nameplate remains a familiar part of Nissan’s history in Europe and Asia, which helps explain the decision to bring it back.
Automakers have been introducing 2027 models for months, but the 2026 Fiat 500e has been curiously absent. Given this, we reached out to the brand last week to see if the hatchback was going on hiatus like the Jeep Wagoneer S.
Fiat told us the 2026 model would be announced soon and they’ve finally followed through by introducing a vehicle that virtually no one wants. Given the low demand of less than one per day, the updates are unsurprisingly minor.
When the 2026 500e arrives this summer, customers will find empty showrooms and a new Miami Sunset exterior. That isn’t the only change as the new Pop trim features a body-color dashboard, instead of the pearl one found on the Icona.
The only other major change appears to be access to Tesla’s Supercharger network. However, this requires using a NACS adaptor that costs $230.
Other than that, it’s your typical overpriced and underwhelming 500e. That being said, the lineup has been adjusted for 2026 as the 500e Giorgio Armani Edition is dead.
On top of that, the entry-level Pop begins at $35,700 which is a huge jump from the previous starting price of $30,500 for the INSPI(RED). That trim is apparently dead, although Fiat did mention a (RED) Edition, which appears to be a package.
The Icona trim returns for 2026, but it now starts at $37,700. That’s $5,200 more than the 2025 model and it’s a hilarious ask considering dealers are struggling to get rid of existing vehicles even with discounts of $15,000.
While no one in their right mind would buy a 500e, we’ll remind you the car has a 42 kWh battery pack that feeds an electric motor developing 117 hp (87 kW / 119 PS) and 162 lb-ft (219 Nm) of torque. It enables the model to accelerate from 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) in 8.5 seconds and have a range of approximately 149 miles (240 km).
Needless to say, there are far better options including the $27,600 Chevrolet Bolt with 262 miles (422 km) of range. Shoppers should also check out the $29,990 Nissan Leaf, which can travel 303 miles (488 km) between charges
Leapmotor’s new B05 starts at €26,900 in Italy before any local incentives apply.
The Chinese-designed hatchback is built at a Stellantis plant in Zaragoza, Spain.
Local assembly lets the B05 sidestep the EU tariffs aimed at Chinese-made EVs.
As European EV buyers grow more price-sensitive, new entrants are finding sharper ways to undercut established players without giving up headline specs. Stellantis is putting its strategic partnership with Leapmotor to work, launching the new B05 across Europe as a fully electric hatch aimed squarely at the freshly updated VW ID.3 Neo. A hotter Ultra variant will follow, with the next GTI in its sights.
Aggressive Pricing
The Leapmotor B05, known as the Lafa 5 in China, first appeared in Europe last September at the Munich Auto Show, then a static prototype. It is now on sale in European markets, priced in Italy from €26,900 ($31,500) to €30,900 ($36,200) before local incentives.
This places the entry-level version €9,600 ($11,200) below the pre-facelifted VW ID.3 in Italy. The Leapmotor B05 also comes in €11,450 ($13,400) under the Renault Megane E-Tech and €13,080 ($15,400) less than Stellantis’ own Peugeot E-308 in the same market.
The EU-spec Leapmotor B05 is currently being assembled at Stellantis’ Figueruelas plant in Zaragoza, Spain. Producing the car locally allows the company to avoid steep EU tariffs on Chinese-built EVs, helping it land at a price point that undercuts even the now-discontinued MG4.
Competitive Specs
Measuring 4,430 mm (174.4-inch) long, the EV rides on Leapmotor’s “LEAP 3.0” architecture and uses Cell-to-Chassis (CTC) technology. This setup integrates the battery into the structure, improving rigidity. The company also claims a 50:50 weight distribution and notes that the suspension was co-tuned with Stellantis’ global engineering teams.
European buyers can choose between two LFP battery packs: a 56.2 kWh Pro unit with a WLTP range of 401 km (249 miles), or a 67.1 kWh Pro Max pack offering up to 482 km (300 miles). DC fast charging peaks at 174 kW, allowing a 30-80% charge in as little as 17 minutes.
The Leapmotor B05 is fitted with a rear-mounted electric motor offering 215 hp (160 kW / 218 PS) and 240 Nm (177 lb-ft) of torque. For those seeking better performance, the upcoming B05 Ultra bumps the output figures to 241 hp (180 kW / 245 PS) and 255 Nm (188 lb-ft), combined with a lowered suspension, fatter anti-roll bars, beefier brakes, a more aggressive bodykit, and performance tires.
Generous Equipment
Despite its budget pricing, the Leapmotor B05 is packed with tech. The entry-level Life trim has a comprehensive list of standard equipment, including a 14.6-inch touchscreen, an 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster, an AI-powered voice assistant with facial recognition, dual-zone climate control, a 360-degree camera, a panoramic glass roof, and a full ADAS suite.
The flagship Design trim adds 19-inch alloy wheels instead of 18-inch units, along with a heated steering wheel and heated, ventilated seats trimmed in eco-leather. It also brings 256-color ambient lighting that reacts to music, plus a more advanced ADAS package.
The B06 Ultra has not yet been detailed for Europe, though the Chinese version includes a front splitter, side skirts, a rear spoiler, and a rear diffuser, along with unique 19-inch wheels. Inside, it adds sport seats with a massaging function, suede-style upholstery, and LiDAR-based driver assistance systems.
In China, the Leapmotor Lafa 5 is even cheaper compared to its EU-spec B05 twin, currently priced between ¥90,800-114,800 ($13,300-16,800). The Lafa 5 Ultra sits at the top of the lineup, priced between 118,800-124,800 ($17,400-18,300). However, it is worth noting that the entry-level variants of the Chinese-spec model have lower output and a smaller battery pack.
Safety and training are forefront as the NTSB is investigating a Tennessee school bus crash that killed two teenage girls and an Oregon school bus driver was arrested for allegedly transporting students while intoxicated. Plus, new Clean School Bus program details are incoming, just in time for STN EXPO West in Reno, Nevada this July.
Jim Levine, founder of the School Transportation Active Threat Response Training, or S.T.A.R.T., joins us to discuss how school bus drivers can serve as the first line of defense against threats by interacting kindly with students and becoming trained on response tactics. His team brings its law enforcement, Secret Service, SWAT and School Resource Officer experience to an upcoming 4-hour training at STN EXPO West.
The National Transportation Safety Board called for alcohol detection systems in all school buses with the release of its final report of a March 2024 school bus crash in Calhoun County, West Virginia, determining a drunk school bus driver caused the incident.
The NTSB stated in the report released April 23 that a 77-passenger, 2022 IC school bus was carrying a driver and 19 students, aged 11 to 18. The crash occurred during the third trip of the day, an activity run, for bus driver Jeffery Allen Brannon, third bus trip. According to video footage from the school bus, Brannon began the run at 5:44 p.m. NTSB stated Brannon arrived at the middle and high school at 5:45 p.m. to pick up students and left the school about 5:47 p.m., after the students boarded the bus.
“About three minutes after the bus left the school, the video footage showed the school bus as it approached a left-hand curve while traveling at a speed of around 42 mph,” the report states, noting the two-lane road has a posted speed limit of 55 mph. “As the [Brannon] executed the curve, the bus departed the right side of the paved roadway. Video from the bus showed that the bus’s speed was 39 mph when it departed the road.”
Upon leaving the road, the bus continued to follow the curve, struck the end of the culvert with its right-front tire, continued south, and then struck a wooden fence. The bus began to yaw counterclockwise as it reentered the roadway. The bus right-rear tire struck the culvert end, and the bus rolled a quarter turn onto its right (loading door) side. The bus came to rest on its right side across both lanes, completely blocking the southbound lane and partially blocking the northbound lane.
Three students were seriously injured, 16 had minor injuries. and Brannon was uninjured.
The NTSB determined the probable cause was Brannon’s alcohol impairment, which led to loss of control, roadway departure and the rollover. Post-crash toxicology tests showed his BAC at 0.161 grams per deciliter about 50 minutes after the crash and 0.127 grams per deciliter about one and a half hours after the crash, NTSB stated in the report.
The 0.161 BAC is over four times the federal limit for commercial drivers.
The agency issued a recommendation to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that all new school buses be equipped with a vehicle-integrated alcohol detection system that prevents or limits operation when driver alcohol impairment is detected.
Brannon was found guilty on three counts of DUI, causing serious bodily injury and 16 counts of child neglect creating a risk of serious bodily injury or death. He was sentenced to between 22 years and 110 years in prison.
Drunk School Bus Drivers an Increasing Problem
An NTSB press release states that a Stateline investigation “found that from 2015 through 2019, 118 school bus drivers nationwide were cited or arrested for operating a bus while impaired by alcohol, drugs, or a combination of both.”
School bus industry trainer Dick Fischer collects news article reports about drunk school bus drivers among other safety topics. He said he found 28 instances of school bus drivers arrested for either driving drunk or under the influence of drugs during the 2024-2025 school year. For this school year so far, August through April, Fischer has recorded 20 instances of school bus drivers being impaired.
Meanwhile, the NTSB also “noted that active and passive alcohol detection technologies already exist that can prevent a vehicle from operating if driver alcohol impairment is detected,” the press release adds. “These systems are being used successfully on school buses in parts of Europe as a preventive safety measure.”
It also found that the lack of passenger lap/shoulder seatbelts on the school bus contributed to injury severity. The report noted that unbelted students were thrown into the bus interior and other students. The agency said students struck seats, windows, sidewalls, the roof area, personal items, and other passengers during the rollover sequence. One serious injury ultimately resulted in a lower-leg amputation.
The agency reiterated that properly worn lap/shoulder seatbelts reduce injuries and that policy must go beyond installing belts, but also districts need to enforce usage procedures. It recommends that West Virginia school bus passengers use seatbelts when available and school districts should establish usage procedures with routine audits. Audits should consist of pre-departure driver instruction, periodic belt-use inspections, video review where cameras exist and training for not only administrations and drivers, but parents and students as well.
As part of this crash, the NTSB also examined a similar crash that took place in Dale, Texas, where unbelted students were thrown about the interior of a school bus. In March 2024, a concrete truck driven by Jerry Hernandez struck a Hays CISD school bus, killing 5-year-old Ulises Montoya who. The bus, carrying 44 students and 11 adults, was returning from a field trip. Hernandez, who confessed to using drugs and having little sleep, was sentenced to 18 years in prison but became eligible for parole in April 2026.
NTSB reiterated to West Virginia that it require all new large school buses to be equipped with passenger lap/shoulder belts at all passenger seating positions.
In the report, the NTSB noted that video cameras were important for investigation and support compliance. The school bus involved in the crash had seven cameras, including interior cameras that showed driver actions, passenger movement, vehicle speed and the crash sequence. It found that weather, roadway condition/signage, school bus speed, mechanical condition, driver licensing/training/experience, non-alcohol drugs, distraction from phone/students/loading doors, Calhoun County Board of Education policies, medical condition and fatigue were not causal or contributory factors.
The Transportation Director Summit returns to Nevada this summer for a two-day exclusive leadership event designed to empower student transportation leaders.
The training begins Friday, July 10 at the STN EXPO West conference. The first part of the event features a Welcome Networking Reception and Top Challenges Discussion hosted by STN Publisher and President Tony Corpin. To attend, participants are qualified as leading their transportation operations and must fill out a survey on their leading challenges they face. Corpin will facilitate discussion on those points. The participants will be matched with vendor partners who provide technological solutions that could assist with these operational challenges.
The exclusive leadership event continues Saturday morning in scenic South Lake Tahoe for an all-day networking and leadership training experience. Monday’s keynote speaker Bruce Turkel will provide training modules on “All About Them Leadership Lab: Turning Insight Into Action.” During the day, Turkel will discuss how his signature mindset can be used to strengthen communication with team members and align goals, which improve performance and create lasting leadership impact. Turkel’s four-part training includes learning to understand what people truly value, purposely communicating with clarity, building stronger connections through trust, and guiding teams through uncertainty to create successful results.
A Leadership Networking Retreat
The transportation directors will enjoy breakfast and lunch courtesy the vendor partners sponsoring the event. All participants wlll make new connections, engage in targeted discussions that address their specific challenges, and leave with practical applications and strategies to transform their operations. Transportation will be provided Saturday to and from Incline Village.
Applicants for this exclusive leadership event must hold the position of transportation director or a qualified equivalent and be able to attend both days of the Summit. Email for more information about qualifying for the Transportation Director Summit.
The Early Bird Deadline for main conference registration ends June 5, register at stnexpo.com/west. In addition to the Transportation Director Summit, the STN EXPO West conference features educational sessions, a dynamic keynote speaker, hands-on training and unique networking experiences.
The new Cayenne Coupe Electric arrives with three distinct power levels.
Turbo variant produces 1,139 horsepower and hit 60 mph in 2.4 seconds.
Buyers still get adaptive air suspension and up to 7,700 pounds of towing.
The Porsche Cayenne Coupe has never quite added up on paper. It’s a sportier, less practical version of an SUV meant to add a boatload of practicality to a sporty brand. Now, Porsche is adding another powertrain because buyers want options.
After some 40 percent of U.S. buyers chose the less practical Coupe body style of the Cayenne in 2025, they have an all-new, all-electric version available, and it just so happens to boast up to 1,139 horsepower (850 kW).
We’ve known for a while that this was coming. Porsche already released the Cayenne Electric SUV. This is the Coupe version with its “911-inspired” roofline. It also features a unique roof structure and a coupe-specific windshield, giving it a more steeply raked profile than the SUV.
Under the sheet metal and cramped back seat, you’ll find the same bones as the normal Cayenne Electric. That includes an 800-volt architecture, a 113 kWh battery, and the ability to leverage a 400 kW charger to go from 10-80 percent in under 16 minutes.
The base model starts at 435 hp (325 kW) and 615 lb-ft, which already feels like overkill for a daily SUV. Step up to the Cayenne S Coupe Electric, and you’re looking at 657 hp (490 kW). But the real headline grabber is the Turbo Coupe Electric: up to 1,139 hp (850 kW) and 1,106 lb-ft, with a claimed 0–60 mph (97 km/h) time of just 2.4 seconds. That matches the fastest 911 on sale today, the 911 Turbo S.
Top speeds vary depending on the model, ranging from 143 mph (230 km/h) in the base version to 162 mph (261 km/h) in the Turbo.
That’s not just quick. It’s supercar territory in something that can tow 7,716 lbs (3,500 kg). Adaptive air suspension, optional rear-axle steering, torque vectoring, and Porsche’s trick Active Ride system all make appearances, too. Buyers can also opt for an Off-Road Package that improves approach angles
The Sport Chrono package and a panoramic glass roof are both standard on the Coupe. Charging hardware includes a NACS port on the driver-side rear fender and a J1772 AC port on the passenger side, with a CCS adapter included as standard.
Pricing starts at $113,800 and climbs to $168,000 for the Turbo, with deliveries expected by late summer 2026.
Importantly, Porsche isn’t replacing the gas Cayenne. Or even the plug-in hybrid. They’re all sticking around. That’s key because it makes the brand’s viewpoint clear. Customers can pick and choose whatever type of powertrain they want for the foreseeable future.
We cover industry shoutouts, conference connections, a terrifying bus vs. train encounter and Diesel Emissions Reduction Act updates.
“One thing about transportation [is] it’s never boring.” Transportation Supervisor Melody Best offers a behind-the-scenes look at how operations are handled in Kenai Peninsula Borough School District in Alaska amid adverse weather, multiple school closures, budget cuts, technology needs and even moose in the road. She also shares the benefits of participating in the STN EXPO East Mentorship Program in Charlotte, North Carolina last month.
The National Transportation Safety Board recounted the incidents leading up to the fatal March 27 Clarksville-Montgomery County School System bus crash with release of a preliminary report, but the agency won’t know or release the exact cause for another year and a half.
NTSB wrote in its preliminary report that the crash occurred April 16 at about 11:35 a.m. A Clarksville-Montgomery school bus was traveling west on US-70 in Carroll County, Tennessee, a two-lane roadway with a 55-mph speed limit. The school bus was occupied by the driver, named in a lawsuit as Sabrina Ducksworth, four adult chaperones and 24 student passengers. Ducksworth was taking students from Kenwood Middle School to a school event in Jackson.
At the same time, a 2013 International WorkStar dump truck operated by the Tennessee Department of Transportation and occupied by a driver and passenger as well as a 2014 Chevrolet Trailblazer sport utility, also occupied by a driver and passenger, were traveling east in the oncoming lane. The weather was clear and the roadway was dry.
As the school bus approached a curve in the highway, it crossed the centerline and entered the eastbound lane. NTSB said the left side of the school bus struck the left side of the dump truck in a sideswipe collision. After hitting the dump truck, the school bus then collided with the SUV, departed the roadway to the south, and came to rest facing down the roadside embankment. The school bus remained upright.
Two student school bus fatalities resulted. Local media outlets identified the students as two eighth-grade girls: Zoe Davis and Arianna Pearson, both 13 years old. School bus driver Ducksworth sustained serious injuries. Bus passenger injuries ranged from minor to serious and the two occupants of the dump truck also sustained serious injuries. The NTSB stated that occupants of the SUV were uninjured.
As STN previously reported, the parents of Davis filed a wrongful death lawsuit in response to the school bus fatalities. The family seeks a jury award of up to $5 million.
The suit alleges that Ducksworth was distracted, fatigued, reckless, and failed to follow training, traffic laws and lane discipline. The lawsuit also claims the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System was negligent in hiring, training and supervising her. The lawsuit additionally argues the district failed to adequately check her fitness for the job before hiring her.
However, others in local media reports or on social media expressed that Duckworth may have suffered a medical episode.
The Tennessee Highway Patrol and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration are aiding in the investigation, which remains under investigation. NTSB told School Transportation News it cannot share details of what the FMCSA is assisting on, but said all NTSB investigations operate under what a “Party System,” which allows the agency to bring in technical experts from other organizations to supplement the knowledge of our investigators.”
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