We unpack the National Action Plan for School Bus Safety, which sheds light on the non-fatal effects of illegal passing. Plus, transportation directors comment on green buses during a recent EPA Clean School Bus webinar.
Denise Donaldson, the editor and publisher of Safe Ride News Publications and a frequent trainer at STN EXPO and the TSD Conference, previews her STN EXPO East workshop on when to use child safety restraint systems (CSRS) in school buses or alternative vehicles.
An informative seminar at the STN EXPO East conference will combine classroom education with hands-on demonstrations to illustrate the importance of ensuring proper mirror placement on school buses and combatting distracted driving.
The “Focused Driver 111: Proper Mirror Adjustment and Distracted Driving” session is scheduled for March 28. Safe School Bus Consulting owner Dave McDonald will start with a classroom session on Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 111 guidance. This will include the history and subsequent evolution of the standard and then lead into school bus driver responsibilities regarding proper mirror adjustment to ensure that the driver has the required field of view around the bus.
Attendees will proceed to the parking lot and participate in a real-life demonstration of determining blind spots and making sure the mirrors are properly adjusted to cover them. McDonald will use traffic cones to mimic the cylinders called for by FMVSS 111 to conduct a grid exercise developed for testing the mirrors. The purposes is to confirm that the mirrors are mounted and adjustable to a position to see the parts of the grid needed. The placement of the cones will represent where young children could be approaching and walking near the school bus.
Driver Training With an Eye on Distractions
McDonald will also discuss distracted driving, including the many distractions that could pull away the attention of a school bus drivers. He will also discuss how to train drivers to take responsibility of reviewing their mirrors before even starting the vehicle. McDonald plans to review video cases of distracted driving, including a recent incident involving a girl in Brooklyn who was struck and killed by a school bus, and engage with attendees to identify what could have been done differently. He said he plans to outline not only distracted driving causes but deterrents, preventions and potential consequences for failing to follow guidelines.
McDonald worked for Rosco Vision Systems, the sponsor of the training session, for 26 years in product development of cross view mirror systems as well as in sales and engineering. McDonald said he hopes to empower and equip attendees with information that explains the common mistakes made by transportation departments.
The STN EXPO East conference will be held on March 26-31 at Embassy Suites by Hilton Charlotte Concord Golf Resort & Spa. Main conference registration gives access to five days of educational sessions, hands-on training, unique networking events, product demonstrations and updates on the latest industry happenings. Register at stnexpo.com/east.
Spy shots reveal VW ID. Polo prototypes with little camo.
Electric lineup may offer outputs of 114, 133, or 208 hp.
A GTI version is confirmed with a hotter 223 hp setup.
The VW ID. Polo is edging closer to its debut, and the camouflage is gradually coming off like a present that someone started unwrapping revealing more of its sculpted bodywork with each sighting. Our spies spotted two examples of the upcoming “people’s EV,” both ditching the colorful disguise used in official teasers.
The pair of subcompact hatchbacks was photographed during a charging stop somewhere in the snowy reaches of Northern Europe. One prototype sits on the familiar 19-inch five spoke alloy wheels we have already seen on earlier test cars. The other, however, appears to be trying something slightly more interesting.
Interesting Wheel Design
SH Proshots
We are looking at a different wheel design finished in black with copper accents, the sort of thing that appears to have wandered over from a Cupra showroom. More specifically, they closely resemble the alloys fitted to the related Cupra Raval. Yet the center caps carry VW logos, so either the parts bin is being shared quite freely or someone in Wolfsburg simply liked the look and borrowed it.
Our spy photographers didn’t need to chase down interior shots this time because Volkswagen has already shown it. In fact, a camouflaged prototype of the ID. Polo appeared at the Car Design Festival 2026 last weekend, greeting visitors with its doors left open.
Physical Controls Return
The dashboard sticks to a minimalist layout, anchored by a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster that runs retro inspired graphics, alongside a 12.9-inch infotainment display.
More intriguing is what sits beneath the screen. VW has fitted a proper row of physical switches, along with an actual volume knob on the center console. Pair that with the clicky buttons on the two spoke steering wheel and it becomes fairly obvious that Wolfsburg may be admitting the all touchscreen trend went a bit too far.
The cabin itself is trimmed in modern recycled fabrics, which cover large sections of the dashboard and door cards, giving the interior a contemporary feel without leaning too heavily on glossy plastics.
The rest of the 4,053 mm (159.5 inches) long bodywork appears to be shared between the two prototypes. The GTI version, however, should be easy to spot thanks to a redesigned bodykit that adds bumper extensions, unique wheels, and a roof spoiler.
SH Proshots
Plastic tape covers portions of the grille and the LED headlights. Around the back, VW has applied vinyl over the full-width LED taillights, making them resemble those of the current ICE-powered Polo.
Overall, the ID. Polo looks fairly sporty. Pronounced fenders, sculpted profile lines, sturdy proportions, and deep bumpers give it a planted stance even at this early stage. Like the ID.2all concept before it, the production version was signed off by Andreas Mindt, who was recently promoted to Head of Design for the entire VW Group.
Powertrain Options
The ID. Polo will share Volkswagen Group’s MEB+ platform with the Cupra Raval, the VW ID. Cross, and the Skoda Epiq. Expect a choice of electric powertrains producing 114 hp, 133 hp, and up to 208 hp, depending on how much pace you want from your electric hatch.
At the top of the lineup will sit the inevitable GTI-badged hot hatch. That version is expected to produce 223 horsepower, giving the compact EV some proper pace. At launch, the hatchback will use a 52 kWh battery pack, while a smaller 37 kWh unit is expected to arrive later for entry level variants.
Student transportation leaders and society at-large are being asked to rethink how they measure risk at the school bus stop, as a 50-state action plan emerging from a National School Bus Safety Summit late last year calls for a sharper focus on injuries and near-miss collisions caused by illegally passing motorists.
The summit, convened on Dec. 10 by BusPatrol along with the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) and Safe Kids Worldwide, brought together school transportation officials, federal regulators, safety advocates and law enforcement represenatives to examine how often motorists violate school bus stop arms — and what that behavior is really doing to children beyond the worst-case fatalities that make headlines.
BusPatrol operates what is widely regarded as the largest school bus stop-arm camera enforcement network in the U.S. A company official stressed that despite access to a unique trove of video and citation data, independent safety authorities and government agencies must lead on defining the problem and setting policy.
“It’s important that it’s not just the vendors raising the flag,” Justin Meyers, BusPatrol’s president and chief strategy officer, told School Transportation News. “Independent safety authorities and governments need to make these assessments and do this research. We’ll participate to the extent we’re legally allowed, but this can’t be seen as just a company trying to make money.”
From Fatalities to the Full Spectrum of Harm
The National Action Plan for School Bus Safety authored by GHSA and released Tuesday at an event in Washington, D.C., includes 69 recommendations that seek to move the discussion beyond counting deaths to understanding the broader spectrum of harm and what school district, community, legislative and public safety stakeholders can do about it.
The National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT) was among the organizations in attendance at Tuesday’s action plan unveiling. Executive Director and CEO Molly McGee-Hewitt spoke alongside GHSA Executive Director Jonathon Adkins and other dignitaries. NAPT told members in an email Wednesday it is “proud and pleased” to be a part of the national discussion on curbing illegal passing.
Of particular interest to student transporters, NAPT noted the recommendations include urging governors to include school bus safety into their Triennial Highway Safety plans, encouraging school districts to implement school bus stop-arm enforcement programs and training school bus drivers to identify unsafe motorist behaviors.
The action plan recommendations include more serious treatment of illegal passing offenses by judges, increased speed limit enforcement in school zones, implementation of walking school buses, and improving post-crash care.
For years, national conversations have centered on the relatively small number of children killed at the bus stop each year. Historically, more than 1,200 children have died in loading and unloading zones, Meyers noted. According to the annual National School Bus Loading and Unloading Survey, which originated in 1970, most of those fatalities were reported in the first decades of the study based on police reports of school bus incidents. But in the decades since, the annual numbers have fallen to a handful a year, though school buses can be just as responsible for fatalities as illegally passing motorists are, if not more so.
Still, Meyers said that focusing on fatalities alone obscures the scale of risk. He pointed to the estimate by the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS) that 39 million illegal passes of school buses could occur annually. The national action plan noted that figure equates to each school bus in the U.S. being illegally passed once every three days.
“Forty million times a year someone illegally passes a school bus and creates a very dangerous environment for those kids,” Meyers said. “Most of the time, a child isn’t struck. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t harm.”
Summit participants in December explored a largely unquantified middle ground between fatal crashes and clean stops: Non-fatal injuries that may never be captured in formal crash databases, and near-miss events that inflict lasting psychological trauma on students who narrowly avoid being hit — or witness shocking roadway incidents from inside the bus.
BusPatrol has videos from school bus clients that show a student slip in the roadway as a vehicle brakes inches from their face, or an illegally passing tanker truck runs off the road, flips and rolls over, showering the scene in debris.
“Those kids will forever associate getting on and off the bus with the moment they thought they might be killed,” Meyers said, adding that adults attending the summit recounted traumatic incidents from their own childhoods that still affect them decades later.
The action plan urges policymakers and industry leaders to recognize that these experiences are safety outcomes in their own right, even if they do not result in a recorded fatality or “serious injury” in traditional datasets.
Defining and Documenting Near Misses
If injuries are hard to count, near misses are even harder. Yet they are central to understanding risk and trauma.
Current national estimates of illegal passing rely heavily on NASDPTS’ annual one-day survey. Approximately 1,000 school bus drivers in three dozen states manually tallied illegal passes in a single day last spring, and NASDPTS extrapolated results for a figure that indicates how many illegal passes could be happening nationwide across a 180-day school year. That approach has proven useful for counting violations, but not for categorizing the severity of risk.
Meyers suggested adding a category for near-misses, a working definition of which could include any incident where a child or caregiver approaching or leaving the bus has their path impeded by a vehicle that should have stopped, including situations where the person must stop short, hurry or run, or physically jump or move out of the way.
He acknowledged that some stakeholders might prefer a narrower definition that focuses solely on more dramatic, evasive actions.
“The real trauma tends to come from the more extreme events,” he said. “A 7-year-old pausing safely at the end of their driveway while a car rolls by at 20 miles an hour is one thing. A child who slips and falls as a car skids to a stop inches from them is another.”
Options already being used or explored include leveraging onboard cameras and integrated analytics to automatically flag incidents, where a vehicle passes during loading or unloading with a child in the roadway or at the curb, and encouraging school districts to develop internal reporting processes for near-miss incidents, whether or not police or medical responders are involved.
Still, any expansion of data collection will have to navigate the same privacy and policy constraints that currently limit broader data sharing.
Measuring Injuries: Who Owns Illegal Passing Data and Who Can Use It?
One of the central questions raised by the summit and the action plan is how to meaningfully track injuries linked to illegal passing at school bus stops.
Meyers said BusPatrol video cameras are installed on more than 40,000 buses nationwide, a number he added is growing by the month. The company estimates that about 10 percent of the national school bus fleet now operates with some form of stop-arm enforcement camera, including those provided by other vendors.
According to Meyers, 36 states currently have some form of law authorizing automated stop-arm enforcement, with more considering legislation. And several states are actively discussing enabling or expanding stop-arm enforcement authority.
Individual school districts and local agencies see their own violation and incident data. But BusPatrol and other vendors are in a unique position to perceive trends across jurisdictions. That does not mean they can simply publish a national injury and near-miss dataset.
“Each state and each community has their own rules and regulations around the data,” Meyers explained. “Some of it can be shared. In other places, it can’t. In New York, for example, there are significant limits on what can be shared and how.”
Privacy laws, public records rules, contract language and concerns around personally identifiable information all restrict the sharing and aggregation of footage and related records. The result, according to Meyers, is a patchwork.
The action plan effectively calls on federal and state authorities—including GHSA, the National Transportation Safety Board and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, to lead efforts that would: Clarify how stop-arm cameras and incident data may be used for research and safety analysis, not only enforcement; encourage or authorize states to allow carefully structured data-sharing between vendors, school districts and central repositories; and develop consistent definitions and reporting protocols for bus stop injuries and related outcomes.
Meyers said BusPatrol would welcome participating in such efforts but emphasized that vendors alone should not define the narrative. Instead, the focus should be on solving the problem.
“All we’re really asking is for people to take an extra 15 seconds and stop for the bus,” he said. “They’re big, they’re yellow, they have flashing lights and stop signs. They’re meant to be seen. If we all respect that, we can eliminate a tremendous amount of trauma, injury and death.”
BYD’s China sales have tumbled 36 percent in 2026.
About half of BYD vehicles this year were exported.
Geely sold 76,000 more vehicles than BYD in China.
For much of the past three years, it has often seemed as though BYD could do no wrong. The company steadily launched new models, expanded its lineup, and watched its sales climb at an impressive pace. However, the start of 2026 has been alarmingly slower, allowing fellow Chinese automaker Geely to pull ahead.
Through the first two months of this year, BYD has sold 400,241 vehicles, down 36 percent from the year prior. Of these, 190,190 vehicles were sold in February, a drop of 9.5 percent from the past month, due in large part to the Lunar New Year holiday, but it was also a 41 percent drop compared to the same month last year.
Apparently, shrinking tax breaks and a dip in buyer confidence are starting to cool the market. Plenty of shoppers are opting to wait it out, holding off to see what new models land and whether government trade in schemes become clearer before committing their cash.
While BYD is facing some struggles at home, it continues to gain popularity in foreign markets. In February alone, it exported 100,600 of its new energy vehicles, consisting of EVs and plug-in hybrids. Include January in those figures, and BYD has exported 201,082 vehicles.
Competitors Step Up
While BYD is facing growing pains, several other Chinese automakers are enjoying the opposite problem. Through the first two months of 2026, Stellantis partner Leapmotor’s sales have climbed 19 percent to 60,126 units. Xiaomi’s EV division is up 48 percent year over year to more than 59,000 units. Zeekr has posted an 84 percent surge across January and February, while Nio deliveries have jumped 77 percent, according to CNBC.
Geely is also having a particularly strong run. So far this year, it has delivered roughly 76,000 more vehicles than BYD. That is notable because it marks the first time Geely has outsold BYD for at least two consecutive months since 2022. While Geely currently leads within China, it trails slightly in overseas markets, exporting 181,891 vehicles so far this year.
According to Bloomberg, BYD chief executive Wang Chuanfu acknowledged the growing pressure back in December. He said rival automakers had begun closing the technological gap that once gave BYD a clear edge, something that now appears to be showing up in the sales figures.
Two different powertrains will be offered for the VW ID. Era 9X.
The ID. Era 9X is similar in size to the BMW X7 and has up to 510 hp.
VW once criticized EREV tech as environmentally unfriendly in 2020.
The VW Group began selling its EA211 engine in 2011, offering it in both three- and four-cylinder forms across a wide range of models. Over the years, it has powered familiar names such as the VW Golf, Seat Ibiza, Skoda Fabia, VW T-Roc, Audi Q2, and Seat Leon.
Now the company has updated and adapted this long-running engine for an entirely new role, serving as the range-extender in its first extended-range electric vehicle in China, the ID. Era 9X.
VW presented its new flagship SUV, co-developed with SAIC, earlier this year. At the time, we knew it would use a range-extender powertrain, but few technical details were available. Earlier this month, VW confirmed that the ID. Era 9X uses a 1.5-liter turbocharged EA211 engine, although several notable revisions have been made to prepare it for this application.
What’s Different?
For example, the updated engine now includes a new variable-geometry turbocharger to seamlessly adjust airflow, depending on the driving conditions. VW has also improved thermal efficiency and reduced emissions, while also installing a water-cooled intercooler for cooler intake temperatures. The upgraded engine is being built in China.
EREVs are enjoying something of a resurgence at the moment, though VW was not always enthusiastic about the concept. Six years ago, VW China executives described EREVs as “very environmentally unfriendly.”
As reported by CarNewsChina, shortly after announcing production of the new EA211 range-extender, Li Auto’s social media director reminded VW of this statement, writing on social media, “Congratulations to Volkswagen for successfully mass-producing a technology that is ‘outdated, very environmentally unfriendly, and had little development potential’ in just 6 years!”
The tension dates to September 2020, when Volkswagen China CEO Stephan Wöllenstein criticized gasoline-powered range-extenders as environmentally unfriendly. Around the same time, the company’s China R&D chief, Wiedmann, described the technology as outdated with limited long-term potential.
The Juicy Details
The VW ID. Era 9X is slightly longer, a touch narrower, and has a marginally shorter wheelbase than a BMW X7. It is one of several China-only Volkswagen models that could likely find an audience elsewhere if it were ever sold internationally.
In addition to the EA211 range-extender, the base model features a rear-mounted electric motor producing 295 hp and a 51.1 kWh LFP battery. This setup delivers an all-electric driving range of up to 166 miles (267 km). A version with a larger 65.2 kWh battery and up to 211 miles (340 km) of electric range will also be offered, along with a rear-wheel-drive twin-motor variant producing 510 hp.
Mercedes shows the cabin of the new AMG 4-Door Coupe.
Inside sits a triple-screen layout and three rotary dials.
The high-performance EV is set for a full debut this spring.
Mercedes-AMG has pulled the covers off the interior of its upcoming electric super-sedan. The next-generation AMG GT 4-Door Coupe is effectively the production version of last year’s AMG GT XX concept, aimed at the Porsche Taycan and the growing pack of high-performance EVs trying to redefine what a fast four-door should be.
Unlike the symmetrical hyperscreen layouts used across the regular EQ lineup and the latest S-Class, the AMG’s center console is angled toward the driver. A 14-inch infotainment display dominates the layout, leaning just enough in the driver’s direction to remind you this is supposed to be the sporty one. That screen works alongside a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster, with an optional 14-inch display available for the passenger.
Mercedes says the operating logic is “balanced,” blending haptic buttons, touchscreen inputs, and voice control. In practice, though, it seems AMG didn’t fully buy into the recent return to physical controls that several rivals have started embracing. The most obvious casualty is the climate system, which remains buried inside the MBUX infotainment menus
AMG-specific touches include illuminated climate vents styled to resemble jet engines, a flat-bottom steering wheel with carbon accents and haptic feedback, optional AMG Performance seats, and a metal-like wing element stretching across the center console.
You also get three chunky rotary controllers on the center tunnel. Apparently, even in the EV age, AMG still believes drivers should have something physical to fiddle with.
Those dials tie directly into the car’s driving dynamics. Response Control adjusts the behavior of the e-motors and accelerator pedal, Agility Control tweaks cornering characteristics, and Traction Control offers nine stages of intervention through the new AMG Race Engineer system. The driver can also jump straight to key functions using two steering wheel buttons that feature their own LCD displays.
Smart Glass Roof Party Trick
One of the more eye-catching tech features is the Sky Control panoramic glass roof, which can switch between transparent and opaque states. At night, it can also project AMG emblems or racing stripes across the glass, matched to the colors of the ambient lighting system.
Up front, practicality gets a small but noticeable boost with illuminated cup holders and dual wireless charging trays. In the back, Mercedes promises “generous legroom, pleasant headroom, and a naturally comfortable knee angle,” all aimed at making longer journeys a bit less taxing. The standard layout is a four-seater, although buyers will also be able to opt for a five-seat configuration.
Coming Soon
The full reveal of the new AMG GT 4-Door Coupe is expected this spring, with deliveries scheduled to begin later in the year. The high-performance EV will also become the first production model to ride on Mercedes-AMG’s dedicated AMG.EA platform, which is being developed specifically for future electric performance cars.
The concept version arrived with some properly serious numbers. It used three axial-flux motors producing a combined 1,341 hp (1,000 kW / 1,360 PS), complete with synthetic V8 sound. The battery pack also featured Formula 1-derived cooling technology and ultra-fast charging capability, allowing it to add 249 miles (400 km) of range in just five minutes
Despite reports it might disappear, the A-Class looks set to stay.
The next generation will use Mercedes’ new MMA platform.
A Euro 7-ready hybrid model could join the electric version too.
The Mercedes A-Class looks to be sticking around for the foreseeable future, just not in its current guise. Despite initial speculation that the model was going to be culled, as Benz tries to consolidate its offerings, a replacement for the existing model may very well come to fruition, albeit as an EV.
Although plans haven’t yet been announced, in an interview with Design Director Robert Lesnik Auto Express gleaned info that the new hatchback will probably arrive towards the end of the decade as an EV.
Current expectations suggest the next-generation model could debut around 2029, after the existing A-Class completes an extended production run expected to last until 2028.
The current A-Class debuted all the way back in 2018, making the model well overdue for a refresh by the time the new generation rolls around.
EV Architecture
In order meet the needs of the next-generation A-Class, Mercedes intends to transfer the production of the current A-Class to the Hungary plant in the next year. Lesnik claimed the production line wouldn’t require a significant revision to meet the specific requirements of the new MMA (Modular Mercedes Architecture) platform. Mercedes focuses on expanding the versatility of the MMA platform to give next-gen EV technology, innovative design, and cost efficiency.
The MMA platform grants the company the flexibility to fit the same all-electric powertrain and hybrid unit as in the CLA model, underpinning the next-generation A-class. Mercedes developed this hybrid system to meet the stringent Euro 7 emissions standards to be implemented by 2027.
When Mercedes first outlined its compact MMA lineup in 2023, it planned four models including the CLA, CLA Shooting Brake, GLA, and GLB. Lesnik indicated that an electric A-Class would effectively become a fifth model in that family.
A-Class, Not An EQA
Mercedes has decided its somewhat confusing decision to separate its EV models under their own “EQ” brand wasn’t the best way forward. Which is why the A-Class name is likely to remain in place of the EQA.
Lesnik also confirmed that the A-Class will remain stylish, with a “cab-back” approach, as opposed to the original upright shape adopted by the A-Class of the 90s. The design is also expected to avoid the streamlined styling seen on models like the EQE and EQS, instead following the CLA’s longer-hood proportions and more traditional hatchback profile.
Each year, School Transportation News gathers photos and videos from school districts and transportation companies across the U.S. that document how they celebrated Love the Bus Month. This year, we asked student transportation leaders about the impact of recognizing the importance of yellow school buses and showing appreciation to the individuals who transport students safely every day.
We uncovered a variety of Love the Bus celebrations ranging from highlighting student transportation staff on social media, catered events for transportation department, goodie bags for school bus drivers and special events with a Valentine’s Day flair.
Prosper Independent School District (Texas)
Teri Mapengo, director of transportation at Prosper Independent School District near Dallas, Texas, shared how multiple fun events showed the transportation department staff how much they are valued.
“We focus on meaningful and creative ways to celebrate our team and reinforce that they are truly seen and appreciated,” Mapengo explained. “This year, we hosted Puppy Wellness Days to bring moments of joy and stress relief, served pancakes and sausage after morning routes, partnered with Raising Cane’s ‘Love Bus’ to surprise staff with swag and gave bus beanies to every employee.”
The pictures were worth a thousand words, showing the happiness the furry visitors brought to the staff. Transfinder recognized Mapengo last summer at the STN EXPO West conference leading one of the industry’s Top Transportation Teams, so she has a long-standing history of creating meaningful connections with her team. She continued that the district’s Love the Bus celebrations continued with a superintendent ride-along that allowed for personal recognition and relationship building with the school bus drivers.
“Love the Bus Month matters because transportation is built on people, relationships and trust. Our teams show up before sunrise, in every kind of weather, carrying the responsibility of safely transporting what matters most—our students. Much of their work happens quietly behind the scenes, and this month gives us the opportunity to pause and recognize the heart behind the wheel,” she added. “Recognition reminds our drivers, monitors, mechanics, and support staff that their work has a lasting impact on students, families, and the entire school community,” said Mapengo. “While February gives us a dedicated time to celebrate, appreciation must be part of our culture year-round. When people feel valued, they feel connected to the mission—and that connection strengthens morale, safety, service, and retention.”
Mapengo summed up her advice to other directors. “Recognition doesn’t have to be expensive, it just has to be genuine. Celebrate your people publicly, involve your community and find ways to reflect your team’s unique culture” she recommended. ”Most importantly, make appreciation a habit, not just a moment. When transportation teams feel valued, it strengthens morale, builds pride and positively impacts the students and communities we serve.”
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Teri Mapengo shared photos from her district's Love the Bus celebrations (LinkedIn/Teri Mapengo)
Teri Mapengo shared photos from her district's Love the Bus celebrations (LinkedIn/Teri Mapengo)
Teri Mapengo shared photos from her district's Love the Bus celebrations (LinkedIn/Teri Mapengo)
Teri Mapengo shared photos from her district's Love the Bus celebrations (LinkedIn/Teri Mapengo)
Teri Mapengo shared photos from her district's Love the Bus celebrations (LinkedIn/Teri Mapengo)
Teri Mapengo shared photos from her district's Love the Bus celebrations (LinkedIn/Teri Mapengo)
Teri Mapengo shared photos from her district's Love the Bus celebrations (LinkedIn/Teri Mapengo)
Prosper Independent School District in Texas was one of the thousands of districts nationwide to celebrate Love the Bus in February 2026. (LinkedIn/Teri Mapengo).
Teri Mapengo shared photos from her district's Love the Bus celebrations (LinkedIn/Teri Mapengo)
Teri Mapengo shared photos from her district's Love the Bus celebrations (LinkedIn/Teri Mapengo)
Teri Mapengo shared photos from her district's Love the Bus celebrations (LinkedIn/Teri Mapengo)
Teri Mapengo shared photos from her district's Love the Bus celebrations (LinkedIn/Teri Mapengo)
Teri Mapengo shared photos from her district's Love the Bus celebrations (LinkedIn/Teri Mapengo)
Teri Mapengo shared photos from her district's Love the Bus celebrations (LinkedIn/Teri Mapengo)
Teri Mapengo shared photos from her district's Love the Bus celebrations (LinkedIn/Teri Mapengo)
Teri Mapengo shared photos from her district's Love the Bus celebrations (LinkedIn/Teri Mapengo)
Teri Mapengo shared photos from her district's Love the Bus celebrations (LinkedIn/Teri Mapengo)
Teri Mapengo shared photos from her district's Love the Bus celebrations (LinkedIn/Teri Mapengo)
Teri Mapengo shared photos from her district's Love the Bus celebrations (LinkedIn/Teri Mapengo)
Buncombe County School District (North Carolina)
Jeremy Stowe, director of transportation at Buncombe County Schools in North Carolina, spoke last year at STN EXPO East in Charlotte-Concord, North Carolina about how his transportation department stepped up to assist emergency services after Hurricane Helene. Stowe’s maintenance team was recognized as a 2025 Garage Star because of these efforts. This year, the students showed their appreciation by washing district school buses as a “tangible way to say thank you,” shared Stowe.
Stowe shared why Love the Bus Month matters. “Student transportation is often the first and last interaction a child has with our school system each day. Our drivers set the tone. They provide safety, stability and often encouragement before a student even walks into a classroom,” he commented. “Recognizing these drivers reinforces that their work is not just operational, it is relational and critical to our daily operations.”
He continued,“Year-long recognition is just as important. Drivers operate in all weather conditions, manage student behavior on a moving vehicle, and carry tremendous responsibility. When we intentionally celebrate them, we strengthen morale, keep drivers, and a positive tone to the culture of our entire district.”
Buncombe also highlights their transportation department’s work on social media regularly, especially noted Stowe, during weather events that require extra safety efforts from the staff. He also shared that members of the local Board of Education did ride-alongs on the school buses, “as another visible manner of recognizing all our drivers do for our district.”
Stowe said his advice to other school districts looking to thank and recognize their student transportation departments is to make recognition personal and visible., “Everyone wants to be told ‘Thank You’, you are important to what we do. Say it and show it. Invite everyone to participate (Principals, Teachers, Students, PTO’s, and Board Members). Post stories publicly. Deliver handwritten notes. Small gestures matter when they are sincere and consistent. Transportation professionals don’t do the work for recognition and they deserve all the recognition they can get.”
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Buncombe County Schools shared photos of an outreach from students for Love the Bus Month (Facebook/Buncombe County Schools)
Buncombe County Schools shared photos of an outreach from students for Love the Bus Month (Facebook/Buncombe County Schools)
Buncombe County Schools shared photos of an outreach from students for Love the Bus Month (Facebook/Buncombe County Schools)
Buncombe County Schools shared photos of an outreach from students for Love the Bus Month (Facebook/Buncombe County Schools)
Buncombe County Schools shared photos of an outreach from students for Love the Bus Month (Facebook/Buncombe County Schools)
Buncombe County Schools shared photos of an outreach from students for Love the Bus Month (Facebook/Buncombe County Schools)
Buncombe County Schools shared photos of an outreach from students for Love the Bus Month (Facebook/Buncombe County Schools)
Buncombe County Schools shared photos of an outreach from students for Love the Bus Month (Facebook/Buncombe County Schools)
Buncombe County Schools shared photos of an outreach from students for Love the Bus Month (Facebook/Buncombe County Schools)
Buncombe County Schools also highlights their transportation department on social media to highlight their work (Facebook/Buncombe County Schools)
Buncombe County Schools also highlights their transportation department on social media to highlight their work (Facebook/Buncombe County Schools)
Laramie County School District #1 (Wyoming)
Kathleen Larsen, a transportation supervisor at Laramie County School District #1 in Wyoming, shared a unique perspective on the importance of her transportation department as she is a parent of two students who ride her district’s school buses.
Jenn Simpson, another transportation supervisor at Laramie, reached out to School Transportation News with a submission that was shared by a school bus driver who works under Larsen. Simpson shared that Laramie County recognizes Love the Bus by engaging with the transportation department to ask why they “Love the Bus.” School bus driver Fabiola “Faby” Andujo was the first to respond.
She came to Laramie after obtaining her CDL through Climb Wyoming, a program that works with single mothers to provide job training, including certifications and assisting with job placement. Simpson said she is currently on medical leave and wanted to share her reasons why she loves her job.
Andujo showed her passion for her vital role. “I love my bus and I miss it because every student is a treasure to their family. We carry the most valuable cargo. Each student is a story whose ending we don’t know yet. Maybe they’ll become a new bus driver, a lawyer, a teacher, a police officer, a soldier, an engineer, an architect, a doctor, a nurse, a singer, an actor, a judge, a governor, a mayor, or even the next president in a few years,” she shared. “That’s why we drive carefully and make sure they arrive at their destination safely. Every smile in the morning, a good morning, a thank you is the best payment I can receive. I love my bus because it’s safe, and new stories are created every day. I want to tell you that I miss each and every one of you, and I feel very grateful for the opportunity to belong to this department.
“I am truly blessed. I’m doing my best in my recovery so I can return and continue taking the students to school and, in the afternoons, to their bus stops. I also miss taking field trips because I’ve gotten to see new places,” she continued “Thanks also to the mechanics who keep the buses running. I miss everyone, but especially my students and my teaching assistant. That’s why I love my bus because it’s safe, it’s big and it can take me to many places. Lots of love, Faby, I miss my bus 101.”
Larsen said that watching her children walk out the front door to ride the school bus each morning reinforces the impact of student transportation in children’s lives.
“To me, the school bus is the ultimate act of trust…That trust matters deeply to me, and it’s something I think about constantly. I try to lead this department with a parent’s heart, guided by the belief that every child on every route deserves the same care, patience, and warmth I want for my own girls,” explained Larsen.
“That’s exactly why celebrating Love the Bus Month matters,” she continued. “When we take time to recognize our drivers, TAs, mechanics, shop staff, dispatchers, coordinators, or trainers, we’re not just checking a box. We’re acknowledging the heart, effort and care they bring to this work. It’s a reminder that they aren’t just operating a vehicle — they are shaping experiences and building trust with kids every day. More than a thank you, this recognition helps our entire community better understand what this job truly involves. It reminds our staff that they aren’t working in isolation at the bus garage but are a vital part of the school family. When we celebrate the bus, we celebrate the peace of mind we give to parents and the safe, welcoming environment we create for students. Most of all, we honor the people who show up day after day — snow or shine — to make sure our kids get where they need to go and have the opportunity to learn and succeed.”
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Transportation Supervisor Jenn Simpson shared this photo of the Laramie County School District #1 buses
Kathleen Larsen, transportation supervisor at Laramie County School District #1 shared these photos of school bus driver Fabiola “Faby” Andujo
Kathleen Larsen, transportation supervisor at Laramie County School District #1 shared these photos of school bus driver Fabiola “Faby” Andujo
Watauga County Schools (North Carolina)
Another school district in a more rural area of North Carolina made sure to recognize the dedication of their transportation team, as shared by Janet Tanner, the district’s transportation director.
“In Watauga County, our school bus drivers are more than employees — they are family. As a small rural mountain county in Western North Carolina, relationships matter deeply to us. Love the Bus month allows our school system and community to express gratitude for the individuals who safely transport our students each day,” she said.
Watauga County Schools’ Love the Bus celebrations included tokens of appreciation from the district and kind words from the community.
“Each year, we present our drivers with a token of appreciation. This year, every driver received a fleece jacket embroidered with our Watauga Bus emblem — a visible symbol of pride and unity. Our entire transportation department participated in personally delivering the jackets, which helps build relationships between drivers and staff. In addition, our Communications Director Bailey Little collected and shared heartfelt notes from parents and students across our social media platforms. These messages highlighted the kindness, dependability and care our drivers show daily.”
Just as the other directors noted, Tanner shared that Love the Bus celebrations don’t and should not be relegated to merely the month of February.
“Our commitment to appreciation extends well beyond the one month,” said Tanner. “Prior to the start of school, we host a back-to-school meeting, where drivers receive critical safety training, policy updates and procedural guidance. With the generous support from our vendors, we also provide lunch and door prizes, creating a welcoming and celebratory atmosphere. This event ensures drivers feel both prepared and valued,” she said
She continued, “Throughout the school year, have your department staff make visits to drivers before or after their routes, bring them small treats or simply tell them how much they are appreciated. These personal touches reinforce a culture of recognition and respect.”
She also noted that the district regularly posts “Driver Spotlights” on social media to connect the drivers behind the wheel with the local community saying that these outreaches “foster pride among drivers and strengthen the connection between families and the transportation team.
“In Watauga County, appreciation is not a single event—it is a culture,” she added. “We are committed to honoring them not just during Love the Bus month, but throughout the entire year.”
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Watauga County Schools shared photos of the gifts they gave school bus drivers for Love the Bus Month (Facebook/Watauga County Schools)
Watauga County Schools shared photos of the gifts they gave school bus drivers for Love the Bus Month (Facebook/Watauga County Schools)
Watauga County Schools shared photos of the gifts they gave school bus drivers for Love the Bus Month (Facebook/Watauga County Schools)
Watauga County Schools shared photos of the gifts they gave school bus drivers for Love the Bus Month (Facebook/Watauga County Schools)
Watauga County Schools shared photos of the gifts they gave school bus drivers for Love the Bus Month (Facebook/Watauga County Schools)
Watauga County Schools shared photos of the gifts they gave school bus drivers for Love the Bus Month (Facebook/Watauga County Schools)
Watauga County Schools shared photos of the gifts they gave school bus drivers for Love the Bus Month (Facebook/Watauga County Schools)
Watauga County Schools asked the community to send in letters for Love the Bus Month to highlight their transportation department (Facebook/Watauga County Schools)
Watauga County Schools asked the community to send in letters for Love the Bus Month to highlight their transportation department (Facebook/Watauga County Schools)
This is the first BYD model with its second-gen Blade battery.
It rides on brand’s new Super e platform with 1000-volt tech.
Both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive versions are offered.
BYD has a new flagship SUV, and it’s called the Great Tang. The name may sound a little unusual, but underneath sits the Chinese giant’s latest electric platform, built to take on high-end rivals like the Zeekr 9X and IM LS9, along with more familiar names from Europe and Asia such as the Volvo EX90 and Hyundai Ioniq 9.
First previewed by the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology earlier this year and now revealed in full, the Great Tang is bigger than even the Denza B8. It stretches to 5,302 mm (208.7 inches) in length, measures 1,999 mm (78.7 inches) across, stands up to 1,800 mm (70.8 inches) tall, and rides on a generous 3,130 mm (123.2-inch) wheelbase. The SUV also forms part of BYD’s new premium Dynasty series of models.
Design-wise, it looks quite smart, particularly with the two-tone red-and-silver paint scheme it was presented with. The front end shares similarities with existing BYD models, complete with a flowing light bar, a black lower grille, and vertical headlamps neatly integrated into the fascia.
Class-Leading EV Tech
But the real story isn’t the styling. It’s the technology lurking underneath. The Great Tang rides on BYD’s new Super e platform and uses the company’s second-generation Blade battery. According to BYD, those cells can charge from 10 percent to 97 percent in just nine minutes, provided you plug into one of its new 1,500 kW charging stations. The SUV also runs a 1000-volt electrical architecture, which helps make those charging claims possible.
There’s still no word on the size of the SUV’s battery pack, but BYD has confirmed a few key drivetrain details. A single-motor version will be offered with either 402 hp or 496 hp. If that sounds a bit restrained for something this large, there is also a dual-motor setup delivering 784 hp.
Even so, the numbers that matter most for a family-sized electric barge are the range figures. Despite weighing as much as 2,970 kg (6,547 lbs), BYD claims the rear-motor version can travel up to 590 miles (950 km) on the CLTC cycle. Opt for the punchier dual-motor model and the figure drops slightly to around 528 miles (850 km) on a charge. Still, for something this big, that is not exactly a short leash.
A glance inside reveals a 2+2+3 seating layout and pretty much every luxury extra you’d expect in a flagship family hauler. The dashboard is dominated by a large central infotainment display, joined by separate screens for the driver and front passenger. You also get wireless phone chargers, a built-in fridge, and a fold-down screen in the ceiling to keep rear passengers entertained on longer trips.
In China, prices are expected to start just above 400,000 yuan, which works out to roughly $58,000.
The redesigned Lexus ES lineup lands in the US starting at $48,795.
Cheapest hybrid costs $2,200 more than the base electric ES 350e.
Dual-motor ES 500e adds AWD but has a disappointing 250-mile range.
Lexus has finally taken one of its most familiar cars fully electric, and the pricing might surprise you. The redesigned MY26 ES lineup now includes hybrid and battery electric versions, with the entry-level EV being the most affordable in the range, sneaking below the $50k mark.
That makes the new ES one of the more accessible luxury EV sedans on the market, at least on paper. The base electric model starts at $48,795 for the front-wheel-drive ES 350e Premium trim, which gets you a meager 220 hp (223 PS / 165 kW) and a zero-to-60 mph (97 km/h) in 7.7 seconds. Go for the snazzier 350e Luxury trim, and the price jumps to $57,195.
For buyers who want a little more punch, Lexus is also offering the dual-motor, all-wheel-drive ES 500e. That version starts at $51,795 in Premium form and climbs to $60,195 for the Luxury trim, both models delivering 338 hp (343 PS / 252 kW) and a more appealing 5.4-second sprint time.
Short Range Or Shorter Range?
The decider for many potential buyers could be the difference in the distances the two can travel before needing to find a charger. Neither has impressively long legs, but the 350e’s estimated 300-mile (484 km) range looks a lot more useful than the 500e’s 250 miles (254 km).
Hybrid Costs Extra
If you’re really bothered by range anxiety, though, you might want to consider an ES that fuses electric power with a 2.5-litre, four-cylinder gas engine. A combined 243 hp (246 PS) hauls the ES 350h Premium to 60 mph in 7.4 seconds in $50,995 front-drive form, and 7.2 seconds in $1,400-pricier all-wheel-drive guise. There’s no Luxury upgrade available for the hybrids, but stepping up to Premium+ inflates the sticker by $4,800.
Radical Redesign
Compared with the old ES, the new one is more than 6 inches (150 mm) longer, rides on a new platform, and has a fresh, edgier look. Inside, a 14-inch touchscreen sits at the center of the dashboard and works alongside a digital gauge display, while new ambient lighting and bamboo-inspired trim aim to make the cabin feel more lounge than cockpit.
Previous ES models for the US were built at the Lexus plant in Kentucky, but the new-generation cars will all be imports from Japan, Toyota having opted to end production of the sedan in America.
Lexus ES pricing
Model
MSRP*
ES 350e Premium
$48,795
ES 500e Premium AWD
$51,795
ES 350e Luxury
$57,195
ES 500e Luxury AWD
$60,195
ES 350h Premium
$50,995
ES 350h Premium AWD
$52,395
ES 350h Premium+
$55,795
ES 350h Premium+ AWD
$57,195
SWIPE
*Prices include $1,295 destination and delivery charges.
SAIC unveils the Z7 EV in sedan and Shooting Brake forms.
Its design shows clear similarities to Porsche’s Taycan.
Expected pricing ranges from $36,200 to about $50,700.
Thought the Xiaomi SU7 looked a little too much like a Porsche Taycan? Apparently that was just the warm-up act. Fellow Chinese carmaker SAIC has now pushed the idea of “imitation is the sincerest form of flattery” a step further, revealing an electric sedan and Shooting Brake that, from most angles, could easily have Porsche fans doing a double take.
Developed under the Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance (HIMA) and led by Huawei, the SAIC Z7 was teased earlier this year and has finally been shown in full. Several key details remain under wraps, but pricing is expected to land between 250,000 and 350,000 yuan ($36,200 – $50,700).
That is slightly higher than some early estimates suggested, though still a long way from Taycan money. Porsche’s electric sedan currently starts at 918,000 yuan (equal to around $133,000 at current rates).
Viewed from the front, both the sedan and Shooting Brake models look somewhat distinctive, with sharp LED headlights and a black lower grille. But cast your eyes beyond the front fenders, and the similarities to the Taycan are impossible to ignore. The shape of the doors, the roofline, the wing mirrors, and the door handles look like they’ve been ripped straight from a Porsche parts catalog.
The resemblance becomes even more obvious when you walk around to the rear. Much like the Taycan, the Z7 features a full-width LED light bar with an intricate lighting signature. The tailgate design also looks remarkably similar to Porsche’s electric sedan.
And then there is the Shooting Brake. Its overall shape and side profile track very closely with the Taycan Sport Turismo, to the point where the silhouette alone could cause a moment of confusion.
Perhaps in a direct shot at the Xiaomi SU7, the Z7 has also been showcased in a bright shade of pink with black wheels and matching pink outer rims. As fate would have it, the Xiaomi SU7 15th Anniversary Edition presented in early 2025 had an identical finish.
Only a handful of interior images have been released so far. They reveal a thin digital instrument cluster, a large central infotainment display, and an additional screen for the passenger. In other words, the sort of setup that has become standard fare across many modern Chinese EVs.
There are also two wireless charging pads and a sporty flat-bottom steering wheel, rounding out a cabin that feels very much in line with current trends.
Technical specifications for the Z7 have not yet been confirmed. However, Chinese media reports suggest the EV could arrive with 80 kWh and 100 kWh battery packs, along with both rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive configurations. More concrete details are expected to be released in the next few weeks.
VW confirmed two facelifts for the EU-spec Tiguan.
ICE-powered production now expected to last until 2035.
Facelifted ID.4 may adopt the ID. Tiguan name in 2027.
Volkswagen has offered the first glimpse of the next-generation Golf but the same announcement in Wolfsburg also brought notable news about the Tiguan. The compact SUV is set for two major updates that will effectively extend its lifecycle until at least 2035.
During the first meeting of 2026, Works Council Chairwoman Daniela Cavallo revealed that Volkswagen is planning “two extensive product upgrades for the best-selling Tiguan for the years 2028 and 2031”.
Cavallo was referring to the European-market Tiguan, which was followed by the larger Tayron in October 2024. That model later evolved into the North American-market Tiguan, although without the third-row seating and hybrid options.
The Double Facelift Strategy
Most models receive a single mid-cycle refresh before slowly drifting toward retirement. The Tiguan, however, is getting special treatment. VW has already locked in two updates for the SUV, which rides on the MQB Evo architecture.
The first facelift, scheduled for 2028, will likely bring the interior tech up to speed with Volkswagen’s newer models. Expect a renewed focus on physical controls, paired with more capable software. If recent VW updates are anything to go by, exterior changes may stay fairly restrained, limited to revised bumpers and LED lighting signatures, plus a few new colors and wheel designs.
The second facelift is planned four years later, or eight years after the current generation first arrived. That update should deliver more noticeable design revisions, keeping the Tiguan looking current in the crowded compact SUV segment and aligned with Volkswagen’s evolving design language.
Powertrains will also need attention. A stronger dose of electrification will likely be required to keep the lineup compliant with Europe’s steadily tightening emissions rules.
By launching a major refresh as late as 2031, Volkswagen is effectively guaranteeing the ICE-powered Tiguan a long life. The new plan pushes the SUV’s lifecycle to at least 2035, lining up with company plans to keep combustion engines on sale in Europe until the middle of the next decade.
A similar fate appears likely for the current ICE-powered Golf. Reports suggest it could remain on sale until around 2035, even after the fully electric ID. Golf arrives before 2030. So while the electric future is clearly coming, Volkswagen is not in a rush to turn off the lights on its combustion models.
Production remains split across two continents. The EU-spec Tiguan is built in Wolfsburg, Germany, alongside the Tayron, while the US-spec version rolls out of Volkswagen’s Puebla plant in Mexico. The company has not confirmed long-term plans for either model, but a pair of facelifts sounds far more plausible than funding entirely new generations.
Volkswagen has also confirmed two upcoming EVs built in Wolfsburg on the new SSP architecture. They are the ID. Golf and the ID. Roc, both expected to arrive toward the end of the decade. Before their arrival, the company plans substantial updates for the current MEB-based ID.3 and ID.4.
While nothing is official yet, the facelifted ID.4 is rumored to adopt the ID. Tiguan name as part of Volkswagen’s new naming strategy. The electric crossover is also expected to abandon its curvier styling in favor of a more traditional SUV design. Inside, look for a heavily revised cabin and mechanical upgrades aimed at improving power, range, and efficiency.
By keeping the Tiguan name alive across two different platforms, VW is hedging its bets. Whether buyers choose hybrid or fully electric, Wolfsburg seems keen to make sure there is still a Tiguan sitting in the driveway over the next decade.
Kia has paused imports of the high-performance EV6 GT.
Tariffs made the pricey electric hot hatch harder to sell.
Other EV6 trims are still built in Georgia and sold here.
If you want the wildest version of Kia’s EV6, you’d better be fine with someone else having already enjoyed its Porsche-eating performance before you take the keys. The high-performance EV6 GT has quietly disappeared from the American market, at least for now, leaving the rest of the lineup to carry the electric torch, and GT fans looking to the used market.
“Due to changing market conditions, the 2026 EV6 GT will be delayed until further notice,” Kia told Road & Track. “This delay does not impact the availability of other trims in the EV6 lineup, which are proudly assembled in our world-class facility in West Point, Georgia.”
Origin Matters
Unlike the regular EV6 models that are assembled in Georgia, the GT is built in Korea. That means it gets hit with the full tariff impact before it reaches a showroom, making it hard for Kia to trim down a price that looked salty at over $65,000 for the MY25 GT.
It’s a shame because the EV6 GT isn’t just another electric crossover with a sporty badge slapped on it. With up to 641 hp (650 PS / 478 kW), neck-snapping acceleration and a torque-vectoring all-wheel drive system, it’s one of the most entertaining EVs currently on sale.
But 2026 is no time for Kia to make heart-led decisions, not when its recent EV sales have been such a car crash. Demand for the EV6 plummeted 53 percent in February, versus the same month last year, and the EV9 slid 40 percent. That downturn, and the ongoing tariff problems, explain why Kia has also put a hold on US launches for the EV4 hatchback and sedan, and the EV3 SUV.
Role Reversal
Strangely, over at Kia’s sister brand Hyundai, the exact opposite is happening. The regular Ioniq 6 sedan, which shares its 800-volt E-GMP platform and electric hardware with Kia’s EV, is being dropped for MY26, but the high-performance Ioniq 6N is still available. Sales of the plain Ioniq 6 fell 61 percent in January, while its chunkier Ioniq 5 brother only experienced a 6 percent decline.
VW workers got the first glimpse of the ID. Golf silhouette.
The electric hatchback will use VW’s new SSP platform.
Production of the ID. Golf will remain in Wolfsburg.
Volkswagen’s future is starting to take shape in Wolfsburg, and yes, it still looks like a Golf. During a works council meeting on March 4, 2026, trade union IG Metall revealed the first official teaser of the next-generation VW Golf, a model that will carry the icon into the EV era.
The file name includes the ID. Golf moniker, effectively confirming earlier rumors that VW plans to combine traditional nameplates with the ID prefix for future EVs. The approach was kick-started by the smaller ID. Polo and is expected to spread across a wide range of models.
The Return Of The King
Everyone knows VW prefers to play it safe, particularly with one of its most important models. The Golf has evolved gradually over the decades, effectively turning into the Porsche 911 of mainstream hatchbacks.
Against that backdrop, the first teaser reveals a familiar shape with clear references to earlier generations of the Golf. The front end looks boxier than the current model, recalling the Golf III and the Corrado coupe from the ’90s.
The profile shows pronounced fenders reminiscent of the Golf VII, and it is expected to retain the signature C-pillar that has defined the nameplate since the beginning. Around the back, the tail blends cues from the Golf II and Golf VIII, topped by a large roof spoiler that extends the aerodynamic roofline.
Overall, the ID. Golf looks far more like a traditional hatchback than the ID.3 it is meant to replace. The current Golf VIII is not disappearing just yet, either. It will continue alongside the EV as an ICE-powered alternative.
Inside, the Golf is expected to place greater emphasis on physical controls, paired with vintage-style graphics for the digital cockpit and sustainable materials for the upholstery. The odds are it will also be more spacious and practical than its predecessors.
New Underpinnings
The ninth-generation Golf will ride on the Scalable Systems Platform (SSP), using zonal architecture and software developed in partnership with Rivian. It will feature an 800-volt system and cell-to-pack battery technology, most likely with both single and dual-motor setups. Alongside the standard ID. Golf, hotter hatch variants wearing the GTI and R badges are expected.
Other VW Group models set to use the same underpinnings include the upcoming ID. Roc, ID. Tiguan, and ID. Touareg SUVs, along with the next Skoda Octavia.
When Will It Arrive?
According to the Volkswagen Works Council newspaper, the fully electric hatchback is meant to carry the Golf’s long-running success story into the next decade as the company moves toward 2030.
VW has not confirmed a precise launch date. Earlier reports pointed to possible delays until 2030, blamed on production hurdles, shifting EV demand, and the ever-present issue of cost. However, some sources claim the new Golf will arrive sooner, with a debut in 2028, while other reports place it a year later, in 2029.
One thing that is confirmed is a reshuffle in production. Assembly of the current ICE-powered Golf VIII will move to Puebla, Mexico in 2027. That change frees up Volkswagen’s Wolfsburg plant in Germany to build the electric ID. Golf, which was the key takeaway from the recent announcement by the IG Metall union. To prepare for it, the facility is undergoing what VW describes as extensive renovations for state-of-the-art production processes.
BMW will reveal electric 3-Series sedan on March 18.
Neue Klasse i3 could have up to 500 miles of range.
Electric M3 and new-look ICE 3-Series arrives later.
BMW has confirmed the debut date for its next big electric car, and this time we mean really big. The new i3 sedan will officially break cover on March 18, bringing battery and bold new styling power to the brand’s best known model line.
Yes, BMW already sells the i4, but that car is technically an electric version of the 4 Series Gran Coupe and uses yesterday’s tech. And though BMW technically already sells an electric 3-Series in China, the upcoming i3 will be the first one built from the ground up as an EV and sold globally.
Don’t worry though, it’ll be followed by a combustion 3-Series that gets an almost identical Neue Klasse visual makeover, but is based on an updated version of the CLAR platform found under today’s ICE-powered model.
The teaser image posted on Instagram doesn’t give much away besides the debut date and a clearer idea of it’s new LED face, though BMW did promise the car will be “sharper, smarter and more thrilling than ever.” Based on prototypes and earlier concepts, plus its iX3 SUV sister that debuted last fall, we’ve got a pretty good idea of what that means.
The new i3 is part of BMW’s Neue Klasse architecture, a clean sheet EV platform designed to underpin dozens of upcoming electric models. It also brings a new design language that mixes retro BMW cues with futuristic minimalism.
Kidneys Reimagined
Up front you’ll find a glowing reinterpretation of BMW’s famous kidney grille, though it’s more of a light graphic than an actual grille. Thin diagonal LED signatures will also become a hallmark of the Neue Klasse lineup, a bit like how Peugeot made LED claw marks its motif.
Photos BMW, Baldauf
Inside, the i3 will introduce BMW’s new Panoramic iDrive interface. Instead of a traditional instrument cluster, information is projected across the base of the windshield, though you also get a central touchscreen. BMW says the goal is to keep important data closer to the driver’s natural line of sight while reducing clutter inside the cabin.
500 Miles In One Go
BMW
Under the skin things are even more cutting edge, with the latest iX3 again giving us some big clues as to what to expect in terms of spec. BMW’s new 800 volt electrical architecture supports charging speeds up to roughly 400 kW, meaning it’ll be able to add more than 230 miles (370 km) in just 10 minutes on a fast charger, and some versions will offer around 500 miles (806 km) of WLTP range.
The launch model’s powertrain will likely mirror the iX3 SUV’s with a dual-motor setup producing roughly 469 hp (476 PS / 350 kW), though more versions will follow, including milder, more affordable single-motor models, hotter M-lite performance variants and, eventually, an all electric M3.
Cupra refreshes Born EV with new family face, upgraded tech.
Steering wheel swaps hated haptic controls for physical buttons.
Sportiest VZ version packs 322 hp and offers a 372-mile range.
The Cupra Born has always been the cooler, more rebellious cousin in Volkswagen’s electric hatchback family. Now the Spanish brand has given it a facelift that sharpens the looks, upgrades the cabin and adds a bit more range, while quietly fixing one of the few annoying features from the original ID.3 twin.
The makeover starts on the outside, where the Born now adopts Cupra’s latest design language. The nose gets a more aggressive shark-like shape and new triangular Matrix LED headlights that echo the styling of newer models like the Tavascan and Formentor.
Taillights now include an illuminated Cupra logo integrated into a full light bar and new wheels arrive in 19 and 20-inch sizes wrapped in wider 235 mm tires. Cupra says the extra rubber helps improve grip and handling, which was already great, though it did come at the expense of a firm-ish ride.
Real Buttons
But inside is where one of the most welcome changes happens. The previous car’s frustrating haptic steering wheel controls have been replaced with actual physical buttons. It’s a shame Cupra didn’t replace the nasty touch-slider temperature controls on the main screen while they were at it, but that’s the drawback of sharing tech between multiple brands.
That 12.9-inch touchscreen introduced in a 2024 update is carried over, but gains a new Android based operating system. The digital gauge cluster has grown, though, from a tiny 5.3 inch display to a much more usable 10.25 inch screen.
Material quality, which was always better in the Born than in the VW ID.3, has also been further improved with redesigned door panels, softer surfaces and recycled textiles made from marine plastics. Rear passengers now get air vents as well, which might not sound exciting but is something the previous model lacked.
Less Power, More Miles
Under the skin the Born still rides on Volkswagen Group’s MEB electric platform, but the powertrain lineup has been tweaked, and now comes with a one-pedal driving mode. The entry-level Born Plus uses a 58 kWh battery and a 187 hp (190 PS / 140 kW) motor, down from 201 hp (204 PS / 150 kW) before. The payoff is in range, which increases from 264 miles (425 km) to 280 miles (450 km).
Step up to the larger 79 kWh battery in the Endurance and you’ll get around 372 miles of range (600 km) – up from 366 miles (590 km) – along with faster 185 kW charging and a power boost to 228 hp (231 PS / 170 kW). That grows to 322 hp (326 PS / 240 kW) in the VZ hot hatch, and since you get to keep all of the Endurance’s 372 range miles while gaining nearly 100 horses, it looks like the pick of the lineup.
The new-look Born hits European dealers this summer, but it better enjoy the spotlight while it can, because this year Cupra launches its little brother, the all-new Raval.
David Blenke runs a private car service in his 2022 Mach-E.
He can still squeeze nearly 300 miles (482 km) from it.
The SUV has needed six tire sets and seven cabin filters.
Many questioned Ford’s decision to launch the all-electric Mustang Mach-E in 2020, and the debate has not entirely faded. Despite early opposition, it has established itself as a solid option for buyers shopping for an electric SUV.
It has never managed to dethrone the Tesla Model Y, but for a stretch before federal tax credits expired last year, there were months when it actually outsold the gas Mustang. That has since flipped back the other way, though that is a different conversation altogether.
Of all the tens of thousands of Americans who own a Mustang Mach-E, few have put it to work like David Blenke. After purchasing a Premium model with the extended-range battery pack at the end of June 2022 and launching a private car service with it, he has driven more than 316,000 miles (508,500 km). Over the course of those miles, he has also carried more than 7,000 passengers.
He operates in the Santa Cruz, California area and bought the car at the height of the chip shortage. At one point, he faced a nine-month wait before locating an available example in Monterey.
How Much Battery Capacity Remains?
Ford itself celebrated Blenke’s Mustang Mach-E soldiering past 250,000 miles (403,000 km) in July last year, and this week, he spoke with Forbes. Not only has he continued to rack up the miles in his Mach-E at a remarkable pace, but during the interview, he revealed the battery has only degraded 8 percent after all those miles.
According to Blenke, the Mach-E still delivers nearly 300 miles (482 km) of range. Battery degradation remains a common concern among EV buyers, but his experience with the Mustang Mach-E suggests outcomes can vary widely.
For a bit of perspective, data from EV analytics firm Recurrent suggests that most electric vehicles with more than 250,000 miles hang on to roughly 80 percent of their original battery capacity. If Blenke’s figure is accurate, that puts his reported 92 percent battery health notably higher than average.
What About Maintenance?
Under his ownership, Blenke says he has gone through six sets of tires, seven cabin filters, and more than twenty routine 10,000-mile checkups. Incredibly, he says the car has not needed any repairs and still uses the original brakes. Most of the time, he drives the car in Whisper mode, which is the most efficient.
No doubt, Blenke’s charging habits help keep the battery pack in good health. He says he charges to 90 percent every night and tries to avoid letting the battery slip below 20 percent. Most charging is done with a Level 2 charger at home and Electrify America’s public network while working. He also carries an adapter that allows access to Tesla’s Supercharger network when necessary.
Jim Farley says Ford misread post-pandemic EV demand signals.
The F-150 Lightning will return as a 700-mile extended-range truck.
Ford’s new strategy prioritizes cost control and mainstream practicality.
The last decade has seen the automotive industry tipped on its head, and it hasn’t completely righted itself even now. Ford’s CEO Jim Farley says that shift is part of what led the brand to take missteps as he now sees them around the F-150 Lightning.
Now that the brand is pivoting to an extended range version of the truck, he’s spilling details on how the first Lightning got off to a hot start and then burned out fast.
After losing billions on its first-generation electric vehicles, Ford has scrapped its next-gen electric truck, canceled multiple three-row EV crossovers, and pulled the plug on a next-generation van. All of those choices have come down to what Farley says was an initial mis-reading of the market.
In a recent interview with CarAndDriver, he admits about the F-150 Lighting, “I totally would’ve done it differently. I mean, look, we didn’t know what we didn’t know… COVID totally was a false signal. Post-COVID, and during the chip crisis that was a result of it, there was such high demand for all vehicles. If you could build a vehicle, you were going to sell it basically at 30 or 40 percent higher prices than before COVID.”
Despite that big boom in profit, the reality was that production costs were too high to remain sustainable, says Farley. “I guess it didn’t take us long to learn that our internal-combustion-engine prejudice was so high that we hadn’t designed the [electric] cars right. We had a Mustang [Mach-E], we had an E-Transit, we had a Lightning, and people loved these products. The problem was they were never going to pay the cost we put into the vehicle.”
Tesla’s Big Assists
How did Farley come to this realization? As it turns out, Tesla had a hand in it.
“When we ripped apart a Tesla with Doug Field [Ford’s chief officer for EVs, digital, and design, formerly of Apple and Tesla], I was just absolutely flabbergasted,” Farley told the magazine.
“The Mach-E’s wiring harness was 70 pounds heavier and 1.6 kilometers longer. We didn’t know what was going on in [Tesla engineers’ ] minds. But now we understand. They had no prejudice. We had prejudice. We’d gone to our supply-chain person and said, ‘Buy another wiring harness.’ [Tesla] said, ‘Let’s design the vehicle for the lowest, smallest battery.’ Totally different approach.”
That shift might have played a role in Ford moving to a 48v architecture for its upcoming EV pickup. Tesla famously sent an instruction manual on building such a vehicle to Ford and other competitors. Not only does it help the brand save money on material costs, but it should also help the final product weigh less and have a longer range as a result.
While the first-gen Lightning might be something Ford wishes it could redo, it’s clear that the brand is going into the second generation with an all-new vision.
Two student transportation professionals at STN EXPO East will discuss how transportation departments can set up a collaborative partnership with local police and fire departments to aid in safe emergency response.
Tracie Franco, director of transportation at Leander Independent School District in Texas, will join Joshua Hinerman, state director of student transportation at the Tennessee Department of Education and former director of transportation for Robertson County Schools near Nashville, in a panel discussion facilitated by STN Editor in Chief Ryan Gray March 29.
They will share tips to proactively reach out and train with emergency first responders to make sure they are aware of the unique response and recovery efforts needed for a school bus incident. They will discuss coordinated training and in-service efforts, student ridership technology that can provide instant access to crucial information in an emergency and making sure transportation departments are engaging with the district wide community to increase awareness on safety efforts.
Attendees will leave the session with a better understanding of the logistics related to involving first responders in emergency response best practices in their student transportation department and strategies to improve their incident response protocol.
The session will provide attendees with practical strategies to work with law enforcement, fire, EMS and other emergency management agencies in preparing response to school bus emergencies. Franco and Hinerman will discuss their personal experiences with school bus crashes and lessons learned on joint training with first responders.
The STN EXPO East conference will be held on March 26-31 at Embassy Suites by Hilton Charlotte Concord Golf Resort & Spa. Main conference registration gives access to five days of educational sessions, hands-on training, unique networking events, product demonstrations and updates on the latest industry happenings. Register at stnexpo.com/east.
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The session will provide attendees with practical strategies to work with law enforcement, fire, EMS and other emergency management agencies in preparing response to school bus emergencies. Franco and Hinerman will discuss their personal experiences with school bus crashes and lessons learned on 