Kia is quickly expanding its electric vehicle portfolio, covering more segments than ever before. The latest addition to this lineup is the Kia EV2, a small electric SUV that’s set for a 2026 debut, primarily targeting European markets. Unveiled as a concept during the 2025 Kia EV Day in Barcelona, the EV2 offers a glimpse into what we can expect from the production model.

The Concept EV2 shows “the brand’s vision for a future B-segment all-electric SUV”. The zero-emission equivalent of the Stonic will be smallest member of Kia’s EV lineup, at least until the debut of the Picanto-sized Kia EV1 at some point in the future.

Fitting In and Standing Out

The compact dimensions of the Kia EV2, which is smaller than the EV3, mean it will target the lower end of the market. It’ll compete with electric options like the Jeep Avenger and the Mini Aceman. The concept’s exterior features cheeky proportions and a modern design, with elements like quad headlights, rugged plastic cladding, and slim, low-mounted taillights.

More: Kia’s Road-Ready PV5 Looks Just Like Last Year’s Concept

The production EV2 is expected to look very similar to the concept, albeit with a few toned-down features. Judging from earlier Kia offerings we expect the final design to have thicker pillars, larger mirrors, and flush door handles.

Futuristic Cabin, Practical Design

The concept has a futuristic four-seater cabin with a focus on practicality. The suicide rear doors, the lack of central pillars, and the flat floor provide easy access. By folding the rear seats and sliding the front bench backwards, occupants can relax, stretch their legs, or sit on the floor when the vehicle is parked.

Other cool features include the triangular portable speakers on the doors, the wireless charger on the lower portion of the dashboard, the pop-up luggage dividers, and the message lighting on the side windows for communicating with other road users. Naturally, some of these elements won’t make it to production, with the suicide doors and the window lighting being the prime candidates to be ditched in the road-going version.

More: New Mini Aceman EV Is Big On Space, Small In Size

While Kia didn’t announce the technical specifications of the EV2, the production model will most likely ride on a shorter version of the E-GMP architecture. The SUV is expected to be available with a single electric motor and a smaller battery pack compared to the slightly larger EV3, allowing it to be more affordable.

Kia President and CEO, Ho Sung Song, promised that the EV2 will offer technology and practicality “beyond its size”, adding it will support their goal of “making electric vehicles truly accessible for everyone.”

Pricing and Availability

The EV2 is expected to be priced from around €30,000 ($31,400) in Europe when it arrives in 2026. Kia said it will also go on sale in “other regions” without getting into specifics. Still, don’t expect to see the EV2 in North America, unlike the EV3 and EV4 which are expected to be available Stateside.

Road rage incidents are nothing new, but when they involve a Tesla Cybertruck, an elderly businessman, and a 17-year-old, they’re bound to make headlines, even in a place as laid-back as the Cayman Islands. A 72-year-old man is now at the center of a police investigation after being caught on camera attacking a motorist who reportedly cut in front of him and his Tesla Cybertruck. While police arrested the 17-year-old involved, the older driver walked away with just a warning, something that didn’t sit well with locals.

The altercation occurred about a week ago on Grand Cayman. According to local reports, Larry McGean was driving his Tesla Cybertruck with his wife when a teenage driver in a Hyundai Kona merged into his lane. McGean allegedly had to slam on the Tesla’s brakes to avoid a collision and didn’t take too kindly to the driving of the 17-year-old.

Watch: Road Raging Range Rover Driver Crashes After Flipping Off Motorist

According to the Cayman Marl Road, McGean approached the driver of the Kona. Footage shared on social media shows the expat in a heated argument with the young Hyundai driver before McGean appears to open the door and lunge toward him. Although the next moments are unclear, it seems that as McGean forced his way into the cabin, the teenager quickly put him in a chokehold.

An ambulance that was passing by at the time stopped and the crew helped to separate the two men. McGean’s face was cut in the incident. Despite allegedly being the aggressor, he was let off with a warning for intended prosecution of Common Assault. In contrast, the 17-year-old driver of the Hyundai was arrested on suspicion of Assault Causing Bodily Harm.

Local police are appealing to motorists who witnessed the scuffle to get in contact with them and to provide any useful information they can. However, authorities have come under fire from many locals for not yet arresting McGean, despite footage showing his involvement in the fight. It has also raised broader concerns about how wealthy expats are treated compared to local Caymanians.

The incident continues to attract attention both online and locally, with many awaiting further updates from the police investigation.

Electric vehicles are gaining traction, but not all models leave their owners equally satisfied. A new study reveals that EV owners in the US are generally pleased with their vehicles, with the BMW iX emerging as the top-rated model. Despite an 11% drop in sales last year to 15,383 units, the all-electric German SUV has won over its owners, outscoring many more popular EVs in terms of overall satisfaction.

J.D. Power’s 2025 U.S. Electric Vehicle Experience Ownership Study rated vehicles on a 1,000-point scale across several key areas. These included battery range, cost of ownership, driving enjoyment, range accuracy, public charging access, ease of home charging, design, safety and tech features, service experience, and overall quality and reliability. This year, the study surveyed 6,164 owners of 2024 and 2025 BEV and PHEV models to gather their feedback.

Read: 2026 BMW iX Facelift Debuts Cheaper $75k Base Model, New Grilles

The BMW iX scored 790 out of a possible 1,000, earning the top spot overall and leading the premium BEV category. Close behind was another BMW model, the i4, with a score of 783. It was followed by the Rivian R1S at 770, the Tesla Model 3 at 767, and the Polestar 2 at 764. The average rating for premium BEVs was 756, with the Tesla Model Y (749), Audi Q8 e-tron (722), and Cadillac Lyriq (717) falling below this benchmark.

Leading the way among mass-market BEVs was the Hyundai Ioniq 6 with a rating of 751. However, one could argue the Tesla Model 3 and Y should be considered mass-market BEVs, too, rather than premium offerings. Other strong performers included the Kia EV6 (743), Chevrolet Equinox EV (737), and Hyundai Ioniq 5 (728).

Other Findings

The study also quizzed owners about the education and training they received from dealerships or the manufacturer. While 69% of first-time BEV buyers did receive some education, greater efforts can be made and this could boost ownership satisfaction.

The vast majority of EV owners are also eager to stick with an EV. In fact, 94% said they are likely to consider buying another EV as their next vehicle. According to the executive director of J.D. Power’s EV practice, Brent Gruber, “once consumers enter the EV fold, they’re highly likely to remain committed to the technology.”

The BMW iX’s top ranking underscores how satisfaction doesn’t always correlate with sales figures, highlighting the importance of the ownership experience in shaping consumer loyalty.

It’s no secret that Chinese car manufacturers are leading the charge when it comes to electric vehicles (pun fully intended). What’s surprising, though, is that they’ve managed this without selling a single car in the United States, the world’s second-largest and most lucrative car market. So, how are they pulling it off? By focusing on just about every other major region instead.

More: Porsche’s High Prices And Outdated Tech Are Killing Its Sales In China, Could It Happen Here?

According to recent data from Rho Motion, Chinese brands now command a staggering 76% share of the global EV and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) market, thanks to aggressive expansions into new territories. In Europe, their market share varies by country, but they’ve made particularly strong gains in less developed markets around the world.

Gaining Ground in Europe

In Germany, Europe’s largest car market, Chinese manufacturers accounted for about 4% of the 578,000 EVs sold last year. The numbers are slightly higher in the UK and France, where they captured 7% and 5% of total EV sales, respectively. In the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, and Belgium, Chinese EVs make up 6%, 5%, 8%, and 3% of the market. Meanwhile, their presence is even more pronounced in Spain and Austria, where they hold 10% and 11% of total EV sales.

Dominating Emerging Markets

Outside Europe, Chinese automakers are enjoying even more significant success. In Brazil, a remarkable 82% of all EVs and PHEVs sold in 2024 came from China. Similarly, they have a 77% share of the market in Thailand and a 70% share in Mexico. They also account for 75% of all EVs and PHEVs delivered in Indonesia, 52% in Malaysia, 74% in Nepal, and 64% in Israel. They’re also popular in Australia and New Zealand, accounting for 26% and 15% of sales.

Why Are They Winning?

Part of this success can be attributed to the fact that many of these countries lack a strong local car industry, giving Chinese brands an easier path to market dominance. Additionally, China’s electric vehicle industry has benefited from at least $231 billion in government subsidies and aid from 2009 through the end of 2023. This substantial financial support has allowed Chinese EVs and PHEVs to be more affordable than those from traditional automakers, giving them a competitive edge.

It was only a matter of time before the Tesla Cybertruck found its way into police service. That moment has arrived with confirmation from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department that it’s adding 10 Cybertrucks to its fleet and they won’t just be used for promotional activities.

It’s not uncommon for police forces worldwide to adopt flashy, expensive vehicles, often sparking controversy if taxpayer money is involved. In this case, however, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department emphasizes that all 10 Cybertrucks are being “donated by an anonymous supporter,” sidestepping any budget-related backlash.

According to the department, some of the Cybertrucks will be used by local SWAT teams, while others will serve as regular patrol cars for Las Vegas police officers. A pair of renderings showcase how the modified Cybertrucks could look, and even though it’s hard to stand out in Las Vegas among all the flashing lights and craziness, these Teslas will no doubt turn heads.

Read: First Police Tesla Cybertruck Hits The Streets In Irvine, But $132K Price Sparks Backlash

The version previewed for SWAT use is finished in a new desert color and sits on black aftermarket wheels with huge mud-terrain tires. It also looks to feature reinforced armored doors and windows, off-road tracks, and custom bumpers. It’s unclear if the finished product will look like this, as this rendering appears to be based on an upgraded Cybertruck from Unplugged Performance unveiled back in late 2023.

The regular police cruiser version looks a little more tame and, once again, has been previewed with a single image based on Unplugged Performance’s Cybertruck cop car unveiled last year. Modifications include new flashing light bars, custom wheels, and LED spotlights.

“Imagine when we’re out and we’re charging these things, and officers will be approached by people from all over the community to see this thing,” Sheriff Kevin McMahill told Fox 5 Vegas. “It’s an opportunity [to] inject humanity, to increase our community partnerships. This is also a tremendous recruitment tool.”

Unplugged Performance’s Tesla Cybertruck Police Car

In recent years, Lucid chief executive Peter Rawlinson has become the face of the innovative electric vehicle brand, but soon after the Gravity SUV was launched, the British engineer stepped aside. Current chief operating officer Marc Winterhoff will replace him on an interim basis as Lucid’s board looks for a permanent new CEO.

Rawlinson joined Lucid in 2013, having previously served as the vice president for vehicle engineering for the Tesla Model S. He has proven instrumental in growing the company and was there when it was rebranded from Atieva in 2016 to Lucid. Despite the encouraging growth, Lucid remains a small player in the EV space but it has big plans for 2025.

Read: Lucid CEO Says “The Market Sucks” For Cheap $25,000 EVs

“Now that we have successfully launched the Lucid Gravity, I have decided it is finally the right time for me to step aside from my roles at Lucid,” Rawlinson said. “I am incredibly proud of the accomplishments the Lucid team have achieved together through my tenure of these past twelve years. We grew from a tiny company with a big ambition, to a widely recognized technological world leader in sustainable mobility.”

Rawlinson won’t leave the company, and will now serve as Strategic Technical Advisor to the Chairman of the Board.

Financial Results

On the same day Rawlinson stepped down as CEO, Lucid announced its full-year 2024 and fourth-quarter financial results. Last year, Lucid produced a total of 9,029 vehicles and delivered 10,241. Q4 revenue reached $234.5 million, while annual revenue topped $807.8 million, and Lucid ended the quarter with roughly $6.13 billion in total liquidity.

2025 is shaping up to be a very important one for Lucid. Production of the Gravity SUV will ramp up, and the company is aiming to produce approximately 20,000 vehicles this year. Winterhoff hasn’t said what proportion of new sales will be for the Gravity, but given the strong demand for luxury SUVs, it’s possible that it could prove to be more popular than the Lucid Air sedan.

All versions of the Lucid SUV have a huge 123 kWh battery, enough to give the Gravity an impressive 450 miles (724 km) of range. It also uses a trick 926-volt electrical architecture that supports DC fast charging of up to 400 kW.

Mardi Gras can make a lot of trash, adding up to millions of pounds each year. Now, some parades in New Orleans are cutting down on their environmental footprint by banning plastic beads.

The plant, formally known as Ovicula biradiata, is especially notable for being the simultaneous discovery of a new species and genus. It was found with help from the community science app iNaturalist.

(Image credit: D. Manley)

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.,  — Saint Louis Public Schools (SLPS) has awarded a three-year transportation contract to Zūm, the leader in modern student transportation. The decision signals the district’s commitment to a safe, efficient, transparent and more equitable solution for students and families.

SLPS serves more than 18,000 students in more than 60 schools. Beginning in the 2025-26 school year, this partnership with Zum will enable the district to deliver superior service built around the needs of SLPS students and families along with the teachers, administrators and drivers committed to creating the best educational experience for children.

“Ensuring that our students arrive at school safely, on time, and ready to learn is a top priority for Saint Louis Public Schools,” said Dr. Millicent Borishade, Interim Superintendent of SLPS. “Through our partnership with Zum, we are embracing a transportation model that prioritizes safety, equity and innovation. This collaboration will provide families with greater visibility into their child’s ride to and from school while also improving operational efficiency for our district.”

“We are delighted to partner with Saint Louis Public Schools, a district that shares Zum’s vision of a future where student transportation advances equity, accessibility and student-centered transportation solutions,” said Ritu Narayan, Founder and CEO at Zum. “We look forward to working with families in the SLPS community and encourage all those interested in driving, both experienced and new, for Zum to apply and attend our upcoming hiring events.”

Drivers are at the heart of Zum’s operation. Zum will be covering 220 routes for SLPS and will be hosting school bus driver hiring events on Tuesday, March 4; Wednesday, March 5; and Thursday, March 6, 2025; at the Courtyard St. Louis Downtown West (2340 Market St., St. Louis, MO 63103) from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. CT. Zum encourages all those interested to apply here and attend the events to learn more. The company will be hiring 242 drivers to cover the 220 routes as well as 55 attendants.

Zum is a national leader in modern student transportation, serving school districts with a focus on technology, sustainability, and customer service. The company’s model integrates state-of-the-art school buses with data-driven routing, driver tracking and enhanced safety measures, offering families real-time updates through a mobile app.

Benefits of Zum include:

Safe, reliable rides and industry-leading technology: Zum’s end-to-end technology platform unifies parents, students, school and district administrators, and drivers on a single platform with role-based access that improves safety, communication, transparency, and efficiency for all stakeholders. Through the Zum app, parents receive real-time data and notifications about their school bus location and their child’s pickup and drop-off status, as well as a profile of their child’s bus driver and vehicle information. Zum also provides administrators with real-time data and performance reports to optimize routes and reduce student ride times, facilitating transparent, data-driven decisions regarding student transportation.

Well-trained and certified drivers: Through Zum’s proprietary safety technology, driver training and certification program, SafeGuard, all drivers not only meet and exceed all state and federal requirements but also are trained on and required to adhere to specific protocols while picking up or dropping off students and while driving. Zum offers its drivers competitive pay, flexibility, and modern benefits, (including medical, dental, vision, and 401K benefits). Zum has helped their partner districts overcome obstacles in the face of a nationwide driver shortage.

State-of-the-art buses and facilities: SLPS students and drivers will experience new, air-conditioned buses as well as top-of-the-line equipment and technology designed to enhance their safety and comfort and make drivers’ day-to-day jobs easier and more enjoyable.

To learn more about how Zum is working with thousands of schools to deliver safe, reliable, and modern student transportation, please visit Zum’s website.

About Zum:
Zum is a modern transportation solution transforming school transportation, the largest mass transit system in the U.S. Today, the company provides turnkey modern transportation solutions to school districts in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Utah, and Virginia, and is expanding rapidly nationwide. Recognized globally for its innovative transportation and energy as a service platform, Zum has been featured among Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas, CNBC Disruptor 50, CNBC Changemakers, World Economic Forum and Financial Times’ Fastest Growing Companies. Learn more about Zum at www.ridezum.com.

The post Saint Louis Public Schools Partners with Zum appeared first on School Transportation News.

COMPTON, Calif. – Today, the Compton Unified School District (CUSD) and its school transportation provider, Durham School Services (DSS), unveiled the school district’s brand-new fleet of 25 electric school buses and 25 newly-installed Tellus chargers, at a ribbon cutting event. The buses will begin transporting students this spring. At the event, attendees had the opportunity to tour and ride the buses.

Attendees included Lillie P. Darden (Councilwoman – District 4), Hector De La Torre (Executive Director, Gateway Cities Council of Governments), CUSD Superintendent Dr. Darin Brawley, CUSD Chief Administrative Officer Dr. Shannon Soto, CUSD Board Members Sandra Moss, Alma Taylor-Pleasant, and Satra Zurita, as well as key partners Highland Electric Fleets and Thomas Built Buses, Southern California Edison, Durham School Services team members, and fellow community members.

The 25 new electric school buses, which consist of 17 Thomas Built Type A and 8 Thomas Built Type C vehicles, mark the start of the school district’s first electric vehicle (EV) endeavor and was made possible thanks to partnerships and support from Highland Electric Fleets, Thomas Built Buses, and Southern California Edison. Funds for the new vehicles were awarded through the first round of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean School Bus Program. Compton Unified School District was also awarded funds by the EPA for the third round of the program and anticipates introducing an additional 25 EV school buses in the future.

“The Compton Unified School District is excited to roll out these incredible EV buses in partnership with Durham and Highland,” said Compton Unified School District Board of Trustees President Micah Ali. “These new buses not only provide for a more sustainable, healthier Compton community, they also serve as an exemplar of innovation and social responsibility for our Compton Scholars.”

“These new electric buses are an investment in our students’ future—providing safe, clean transportation as they pursue their dreams,” said Dr. Darin Brawley, Superintendent of Compton Unified School District. “Just as we are committed to sustainability, we are also committed to academic excellence, ranking #1 in LA County for graduation rates and #1 in the state among comparably sized districts. Compton Unified will continue leading the way to ensure our scholars have every opportunity to succeed.”

“We are able to celebrate this new EV chapter in Durham and CUSD’s deep-rooted 20+year partnership thanks to the EPA grant, and our mutual ambition in driving this transition early. I can’t stress enough about how vital grants like these are and the need for continued support from our partners in government at the state and federal level to fund additional grants for school districts and their transportation partners that are ready to deliver and operate zero-emission buses,” said Tim Wertner, CEO, Durham School Services. “Lastly, I’d like to give thanks to our local team of drivers, technicians, General Manager Wendy, and countless other team members, whom, without, this project would not have been possible or even half as successful. I look forward to seeing the new heights we’ll reach over the next few years as we continue our partnership with CUSD.”

“Compton Unified School District is making a real difference for its students with the launch of its first electric school buses,” said Brian Buccella, Chief Commercial Officer at Highland Electric Fleets. “These buses bring cleaner, quieter, and healthier transportation to the community, which is especially important in a county where 1 in 11 children have asthma. Highland Electric Fleets is proud to be part of this effort, and we look forward to working alongside the CUSD community to continue making a positive impact for students and families.”

In preparation for the new EV buses beginning service this spring, hands-on training sessions for technicians were held in January of this year. The two-day training sessions were led by Durham School Services maintenance leaders, Thomas Built Buses, Highland Electric Fleets, and Optimal EV and covered topics related to EV safety, charging stations, and operations.

About Compton Unified School District: Compton Unified School District, whose Superintendent is Dr. Darin Brawley, is located in the south-central region of Los Angeles County. CUSD encompasses the city of Compton and portions of the cities of Carson and Los Angeles. The district currently serves more than 17,000 students at 36 sites. CUSD is a district that is elevating, with a high school graduation rate of 93%, dramatic facilities improvements, 88% college acceptance, and a focus on STEAM throughout all schools. The mission of the Compton Unified School District is to empower leaders to lead, teachers to teach, and students to learn by fostering an environment that encourages leaders and teachers to be visionary, innovative, and accountable for the achievement of all students. CUSD schools have received numerous awards, including Golden Bell Awards, National Blue Ribbon School designations, and Top 10 LA Public Schools by Innovate LA. CUSD is also a member of the League of Innovative Schools. The District’s Superintendent, Dr. Darin Brawley, was named 2019 Superintendent of the Year by the Los Angeles County Office of Education. For more information, visit http://www.compton.k12.ca.us.

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

About Highland Electric Fleets: Highland Electric Fleets is North America’s leading provider of electrification-as-a-service. Founded in 2019, Highland makes it simple and affordable to transition fleets of all sizes to electric, from school buses to public safety, municipal and commercial vehicles.

Highland led the first use of electric school buses in a commercial vehicle-to-grid (V2G) program and operates the largest electric school bus project in the U.S. With approximately 95% of school buses built in the U.S., the shift to electric drives American innovation, strengthens domestic manufacturing, and creates jobs in communities across the country in addition to reducing emissions and lowering operating costs. Learn more at www.highlandfleets.com.

The post Compton Unified School District Celebrates New Fleet of 25 Electric School Buses appeared first on School Transportation News.

A Madison City Schools bus driver in Alabama was arrested after allegedly engaging in sexual acts with a student under 19 years old, reported AL News.

Police stated that 24-year-old Azaria Ashford of nearby Huntsville was arrested last Friday and charged with one count of school employee engaging in a sex act with a student under the age of 19.

According to the news report, the district received information regarding the incident on Feb. 11 that Ashford allegedly exchanged inappropriate messages with several students. The school district quickly placed her on administrative leave and reported the allegations to the Madison Police Department.

The police department conducted a subsequent investigation, which resulted in the arrest of Ashford. She is no longer employed by the Madison City Schools.

Ashford was reportedly booked into the Madison County jail pending bond. The investigation is ongoing.

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Related: New York School Bus Aide Accused of Sexual Assault
Related: Florida School Bus Driver Arrested for Alleged Assault
Related: Alabama School Bus Driver Arrested for Allegedly Assaulting Student with Special Needs
Related: Alabama High School Student Killed While Waiting for School Bus

The post Alabama School Bus Driver Charged on Sex Acts with Teen appeared first on School Transportation News.

 

[By Joe Keary]

Australia can take three lessons from Chinese military behavior in the past two weeks.

China will keep conducting dangerous military maneuvers against us and other countries in the South China Sea; its actions will continue to differ from its words; and it is likely to send advanced Chinese warships to our region more often and for longer.

It has been an eventful fortnight in the China-Australia military relationship. First, on 11 February the Department of Defence reported the fifth known incident of unsafe behavior by China’s military towards the Australian Defence Force. On the same day the department reported that a powerful Chinese naval task group was operating in Australia’s northeastern maritime approaches.

On 17 February, Defence reported that it had restarted senior military talks with China. Talks were held at the level of vice chief of defence, and this marked the first time that senior-level dialogue had been held between militaries since 2019. Previous talks had occurred at the level of chief of defence, and working level talks have been held twice since 2019.

Finally, on 21 February and the following two days, the Chinese task group conducted not one but two live-fire exercises in the Tasman Sea, between Australia’s most populous region and New Zealand. These unprecedented exercises, while consistent with international law, came with limited notice, meaning commercial aircraft had to quickly change flight paths to avoid potential danger. Foreign Minister Wong challenged her Chinese counterpart over the incident on the margins of a G20 meeting in South Africa.

Expect China’s military to keep targeting Australia, as well as other US allies and partners that uphold freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea. In the coming month, ASPI will release a live tracker of military incidents to outline frightening trends of unsafe behavior by China’s military towards Australia, the US, Canada, the Netherlands, the Philippines and any other country that challenges Beijing’s excessive maritime claims.

Second, this fortnight reminds us of the vast gulf between China’s words and actions. China’s readout of the 17 February defence talks noted that both sides had ‘agreed to continue strengthening strategic communication … properly handle disputes and differences, and carry out exchanges and cooperation.’ Its South China Sea challenges are the cause of dispute, while its far seas deployments lack transparency and communication.

This lesson also reminds us that while China’s tactics may change, its strategy does not. We may have ups and downs in our diplomatic, economic and military relations with China, but long-term trends reflect a deteriorating relationship with a global power set on expanding its influence. The past fortnight has provided a snapshot of China’s ability to deploy a variety of tactics, which in this case were designed to signal its military reach and test Australia’s military and diplomatic responses.

The third lesson is that we should expect more Chinese naval deployments in and around Australia’s exclusive economic zone. This trend has been evident since 2022, but there are broader developments underway in China’s military that indicate Beijing’s ambition to develop a global navy that will be able to project power into our region more frequently and for longer periods at a time.

China’s naval strategy for most of the 20th century was focused on coastal defence. However, since 2008, it has deployed naval task groups to the Gulf of Aden for counter-piracy operations. These have typically been made up of two combatant ships and an oiler for logistical support. Each task group can stay in the gulf for about four months.

Due to a lack of support ships or a network of overseas support bases, we haven’t seen regular and sustained deployments by China’s navy to other areas of the globe. But this trend is changing.

In December 2024, the US Department of Defense reported that ‘China is expected to build additional fleet replenishment oilers soon to support its expanding long-duration combatant ship deployments.’ China has 12 replenishment oilers that support long-distance, long-duration deployments. (The US Navy operates 15 replenishment oilers and and can also use the allies’ ports.) Construction of new oilers has become a priority for China, especially given its lack of overseas logistics facilities.

China had initial success in establishing an overseas base at Djibouti, which now provides some logistical support to China’s naval deployments. China also maintains a regular military presence at the Ream naval base in Cambodia. However, despite efforts to persuade other countries, including Pacific Islands countries, China has yet to establish military bases or logistical facilities elsewhere.

As China’s navy improves its logistics and defensive capabilities, a lack of overseas bases will only slow, not stop, China’s ambition to project naval forces into global environs (including Australia’s) more often and for longer durations. This will have implications for Australia’s own limited naval capabilities, which will come under pressure to monitor more Chinese ships in our region, while continuing operations that support freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea.

Joe Keary is a senior analyst at ASPI. This article appears courtesy of ASPI's The Strategist and may be found in its original form here. 

 

British oil major BP has joined its peers in scaling back renewable-energy initiatives in favor of a return to its historical focus on oil and gas. On Wednesday, BP Chief Executive Officer Murray Auchincloss told investors that the company's controversial  plan to pivot fast and early towards green energy is now over. "This is a reset bp, with an unwavering focus on growing long-term shareholder value," Auchincloss said in a statement.

In 2020, under then-CEO Bernard Looney, BP announced a 10-fold increase in low-carbon energy investment by 2030, combined with emissions reductions of 35 percent and a managed 40 percent decline in oil and gas production over the same period. At the time, it was perhaps the most ambitious decarbonization proposal that any oil major had announced. 

However, BP and its peers have been gradually walking back their green investment plans. Under pressure from investors to show better free cash flow and stronger quarterly returns, BP now plans to "fundamentally reset strategy." It will now increase investments in oil and gas to $10 billion a year and cut planned investments in renewables down to $1-2 billion a year, $5 billion less than previously planned. The new approach will increase O&G production to 2.5 million barrels a day by 2030.

Its renewables business will be "disciplined" going forward, with a focus on biogas, biofuels and EV charging - not on costly offshore wind. BP has also announced a strategic review of its Castrol lubricants business. 

"We are reducing and reallocating capital expenditure to our highest-returning businesses to drive growth, and relentlessly pursuing performance improvements and cost efficiency. This is all in service of sustainably growing cash flow and returns," said Auchinloss. "We will be very selective in our investment in the transition, including through innovative capital-light platforms."
 

 

Taking a page from the tactics of former Indonesian fisheries minister Susi Pudjiastuti, the Australian Border Force has seized and burned two illegal foreign fishing vessels off the coast of the Northern Territory. It is the latest in a series of interdictions intended to cut off illegal migration and shut down illegal Indonesian fishing vessels in this far-flung region, where there are few settlements and limited government presence. 

Aboriginal rangers spotted the foreign fishing vessels near Maningrida, a remote village with no connection to the national road network, and reported the presence to the ABF. On Sunday, ABF vessels located and intercepted the two Indonesian boats near Maningrida and Port Essington. They detained the fishermen, confiscated the catch of 1,200 kilos of sea cucumber, and seized the fishing equipment. The vessels were destroyed at sea, as allowed under Australian law. 

“ABF is dedicated to responding to every report of illegal foreign fishing in the Northern Territory," Commander Griffin said. “We are grateful to the Djelk Rangers for their diligent reporting of this sighting. The unique and detailed knowledge that Indigenous ranger groups and Traditional Owners and custodians possess . . . is invaluable in supporting our efforts to protect our borders."

In December, the agency launched a new operation to intercept foreign fishing vessels that operate on the long and empty stretch of roadless coastline. The new push has been bearing fruit: in the first month of operations, 12 vessels were interdicted, resulting in the seizure of six tonnes of illicit catch. 

Illegal fishing has been a problem for local Aboriginal groups for a long time, but the pace has recently increased, along with new evidence of human smuggling. In October, a group of up to 30 unauthorized migrants from four boats were reported in the Northern Territories - igniting a minor political furor in Australia, where maritime migration is rigorously discouraged. 
 

 

Efforts to continue to build out the engine options for shipowners seeking to align with the emerging trends for alternative fuels continued with WinGD highlighting the delivery of the most powerful methanol-fueled engine for ships. It is the largest yet built for methanol and part of the company's diversified future offering including LNG and ammonia-fueled engines.

The Swiss company which has been in the engine business since 1893 highlights that the new methanol engine is ready for delivery after passing factory and type approval tests. It launched the line with a ten-cylinder, 92-bore X-DF-M engine while reporting it is offering engines with bore sizes ranging from 52 to 96, in similar cylinder configurations and engine rating fields as its diesel-fueled engines. The methanol rollout proceeds ammonia-fueled engines which are still in the testing phase but expected as early as mid-year.

“Production of sustainable, renewable fuels of all types continues to advance, but long-term availability and cost remain uncertain,” commented Dominik Schneiter, CEO of WinGD. As interest in methanol and regulatory clarity increases, we anticipate the X-DF-M platform will become a key contributor to reducing greenhouse gas emissions from global shipping.”

The milestone was marked by a delivery ceremony held at engine builder CMD in Shanghai and included a ceremony for the signing of the approval certificate by eight classification societies. According to WinGD, this assures that the engine can be built to WinGD’s design by all engine builders.

The first engine will be shipped to COSCO Heavy Industry’s shipyard and is slated for installation on a 16,000 TEU containership being built for COSCO Shipping. COSCO is expanding its methanol operations after having also recently celebrated the naming of China’s first large methanol-fueled containership earlier this month. WindGD reports the new engine will be installed on the fourth ship of a new class with the other three ships’ engines being converted after the first methanol engine is commissioned.

WinGD reports it has 56 orders for X-DF-M engines on order across bore sizes ranging from 52 to 92, X-Engines. The addition of methanol capability to WinGD’s engine line-up further extends the decarbonization options available to deep-sea ship operators, which include the long-established X-DF LNG-fueled engine platform and a new ammonia-fueled X-DF-A platform which is currently in the testing phase.

The company was acquired in 2016 by China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC). It continues to be one of the world’s leading engine manufacturers.
 

 

The Royal Thai Navy had a collision with a foreign fishing vessel during an enforcement mission earlier this week, the service confirmed Wednesday. 

On Saturday, the Royal Thai Navy tracked and monitored a group of 10 foreign fishing vessels that were conducting illegal fishing operations in Thai waters, reportedly including pair trawling and light-lure squid fishing. Their operating pattern was to loiter along the southeastern edge of the Thai maritime boundary, next to Cambodia. The fishing vessels would cross over during the night before heading back over the line at daybreak to evade enforcement. 

Thai maritime enforcement officials called for support from the Border Defence Command of the Thai military. The naval patrol ship T.264 and the Thai Navy warship HTMS Thepa got under way to assist, supported by aerial surveillance. They encountered the fleet early Tuesday and gave pursuit; the Thai warship managed to capture one foreign fishing vessel, but the others fled over the boundary line, despite orders to stop and warning shots. 

 

Courtesy Royal Thai Navy

During the pursuit, the detained fishing vessel made a hard turn and rammed the side of HTMS Thepa, causing minor damage. The four crewmembers were arrested, and the boat was towed into port at Khlong Yai. 

Rear Admiral Apha Chaphanon, Director of Thailand’s First Maritime Enforcement Command Centre, told local media that encroachment from illegal Vietnamese fishing vessels is a persistent problem along the Gulf of Thailand maritime boundary. 
 

 

In a move that goes against the global trend to stop live export, Argentina announced that it is repealing a ban that has been in place since 1973. The Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Secretariat of the Ministry of Economy cited it as a move to support free trade and to grow Argentina’s export industry and role in world trade.

Javier Gerardo Milei who became president of Argentina in 2023 has been seeking to grow the country’s role in global trade. The country, which is already one of the leaders in the global export of frozen and refrigerated meat, said the move will allow for greater competition within the livestock and meat sector, greater market freedom, and provide a significant source of foreign currency. 

The ministry called the ban outdated and not reflecting the current focus on free development. It declared that there were no reasons to maintain the restriction while asserting that developing the live export trade would encourage the improvement of livestock breeds and add prestige to national production. It said the repeal was in keeping with a government policy to promote “an economic system based on free decisions, adopted in an area of free competition, with respect for private property and the constitutional principles of free circulation of goods, services, and labor.”

The move is likely to face strong opposition from global animal rights groups which have increased pressure on the trade and governments around the world. They argue it is inhumane treatment of the animals and unnecessary cruelty. After years of pressure, New Zealand banned live export in 2023 followed by moves in Great Britain. Australia has limited its trade and is scheduled to end the export of sheep in 2028.

Animal rights groups have also been successful in demanding changes to the vessels used for live export after documenting conditions aboard. Combined with the bans, the shipping industry is in decline. In January 2025, Wellard, which had been involved in live export for 46 years and once was described as Australia’s largest live export business, announced the sale of its last vessel and an end to live exports.

Despite the pressure, the trade however has persisted. Experts report continuing demand from countries including Turkey, Iraq, Lebanon, Egypt, Jordan, Argentina, Peru, and Colombia. Argentina’s neighboring country Brazil has been conducting live export since 2010 with reports saying around 2.6 million live cattle were shipped. Advocates however are also pressing Brazil to end its live exports.

For Argentina, live export is seen as a new opportunity to expand on its record levels of exports of frozen, refrigerated, and processed beef. The Ministry reported today, February 26, that Argentina increased beef exports by 10 percent in 2024 reaching a total of 935,261 tons. It was the highest level since a record reached in 1924 of 918 thousand tons. The main destinations for Argentina’s beef in 2024 were the United States, as well as China, Mexico, Canada, and Malaysia. In total, Argentina ships to 53 international markets, which was up by 11 in 2024.

The Ministry says Argentina's beef exports reflect the combination of quality, market diversification, and the ability to adapt to international demands. They report the meat sector is emerging as a pillar of the country’s economic growth.
 

 

In response to the growing challenges of illicit trade and supply chain security, a new industry alliance is being launched to drive the adoption of cutting-edge smart container technology. Known as the Smart Container Alliance, the group reports its goal is to unite industry leaders in a collective effort to enhance cargo traceability, fortify maritime trade, and support global enforcement agencies in the fight against criminal networks.

Announcing the formal launch of the initiative they pointed to geopolitical instability and climate-related disruptions which they said are posing increasing risks to global trade. Cargo theft, smuggling, and drug cartels have become an increasing focus of the authorities around the globe. As a result, the Alliance says shipping companies must ensure the highest levels of security and efficiency. 

The Smart Container Alliance is dedicated to advancing industry standards, advocating for policy change, and fostering collaboration between technology providers, shipowners, customs authorities, and international regulatory bodies, including the European Union and the World Customs Organization. The launch of the Alliance aligns with the broader industry commitment that calls for increased investment in customs operations, digital transformation, and enhanced public-private partnerships to address the growing complexity of global trade.

“Smart Cargo and Container Telematics are the foundation for the 21st Century Supply Chain with revolutionary new solutions for our society, authorities, governments, and businesses to structurally reduce illicit trade, cargo contamination, cargo waste, theft and supply chain carbon footprint while simultaneously enhance product authentication, on-time delivery commitments, asset productivity and cargo integrity and quality,” said Charles Vincent, CEO of ARVIEM, a technology company focusing on real-time end-to-end cargo monitoring services, and one of the founders of the Alliance.

According to the group, over the past four years, smart container technologies have played a crucial role in enabling customs authorities and shipping companies to detect and intercept illicit goods, leading to multiple successful drug seizures. The Alliance will leverage this experience to push for greater adoption and regulatory support.

The launch of the Smart Container Alliance comes at a pivotal moment, coinciding with the most ambitious reform of the EU Customs Union since its inception in 1968. Smart containers are set to play a key role in the shift towards a data-driven approach to customs checks, reinforcing security measures across European ports and beyond.

The Alliance will advocate for the economic and technological benefits of smart container solutions, championing concrete use cases that demonstrate their transformative potential. With its headquarters in Brussels, it will engage with policymakers, industry leaders, and enforcement agencies to support a harmonized approach to trade security. A key focus will be aligning efforts with the European Port Alliance to counter criminal infiltration and reinforce supply chain integrity.

Arviem, Globe Tracker, ORBCOMM, Hoopo, Traxens, and Nexxiot are the founding members of the Smart Container Alliance. The group is seeking other stakeholders to join as it looks to build the focus on technologies and the role it can play in the supply chain.
 

In what is being called a milestone for the emergence of alternative fuels for the maritime sector, the first bunkering of certified bio-LNG was completed off Norway. The emergence of the fuel is a critical step toward meeting the requirements of the FuelEU Maritime regulations and demonstrates a pathway for the industry with alternative fuels.

The bunkering was a partnership between STX Group and Molgas which collaborated to source, liquify, and deliver the certified bio-LNG. It was the first time that Molgas delivered mass balanced bio-LNG bunker to a maritime customer in Norway.

The fuel was delivered to Furetank, a Swedish tanker shipping company that operates 40 vessels in European waters. A total of 200 tonnes of bio-LNG was loaded to the Fure Viken (17,942 dwt) while the vessel was anchored outside Mongstad, Norway. The tanker, which is 492 feet (150 meters) in length was delivered in 2024 as part of a program to modernize Furetank’s fleet. The first of the vessels was introduced in 2018 and the company highlights with the last delivery scheduled for 2027, it will have renewed its entire fleet. The vessels are dual-fuel to use LNG or gasoil, equipped for shore power, and are designed with a battery hybrid solution and several innovative features that reduce fuel and energy consumption.

“We see a growing demand and interest in Bio-LNG, as it is one of the few renewable fuel solutions currently available in shipping. For this operation, we collaborated to prove a mass-balanced biomethane delivery and certify the entire supply chain. This new option strengthens the competitiveness of biomethane as part of the green transition,” said Gunnar Helmen, Director Marine at Molgas Nordics.

Bio-LNG is a mass-balanced product where biomethane of certified origins is purchased and injected into the gas grid. A corresponding amount of gas is withdrawn from the grid and liquefied into maritime fuel.

Environmental commodity trader STX Group said it sees this transaction as one of the first signs of a new fuel market being born.

Bio-LNG has been emerging in the past few years as an option for shipping companies. Trade group SEA-LNG reported in a 2023 market analysis that annual production of biomethane, from which bio-LNG is produced, was around 30 million tonnes or around 10 percent of shipping’s total annual energy demand. It is growing in availability at ports including Rotterdam and in Asia and in 2024, Hapag-Lloyd working with Titan Clean Fuels, reported one of the largest bunkering operations to date. Hapag-Lloyd’s Brussels Express loaded 2,200 tonnes of the alternative fuel at the Port of Rotterdam.

The companies called bio-LNG an “efficient answer” to FuelEU Maritime, noting the regulation rewards those who blend in biofuels and penalizes those who do not blend. They also noted that the new regulation makes no distinction between mass-balanced and off-grid produced biomethane. The companies assert that this opens up a new path for shipping in the transition to renewable energy, surpassing some of the hurdles of lack in biomethane supply and delivery infrastructure.

One of the challenges remains the lack of investment to achieve a critical supply level for the maritime industry. The companies note that their goal is for this demonstration to demonstrate the opportunities while they are also calling for public policy to further support the development of the production capabilities for renewable fuels.

Decades after other industries embraced digital transformation, shipping still relies on email chains, phone calls, and gut feel. But AI and data-driven decision-making are starting to challenge the status quo, forcing companies to rethink how they operate. 

Some shipowners and operators see AI as a buzzword. Others see it as an existential threat. The reality? AI is neither magic nor a job killer. It’s a tool that can finally bring logic, transparency, and efficiency to an industry that’s been built on relationships and intuition rather than data. 

The problem: decisions based on instinct, not intelligence 

Shipping has never been a data-led industry. Chartering managers, bunker buyers, and fleet operators make multi-million dollar decisions daily, often without real-time data or historical benchmarking. 

A bunker procurement manager, for example, might buy fuel based on a few WhatsApp quotes, comparing offers in their head rather than through a structured system. An operator might adjust a ship’s speed based on personal experience rather than predictive analytics. A charterer might pick a fixture based on the strength of their broker relationship rather than hard market data. 

These aren’t necessarily bad decisions, these are the best decisions people can make with the information they have. But that’s exactly the problem. Too many critical decisions are still being made with incomplete, outdated, or biased information. 

AI is already proving itself 

AI isn’t some futuristic concept, it’s already proving its value in shipping. Some of the most forward-thinking companies are using AI-driven routing models to cut fuel consumption, optimize speed, and avoid congestion. Others are applying machine learning to detect vessel performance anomalies before they turn into costly breakdowns. 

Take predictive maintenance. By analyzing engine performance and historical failure patterns, AI can tell shipowners when a part is likely to fail, long before it becomes a problem. This isn’t hypothetical. Maersk, for example, has been using AI to reduce unplanned maintenance and improve vessel uptime. 

Another clear use case is AI in chartering. Today, a human broker or charterer has access to a fraction of the data that AI can process in seconds. AI tools can scan thousands of past fixtures, market conditions, and vessel positions, flagging optimal deals that might have been missed in a manual search.

Why adoption is slow 

If AI is so effective, why isn’t every shipping company using it? The biggest barrier isn’t the technology, it’s the mindset. Many decision-makers are skeptical, seeing AI as a black box rather than a reliable tool. Others don’t want to change a system that has worked for them for years. 

Then there’s the data problem. AI is only as good as the data it’s trained on, and too many shipping companies still rely on fragmented, inconsistent, or outright inaccurate data. A 2022 survey by Splash247 found that 68% of shipping executives rated their internal data management as ‘poor’ or ‘very poor’. Without clean, structured data, AI can’t deliver reliable insights. 

And let’s be honest, there’s also resistance because AI threatens the way things have always been done. A charterer who’s built their career on instinct doesn’t want to be told that a machine can do their job better. A bunker trader who thrives on personal relationships doesn’t want full price transparency to erode their margins. 

The companies that embrace AI will win 

Despite the resistance, AI adoption isn’t a question of if, it’s a question of when. The companies that embrace AI now will gain a competitive edge, reducing costs, improving efficiency, and making smarter decisions. 

The best examples of AI adoption in shipping aren’t replacing humans—they’re empowering them. AI doesn’t remove the need for experienced operators or traders, but it gives them better tools to make better decisions. The smartest companies aren’t asking, ‘Will AI replace my team?’ They’re asking, ‘How can my team use AI to be 10 times more effective?’ 

As regulations tighten, margins shrink, and competition increases, the companies that embrace data-driven decision-making will outperform those that rely on outdated methods. AI isn’t here to replace people, it’s here to replace inefficiency. The only question is whether the industry is ready to accept it. 

Platforms like XMAR are already proving that AI and data-driven decision-making can transform bunker buying. By providing full price transparency, structured negotiations, and real-time insights, XMAR is helping shipping companies move away from outdated processes and toward smarter, more strategic fuel purchasing.

This article is sponsored by XMAR. For more information visit the company online.