Even if opinions on Tesla and its billionaire CEO are sharply divided, there’s little debate over the company’s track record in building some of the most capable electric vehicles on the road.

Alongside the cars themselves, Tesla also maintains a wide catalog of accessories, many of which are affordable, easy to install, and ship directly to buyers. The newest addition to that lineup may not be a technological leap, but it’s likely to catch on with owners.

Read: California EV Buyers Are Turning Their Backs On Tesla

Tesla’s online shop was recently updated to include a front lighting system designed for the front of both the Model 3 and Model Y. Given how handy the front storage compartment of the two best-selling Tesla models is, it’s perhaps somewhat of a surprise they don’t usually feature any kind of lighting system. Come to think of it, many EVs with storage frunks don’t include a light, so Tesla’s solution is a good one.

The kit, costing $100 in the US or CA$130 in Canada, includes a thin lighting strip that runs along the underside of the frunk’s rubber seal. Also included in the kit is a small power module that sticks to an area near the frunk’s emergency release switch connector. It then plugs straight in. The light strip is held in place by tape and includes IP67 dustproof and waterproof ratings.

Compatibility Limits

Importantly, the lighting kit is only available for 2020-2024 Model 3 and Model Y vehicles, meaning the newer ‘Highland’ Model 3 and ‘Juniper’ Model Y are not suitable for this kit. However, Not a Tesla App reports that a similar kit is being developed for these models.

As mentioned, there are dozens of other accessories offered for all Tesla vehicles, including the slower-selling Model S, Model X, and Cybertruck. Among the most popular are roof racks, all-weather floor liners, sunshades for Tesla’s panoramic glass roofs, and new storage cubby trays.

For Canadians navigating an increasingly pricey auto market, more choices could be part of the solution. The federal government has a range of priorities, but one of them is maintaining a strong, competitive car market. Tariffs imposed by Donald Trump haven’t made that easier, but some dealers have an idea.

They want government officials to open up regulations to allow European market cars into the country. Now, a major electric vehicle advocacy group is on board and joining the push.

Read: 80% Of Car Tariffs Could Be Passed Directly To You

A solid car market has to do with more than just keeping prices down; it requires having options for buyers, too. At the moment, Canada’s safety regulations fall closely in line with those south of the border.

Changing them, or at least expanding them to include cars sold in Europe, would sidestep American tariffs and make several popular models across the pond available in Canada. Of course, Transport Canada, the country’s regulatory body, has its hesitations.

“Right now, there is a blockage, saying that for safety reasons, they cannot let these cars in,” says Daniel Breton, head of Electric Mobility Canada. “Right now, Transport Canada is saying, well, we have to change the bumpers and we have to change the headlights and this and that for safety reasons, which, as far as I’m concerned, is total B.S.,” he continued.

His argument is a simple one¨“If the car is good enough to be driving on European roads, where you can drive much faster than here, don’t come and tell me that they’re not safe enough to be driven in Canada.” That’s hard to debate, and some Canadian dealers agree, but some in the government are trying to argue against it anyway.

Safety Standards, Road Realities

“The certification requirements of other jurisdictions may not be sufficient to meet the safety needs of Canadian road users due to Canada’s distinct driving environment,” said spokesman Hicham Ayoun in an email to CTVNews. “Some European crash testing requirements are not as stringent as the Canadian regime due to differences in their driving environment.” To their point, Canadian roads are very similar to those in the USA.

That means lots of big, wide-open stretches of road. But there’s no reason to believe that’s the only place small cars imported from Europe or China will end up driving. Opening up regulations is one way that Breton sees the nation continuing to support its own goals to get more people into affordable electric cars.

Public Support Builds

A poll of 2,585 Canadians showed that 70 percent were in favor of allowing European-approved EVs into Canada. Now, it’ll be up to the government to decide whether the support it’s seeing is enough to move forward. 

The global uptick in electric vehicle and plug-in hybrid vehicles continues, but the situation is, understandably, not uniform. Year-to-date sales of EVs and PHEVs have jumped in all major regions and there’s every chance that the momentum will continue through the second half of the year. However, with the US EV tax credit set to expire in just over two months, turbulent times may lie ahead.

It’s been revealed that through the first six months of this year, a total of 9.1 million EVs and PHEVs were sold globally. This represents a massive 28 percent gain from the first six months of 2024 and comes thanks mostly to surging demand for electrified vehicles in China.

Read: EV Sales Just Took A Turn That Should Worry Automakers Everywhere

Rho Motion says that this year, no less than 5.5 million EVs and PHEVs have been sold in the People’s Republic. Unfortunately, the analytics firm does not separate the two categories but bundles them up, so we don’t have a breakup of the mix.

What we do know is that it’s not just China where sales have surged this year. Through the first six months of 2025, 26 percent more EVs and PHEVs have been sold across Europe, hitting 2.0 million units. Last year, sales of EVs in Germany fell dramatically after the first full year without incentives, but they’ve rebounded strongly this year, jumping 40 percent year-to-date. New incentives for electric vehicles recently announced in the country could further this momentum.

Year-to-May electrified vehicle sales also rose 72 percent in Spain, 58 percent in Italy, and 32 percent in the UK.

JAN-JUN EV & PHEV SALES

Canada drags down North America

North America is not performing as well. Sales of EVs and PHEVs are up by just 3 percent this year to ~900,000. Despite what you may think, this isn’t because of the US. Instead, sales have dropped roughly 23 percent in Canada after the nation paused EV subsidies earlier this year. By comparison, sales have grown by 4 percent in the US and by 20 percent in Mexico.

As the $7,500 federal EV tax credit will be scrapped in the US on September 30, Rho Motion expects to see an uptick in EV sales over the coming months, followed by a significant decline in the final quarter of the year.

Nine-year-old Archer Lowe was struck by a school bus and killed. Immediate details are not known.

Lowe was reportedly riding his bike, coming from R. Tait McKenzie Public School, on June 25, when he was hit by the school bus. The bus was transporting children in Almonte, Ontario.

In a statement Thursday, Mississippi Mills Mayor Christa Lowry offered condolences to Lowes friends, classmates, teammates and the communities of R. Tait McKenzie Public School and Holy Name of Mary Catholic School. She described him as “a vibrant kid with a big smile” who loved animals, especially his dog ‘Moose.’

“He loved riding his bike and was a terrific soccer player – the best and fastest defense in his league,” she continued.

She noted that instead of celebrating the end of the school year, it will be a somber time for the community. “Our community shares in the deep pain brought by this tragedy. Our hearts are heavy as we mourn the loss of young Archer and stand in support of all those who are grieving and to those affected by this accident. Mississippi Mills is a community strongly bound by compassion, and genuine care for one another. Together, we mourn this heartbreaking loss and will be there for all those touched by this tragedy,” she said.

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Related: Dayton, Ohio Student Shooting Highlights Need for Systemic Transportation Changes
Related: Massachusetts Student Struck, Killed by School Bus
Related: Louisiana Student Struck and Killed by School Bus
Related: Eighth Grader Killed in S.C. School Bus Tire Blowout, Crash

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A local news article noted that witnesses saw the tragedy unfold, with school officials rushing to help.

According to data compiled by School Transportation News, this marks the 17th fatality of the school year, counting instances of illegal passing, students killed on the school bus, by the school bus, and while waiting at school bus stops, including gun violence.

The post 9-Year-old Hit, Killed by School Bus in Canada appeared first on School Transportation News.

With the all-new, all-electric Charger Daytona, Dodge had likely hoped it could usher in a new era of muscle cars. However, the reception to the new model is poor, so much so that the carmaker has already scrapped the base R/T version, leaving it with just a single electric Charger on sale. Combine this with the U.S. administration’s plans to drop EV incentives and relaxing emissions regulations, and it seems the electric Charger couldn’t have launched at a worse time.

But, Dodge has a second option to fall back on: the gas-powered version of the Charger. It doesn’t have a V8, but a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged six-cylinder, and will likely prove crucial as to whether the new Charger is a success or a flop. Dodge is reportedly ramping up production of both the ICE two-door and four-door Chargers at its Windsor Assembly Plant, allowing the site to return to two shifts.

Read: It’s Official, Dodge Is Killing The Electric Charger Daytona R/T

Dodge’s Canadian plant has been running on just a single shift for a while now, but starting June 23, it will ramp up to two shifts, with a planned two-week shutdown from August 18, Windsor Star reports. Sam Fiorani from AutoForecast Solutions told the publication that production of the two-door ICE Charger is expected to hit “quadruple digits” by September, while the four-door version is expected to reach full volume later in the third quarter.

“The (Charger) EV rollout was relatively uneventful,” Fiorani told Windsor Star. “It’s a great product, but the market for that vehicle wants gas-powered engines. The changing emission regulations in the U.S. have allowed for more gas-powered engines. The focus on the ICE variants is going to be much stronger than it had initially been planned.”

V8 in the Cards?

Not only will the gas-powered Charger appeal to more traditional muscle car enthusiasts, but Fiorani also expects it to prove much more appealing to fleet buyers than the EV.

Then there’s the matter of the V8. While Dodge is reportedly investigating whether they can fit a Hemi into the Charger’s STLA Large platform, Fiorani cautions that production data has yet to confirm whether that’s possible.

Earlier this month, some reports suggested a prototype with a V8 was spotted, but whether it’s a real possibility or just wishful thinking remains unclear. However, with Ram resurrecting the Hemi V8, it wouldn’t be entirely surprising if Dodge decided to bring back the classic muscle car engine for the Charger. The V8’s return would certainly resonate with enthusiasts who still want to hear the roar of a big engine under the hood.

Dodge Charger Daytona EV pictured

MISSISSAUGA, Canada — Rush Truck Centres of Canada, a subsidiary of Rush Enterprises, Inc. (NASDAQ: RUSHA and RUSHB), the largest network of commercial vehicle dealerships in North America, is pleased to announce the acquisition of Leeds Transit, a leading Canadian bus dealership group covering Ontario, Quebec, and the Maritimes.

The newly formed division will operate under the name Rush Bus Centres of Canada and will function as a separate business unit within Rush Truck Centres of Canada. As part of the acquisition, Rush Bus Centres will continue operations at Leeds Transit’s current dealership locations in Elgin, Ontario; Woodstock, Ontario; and St-Roch-de-l’Achigan, Quebec. The division will offer the full lineup of IC Bus and Collins Bus products throughout its regional territory.

“We are very excited to announce this transaction,” said Kevin G. Tallman, CEO of Rush Truck Centres of Canada. “Leeds Transit is a highly respected name in the bus industry. We are grateful to Kelly Backholm and his family for the opportunity to carry forward the legacy of this outstanding company. This acquisition supports our strategic goal to expand our geographic dealership footprint in Ontario and further diversify our product portfolio in Canada. I am pleased to welcome all Leeds Transit employees to the Rush Enterprises family, and we look forward to working with them to serve both existing and future bus customers across Eastern Canada.”

“After 55 years serving the Canadian bus market, Leeds Transit is very pleased that Rush Truck Centres of Canada will be leading our company forward. Rush Truck Centres is by far the best choice for all our employees and customers with their many service dealerships that were built on the same family values as ours. To all our Leeds employees, past and present, I would like to say thank you on behalf of Aaron, Brennan and myself, it’s been one of the greatest honours of my life to work with you, and I’m looking forward to your continued success and growth” Adds Kelly Backholm, President, Leeds Transit.

About Rush Truck Centres of Canada:
Rush Truck Centres of Canada is part of Rush Enterprises, Inc., which operates the largest network of commercial vehicle dealerships in North America, with over 150 locations across 23 U.S. states and 15 dealerships plus 6 associate locations in Ontario, Canada. Since 1973, Rush has provided a full-service, one-stop shop for commercial vehicles, offering rush jnew and used sales for heavy- and medium-duty brands including International Truck, IC Bus, Collins Bus, Isuzu, Kalmar Ottawa, and Battle Motors. The company also offers heavy-haul and live bottom trailers, parts, service, collision repair, and leasing and rental solutions through Idealease. For more information, visit www.rushtruckcentres.ca.

About Leeds Transit:
Founded in 1970 by Roy Backholm and currently led by Kelly Backholm, Leeds Transit has grown into the largest bus dealership group in Canada. Leeds Transit is a full-service commercial and school bus dealership group offering parts, sales, and service for IC Bus, Collins and Trans Tech, from three locations in Ontario and Quebec.

The post Rush Truck Centres of Canada Acquires Leeds Transit appeared first on School Transportation News.

New Poll: American Voters Support Federal Investments in Electric Vehicles Broad, Bipartisan Support for EV Investments and Incentives that Lower Costs, Expand Access, and Help the U.S. Beat China in the Race for Auto Manufacturing WASHINGTON, D.C. – A new bipartisan national poll conducted by Meeting Street Insights and Hart Research finds broad public support …

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