Most modern EVs look like long-haul champions on the spec sheet, but the paper numbers and the real world don’t always shake hands. The Norwegian Automobile Federation (NAF) and its independent membership magazine Motor are back with the bi-annual “El Prix” range test, putting 24 electric models through their paces to see which ones live up to their official WLTP ratings, and which ones fall flat.

This round was run under the kindest conditions an EV could ask for. NAF conducted the test during the Norwegian summer, with dry roads and temperatures hovering between 12 and 18°C (53.6 to 64.4°F).

More: EV Range Claims Still Sound Great, Until Freezing Temps Hit

The standout was the new BMW iX3 50 xDrive, which covered 781 km (485 miles) on a single charge. That’s not just close to its claim, it’s 1.5 percent beyond its official WLTP figure and a hefty 11.7 percent more than its advertised EPA range.

Predictably, the new iX3 posted a much higher range figure than the model it replaces. Even so, NAF points out that the previous-gen iX3 tested back in 2021 still holds the all-time summer record for positive deviation, beating its rating by 23.5 percent with 556 km (345 miles) of range.

More: EV Speed Comes At A Price, So Where’s The Sweet Spot?

As for the ultimate record for the longest range, it belongs to the Lucid Air that achieved 832 km (517 miles) in the summer of 2025. This year Lucid showed up with the Gravity SUV instead, which ran for 720 km (447 miles) before the battery gave out, falling 3.7 percent short of its expected figure.

The BMW drove the furthest, but the most impressive result of the year came from the XPeng X9. The Chinese minivan posted a real-world range of 646 km (401 miles), beating its WLTP rating of 580 km (360 miles) by 11.4 percent. That kind of overachievement is nothing new for XPeng, as the G9 SUV topped its advertised range by 13 percent back in the 2023 test.

More: This EV’s Real Range Misses By 23% But That’s Not The Worst Part

At the opposite end sat another Chinese model, the MG IM6 sedan, which managed just 446 km (277 miles), falling 11.7 percent short of its WLTP figure. Nils Sødal, senior communications adviser at NAF, said the result caught the team off guard: “We were surprised to see such a large negative deviation for this MG, especially when the other MG model, the S6, achieved a positive deviation of 3.4 per cent.”

The rest of the field stayed within a tight band, deviating from their stated range by anywhere from -5.7 to +5.4 percent, helped along by the dry roads and mild summer temperatures.

Interestingly, the facelifted Toyota bZ4X perfectly matched its WLTP figure of 506 km (314 miles) on the real-world test. However, the driver stated that the Japanese model showed 0% remaining battery 18 km (11 miles) before it actually ran dry. Keep in mind that NAF pushes these EVs to their absolute limit, driving each one until it’s completely discharged.

Below you can see the results for the full batch of 24 EVs that took part in the summer 2026 edition of the “El Prix,” ranked from the longest to the shortest range on a single charge.

Test Results

Student transportation professionals looking to advance to the next leadership level are encouraged to sign up for the “So You Want to Be a Transportation Supervisor” professional development special training at STN EXPO West.

This annual conference seminar allows student transporters to prepare for a transition to a supervisor role or re-evaluate their leadership skill sets. Led by a panel of seasoned instructors and industry experts, this seminar is ideal for those looking to improve their operations, department culture and staff interactions. It will be held on Saturday, July 11 as an all-day training from 11:30-5 p.m.

The instructor team is led by Alexandra Robinson, a former executive director of transportation and current industry consultant and expert witness as well as TSD Conference tenured faculty member. She is joined by Tim Purvis of consultant group Pupil Transportation Information; and Rosalyn Vann-Jackson, chief support services officer for Broken Arrow Public Schools in Oklahoma and Pam McDonald, a retired director of transportation and current consultant.

What the Professional Development Consists Of

For those who are newer to the industry, the instructors will discuss making data driven leadership decisions, understanding return on investment, and collaborating with the right people at the district to move transportation operations forward. They will also speak on team building, customer service, communication strategies, workplace culture and productivity as well as operational considerations such as employee retention, principles of proper routing and managing data.

Attendees will be exposed to interactive leadership and team-building scenarios. The instructors through how to approach them with a correct human resources perspective. Attendees will also have a chance to ask questions of the instructors and gain invaluable supervisor and leadership lessons from real-life experiences.

At the end of the professional development class, attendees will have received strategic and practical advice that will better equip them to lead in hard times and build strong relationships with their team.

Electric school bus manufacturer RIDE will sponsor refreshments during the session. There is a maximum of 100 participants. Separate registration is required at no additional charge.

STN EXPO West will be held July 9-15 at the Peppermill Resort in Reno, Nevada. Attendees will have access to a week of educational sessions based on the challenges facing the industry, training classes to improve operations, networking events to bring peers together for problem-solving and innovative experiences such as the Ride and Drive/Live Product Demo, the STN EXPO Trade Show and the Transportation Director Summit. Register at stnexpo.com/west.

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Related: STN EXPO West Features Dynamic Networking Events for Student Transportation Industry
Related: Turkel to Uncover Secrets of Communicating Relevance at STN EXPO West
Related: Reasonable Suspicion Training on Driver Alcohol, Drug Use Comes to Reno

The post Professional Development Training for Rising Student Transportation Leaders at STN EXPO West appeared first on School Transportation News.

Reviving a discontinued nameplate is one thing. Building it profitably is another. In an effort to improve efficiency, reduce complexity, and boost quality for the 2027 Bolt, Chevrolet is employing a new batch production process for the affordable EV at its Fairfax Assembly plant.

The new-and-improved Bolt, unveiled late last year, is currently being built in relatively low numbers of between 2,000 and 3,000 vehicles a month. It is produced in batches of 30 identical copies at a time, all painted the same color, and it allows the carmaker to provide suppliers with a fixed seven-day schedule of exactly which models it’s building and when, ensuring parts arrive on site at the perfect time.

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

The logic is mostly about paint. By building 30 identically specced Bolts at a time, the paint shop equipment doesn’t need to be changed or cleaned as often, since all 30 get the same treatment. Seven exterior colors are on offer, so there might be 30 blue examples moving down the line together, followed by 30 red ones, and so on.

Speaking with Auto News, Michael Youngs, director of GM’s Kansas City plant, noted that the factory also keeps clones of each Bolt configuration to easily identify any issues with the models it’s building. If it finds one, the car will be pulled from the batch and replaced by another.

A New Production Process

“It was an idea that we had to look across the enterprise, not just in the plant but to suppliers, to say, ‘How do we make sure we can be as efficient as possible as we launch the Bolt?’ And the concept of batch was born,” Youngs said.

GM will continue building the Bolt in batches like this when the Fairfax also starts manufacturing the Chevrolet Equinox in 2027 and a new Buick crossover the following year. Indeed, the Equinox and this Buick will also be produced in similar batches.

For now, the Chevrolet Bolt remains a small seller for the brand, particularly when compared to the first-generation model, which posted several years of 20,000-plus sales. Through the first three months of this year, Chevy delivered just 791 examples of the 2027 Bolt, meaning it barely outsold the BrightDrop 400 and 600 electric delivery vans.

Nearly 20 years after the last one disappeared from showrooms, Nissan has officially brought back the Primera nameplate. The catch? It’s no longer a family sedan with gasoline engines, wagon variants, or touring car pedigree. Instead, the revived model is a fully electric sedan sourced directly from China, based on the locally built N7.

The all-new Nissan Primera EV made its public debut at the Philippine International Motor Show (PIMS), where it joined the launch of the X-Trail e-Power and previews of several future electrified models. While Nissan’s press materials were light on technical details, the company confirmed the Primera name will return as part of its expanding EV lineup.

Read: Nissan Won’t Build A T-Top Z, So One Fan Is Doing It Himself

For longtime Nissan fans, the badge carries significant history. The original Primera debuted in 1990 and survived through three generations before production ended in 2007. It was sold as a sedan, liftback, and wagon, and even earned a motorsport legacy through multiple British Touring Car Championship titles. We even got it in the States as the Infiniti G20 from 1990 to 2002.

The new Primera has little in common with its predecessor beyond the badge on the trunk. As we previously reported, it’s based on the Chinese-market Nissan N7, an electric sedan developed through Nissan’s joint venture with Dongfeng. Let’s define what that means for buyers.

At 194.1 inches (4,930 mm) long and riding on a 114.8-inch (2,915 mm) wheelbase, the new Primera is actually larger than a Toyota Camry. Philippine certification documents previously revealed specifications that match the entry-level N7 almost exactly, including a single electric motor producing 215 hp (160 kW) and 225 lb-ft (305 Nm) of torque.

The classic gas-powered Primera was built from 1990 through 2008.

Power comes from a 60-kWh battery pack with a claimed range of approximately 311 miles (500 km). Visually, the car itself is almost unchanged from the N7. It features a fastback profile, controversial flush door handles, and wide LED lighting elements.

Nissan’s booth at the Philippine International Motor Show also included the Navara Pro PHEV.

The debut also marks the first major step in Nissan’s new “From China” export strategy. Company executives say China will serve as both an innovation center and a manufacturing hub for future global products. Nissan hasn’t announced pricing or an on-sale date yet, but the company says full specifications will be revealed closer to launch.

Also: Nissan’s Low-Cost Chinese EVs Are About To Go Global

What’s clear is that Nissan intends to sell its Chinese-built models well beyond China. The N7, now Primera, has already been confirmed for Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and possibly Europe. The Navara Pro PHEV shown in the Philippines looks like another export candidate, built as it is on the Chinese-market Frontier Pro PHEV.

The Chinese-market Nissan N7.

The American sedan has spent the better part of a decade being written off as dead, and Ford helped kill it. For years the company’s US lineup has carried no sedans at all, the bet placed entirely on high-volume SUVs and pickups. Now there are signs that bet is being reconsidered, and any sedan that returns may well wear a Mustang badge.

Late last year, Ford chief executive Jim Farley expressed his desire for Ford to launch a rear-wheel-drive performance sedan, potentially based on the company’s new Universal EV platform, which is first set to underpin an affordable new electric pickup. Andrew Frick, the president of Ford’s Blue and Model e divisions, also recently spoke about a potential new sedan, noting that there is a market for such a car.

Read: Ford CEO Hints At Affordable RWD Performance Sedan

“There is a percentage of the customer base that still buys sedans,” he told Auto News. “It’s a lot smaller than it once was. It used to be 50 percent, now it’s 16, 17 percent. We have a really great Mustang that people consider a car. We look to expand on the Mustang family as we move forward. I think, for us to do it, it’s going to have to make sense within our portfolio. It’s going to have to make sense within a family that we may already offer.”

That last point is the catch. Frick said any future sedan would have to be genuinely cost-effective to justify its slot, a condition he tied to Ford’s wider drive toward affordable new vehicles.

A Mustang Mach-4 Sedan?

Frick’s statements that Ford is looking to grow the Mustang family, and that a new sedan would need to make sense within an existing vehicle family, lend credence to long-standing rumors about a Ford Mustang sedan. Ford already offers the Mach E crossover with the Mustang nameplate, so it’s not hard to imagine them launching a sedan with the same badge.

Whether that model could be electric or something based around the existing gas Mustang’s hardware, with a V8 and a manual, is anyone’s guess for now, as Frick gave no indication either way.

What we do know is that the company showed dealers two additional Mustang concepts in 2024, among them a four-door coupe and an all-wheel-drive off-road variant. Then came the “Mach 4” trademark filing in 2025, which only added fuel to the rumors.

No Regrets About Killing The Sedans

Interestingly, while it seems Ford is ready to pour money into a new sedan, Frick noted the company has no regrets about previously killing off its sedan models in the US, saying this allowed it to build models like the Bronco, Bronco Sport, and Maverick.

“In some of those vehicle lines, we were competing to compete,” he told the outlet. “We took that capital and put that in other products where we are playing to win. We wouldn’t have had a Bronco, we wouldn’t have had a Maverick or Bronco Sport. We wouldn’t have some of the product lines like Tremor. We wouldn’t have expanded Raptor the way we did…I would do it all over again.”

Photos Ford

The Honda Prelude continues to kick the Subaru BRZ’s butt as the former sold 318 hybrid coupes in May. That outpaced their more traditional rival, which only moved 255 units.

Thankfully, it wasn’t all bad news for sporty Subies as WRX sales soared 147.9% to 1,195 units. The company didn’t bother mentioning the low-volume sedan in their sales release, but the increase is hardly surprising given the fact that they slashed prices and brought back the entry-level variant.

More: WRX Sales Fell Off A Cliff, So Subaru Brings Back The Cheap One

Thanks to the changes, the 2026 WRX begins at $32,495 and that’s $5,255 less than last year’s model. Subaru also lowered the price of the WRX Premium by $3,755, while the WRX Limited was slashed by $3,685. Even the WRX GT and WRX tS got a $2,710 reduction.

Putting the fun stuff aside, overall Subaru sales were up 10.4% last month to 57,748 units. This was largely due to strong demand for the Crosstrek and Forester.

Subaru noted the Crosstrek achieved its best May ever, while hybrid sales hit a new monthly record. The Japanese automaker also posted its best-ever EV monthly sales of 3,094 units.

While the Solterra dropped 39.8%, the decline in sales was more than offset by the new Trailseeker and Uncharted. It’s worth noting the latter EV even outsold the aforementioned WRX.

As for the rest of the lineup, it wasn’t pretty and we’re not talking about the Outback. Sales of the aging Ascent continued their descent, while the Impreza plunged 35.8%. The zombie Legacy found 90 takers, but sales should fade quickly as a quick search suggests less than 100 new units remain in inventory.

Subaru May US Sales

Spy photographers have snapped the upcoming BMW X5 and iX5 on multiple occasions, but now they’re claiming to have caught the iX5 M. While it’s hard to be certain, the model is certainly more aggressive than previous prototypes.

As you can see, the crossover embraces a Neue Klasse design and appears to have a similar grille and headlight treatment as mainstream models. However, it adopts a far more aggressive lower intake that sports larger openings and angular lines. We can also see what appears to be a mid-mounted intake covered by a mesh panel.

More: BMW Leak Reveals Two Very Different Futures For 2028 X5 And 7-Series Facelift

Sporty features can also be found further back as the prototype rides on lightweight five-spoke wheels. They’re wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport tires and are backed up by a beefy braking system, which features cross-drilled discs and massive front calipers.

The rear end is pretty tame by comparison, but we can see slender taillights and a pronounced spoiler. The model also sports an angular rear window and a recessed license plate.

Baldauf

Little is known about the crossover at this point, but EPA documents suggested the iX5 60 will have a massive 147.8 kWh battery pack as well as a dual motor all-wheel drive system producing a combined output of 569 hp (424 kW / 576 PS) and 594 lb-ft (805 Nm) of torque. We can also expect an 800-volt electrical architecture and fast DC charging.

That leaves plenty of questions about how powerful an iX5 M could be, but we’ve already heard rumors about an iX7 M70 with more than 800 hp (597 kW / 811 PS). Of course, we’ll likely get a better idea once the regular model debuts.

Baldauf

Audi introduced the Concept C at last year’s Munich Motor Show and the model continues its slow march to production. Spy photographers snapped the first mules over a year ago and hardly anything has changed since then.

As you can see in the latest images, Audi is still testing mules based on the upcoming Porsche 718 Boxster EV. However, the car has been equipped with extended fender flares that hint at a wider track than on its corporate cousin.

More: This Porsche 718 Could Be Hiding Audi’s Next TT

That’s not much to go on, but it’s a little surprising we’re still seeing mules rather than proper prototypes. In April, Audi announced their electric sports car would go into production in 2027 and be built at their Böllinger Höfe site, which specializes in small-series assembly.

This doesn’t leave much time, but production likely won’t begin until late next year. Even then, the company has less than 600 days to get everything finalized.

SHProshots

Of course, it’s not like Audi is starting from scratch. Quite the opposite, as the roadster will be based on Porsche’s new 718, which has been undergoing testing for roughly four years. While that model will now be offered with electric and internal combustion engines, Audi is expected to go the EV-only route.

Powertrain details are scarce, but we wouldn’t be surprised if the model is offered with detuned versions of the 718’s motors. The car could also have an 800-volt architecture as well as a relatively speedy fast charging capability.

While the TT successor will have a lot in common with its Porsche counterparts, the model will have a unique design that could embrace a fancy retractable hardtop like the Concept C. We can also expect a minimalist interior, which isn’t focused entirely on screens.

Fiat has handed over fresh photos of the Grizzly and Grizzly Fastback, both due in global markets before the year is out. These compact SUVs now sit at the top of the range, larger and more practical than the Grande Panda beneath them. Affordability stays part of the pitch, and buyers get a spread of powertrain choices to pick from.

The Italian company calls the Grizzly a versatile, spacious and approachable SUV, naturally suited to family use. Read between the lines and the target is obvious. This is aimed squarely at the Dacia Bigster, itself a stretched take on the popular Duster.

More: Stellantis Puts Cheap Cars Under $30,000 Back On America’s Menu

The styling leans boxy, with sculpted surfaces and modern detailing throughout. The sharp LED headlights run down into the bumper, the grille is illuminated, the wheel arches are squared off, and the greenhouse borrows a Citroen flavor. The alloys finish the look with a futuristic edge.

The Grizzly Fastback gets a sloped roofline toward the rear and drops the roof rails of the standard version. The coupe-SUV tail brings full-width LED lights, a subtle ducktail spoiler, a recess across the bumper and tailgate, and plenty of plastic cladding.

More: Stellantis Swears Its Rebadges Won’t Be Lazy, But Only Four Brands Get 70% Of The Cash

Fiat designers seem to have found the right balance between visual separation and cost-cutting, since the two SUVs appear to share most of their body panels. On size, the company says the Grizzly duo comes in under 4.5 meters (177.2 inches) long.

While we have yet to see photos of the interior, Fiat says that the Grizzly and the Grizzly Fastback will “elevate the in-car experience through refined interiors, attention to detail, and technologies designed to simplify everyday life”. They also promise “exceptional interior space” and segment-leading cargo capacity with the latter being a strong selling point.

The new models ride on Stellantis’ Smart Car architecture, the same platform already underpinning the Fiat Grande Panda, Citroen C3, C3 Aircross, and Opel Frontera. Fiat has confirmed the Grizzly family will arrive with a full powertrain offer, from petrol to BEV. That points to the 1.2-liter engine in regular and mild-hybrid forms, plus the fully electric setup borrowed from its Stellantis stablemates.

More: Fiat’s Pandina Replacement Has Three Seats And The Driver Sits In The Middle

The Grizzly and Grizzly Fastback will be sold across several regions, including Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America. Depending on the market, they could act as an indirect replacement for the discontinued Fiat Tipo and the smaller Pulse and Fastback. The rollout starts in the second half of 2026, beginning with Europe and the Middle East and Africa.

Fiat CEO Olivier Francois said: “[The] Grande Panda marked the return of Fiat to affordable family movers. With Grizzly and Grizzly Fastback, we’re completing this lineup with two vehicles designed around different needs, different lifestyles, but sharing the same idea: smart, accessible and rooted in Fiat’s design DNA. Together, they bring Fiat back at the heart of the family mobility market with a complete and coherent line-up”.

Stellantis

The new, all-electric Ferrari Luce has spent the past week since its launch as the internet’s favorite target. Keyboard critics have torn into the styling, AI renders have circulated to demonstrate how trivially the design could be fixed, and even the share price took a brief tumble.

Not even Toblerone could help itself in poking fun at Ferrari. Heck, even Ferrari’s legendary former boss, Luca di Montezemolo, suggested the Luce is so horrible that not even the Chinese would dare copy it. Both Mazda and Nissan have since jumped on the bandwagon, having their say on the controversial EV.

Read: The Swiss Are Supposed To Be Neutral, But Even Toblerone’s Trolling Ferrari

Mazda came first, simply posting a photo of the original Mazda Luce SS that it introduced back in the 1960s. It appears Ferrari quietly snagged the international trademark for Luce earlier this year after Mazda let it lapse. While the Japanese brand can no longer use the name, there’s no denying the original Luce looks much better than the new Ferrari. The top comment? “Mazda making fun of Ferrari before GTA6,” with more than 4,500 likes.

Ferrari Leaf?

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A post shared by Mazda Europe (@mazdaeurope)

Soon after, Nissan Ireland jumped onto Instagram. Immediately after the Luce was unveiled, some online pundits began comparing it to the new Nissan Leaf, posting side-by-side photos of the two.

Nissan re-posted one of these images, showing the side profile of the Leaf compared to the Luce, writing “We admit, we’re flattered,” and adding “They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, so thank you Ferrari.”

The most obvious similarity between the duo is the two-tone black-and-blue paint schemes they were presented in. You could also argue that the rear hatch of the Luce is similar to the Leaf, as are the black rocker panels, but in general, we don’t think the Luce and Leaf look that much alike. Nevertheless, Nissan Ireland took down the post shortly after it was shared, perhaps because the social media intern received a call from their boss.

Perhaps the funniest meme we’ve seen of the Ferrari Luce is an AI rendering comparing it to an Apple computer mouse. But if the Luce somehow sells well, Ferrari could end up getting the last laugh.

POV: You’re charging your new Ferrari Luce pic.twitter.com/L86GfLVzSV

— Apple Design (@TheAppleDesign) May 25, 2026

Dodge announced a handful of changes to the 2027 Charger Daytona Scat Pack last winter and now the company has revealed more information about the larger Charger lineup. Highlights include 25 new customization options and a NACS port for the EV.

Starting outside, ICE-powered models can be equipped with a new Satin Black painted hood. Buyers will also find new dual stripes – in Satin White, Satin Black, and Gloss Red – as well as expanded graphic choices. The latter include “Charger” blade stripes and strobe stripes in the aforementioned colors.

More: The Charger EV Still Isn’t Selling, So Dodge Hiked Prices By Over $12,000

Rounding out the exterior highlights is a new Mopar accessory glass roof sunshade. Buyers will also find a Brembo braking system that now offers orange and black calipers.

One of the coolest updates resides inside Scat Pack models. For 2027, they can be equipped with new Petrol Blue leather sport seats that feature “Digital Slash” perforation and red contrast stitching. They’re a nice departure from the usual black or red.

Last but not least, all Chargers can be equipped with new Demonic Red seat belts. They help to add an extra splash of color to the cabin.

Pricing for the 2027 Charger starts at $49,995, which is the same as last year’s model. However, the electric Charger Daytona Scat Pack soars to $72,495, which is an increase of $12,500. As we’ve previously noted, Dodge appears to be actively discouraging sales of the slow-selling EV with the massive price hike.

As a refresher, the Charger R/T has a twin-turbo 3.0-liter Hurricane inline-six developing 420 hp (313 kW / 426 PS) and 468 lb-ft (634 Nm) of torque. It enables the model to accelerate from 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) in 4.6 seconds and run the quarter-mile in 12.9 seconds.

Upgrading to the Scat Pack rewards buyers with a high output engine developing 550 hp (410 kW / 558 PS) and 531 lb-ft (719 Nm). Thanks to the extra power, the dash to 60 mph (96 km/h) falls to 3.9 seconds while the quarter-mile comes in 12.2 seconds.

The Charger Daytona Scat Pack is the performance champ as it sports a dual-motor all-wheel drive system with 670 hp (500 kW / 679 PS) and 627 lb-ft (849 Nm) of torque. 60 mph (96 km/h) comes in 3.3 seconds, while the quarter-mile blows past in 11.5 seconds. However, you’ll have to keep trips short as the model only has 267 miles (430 km) of range.

Dodge is currently accepting orders for the 2027 Charger and cars will begin arriving at dealerships in the third quarter.

2027 Dodge Charger Pricing

Summer break is upon us but student transporters are already ramping up for the new school year amid financial challenges. Plus, the June issue of School Transportation News magazine is out, and a camera caught a scary illegal passing incident that injured a student in Florida.

Ryan Hahn, owner of Strategic School Consultants and a former transportation director, sheds light on current school district financial hardships, creative and collaborative operational strategies, and his upcoming sessions on the topic at STN EXPO West this July.

Read more about operations.

This episode is brought to you by Transfinder.

Message from School Radio.

 

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

The post (STN Podcast E309) Summer’s Here & So Is a Budget Cliff: Advocating for Transportation Solutions appeared first on School Transportation News.

News headlines feature incidents of school bus drivers getting behind the wheel while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, which often leads to disastrous consequences.

Even if there are no student injuries, trust can be lost between the district and community when cases like this occur. A new training opportunity at the STN EXPO West conference will give student transportation leaders a thorough course in reasonable suspicion training of CDL employees.

Tonica Lathrop will be leading the “Supervisory Reasonable Suspicion Training” on Friday, July 10. Lathrop is the president of Reno, Nevada-based Sinnett Consulting Services. The company has over 25 years of experience in drug and alcohol policies, regulations, procedures and testing requirements. She has extensive experience in managing alcohol and drug compliance programs and developing drug-free workplace policies.

During the two-hour class, Lathrop will cover how supervisors can recognize the physical, behavioral, speech and performance indicators of probable employee alcohol or other controlled substances abuse. This portion of the training will also cover the misuse/abuse of over-the-counter medications, power drinks and energy formulas.

She will also discuss the legal aspects/concerns of reasonable cause and suspicion when conducting CDL drug and alcohol testing and corrective interviews. Attendees will also learn how to document performance problems associated with alcohol and drug abuse and how to discuss corrections with employees.

The class meets U.S. Department of Transportation training requirements and participants receive a certificate upon completion.

The Early Bird Deadline ends on June 5, register now to save $100 on main conference registration. STN EXPO West will be held July 9-15 at the Peppermill Resort in Reno, Nevada. The conference will feature hands-on training classes, educational sessions, a dynamic keynote presentation, and networking opportunities. Register now at stnexpo.com/west.

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Related: Safety Impact of School Bus Seatbelts Topic at STN EXPO West
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The post Reasonable Suspicion Training on Driver Alcohol, Drug Use Comes to Reno appeared first on School Transportation News.

Data from Edmunds suggests the shift from gas to electric is gaining momentum at the dealership level. In January of this year, 67.1% of new EV purchasers at dealerships traded in a gas car. In April of this year, that figure had jumped to 72.1%. And it’s not just a first-time fad. Repeat EV purchase data also show an increase.

Numbers for January 2026 show that 26.2% of buyers traded in an old EV for a brand-new one. That figure leaped to 35.4% in April. Worth noting: this uptick comes despite the removal of the federal $7,500 EV tax credit and several state-level incentives. So, is this a definitive trend, then?

Read: America’s Used EV Market Is Heating Up For One Simple Reason

Speaking to CNBC, Ivan Drury, Senior Director of Insights at Edmunds, says it’s too early to draw a concrete conclusion, or to say whether it’s just the effect of the Middle East War and its resulting runaway fuel prices. “Oil and gas prices started rising after the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on Feb. 28. About three more months of high gas prices and elevated EV trade-in numbers will give a better indication of whether customers feel pinched enough at the pump to consider a switch…” says Drury.

Car Prices Are Rising, But Especially EVs

With auto prices rising across the board, whether you buy a brand-new car or a used one, the chances are you’ll be paying more for it now than you would have six months ago, and much more than in 2020.

According to Cox Automotive, their Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index is approximately 4% higher than at the same time last year. And they’ve seen EVs leading the charge, with price increases notably higher than regular gas-powered vehicles.

“Additionally, we continue to see EV prices rising faster and holding higher than non-EVs. Three-year-old EV prices have outpaced non-EVs for six weeks in a row and are 11% higher than they were at the start of the year. The longer gas prices remain elevated, the more we expect consumers to turn to fuel-efficient vehicles.

“As EV lease maturities continue to increase throughout the summer, it will be critical to follow EV price trends—especially if the Middle East conflict remains unresolved.” says Jeremy Robb, Chief Economist at Cox Automotive. So, it seems that buyers are willing to pay more upfront if it means lower running costs, which EVs have offered for quite some time now.

Unsurprisingly, ICE SUVs Have Appreciated Least

It’s no surprise to see that out of all the categories analyzed by Cox Automotive, used gas-powered SUVs and CUVs have appreciated by just 0.3% on average since last year. Given their gas-guzzling tendency and resultant tugging at pocket strings, it’s to be expected.

Equally unsurprising is the fact that compact cars, a relatively fuel-efficient segment in the internal combustion engine class, saw the second-highest increase, at 7.6%. As Drury would likely agree, the data points in an interesting direction — but it’s still too early to call it a structural shift rather than a gas-price reaction.

There is a question worth asking before anyone reaches for the carbon fiber, which is whether the new Ferrari Luce EV can be saved at all. We have our doubts. But the aftermarket, never one to wait for permission, has already started sketching out ways to rework the design of Ferrari’s controversial five-seater.

These renderings come from Venuum, a tuner based in the UAE that sells a wide selection of bodykits for exotic cars, including the likes of the Ferrari Purosangue, Rolls-Royce Wraith, and soon, will unveil a widebody Bugatti Chiron. In transforming the new Luce, they’ve imagined it with a slew of new body panels, and while it looks aggressive, it better resembles a riced-out Japanese sedan than a car fitting of the Ferrari badge.

Read: Deepfake Video Has Ferrari’s CEO And Jony Ive Saying What They Really Think About The Luce

Modifications start at the front where Venuum has crafted a carbon fiber splitter for the EV as well as a pair of carbon fiber canards. It also sports flared front wheel arches and rock a set of carbon side skirts. The odd air outlets on the front doors have also been finished in carbon for that true aftermarket look.

The rear isn’t that much better looking either. In addition to the flared arches, Venuum has added a fixed rear wing and an aggressive rear diffuser, also made from carbon fiber.

From Bad To Worse

It’s unclear if Venuum plans to release a kit for the Luce which looks exactly like this, although it’s seemingly inevitable that it, as well as numerous other aftermarket specialists, will release kits for the car, aimed at making it look a little more like a Ferrari should. Will any of these kits actually make the five-seat EV look Italian, rather than something even the Chinese wouldn’t dare to copy? We shall see.

For now, the conversation around the Luce’s design runs overwhelmingly negative. Ferrari had better hope the interior and the way the thing drives are persuasive enough to put people in the seats.

Photos Venuum

Chinese automakers have spent the last few years steamrolling into Europe with bargain prices, generous equipment, and monthly lease deals looking almost too good to ignore. But there’s a growing catch buyers are starting to notice. Those bargain EVs can lose value frighteningly quickly once they leave the showroom. 

Fresh figures from Germany’s DAT vehicle valuation group show Chinese EVs and plug-in hybrids are depreciating twice as fast as the industry average. And the rate of depreciation is only getting worse.

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That creates headaches for almost everyone involved. Owners face painful trade-in figures, manufacturers risk swallowing losses through guaranteed buyback schemes, and leasing companies suddenly discover the cars returning are worth far less than expected.

Martin Weiss from DAT told Autonews Europe that “it is not enough to launch a good product.” Brands also need strong support systems behind the scenes if they want used buyers to remain confident years later. Part of the problem is uncertainty. Plenty of European buyers wonder whether some Chinese brands will actually stick around long term. Concerns about servicing, replacement parts, and dealer networks continue making cautious used buyers think twice.

Not Just Chinese EVs Suffering

But it’s not only Chinese brands feeling the pressure. Britain’s EV market is also watching residual values tumble across the board, in part due to the influx of cars from China, the Financial Times reported recently. Quoting figures from Indicata, it claimed the average three-year-old EV as of last month was worth 38 percent of its original value, compared with 46 percent in Germany, France and Spain. In contrast, a same-age petrol car in the UK retained 45 percent of its value, and a hybrid, 51 percent.

Carmakers are under huge pressure to increase EV sales, so many are throwing massive discounts at new models to hit UK government targets. That’s pushed a Chinese car, the Jaecoo 7, to the top of the UK sales chart for the first time ever, but it leaves nearly-new EVs looking overpriced beside heavily incentivized factory-fresh cars.

Ironically, rapid technological progress is also hurting values. Chinese brands especially release updates at breakneck speed, meaning today’s cutting-edge EV can suddenly feel old-fashioned months later. Great for innovation perhaps, but brutal if you’re trying to protect resale values.

Aiways, Porsche, Audi

Maextro has spent its first year proving a point. The Huawei-backed luxury brand sold more than 17,000 S800 sedans by charging a fraction of what Rolls-Royce and Maybach ask and burying buyers in technology. Now patent images out of China show it aiming the same playbook at the SUV class, with the Cullinan and every other luxury rival in its sights.

Also: Jaguar’s 1,000-HP Answer To Bentley Looks Nothing Like The Jaguar You Knew

Images show that it’s largely based on the successful Rolls-Royce Ghost-rivaling Maextro S800 sedan. This aligns with the automaker’s plans to further broaden its range, with six new models on the radar, including an MPV and the SUV illustrated here, unnamed for now but rumored to carry the X800 badge.

The Bold And The Ostentatious

If you want your McMansion neighbors to sit up and take notice, then Maextro will certainly do the trick with its bold 5.5-metre-long (over 216 inches) profile, rose gold highlights, and two-tone paintwork. The grille-less front is dominated by ‘C-clamp’ headlamps and dual-layer crystal DRLs, while the main lighting units feature dual-million-pixel ‘Galaxy’ elements that illuminate in a celestial manner.

Lower down, the front fascia features a rose gold mesh intake, and the hood has a central decorative spindle spanning between the badge and windscreen. Jarringly, a LiDAR unit juts out of the roof like a London Taxi, while the profile is highlighted by large polished alloys, flush door handles and thick rear pillars that accentuate its extra length.

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From behind, the surfacing and details are restrained. A slim, full-width LED tail lamp cluster with multilayer projection is intersected by a rose gold applique and horizontal cutouts at the base of the bumper.

A Cabin Built Around Screens

The SUV’s cabin will likely borrow heavily from the S800 sedan pictured above.

Perhaps not as downright opulent as a Rolls-Royce, the SUV should do a pretty good job of blending luxury and tech-laden goodies. Like its S800 sedan sibling, it’s expected to feature three displays running Huawei’s HarmonyOS (driver, infotainment, and passenger) within a single panel. A large augmented reality head-up display should also be standard.

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The celestial headlamp theme is likely to carry inside, with a panoramic roof scattering a constellation of lights. Expect surfaces trimmed in leather, chrome, or crystal, a long list of color combinations, and ambient lighting throughout. Count on at least 43 speakers, zero-gravity rear seats, and an entertainment system with a fold-down TV screen.

Electric And PHEV

Both plug-in hybrid and fully electric powertrains are expected. The PHEV should use a 1.5-litre four-cylinder gasoline engine purely as a generator, with the dual-motor setup said to produce 523 horsepower. A tri-motor version will push that to an enormous 852 horsepower. Capacity-wise, the PHEV battery will be good for at least 65 kWh.

Going for the all-electric will see power mirror the 523 hp (390 kW) PHEV variant, yet it will pack a larger 95 kWh battery good for a CLTC range of up to 435 miles (700 km). DC fast charging should be good for 10-80% charges within 12 minutes.

Rivals And Reveal

The list of targets is long, ranging from the Rolls-Royce Cullinan, Bentley Bentayga, and Mercedes-Maybach GLS to the Range Rover, Genesis GV90, Zeekr 9X, and BYD’s Yangwang U8.

For now it stays an eastern affair, so do not expect one in a US driveway anytime soon. JAC Motors handles production, and an official reveal is penciled in for the coming months.

Read: Mercedes, BMW, And Porsche Are Losing To A $104K Chinese Sedan Most Americans Can’t Pronounce

Pricing is still guesswork, but expect it to sit above the S800, which runs from ¥708,000 (around $104,000) to roughly ¥1,180,000 ($173,000) fully loaded. Either way it undercuts the ¥5,030,000 ($738,600) the Rolls-Royce Ghost commands in China, a figure nearly double the car’s $370,750 US price. That gap is the whole story behind the S800’s success at home, where it has been the best-selling luxury model above ¥700,000 ($103,000), beating every European rival, Maybach, the Mercedes S-Class, and the Porsche Panamera among them.

Patent images of the Maextro SUV

If those numbers hold, even a $120,000 starting point would land below a BMW iX (¥746,900), let alone the X7 (¥928,000), and a world below the Cullinan, which opens around ¥7.5 million, over $1 million in China once the heavy luxury and import taxes are added.

So which way would you go, the genuine article from Goodwood or the Huawei-backed upstart that promises to do most of the same things for a fraction of the outlay?

A car can be panned by the public and still find buyers, and Ferrari is betting the gap between the two is wider than the noise suggests. The Luce’s unveiling set off a wave of criticism and dragged on the company’s share price before it rebounded, yet CEO Benedetto Vigna insists there is “strong interest” from clients, and that the €550,000 ($640,000) asked for Ferrari’s first EV is “fair to pay for innovation.”

Vigna made the case at an event in Modena on Thursday, where he said there is “strong interest, including from new clients.” He claimed buyers who attended the debut earlier this week have already put money down. “We’ve already received bank transfers, clients who were there want it,” the CEO said.

More: Deepfake Video Has Ferrari’s CEO And Jony Ive Saying What They Really Think About The Luce

According to Reuters, around 1,600 prospective customers saw the EV in person on Monday and Tuesday in Rome, with order books opening on Wednesday. The company will announce precise figures about the number of Luce orders in July, as part of the financial results for Q2 2026.

Photos Ferrari

The loudest complaints concern the way the Luce looks, a design that breaks sharply with Ferraris of the past. The electric sedan was penned by LoveFrom, the studio founded by former Apple design chief Jony Ive and Marc Newson. Most fans came away cold, missing the emotion they expect from Maranello, while others pointed an uncomfortable resemblance to cars from far less exotic brands.

More: Ferrari’s Luce Is A Four-Door EV Designed By The iPhone Guy

The CEO believes that critics would change their minds if they saw the Luce in person: “If you see it and try it, you immediately understand it was not copied and it has ​nothing to share with other EVs you have seen ​and are ⁠produced by others, in terms of interiors, exterior and performance.”

Vigna also stressed that the electric Luce is an addition to the range, not a replacement, and that Ferrari will keep building ICE and hybrid cars alongside it.

Ferrari shares are clawing back ground after sliding 8.8 percent in the wake of the Luce’s debut. The current CEO’s optimism isn’t universally shared. Former boss Luca di Montezemolo took a dimmer view, arguing the Luce is “hurting Ferrari” and that the company risks the “destruction of a legend.”

Who do you think is right? Sound off in the comments below.

Photos Ferrari

The road of life is filled with plenty of unexpected twists and turns. That certainly applies to former Volkswagen boss Herbert Diess, who was ousted in 2022.

We haven’t heard much about him lately, but the former executive is now following in the footsteps of Lamborghini and building tractors. In a LinkedIn post, he announced a new company called DIESS E-Agrartechnik AG, which is based in Munich.

More: VW Brings Electric Tractors With Swappable Batteries To African Farms As Rentals

It plans to launch a “revolutionary new mid-range e-tractor for farmers and municipal services” in 2027. The upcoming model promises to be competitive with diesel-powered tractors, but have 50% lower operating costs. The DIESS tractor will also have a swappable battery pack, which allows for “24/7 operation.”

The tractor promises to be one of the most versatile on the market and will be offered with a wide range of attachments including mowers, loaders, and winter gear. Diess went on to say the model will be of the “highest quality,” despite being attractively priced.

He went on to hint at solar charging stations and autonomous operation in the future. The former automotive heavy weight also teased an unnamed partner who is an “innovative, established agricultural machinery company.”

While there are more questions than answers at this point, the tractor has an enclosed cab as well as meaty tires. We can also see floating fenders, side steps, and what appear to be U-shaped lighting units.

Despite sounding like an odd career move, Volkswagen launched the GenFarm Project in 2021 under Diess. It focused on electric tractors for Africa and they share a number of similarities with the new model. This includes swappable batteries and solar charging, although both are far from a novel idea.

VW GenFarm Project

There’s no doubt that the biggest issue facing electric vehicle adoption relates to range. Specifically, how fast and how easy it is to go from a low battery to a full one. While it’s easy to own an EV if you can charge at home overnight, it’s a totally different story for everyone else who doesn’t have that cheap daily access to power. Now, a company is trying to provide a solution, and it’s using existing street-side infrastructure to do it.

Rather than digging up sidewalks and installing entirely new charging stations, Washington, D.C., is helping fund a project that converts existing streetlights and utility poles into EV chargers. According to WJLA, the District’s Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) recently awarded $609,500 in grants to three EV charging companies. One of the biggest winners is Voltpost, a startup that specializes in retrofitting existing poles with Level 2 charging equipment.

Read: Charging An EV Cost $11 More This Year, Filling A Sequoia Cost $1,623 More

According to the company, its chargers can be installed in just a few hours by leveraging existing electrical infrastructure. That means no major construction work, no trenching, and potentially tens of thousands of dollars in savings compared to traditional charging installations. The company says it plans to deploy up to 16 chargers around the city, though exact locations are still being determined in coordination with local agencies and utility provider Pepco.

Funded By Dieselgate, Not Taxpayers

Voltpost wasn’t the only recipient. PowerUp America received funding to expand its charging footprint, while curbside charging specialist ‘It’s Electric’ also secured grant money. Together, the three companies are expected to significantly increase public charging access across the District. Importantly, none of the funding comes from local taxpayers. The cash actually comes from the money allocated to D.C. from Volkswagen’s emissions-cheating settlement with the EPA.

If this approach proves successful, it could help build a guideline for how urban areas nationwide could add relatively inexpensive public charging without major infrastructural changes. That alone could make EV adoption that much easier for those who can’t charge where they live otherwise.

Photos Voltpost