This issue of Bus-News arrives ahead of one of North America’s most significant public transport gatherings: the APTA 2026 Mobility Conference and International Bus Roadeo, taking place in Salt Lake City this May. It is a timely moment to reflect on an industry at a genuine crossroads: one navigating the pressures of electrification, AI integration, funding constraints, and the ever-present imperative to deliver for the communities that depend on bus services every day.
At the heart of this issue is an editorial from our journalist Tiana May on global approaches to bus procurement and industrial policy. Tiana examines how the US ‘Buy America’ framework shapes domestic supply chains, and how Europe and South Korea are grappling with the same tension between open markets and protecting home-grown manufacturing capacity.
We’re also pleased to feature a guest editorial from Stagecoach, exploring the story of Devon’s electric bus transformation. With £30 million invested in a new zero-emission fleet, Torbay has become only the second place in the UK to operate an all-electric service – a genuine milestone, and a good model for regional electrification.
Elsewhere in this issue, our supplier contributors bring a wealth of practical insight. SEKISUI KYDEX examines the material science challenge facing modern transit interiors, and why the shift away from ABS is gaining momentum. NEXCOM makes the case for edge AI computing as the foundation of next-generation ADAS safety systems. TENIX sets out why charge management – not just charger hardware – is the critical enabler of reliable electric fleet operations. And Elydium introduces its timetable management platform, tackling the unglamorous but essential challenge of data quality in passenger transport.
