U.S. diesel hit an all-time record $6.51/gal on Monday, driven by Iran war disruptions and tight refinery capacity, prompting FMCSA to extend hauling hours for fuel truckers through December, while gasoline rose to $4.48. Maritime security dominated tanker news with FBI and Coast Guard boarding U.S.-bound VLCCs after cyber breach reports, even as Congress moved to block California ship-emission rules. On the military front, the State Dept approved a $24B F-35 sale to Saudi Arabia, Lockheed won up to $1.2B for PrSM missile Increment 2, and Europe announced €3.3B in Ukraine air defense aid, alongside new submarine payload modules and hypersonic VLS developments. Electric mobility surged with MG’s $63k body-on-frame electric pickup, Saudi brand Ceer unveiling EXOBOT SUV/sedan, and Fortescue developing 6000kW charging, while Honda and KYMCO pushed new scooters.
Gasoline / Diesel:
- Diesel Truck / Van / Car Fuel Crisis: National average diesel hit $6.51/gal record Monday per AAA, highest ever, up 76% year-over-year; gasoline at $4.48/gal up 41% YoY. California diesel averaged $8.04/gal, Gulf Coast $6.03/gal.
- Diesel Truck Drivers – FMCSA Waiver: Transportation Secretary announced 90-day waiver Sept 16-Dec 16 allowing gasoline and diesel haulers to drive up to 16 hours in 24-hour window vs normal 14-hour limit due to Iran war supply strain.
- Gasoline Scooter: Honda Ryden 160 sporty scooter trademark registered in Indonesia, leaked 3D renders viral Sept 16.
- Gasoline Scooter: KYMCO USA rolled out Downtown GT 350i middleweight scooter to dealers for urban and long-distance riders.
- Gasoline Scooter: KYMCO Downtown GT 125i premium 125cc added to 2026 lineup with TFT display, keyless, traction control, ABS.
- Gasoline Motorcycle / Scooter: Piaggio Group 2026 models – Aprilia SR GT 400 mid-size GT scooter unveiled with 36hp, 186kg, long-travel fork.
Boat / Ship / Tanker:
- Tanker Ship Emissions: Sept 21, STAX proved tanker emissions control as House passed H.J.Res. 210 Sept 15 to withdraw EPA waiver supporting California authority to cut pollution from docked ships.
- Tanker Ship Cyberattack: FBI and Coast Guard boarded U.S.-bound oil tankers after network breach reports Sept 17; vessel identified as Liberian-flagged VL PROSPERITY 333m VLCC, 2.3M barrel capacity bound for Galveston, Texas.
- Tanker Ship Rates: Trafigura Creates New Shipping Unit as Tanker Rates Soar.
- Tanker / Towboat Collision: Sept 18, tanker MTM Key West collided with towboat Impala San Antonio on Rio Parana, Argentina.
Airplane / Space Ship / Space Shuttle:
- Space Ship – Artemis HLS: NASA’s 2 commercial human landing system projects enter critical phase Sept 21, anticipating 2027 demo and first crewed Artemis landing early 2028 – SpaceX and Blue Origin developing.
- Space Ship – SpaceX Crew: NASA awards SpaceX $950M for 3 more crewed flights to ISS, updated Sept 21.
- Space Ship – Starship: Next Starship/Superheavy test flight delayed to Sept 22, 2026 per FAA clearance.
- Space Shuttle Tank: Last space shuttle external tank shipped via Panama Canal to California display venue.
Manufactures Military Weapon / Tank / Missile / Equipment / Fighter Jet / Submarine:
- Fighter Jet: U.S. State Dept approved possible $24 billion sale of 48 F-35A fighters to Saudi Arabia.
- Missile: Lockheed wins U.S. Army contract up to $1.2B to produce Increment 2 variant of Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) replacing ATACMS, after successful test engaging moving maritime targets.
- Missile: Navy unveiled AIM-424 Malice, Raytheon long-range air-to-air missile exceeding 250 nautical miles, fits F-35C internal bay.
- Missile Defense: Europe Accelerates €3.3B in Ukraine Defense Aid Sept 21, 2026 following Sept 11 approval of €6.1B for air and missile defense including PAC-3 for Patriot.
- Fighter Jet Support: U.S. expands F-35 sustainment network with $871M announced Sept 18 for dispersed combat operations.
- Submarine: U.S. Navy transfers first Virginia Payload Module of USS Arizona submarine for final assembly, expanding length to 461 feet and vertical missile inventory by 233%.
- Submarine Missile: Lockheed gets $76.6M modification for next-gen Trident II nuclear missile to keep submarine-launched weapon in service through 2084 for Columbia and Dreadnought classes.
- Submarine – Japan: Japan funding vertical launch system for future submarines for 14-24 cells capable of cruise missiles and hypersonic HVGP.
- Missile – North Korea: North Korea conducts twin ballistic missile launches, South Korea presumes Hwasong-11 series, renewing focus on short-range strike architecture.
Electric Motorcycle / Scooter / Car / Truck / Van / Boat / Ship / Tanker / Airplane / Space Ship:
- Electric Truck: MG Electric Pickup Truck priced at $63,000 Sept 21, more powerful than Ranger Raptor V6, body-on-frame, front trunk larger than Corolla rear trunk.
- Electric Truck: Slate’s New $24,000 EV Truck – 5-foot bed, almost 7-feet with tailgate down, can haul couple motorcycles.
- Electric Car: Ceer unveils EXOBOT EVs, Saudi Arabia’s first electric SUV and sedan Sept 21.
- Electric Car Tech: Fortescue developing 6000kW charging technology to beat BYD, Zeekr – Recharge in seconds – Sept 21.
- Electric Motorcycle / eMTB: World’s Biggest Motorcycle Brand Is Back in eMTB Market – BikeMag Sept 21, 2026.
- Electric Motorcycle: Honda to start building UC3 Electric Scooter in Vietnam by September despite Hanoi softened gas ban.
- Electric Motorcycle / Scooter Industry: MODENAS and Kolej KEDA launch EV Motorcycle Industry-Academia Centre of Excellence – 25 students training Sept-Dec 2026.
- Electric Scooter Expansion: VinFast partners with 14 more motorcycle distributors, Philippines as primary testing ground for large-scale two-wheel electrification, 400k units produced Vietnam in 2025
