Trump reignited war on EVs: a bitter legal clash with California

June 17, 2025

In an unprecedented attempt to unravel years of climate policy, President Donald Trump of the US has launched a renewed offensive against electric vehicle mandates and state-level emissions rules. His move sets the stage for a bitter legal clash with clean car advocate California and its allies. At the heart of the dispute is President […]

Opel adds AWD and a performance edge to Grandland Electric

June 16, 2025

Opel has unveiled an all-wheel-drive version of its Grandland Electric SUV, intensifying the competition in the fiercely contested mid-size electric crossover market. The new variant, dubbed the Grandland Electric AWD, brings more than just four driven wheels to the table—it arrives with a punchy 325 hp. The model mimics the Peugeot e-5008 dual motor, with […]

No app, no card, no hassle: Allego launches seamless EV charging

June 16, 2025

Dutch charging provider Allego has fulfilled its promise and is now offering Plug&Charge technology across its ultra-fast charging network in Europe. The convenience eliminates the need for apps and cards, providing a seamless charging experience. Following in the footsteps of charging point operators like Ionity, Allego has an edge. It pioneers the latest communication protocol. […]

Tesla’s carbon credit goldmine could run dry under new Trump bill

June 12, 2025

A Republican-led push in the US Congress threatens to blow a hole in one of Tesla’s most lucrative sources of profit: the sale of carbon and fuel economy credits. If the bill gets approved, it would deprive the electric vehicle maker of billions in future revenue. No wonder Tesla CEO Elon Musk slashed the proposal, […]

Toyota’s new bZ5 takes on Tesla Model Y in China… at half the price

June 11, 2025

Toyota has officially launched its new all-electric bZ5 mid-size SUV in China, taking direct aim at Tesla’s Model Y — but at less than half the price. In a market where electric vehicle competition has become fierce, the Japanese automaker is relying heavily on local partnerships to bring affordable EVs to market. The bZ5 is […]

Volvo’s AI-powered seatbelt knows who you are

June 06, 2025

Volvo’s name remains virtually interchangeable with automotive safety, and once again, the company attempts to push the boundaries of protection for road users. Its latest innovation? An artificial intelligence-powered seatbelt that promises to adapt to every driver and passenger. It can evolve through software updates (OTA) long after the car is sold. The new “multi-adaptive […]

Caught in the slow lane: profits from Chinese rivals outpace Western carmakers

June 06, 2025

The West’s once-dominant car manufacturers are losing ground at an alarming rate to the new generation of fast-rising competitors from Asia, especially China. According to a study by the consulting firm EY, the profit gap is expected to continue growing. A new quarterly report by consultancy EY reveals a strong divide between Western and Asian […]

BYD and Ayvens extend EV leasing offer to Belgium and Luxembourg

June 06, 2025

BYD has launched its full-service leasing offer in Belgium and Luxembourg, marking the latest phase of the Chinese electric vehicle giant’s expansion across Europe in partnership with mobility provider Ayvens. The rollout, branded BYD Lease, is the first formal result of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) the two companies signed last year to accelerate the […]

Another car carrier fire raises alarm over EV safety at sea

June 05, 2025

A large car carrier packed with thousands of vehicles, including several hundred electric and hybrid models, is drifting and still smouldering in the Pacific Ocean. A blaze broke out on board – an incident that once again puts the spotlight on the growing safety concerns around transporting electrified vehicles by sea. The Morning Midas, a […]

China chokes global auto production with rare earth bottleneck

June 05, 2025

Global carmakers are facing a mounting crisis. China’s tightening grip on the export of rare earth materials begins to choke off essential supplies, which might lead to plant shutdowns and fuel fears of a broader disruption across the auto industry. The supply chain strain, rooted in the export controls imposed by Beijing, is the latest […]

Mercedes G-Class goes silent and so do the buyers

June 04, 2025

Mercedes is facing a harsh market reality with its all-electric G580 with EQ Technology. Sales figures published by the German media outlet Handelsblatt suggest that the high-end electric SUV is falling well short of expectations. In stark contrast, the iconic G-Class continues to thrive with its blasting combustion engines. To make matters worse, Mercedes is […]

BYD supercharges Europe with EV network: as fast as refueling

June 04, 2025

Chinese carmaker BYD has unveiled plans to deploy a sweeping network of ultra-fast electric vehicle chargers across Europe — and not in some distant future, but within the next 12 months. The bold move forms part of the company’s strategy to become a dominant force in the European car market by the end of the […]

NIO rolls into Belgium with Hedin in the driver’s seat

June 04, 2025

Are Belgian EV drivers ready for battery swapping? Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer NIO is gearing up to make its debut in Belgium and Luxembourg this September, as part of a wider push across Europe. The move is part of a strategic partnership with Swedish dealer group Hedin Mobility, which will oversee distribution, retail, and aftersales […]

Cadillac boosts EV line-up with Vistiq as fifth model (update)

June 03, 2025

Cadillac is in a hurry to deploy a full-grown EV line-up. Its latest electric vehicle, the Vistiq, slots between the massive Escalade iQ and more compact Lyriq, lifting the number of announced battery-powered models to five (next to the Celestiq and Optiq). The Vistiq promises ample range and top-notch charging technology and is positioned as […]

London overhauls Congestion Charge: electric vehicles lose full exemption

June 03, 2025

Electric vehicle drivers will soon have to pay to enter central London, as part of Transport for London’s (TfL) plans to revise the Congestion Charge. The move has divided campaigners, business groups, and clean air advocates, but adds to a broader trend as cities are readressing their clean air policies. The overhaul doesn’t affect the […]

Electric car batteries get cheaper, unless you’re in the West

June 03, 2025

Electric car batteries are getting considerably cheaper, but not everywhere, and not for everyone. The conclusion is based on the latest report by the International Energy Agency (IEA), which notes that battery prices experienced their steepest decline in eight years last year. The effect of scaling is materializing, but there are global differences to be […]

Belgian EV dream Addax Motors files for bankruptcy

June 02, 2025

Once hailed as a beacon of Belgian innovation and green industrial ambition, Addax Motors — the only homegrown manufacturer of electric vans in the country — has filed for bankruptcy. The announcement, which puts 40 jobs at risk, brings a sudden halt to a bold experiment in sustainable manufacturing that began with lofty goals and […]

EU urged to abandon battery independence dream and partner with China

June 02, 2025

The crumbling of Europe’s once-ambitious battery industry has prompted a strong warning from two of the continent’s most senior industrial leaders: forget going for it alone, partner with China, or risk falling further behind. The fall of battery maker Northvolt has left a vacuum in Europe, as it seeks to align itself with major Chinese […]

After record sales in Spain, Darren Tu set to expand Omoda & Jaecoo in Belux

June 02, 2025

Omoda and Jaecoo have appointed Darren Tu as Managing Director for its Belux operations, after his successful tenure at the Spanish division, where the brands succeeded in outpacing legacy brands in the sales charts. The move appears to signal growth potential, as witnessed by holding company Chery. But how much momentum do these brands have […]

Stellantis appoints Antonio Filosa as successor to Carlos Tavares 

May 28, 2025

Stellantis has named Antonio Filosa as its new Chief Executive Officer, drawing a line under months of uncertainty following the abrupt departure of Carlos Tavares. The 51-year-old Italian, who currently oversees operations across the Americas and also serves as Chief Quality Officer, will officially step into the role on 23 June. His formal appointment as […]

China braces for new price war as BYD offloads stock

May 27, 2025

China’s biggest carmaker, BYD, has rolled out sweeping price cuts across its Dynasty and Ocean series electric vehicles in a move that underscores growing pressure in the world’s largest auto market. The discounts — as high as 34% — come amid ballooning dealer inventories and a cooling appetite among Chinese consumers, and have sent shockwaves […]

500 tweaks: Nio bets on big upgrade for ET5 and EL6

May 27, 2025

Chinese electric carmaker Nio has unveiled updated versions of its core models: the ET5 saloon, ET5 Touring estate, and EL6 SUV. The trio accounts for a large chunk of the firm’s global sales and has received over 500 upgrades ranging from styling tweaks to major technological enhancements, improving driver assistance. The updates are most noticeable […]

From collapse to comeback: HiPhi resurrected by Lebanese investor

May 27, 2025

After halting production for a year and teetering on the brink of collapse, Chinese premium EV brand HiPhi is preparing a return. This time under new ownership. Lebanese EV startup EV Electra acquired a majority stake in the embattled automaker. The stage is set for a potential reboot of one of China’s most ambitious electric […]

All-electric 6e sparks interest, but Mazda’s total sales to remain flat

May 26, 2025

With sales leveling off last year, Mazda Belgium remains on a steady course. The all-new, all-electric 6e is gaining traction and could reposition the brand in the fleet sector. But despite strong interest, the new model won’t drive up total sales, as key models are aging. Mazda Motor Corp. reported global sales of 1.3 million […]

Fiat Tris revives Ape as electric workhorse, but Europe must wait

May 23, 2025

Fiat has unveiled the Tris, its first three-wheeled electric commercial vehicle. It is aimed at affordable, low-emission transport in dense urban areas. Designed for Africa and the Middle East, the compact EV blends Italian design with pragmatic utility. It is a modern take on the nostalgic Ape. After the Topolino, a rebadged Citroën Ami, Fiat […]

Milestone: BYD surpasses Tesla in European BEV sales

May 22, 2025

BYD has overtaken Tesla in battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales in Europe for the first time, marking a major turning point in the continent’s electric vehicle market. The milestone is reached bilaterally. As the Chinese carmaker profits from a model offensive, Tesla is witnessing one of its weakest performances since entering the European marketplace. In […]

Making waves: BYD enters into budget-friendly EV market with Dolphin Surf

May 22, 2025

Chinese carmaker BYD is making another push into the European electric vehicle market, this time at the more affordable end of the spectrum. Its new compact model, the Dolphin Surf, launched this week in several continental markets, including Belgium, arrives with a promise that could rattle established players: fully electric motoring for just under €22,000. […]

China races ahead as U.S. struggles to keep pace in global car manufacturing

May 22, 2025

It’s no secret that the global car industry is undergoing a power shift, but the numbers suggest that the United States are more severely on the back foot than generally assumed. A new benchmark report by Chinese manufacturing network RapidDirect places the U.S. a distant fifth among the world’s top automotive producers—well behind China, Germany, […]

Volvo FH Aero Electric aims to rival diesel trucks 

May 21, 2025

Volvo Trucks has released more details on its new FH Aero Electric, its most ambitious battery-electric truck yet. The long-distance hauler will debut with an extended driving range, fast-charging capabilities, and payload capacity on par with diesel-powered models. But some patience is required, as the electric flagship model is slated to hit the market in […]

All-electric KGM Musso goes head-on with Maxus T90 (update)

May 21, 2025

The Chinese Maxus T90, the first all-electric pickup in Belgium, is getting stiff and rugged competition from South Korea. Neither Kia nor Hyundai is stepping up on an emission-free alternative for the utilitarian market, but KGM—formerly known as Ssangyong—adds a Musso with a traction battery to its range. It will be available in Belgium as […]

France’s white gold could bring hydrogen mobility back on the map

May 20, 2025

The groundbreaking hydrogen discovery in northeastern France last year is reigniting interest in a long-overlooked source of clean energy—natural hydrogen. At a moment when the bets on hydrogen for transportation are severely off the table, scientists have started mapping vast amounts of mineable hydrogen and laid out the challenges for exploitation methods. Tucked beneath the […]

Van Mossel unveils Europe’s largest MG showroom

May 20, 2025

Despite the EU’s stringent import duties, MG’s export ambitions haven’t withered. Last week, Europe’s number one Chinese brand opened its largest brand store to date in Roermond, the Netherlands. The flagship showroom is designed to anchor the brand’s identity against the backdrop of shifting consumer priorities. The new site, developed in partnership with Dutch dealership […]

Powerdot pledges €40m to reach top-three fast-charging networks in Belgium

May 19, 2025

Portuguese electric vehicle charging firm Powerdot is ramping up its European ambitions, pledging €140 million to expand fast-charging infrastructure across France and Belgium. The move was announced at this year’s Choose France summit, the government-backed initiative designed to woo foreign investment. The company is earmarking €100 million for France and €40 million for Belgium in […]

Geely profits triple over soaring China sales

May 19, 2025

The Chinese holding company Geely posted a sharp rise in first-quarter profit. Record sales and cost controls helped the automaker tighten its grip on its fast-moving domestic market. But in the near future, the Chinese car group, which owns Volvo, Polestar, and others, will face mounting export pressures and, consequently, push for a corporate restructuring. […]

BYD to establish European headquarters and R&D center in Hungary

May 16, 2025

Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD will establish its European headquarters and a significant research and development hub in Budapest. The investment is part of a €248 million expansion into Hungary. It underlines the company’s growth ambitions and the Orban government’s close ties with Beijing. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and BYD’s chairman and chief executive, Wang […]

Mitsubishi’s new Eclipse Cross is a Renault Scenic in disguise

May 15, 2025

Mitsubishi is set to reintroduce the Eclipse Cross name to European roads, but this time, the badge will sit on the back of a French-built electric SUV. The Japanese carmaker has confirmed that it will unveil a fully electric Eclipse Cross in September, with first deliveries planned by the end of 2025. The new model […]

IEA: one in four new cars will be electric in 2025

May 15, 2025

According to the latest report by the International Energy Agency (IEA), electric vehicle sales are on course to top 20 million globally in 2025, marking a significant milestone for the automotive sector. This figure translates to one in every four new cars sold this year being electric—a remarkable rise considering the lingering economic uncertainty and […]

Hackers gain remote control of 2020 Nissan Leaf, including steering

May 14, 2025

Security researchers have uncovered severe vulnerabilities in the 2020 Nissan Leaf, showing how the car can be remotely tracked, surveilled, and physically controlled in a disturbing escalation, including its steering system. The demonstration by the Hungarian firm PCAutomotive at the Black Hat Asia 2025 conference revealed that the attack required no sophisticated hardware. Instead, the […]

Skoda sharpens up its range with new Enyaq RS duo

May 14, 2025

Skoda is doubling down on the performance EV segment with the refreshed Enyaq RS and Enyaq Coupé RS, which now complete the Czech automaker’s facelifted Enyaq lineup. Featuring sharper styling, enhanced performance, and upgraded tech, the RS variants target buyers looking for electric SUVs with a sportier edge without compromising the brand’s notorious everyday usability. […]

China at turning point: electrified vehicles dominate car sales for first time

May 13, 2025

Electrified cars have overtaken gasoline and diesel models in China’s vast passenger car market for the first time. In March, so-called new energy vehicles (NEVs), which include battery-electric and plug-in hybrid models, accounted for 51.1% of all retail car sales in the country. The milestone signals not just the rapid maturation of China’s electric vehicle […]

BYD e7: this is the world’s most affordable full-size EV

May 13, 2025

BYD’s latest all-electric saloon, the e7, has quietly begun arriving at dealerships across China after it was previously leaked. The e7 is expected to be priced very low, potentially starting at 70,000 yuan or under €10,000, making it one of the world’s most affordable full-sized EV sedans. The model offers a stripped-down but capable alternative […]

Amsterdam pilots smart EV charging to cut grid pressure

May 12, 2025

Amsterdam has launched a six-month trial of a smart charging scheme that aims to relieve pressure on its electricity grid while helping electric vehicle (EV) drivers cut their charging costs. The programme began in March, as cities across Europe grapple with the twin challenges of electrification and ageing power infrastructure. The Dutch capital is working […]

Longtime Tesla employee fired after calling for Elon Musk’s removal

May 12, 2025

Tesla faces mounting internal unrest after a veteran employee was fired for publicly criticizing CEO Elon Musk. He urged the company to replace him amid falling sales and reputational concerns tied to Musk’s political activity. Tesla confirms its reputation for customizing free speech to its own rhetoric only. Matthew LaBrot, a staff program manager who […]

Cadillac’s €300,000 Celestiq: the most exclusive car no one asked for

May 09, 2025

Cadillac’s hand-built electric flagship, the Celestiq, was meant to mark the return of American automotive grandeur. Instead, it risks becoming an expensive ghost — rarer than a Bugatti, but not by the board’s initial plan. Nearly three years since its glitzy announcement, fewer than 25 buyers have committed to the €300,000 EV, and even that […]

Sharp redesign for Toyota Corolla Cross and first-ever GR Sport

May 09, 2025

Toyota has refreshed the styling of its five-year-old Corolla Cross, enhanced cabin comfort, and introduced a GR Sport variant for the first time in the European lineup. The updated model will arrive in summer 2025, with the GR Sport following in the fall. Positioned between the C-HR and RAV4, the Corolla Cross was initially seen […]

Polestar to offer battery health certificate to second-hand buyers

May 08, 2025

Polestar is introducing official battery health certificates for used versions of its Polestar 2 electric car. The new offer must calm nerves across Europe’s struggling second-hand EV market. The Electric car maker says the new certificate will help ease fears over battery life and falling used EV prices. The certificate will become mandatory in the […]

Foxconn scores first global EV manufacturing deal with Mitsubishi

May 08, 2025

Foxconn, best known as Apple’s iPhone assembler, is entering the global electric vehicle market with its first contract to supply an established automaker, Mitsubishi, with a full electric model. Mitsubishi announced it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Foxtron, the EV arm of Taiwan’s Hon Hai Precision Industry Corporation (or Foxconn), to develop […]

Plunging used EV prices force leasing sector to rethink business model

May 07, 2025

Retail prices for electric vehicles in Belgium dropped nearly 12 percent year-over-year in Q1 2025. The numbers affirm the ongoing trend of low interest in zero-emission cars on the secondhand market. As the mismatch between supply and demand grows, leasing companies seek to reassess their residual value strategies. Will corporate vehicles become increasingly more expensive? […]

Hyundai-Kia’s plan of attack amid global headwinds: a lot more affordable EVs

May 06, 2025

South Korean management reads Julius Caesar. As attack is the best defense, the Hyundai group plans to launch a major product push to combat the economic cooldown and Trump tariffs. Most particularly in the lower regions of the electric category. What’s coming, as the fifth largest carmaker retools its strategy to stay competitive in a […]

Flexible battery layout to power future electric Mazda MX-5?

May 06, 2025

According to a newly published patent, Mazda seems to be laying the groundwork for an electric future for its beloved MX-5 roadster. The details uncover an unconventional battery layout designed to preserve the iconic roadster’s nimble character. The patent, filed at the US Patent and Trademark Office in late 2024, surfaced only recently under the […]

Uber plans 2026 rollout of robotaxis in Europe

May 05, 2025

Uber Technologies has announced a strategic partnership with Chinese autonomous driving start-up Momenta to launch self-driving taxi services in Europe. The project is planned to start in early 2026. The collaboration marks Uber’s first venture with a Chinese developer of robotaxis, and beyond its home markets in the US and China.  While Waymo already offers […]

800 km range, 800 V charging: the all-new electric Mercedes CLA (update)

May 05, 2025

Mercedes has officially opened the online configurator for its groundbreaking all-new CLA. As for now, only the 250+ and 350 4Matic can be ordered in Belgium, with a starting price of 56.870 euros. Entry-level versions –  set to lower the price considerably thanks to the integration of a cheaper LFP battery -, will be added by […]

Tesla board mulls leadership change amid steep sales drop

May 05, 2025

Should Elon Musk stay or should he go? Many have lately asked this question for Tesla, as the car company suffers a massive sales and revenue drop due to the CEO’s political endeavors. According to American media, the board has actively been scouting for a replacement. A month after reporting a staggering 71 percent drop […]

Lynk & Co 900 launches in China as brand’s flagship plug-in hybrid SUV

May 05, 2025

Lynk & Co, the Geely-Volvo-founded brand now operating under Zeekr, has officially launched its most ambitious product: the Lynk & Co 900. It’s a full-size plug-in hybrid SUV positioned to take on China’s fiercely competitive upper market. The 900, which was already unveiled at the beginning of the year, marks a bold step for the […]

2024 breaks traffic and accident records in Flanders

April 29, 2025

The Flemish highway network experienced its most congested year on record in 2024. Traffic jams, accident rates, and incident response demands reached unprecedented levels, according to the annual report by the Vlaams Verkeerscentrum (Flemish Traffic Center). As the body marks its 25th anniversary, it faces the challenge of managing a traffic system increasingly pushed beyond […]

Omoda unveils Europe-bound 3, rival to the Kia EV3

April 29, 2025

Chery’s Omoda grabs spotlights while the Shanghai Auto Show runs full steam. The brand took veils of one further model that is bound to be exported to Europe and Belgium. The Omoda 3 is a sharply styled compact crossover that targets younger buyers and competitors like the Kia EV3 and MG4.  The Omoda 3 wasn’t […]

Stellantis plans 2026 demo fleet with solid-state battery models

April 29, 2025

Stellantis claims it has taken a significant step forward in electric vehicle battery technology. It has cleared internal validation tests for its next-generation solid-state cells and is now paving the way for a demonstration fleet by 2026. But the revolution might be a bit less victorious than the press clippings suggest. The 77 Ah cells, […]

BYD doubles profit, strengthens hold on EV market as Tesla struggles

April 28, 2025

Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD extended its lead in the global EV race with a record-setting first-quarter profit. The carmaker solidified its dominance at home while advancing its global ambitions. But over in Europe, the brand shifted strategy as it struggled with its dealership footprint.  The Shenzhen-based car maker’s net profit rose to 9.2 billion […]

Volkswagen and Uber to deploy thousands of ID. Buzz robotaxi’s in the U.S.

April 25, 2025

Volkswagen is stepping deeper into the autonomous driving race, announcing plans to bring a fleet of self-driving ID to market. Buzz electric vans through a new partnership with Uber. The German automaker aims to supply thousands of autonomous vehicles for Uber’s ride-hailing platform across the U.S. over the next decade, beginning with Los Angeles in […]