VW’s Chinese ID. Unyx 08 is first car in Xpeng partnership

November 12, 2025

Volkswagen has released the first pictures and preliminary info on the ID. Unyx 08 in China, a five-meter electric SUV that represents not only the first product of its cooperation with Xpeng but also a deeper technological co-development with local partnerships in China. The ID. Unyx 08, developed under Volkswagen Anhui, is the production realization […]

Europe’s auto sector breathes again as Nexperia chip shipments resume

November 10, 2025

After weeks of rising concerns across Europe’s car industry, shipments of Nexperia semiconductors are moving again. It’s a relief for automakers but also a stark reminder of how fragile Europe’s industrial supplier network has become. Volkswagen, Continental spinoff Aumovio, and Bosch have all confirmed receiving new deliveries from the Chinese-owned chipmaker. The disruption began when […]

Toyota Hilux enters new era as all-electric pickup

November 10, 2025

Toyota’s indestructible Hilux, long defined by diesel torque and unshakeable dependability, is stepping into uncharted territory. The ninth-generation, on order as of December, marks the most significant shift in the model’s 55-year history with the arrival of a battery-electric version. Also, a hydrogen-powered model will follow. The fully electric Hilux BEV leads the launch, hitting […]

Shareholders approve Elon Musk becoming a trillionaire

November 07, 2025

It does resound in a Trumpian style. Too big and brash to be countered, Elon Musk raked in the approval from Tesla’s shareholders for his incredible record pay package of $1 trillion (€920 billion). But will the Tesla CEO be free from the court, after it blocked his previous wages? Tesla shareholders have voted to […]

Spanish car brand Ebro launches flagship PHEV S900

November 04, 2025

The Spanish carmaker Ebro has unveiled the S900, a large, seven-seat plug-in hybrid SUV designed to push it into the same league as Europe’s established players. Once known for its sturdy commercial vehicles, Ebro has re-emerged as an SUV brand, with a bit of help from China. Ebro’s name doesn’t resound widely across Europe (yet?), […]

Audi profits rebound after Brussels plant write-off

November 03, 2025

Audi’s third-quarter earnings have risen sharply, mainly because last year, the burden of shutting down its Brussels plant weighed heavily on the results. However, the positive figures mask deeper financial strain from tariffs, falling volumes in China, and rising costs associated with its transition to electric vehicles.  Audi reported an operating profit of €468 million […]

China signals ‘flexibility’ in worrying Nexperia export ban

November 03, 2025

The Nexperia crisis is entering an easing phase. China has said it will grant case-by-case exemptions from its ban on Nexperia chip exports. This could offer a lifeline to automakers scrambling to secure supplies. In the meantime, industry leaders warn that recovery from the disruption could take months. The Ministry of Commerce said eligible firms […]

Subaru hints at electric rebirth for STI

October 31, 2025

Subaru has presented a vision of how its performance arm can be made future-proof. At the Japan Mobility Show, the automaker introduced the Performance-E STI Concept, a quite attractive electric hatchback that reimagines the brand’s storied STI badge. Don’t look for turbocharged boxer engines underneath this one. It’s been three years since Subaru dropped the […]

BYD launches first non-Japanese electric kei car: the Racco

October 31, 2025

Kei cars are Japanese car culture at heart. So it’s symbolic and sensitive at the same time that Chinese automaker BYD has pulled the wraps off its first kei car, the Racco, at the 2025 Japan Mobility Show. Though the car is small, it is a bold step into Japan’s compact-car market.  The Racco writes […]

Can a ‘charging mandate’ keep plug-in hybrids alive after 2035?

October 28, 2025

The German car lobby is pushing an unusual idea to boost sales of plug-in hybrids as the EU seeks to measure their real-life emissions more accurately. The proposal? A legal obligation for plug-in hybrid drivers to charge their cars regularly. The punishment for not abiding by that obligation is reduced power. A creative solution, but […]

France tests live highway with induction charging near Paris

October 27, 2025

France has launched its first highway capable of charging electric vehicles while they drive. On a 1.5-kilometer stretch of the A10, near Angervilliers, southwest of Paris, VINCI Autoroutes and a consortium of partners have begun real-world tests of an inductive charging system touted as an innovation that should complement the charging infrastructure landscape. Developed in […]

Electric 1000 MBX: Skoda reimagines a forgotten classic

October 27, 2025

After the 110R, Skoda’s design studio has taken another dive into its archives, reviving one of its most obscure models — the 1000 MBX coupé — as a fully electric concept. The reinterpretation, unveiled as part of the brand’s ‘Icons Get a Makeover’ series, gives the rare 1960s two-door a futuristic twist under Skoda’s ‘Modern […]

BYD bets big on plug-in hybrids with small Atto 2 DM-i

October 24, 2025

Chinese automaker BYD is best known as an electric car brand, but all of its top sellers still rely on an electrified combustion engine. After the Seal U and the Seal 6, the compact crossover Atto 2 will soon add a plug-in hybrid variant to the pure electric model. The new addition is set to […]

Tesla’s record sales can’t save its crashing profits

October 23, 2025

Tesla’s latest quarterly report shows the electric-car maker couldn’t benefit from record sales, driven by the prospect of the EV credit abortion in its home country. Despite delivering a record 497,099 vehicles in the third quarter — a 7 percent increase year over year — the company’s net profit tumbled 37 percent to $1.37 billion. […]

Auto industry braces for escalating chip crisis over Nexperia (update)

October 21, 2025

The dispute between the Netherlands and China over semiconductor maker NXP (formerly Nexperia) is very much alive and escalating. It has moved from a governance dispute into a real supply-chain risk scenario. Nexperia’s China unit has publicly declared it will operate independently of the Dutch headquarters, saying Chinese site staff should ignore instructions from the […]

Leapmotor D19: world’s biggest battery in an EREV

October 20, 2025

The Chinese electric vehicle maker Leapmotor is best known in Europe for its low-cost models, marketed alongside Stellantis. But in its home market, the carmaker has revealed an ambitious new flagship SUV that pushes the brand into luxury territory. And not without making a mark. The D19, a 5.2-meter-long electric SUV, features an onboard oxygen […]

Mercedes launches electric CLA 200 with LFP battery under €50,000

October 17, 2025

Mercedes-Benz has unveiled the configurator for its eagerly anticipated entry-level electric CLA. Powered by a smaller lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery, the CLA 200 ships for €49,610 in Belgium, almost €6,000 less than the CLA 250+ with NMC pack. The German carmaker has built its new four-door coupé on its modular MMA platform, which underpins […]

Nissan refreshes the Ariya with a calmer face and new software 

October 14, 2025

Three years after its launch, Nissan has given the Ariya a modest but meaningful update. The electric SUV retains its core engineering but gains a sleeker design and much-needed digital upgrades. With Google built-in technology and the ability to power external devices, the Ariya is being repositioned as more practical and better connected. When it first […]

Five car makes face UK’s high court over dieselgate scandal

October 14, 2025

The High Court in London has opened one of the most attention-grabbing consumer trials in recent years. Five car manufacturers are accused of deceiving millions of drivers by installing defeat devices to cheat pollution tests. The case, expected to run for three months, revives the scandal that has haunted the industry for a decade. Billions of […]

Volkswagen ID Unyx 07: first China-developed EV for local market

October 13, 2025

Volkswagen is preparing to launch the ID Unyx 07, a mid-size electric saloon that will debut a new Chinese-developed platform and broaden the company’s electric range in the world’s largest car market. The model’s main task is to be perceived as a Chinese rather than a German Volkswagen to help resurrect sliding sales. To do […]

Stripped-down Tesla Model Y Standard cuts under 40,000 euros in Europe

October 13, 2025

As previously announced, Tesla has begun assembly and sales of its new base model, the Model Y Standard. The new Model Y Standard, priced from €39,990 in Belgium, lowers the barrier to entry by trimming away some of the brand’s hallmark features. The Standard must help revive flagging European demand, though some European markets have […]

Used car market has become the new normal in Belgium

October 07, 2025

Belgium’s car market is shifting gears. While sales of new vehicles continue to fall, the second-hand sector is gaining ground, increasingly becoming the backbone of automotive sales. Almost two out of three cars registered in Belgium this year were second-hand. According to the mobility federation Traxio, the summer months saw a decline in second-hand sales, […]

Tesla upgrades Model 3 and Y with more range and signal stalk

October 07, 2025

After months of sliding deliveries and growing unease about Elon Musk’s political antics, Tesla is crawling back. The American carmaker has not only retooled its two best-selling models, the Model 3 sedan and Model Y crossover, but also recorded a sales recovery during the third quarter of the year. Even in Europe, sales are partly […]

Belgium’s new road code delayed to 2027

October 06, 2025

Belgium’s long-awaited reform of its road rules will take effect later than planned. The new road code will now come into force on 1 June 2027, or nine months after the previously announced date. According to the Road Safety Institute Vias, the delay stems not from political disagreement over the reform itself, but from coordination […]

Heijmans unveils Europe’s first self-driving electric road roller

October 03, 2025

Dutch construction giant Heijmans has launched what it claims to be Europe’s first autonomous electric road roller. The prototype must help tackle labour shortages and cut emissions on infrastructure projects. Heijmans is one of the Netherlands’ biggest construction firms. As part of tightening tender rules, it has been steadily preparing its heavy-duty equipment for zero-emission operations, primarily […]

Fast-charging stations plagued by criminals hunting copper

October 03, 2025

Germany’s growing network of fast-charging stations for electric cars has become an unlikely target for crime. In a worrying trend, thieves are cutting cables for the copper inside. Operators warn of mounting costs and disruption, as the wave of thefts spreads across several regions. With more than 42,000 fast-charging points across Germany, the country boasts […]

ZF to cut 7,600 jobs in restructuring of core powertrain division

October 02, 2025

German car parts supplier ZF has reached a deal with unions and employee representatives to eliminate an additional 7,600 jobs. The cut is part of a restructuring push at its largest business unit. After Bosch announced similar measures, the strains on the automotive supplier industry are mounting. The job-cutting plan from ZF affects Division E, […]

Most EV drivers complete journeys without recharging en route

October 02, 2025

A Dutch survey analyzing the habits and pain points of EV drivers has successfully separated some facts from fiction about electric driving. It appears that more than half never need to charge their cars while underway, and that the overwhelming majority charge their cars using solar panels. If you’re looking for the real needs of […]

Study reveals Google Maps eclipses traditional navigation

October 01, 2025

For two decades, the car dashboard has been a battleground between the tech industry and traditional manufacturers. New figures suggest that the first have won over the driver, but carmakers are far from ready to concede. A survey of 1,000 Dutch motorists by ‘Ikwilvanmijnautoaf.nl’ found that more than half of them rely primarily on Google […]

Porsche turns electric Cayenne interior into a digital lounge

October 01, 2025

During a workshop for selected media, Porsche has unveiled both the interior and some preliminary technical details of its upcoming all-electric Cayenne. As the picture shows, the SUV relies heavily on digital displays that cover the full length of the dashboard. But there’s also news from under the seats where engineers claim the redesigned battery […]

Volvo launches long-range electric coach with diesel-like range

September 30, 2025

Swedish bus maker Volvo Buses has unveiled a new coach chassis capable of travelling up to 700 kilometers on a single charge. The BZR Electric platform, already used in its intercity buses, has been reconfigured with an expanded battery system that surpasses much of the competition. The new milestone bus is ready for Scandinavian and […]

Skoda plugs the past into the future with this 110 R Coupé Concept

September 30, 2025

For a company best known today for pragmatic family cars and SUVs, Skoda has turned unexpectedly nostalgic. Its design team has unveiled a concept that revives one of its most cherished models, the 1970s 110 R Coupé, but with an entirely modern electric spin. The original 110 R, a coupe from behind the Iron Curtain, […]

Mitsubishi’s new Eclipse Cross starts at €47,990

September 30, 2025

Mitsubishi has reintroduced the Eclipse Cross name to European roads, but this time, the badge will adorn the rear of a French-built electric SUV. The Japanese carmaker has unveiled a fully electric Eclipse Cross this month, with first deliveries planned by the end of 2025. Prices will start at €47,990 for the Intense base version. […]

China to tighten grip on electric car exports including foreign brands

September 29, 2025

China will require exporters of pure electric cars to obtain government licences as of next year. This will lend Beijing full authority over which models leave its borders and which companies are allowed to compete abroad. The decision aims at controlling the ongoing price wars. However, from a diplomatic perspective, it provides Jinping’s administration with […]

Volkswagen halts production at German EV-only plants

September 29, 2025

Shortly after Stellantis announced temporary closures, competitor Volkswagen is also reducing production at several of its German electric car production sites. Sales of fully electric cars remain too weak. While the August statistics showed a spark of hope for electric cars, with an uptick of 30%, absolute sales numbers still fail to match production. Currently, […]

US takes 3-meter high charging pole idea from European playbook

September 26, 2025

A new type of electric vehicle charger is appearing on the streets of New York, as the metropolis draws inspiration from Europe to enhance its infrastructure. Unlike most of its chargers, these can’t be found at eye level. Instead, the “Voltpost Air” dangles more than three metres above the ground. It’s an unconventional attempt to […]

August figures show electric blitz: one in five new EU cars is an EV

September 26, 2025

European drivers are buying electric cars at record levels this year, even as the continent’s overall car market shows signs of stagnation. The latest figures from the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) reveal battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) expanding their foothold across the region. Gasoline and diesel models face a steep decline. In August, registrations of BEVs […]

BYD Yangwang U8 driver performs flood stunt during Super Typhoon

September 25, 2025

The Yangwang U8 has been lavishly heralded for its outstanding off-roading capabilities, with its wading potential almost comparable to that of a sailing vessel. One customer thought the flooded streets during Super Typhoon Ragasa would prove an appropriate demonstration. However, he has now been accused of damaging stores and houses in the process. An adventurous […]

Spying while parked? Belgian minister slams Tesla

September 25, 2025

Tesla’s signature ‘Sentry Mode’, an anti-vandalism feature that activates exterior cameras when the car is parked, has come under scrutiny. Belgian lawmakers and regulators question whether the technology violates national privacy laws. Vanessa Matz, Belgium’s minister of digital affairs, told parliament this week that the system, which is designed to monitor the surroundings of a […]

Stellantis halts production at six European plants over weak demand

September 24, 2025

Stellantis is preparing to suspend operations across multiple European plants. Slow demand forces the automotive giant to curb output and recalibrate inventories. The company confirmed temporary shutdowns in France and Italy, while reports in the French business daily Les Échos indicate similar pauses in Spain, Germany, and Poland. At the Poissy plant, west of Paris, […]

Can this upgraded Volvo EX90 fix its damaged reputation?

September 24, 2025

Volvo Cars is pressing reset on its digital platform after a rocky start for its flagship battery-powered SUV EX90. The Swedish automaker has unveiled sweeping upgrades to the 2026 model year, including a jump to 800 V architecture. It also outlined plans to build extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs) in the US, as it seeks to rebuild […]

China ramps up EV exports as sales surge in Europe

September 23, 2025

China is intensifying its efforts in the electric car market. The country has unveiled a new strategy that pairs ambitious domestic sales targets with a sharper focus on exports. The new ambitions coincide with a significant increase in sales from Chinese brands in Europe, where their sales have more than doubled in the past year. […]

Porsche in reverse: EV dream stalls, petrol roars back

September 23, 2025

Porsche is dramatically scaling back its push into electric cars, shelving key models and extending the life of gasoline and hybrid vehicles. The sudden reversal comes after a profit warning and has unsettled investors. One of Germany’s most celebrated luxury brands is in turmoil and intends to fight back by looking to its roots. The […]

MotoE to shut down after 2025: lack of fan traction

September 19, 2025

After seven years of racing, MotoE bows out of the MotoGP paddock. The FIM and commercial rights holder Dorna Sports have confirmed that the electric motorcycle series will be suspended following the 2025 season. The reason? Weak fan engagement and a lack of momentum in the performance e-motorcycle market. Launched in 2019 as part of […]

China prepares to outlaw retractable car door handles over safety fears

September 17, 2025

China is poised to ban retractable car door handles by 2027, following a series of fatal crashes that have exposed the dangers of a feature once hailed as a marker of futuristic design. Flush-mounted handles, popularized by Tesla and copied by numerous electric vehicle makers, are designed to sit flat against the car body until […]

Weak EV sales push Ford to slash 1,000 jobs in Cologne factory

September 17, 2025

Ford will cut up to 1,000 jobs at its electric vehicle plant in Cologne, Germany, as part of a restructuring effort aimed at adjusting production to sluggish demand for battery-powered cars in Europe. Operations will be reduced at the site from two daily shifts to a single one starting in January 2026. The Cologne facility, […]

Toyota’s boxy e-Palette EV hits the road

September 16, 2025

Have you seen this face before? Yes, you did. During the Tokyo Olympics, Toyota shuttled athletes with the futuristic, autonomously driving e-Palette, a shipment box on wheels. But the e-Palette didn’t get stuck in its ambassador role. It has now entered the Japanese commercial market not only in its purpose for transport but also as […]

VW pushes back production of electric Golf and T-Roc over budget strains

September 16, 2025

Volkswagen is delaying the rollout of two of its most critical future models, the all-electric Golf and T-Roc. The German carmaker is struggling with rising costs, plant disruptions, and strategic uncertainty regarding its long-term electrification plans. The battery-powered Golf, initially slated for 2028, won’t arrive before the decade’s end, according to sources familiar with Bloomberg. […]

Cybertruck’s flop mirrors Tesla’s declining US market grip

September 15, 2025

Tesla’s Cybertruck was meant to redefine the electric pickup market. Instead, it has become a cautionary tale for the EV maker, exposing the cracks in its once-dominant position. Just months after launching a cheaper rear-wheel-drive version (in April 2025), Tesla has quietly scrapped the model from the configurator, acknowledging what the market already knew: buyers […]

Hyundai to build first European Ioniq model in Türkiye

September 15, 2025

Türkiye is rapidly becoming a growing force in Europe’s fast-expanding EV market. Reportedly, Hyundai has also chosen the country to start assembling the Ioniq 3 as of 2026 in a bid to make the model more affordable due to lower wages and a beneficial trade deal between Türkiye and the EU.  The decision was revealed […]

Amazon’s Zoox launches first robotaxi service in Las Vegas

September 12, 2025

Amazon-backed Zoox officially launched its autonomous robotaxi service on the Las Vegas Strip this week, marking a new milestone in the ride-hailing industry. What makes this rollout different is that Zoox is the first company to provide fully driverless rides to the public in a purpose-built autonomous vehicle. For now, all rides are free and […]

Von der Leyen backs EU kei-car idea to fence off Chinese competition

September 12, 2025

Europe is warming up for the arrival of kei-cars, a symbol of affordable mobility in Asia. The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has thrown her weight behind calls from Renault and Stellantis for a new generation of cheap, lightweight cars, pledging to work with manufacturers to make them a reality. But […]

Hongqi unveils Model Y rival and promises 15 new EU models by 2028

September 11, 2025

Chinese luxury carmaker Hongqi has announced that its latest electric SUV, the EHS5, will come to Europe as part of an ambitious plan to launch 15 new electric and hybrid models by 2028. The brand, known in China as the ‘Red Flag’, hopes the car will help it break into a crowded market dominated by […]

GAC officially enters Europe with Aion V

September 11, 2025

Chinese state-owned automaker Guangzhou Automobile Group (GAC) has officially entered the European market with the launch of its first global model, the Aion V electric SUV. The debut took place at the IAA Mobility show in Munich, where the company presented five models. The Aion V had previously been unveiled at the Paris Motor Show […]

Driving the BYD Seal 6 DM-i Touring: the brand’s new bestseller?

September 10, 2025

BYD is reputed as an electric vehicle brand. However, in Belgium, its best-selling model features a plug-in hybrid driveline. After the Seal U DM-i, the Chinese carmaker is now doubling down with the Seal 6 DM-i, available as a sedan or an estate. Both come with some striking numbers, but is the ride just as […]

Polestar 5 finally breaks cover as brand’s flagship GT

September 09, 2025

After half a decade of anticipation, Polestar has unveiled its long-awaited flagship, the Polestar 5, at the IAA Mobility show in Munich. First previewed in 2020 as the Precept concept, the electric performance GT has now entered production form with power figures and technology that put it directly in contention with Porsche’s Taycan and BMW […]

Volkswagen showcases solid-state breakthrough with Ducati prototype

September 09, 2025

Volkswagen has offered a glimpse of what could be the next big leap in battery technology, unveiling a Ducati motorcycle powered by solid-state cells at the IAA Mobility show in Munich. The demonstration, featuring a modified MotoE racer, marked the first time QuantumScape’s lithium-metal batteries have been shown working in a real vehicle. The cells, […]

Tesla promises Musk $1 trillion payday — if he delivers

September 08, 2025

Tesla’s board is betting that no one but Elon Musk can transform the automaker into the world’s most valuable company. To keep him in place, it has proposed a record-breaking compensation package that could eventually hand Musk $1 trillion if he clears a daunting list of financial, operational, and strategic milestones. Yes, that’s one followed […]

Volkswagen pictures affordable EV future with trio of concepts

September 08, 2025

Volkswagen and its sister brands, Cupra and Škoda, have unveiled three interpretations of the previously announced ID.Polo, designed to move the group’s EV strategy into the mainstream. Shown on the eve of the IAA Mobility show, the Volkswagen ID. Cross, Cupra Rava,l and Škoda Epiq preview a family of affordable, small EVs that will enter […]

Dacia adds LPG Hybrid 4×4 to Duster and Bigster range

September 05, 2025

Dacia is pushing deeper into electrified drivetrains with the debut of its new Hybrid-G 150 4×4 system, an LPG-compatible, all-wheel-drive hybrid setup. It will be available on both the Duster and the Bigster by the end of the year. At the heart of the new system is a 1.2-liter three-cylinder turbocharged gasoline engine, producing 140 […]