Skoda Elroq EV: value for money is key asset (update)

October 04, 2024

Skoda has presented the Elroq, its second EV after the Enyaq. When the Skoda comes onto the market in the first quarter of 2025, it will offer much for the money asked.  The price for Belux has just been released: €33,990. According to Skoda, it’s the first time a fully electric vehicle is available at […]

Belux car sales in September almost one-fifth down

October 02, 2024

According to the latest data from the sector federation Febiac and the federal service Mobility & Transport, the registrations of new cars in September decreased by 18.6% compared to last year. Thirty-one thousand six hundred seventy-six (31,676) new vehicles were registered. The cumulated data for the first three quarters show 356,568 registrations, 4.9% less than […]

Stellantis reviews forecasts and gets slashed on stock market

October 01, 2024

Car manufacturing group Stellantis is undoubtedly not the first to lower its expectations, but the stock market’s reaction has been the most brutal. Stellantis shares have fallen by more than 10%. It seems that shareholders and speculators wanted to punish Stellantis for its impressive successes in the last years now that the car industry, in […]

BYD issues major Dolphin recall in China for fire risk

October 01, 2024

Chinese car manufacturer BYD has filed a recall of nearly 100,000 vehicles due to a manufacturing fault in the electric power steering column assembly (CEPS) controller. According to China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR), due to fire risks, the automaker will recall 96,714 Dolphin and Yuan Plus vehicles in China starting September 30th, 2024. […]

JLR invests £500 million in its Halewood factory

September 27, 2024

Jaguar Land Rover is getting its 61-year-old factory in Halewood near Liverpool ready for EV production. Here, the carmaker will manufacture mid-size electric SUVs based on the new Electric Modular Architecture (EMA) platform. The first half of the £500 million investment (€600 million) has already been used to modernize production lines and machinery, train staff, […]

TNO: ‘Half of Dutch second-hand car buyers consider EVs’

September 27, 2024

The Dutch non-profit research organization TNO (Toegepast Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek) survey shows that 48% of potential second-hand car buyers prefer an EV. The survey asked 1,512 respondents which type of car they would buy on the second-hand market in the five years to come. Almost half (48%) preferred an electric car, and 59% thought it feasible […]

Touring: ‘Average EV driver is highly educated and wealthy’

September 26, 2024

According to the mobility organization Touring,  the average EV driver in Belgium is highly educated, has a higher-than-average income, and has a private parking spot for his car. Touring has realized the latest European Alternative Fuels Observatory (EAFO) survey in Belgium in cooperation with the Brussels VUB University and interrogated 1,356 Belgian drivers. 96 of […]

Leapmotor arrives in Europe

September 25, 2024

The first European Media Drive for the Leapmotor C10 and T03 models is currently taking place in Milan. The event marks Leapmotor International’s official debut in Europe. Meanwhile, the Chinese carmaker is already readying other models to enter the market. In October 2023, Leapmotor and Stellantis announced that Stellantis would invest around 1.5 billion euros […]

BMW updates model offer for autumn 2024

September 25, 2024

BMW just released more information about its model offer update for the autumn and winter of 2024. Just a few weeks after the new BMW 1 Series launches, another two model variants will be available from November 2024. At the same time, the line-up of drive systems for the BMW i5 Touring and BMW 5 […]

US wants to ban Chinese ‘car connection technology’ from roads

September 24, 2024

On Monday, due to national security concerns, the US Commerce Department proposed prohibiting essential Chinese software and hardware in connected vehicles on American roads. This move would effectively ban Chinese cars and trucks from the US market. The planned regulation, first reported by Reuters, would also force American and other major automakers to remove critical […]

VW Polo production stops in Europe after almost 50 years

September 23, 2024

After 40 years, Volkswagen is no longer building Polo models in Europe. VW has ended its Polo production in Europe as it shifts its focus to smaller, more affordable EVs. Volkswagen has been building Polo models in Pamplona, Spain, since 1984. Over 8.4 million Polos have been assembled at the Pamplona plant as one of […]

Volkswagen-SAIC to close production site in China?

September 20, 2024

Due to weak demand for cars with combustion engines, Volkswagen and its partner SAIC could close a factory in China. In the US, the carmaker has had to pause the production of the ID.4. Sales of ICE cars are dropping in the country, while electrified cars, the so-called new energy vehicles (NEVs) in China, dominate […]

European car industry rings alarm bell on CO2 regulations (update)

September 20, 2024

The European Car Manufacturers Association (ACEA) calls for urgent action regarding the EU’s CO2 emission regulations “as demand for EVs declines”. On the other hand, Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares again declares that relaxation would be wrong: “My guys are ready to fight.” He gets support from an unexpected side: BMW also says it plans to […]

Boss denies Chinese Nio is interested in Audi Brussels (update)

September 20, 2024

According to the Flemish newspaper De Tijd, the Chinese car manufacturer Nio could be one of the candidates interested in taking over the Audi Brussels plant. However, NIO boss and founder William Li denies this. BYD is also rumored to be an interested party, and Belgium VW importer D’Ieteren which initially owned the factory before […]

The (electric) resurrection of the Renault Estafette

September 18, 2024

Renault continues to pursue its nostalgic path. It presented the all-electric Estafette van study at IAA Transportation, and the new Renault Master with hydrogen drive was also on display at the same trade fair in Hanover. The Estafette Concept is an electric study intended to evoke memories of Renault’s iconic 1959 van of the same […]

BYD enters LCV market with E-Vali electric van

September 18, 2024

BYD is presenting a new electric van tailored to the European market at Hanover’s IAA Transportation trade fair. The E-Vali is BYD’s entry into the electric 3.5 and 4.25-ton segment. The Chinese manufacturer has announced two lengths and two drive options for its electric van aimed at Europe. The shorter 3.5-tonner has a wheelbase of […]

Lotus starts ‘The Lotus Theory’ with its Theory 1 Concept

September 17, 2024

Lotus has unveiled Theory 1, its first concept car, which, according to Lotus, embodies the future of intelligent performance vehicles. It’s part of The Lotus Theory, the company’s new design manifesto that will form the foundation for all future Lotus cars, encapsulated through three core principles: Digital, Natural, and Analogue (DNA). Digital stands for the […]

No ties anymore between Mercedes-Benz and Denza

September 17, 2024

After reducing its stake in 2021, Mercedes-Benz has now completely exited Denza. This marks the end of a fairly long-standing German-Chinese partnership: in 2011, Daimler and the Chinese car manufacturer BYD founded the joint venture Denza to jointly produce low-cost cars for the Chinese market. The Mercedes-Benz Group is no longer involved in the Chinese […]

T&E: ‘BEVs expected to reach +20% EU market share in 2025’

September 17, 2024

According to an NGO Transport & Environment (T&E) analysis, electric cars are expected to reach a 24% European market share as carmakers grow EV sales to meet the EU CO2 targets. “Car manufacturers have clear pathways to meet their EU climate targets next year due to the expected rapid growth in electric car sales,” says […]

Stellantis CEO: ‘It would be surreal to change the rules now’

September 16, 2024

In response to the (unofficial) ACEA proposal to the European Commission to delay the 2025 emission targets for two years, Stellantis boss Carlos Tavares said, “It would be surreal to change the rules now.” “Everyone has known about the rules for a long time and has had time to prepare, and so now it’s time […]

Volvo adjusts its electrification strategy

September 05, 2024

Volvo, the Swedish car manufacturer owned by the Chinese Geely Group, has announced that it will abandon its ambition to sell only fully electric cars by 2030. Instead, it aims for 90-100% of its global sales to be either pure electric or plug-in hybrids at that time. Volvo attributes the change in policy to a […]

Ex-VW Group CEO Martin Winterkorn finally before court (update)

September 05, 2024

Nine years after the dieselgate scandal, the former VW Group CEO Martin Winterkorn finally appeared before a German court Tuesday. He denied all allegations against him and pleaded not guilty. He will make a declaration on Wednesday concerning his involvement. Winterkorn, aged 77, led the VW Group from 2007 to 2015. Under his leadership, the […]

Kia prices its new compact electric EV3 SUV (update)

September 04, 2024

Kia has unveiled the EV3, a new compact SUV with electric drive. The 4.30-meter-long model adopts many elements of the large EV9 inside and out; the platform is essentially the same. In Belgium, only the long-range version was available in August, starting at a special price of €39,090 (instead of 41,190) to be eligible for […]

VW is considering plant closures, also in Germany (update)

September 04, 2024

As the VW Group will miss its savings targets by several billion euros, the top management is planning further cuts. For the first time in its 87 years of existence, possible plant closures and redundancies are being considered, also in Germany. Meanwhile, VW’s daughter Audi announced that the Audi Brussels plant would not produce a […]

Belux car market one fifth down in August

September 03, 2024

According to the data of the sector federation, Febiac, 29,333 cars were registered in Belgium and Luxembourg in August 2024, a regress of -20,3% compared to the same month last year. Cumulated over the previous eight months, this means a decrease of 3.3% overall. It is noticeable that the segment of individual buyers is still […]

BYD to take over its German car import from Hedin

September 02, 2024

What had become apparent over the past few days is now official: BYD is taking sales in Germany into its own hands. To this end, the Chinese car manufacturer founded BYD Automotive GmbH and took over Hedin Electric Mobility, the Hedin subsidiary previously responsible for BYD imports. There were increasing signs that BYD was dissatisfied […]

Polestar in trouble, new CEO Lohscheller has to fix it

August 30, 2024

Polestar, the electric car brand of Geely and Volvo, announced the appointment of Michael Lohscheller as its new CEO. In October, he will succeed long-term CEO Thomas Ingenlath, who has held the position since 2017. The new appointment comes shortly after another significant change at the top of the board. On on October 1st, Lohscheller […]

EU car market stable, EV sales slowing down

August 30, 2024

According to data from ACEA, the European Manufacturers Association, new EU car registrations saw a modest increase (+0.2%) in July 2024. However, there were mixed results across the region’s four major markets: Italy (+4.7%) and Spain (+3.4%) recorded moderate gains, while the French (-2.3%) and German (-2.1%) markets experienced declines. Seven months into 2024, new […]

BMW and Toyota to expand their tie-up on FCEVs

August 28, 2024

Sources familiar with the matter said on Tuesday that Toyota Motor Corp. and BMW AG will expand their tie-up in fuel cell vehicle (FCEV) operations in a bid to increase the competitiveness of their hydrogen-powered cars. Under the deeper partnership, which is due to be announced on September 5th, Toyota will provide key components, such […]

Eddy Haesendonck confirmed as CEO of Hedin Benelux

August 28, 2024

As of 1 October, Eddy Haesendonck is confirmed as CEO of Hedin Automotive for the whole Benelux region, while his colleague Henrik Lessèl, currently CEO of Hedin Belux, will become CEO of Hedin Germany, a fast-growing market for the Swedish group. In August 2022, Eddy Heasendonck, former CEO of BMW Belux, became CEO of Hedin […]

XPeng wants to produce in Europe and tightens links with VW

August 28, 2024

Xpeng is looking for a European production site because of the additional EU tariffs on imported electric cars from China. In addition, the Chinese start-up is intensifying its ongoing cooperation with Volkswagen. Xpeng’s CEO, He Xiaopeng, told Bloomberg that the company is initially selecting a production site in the EU and planning to set up […]

Canada joins US on 100% import surtax for China-made EVs

August 27, 2024

Canada will implement a 100% surtax on all EVs made and imported from China from 1 October. Hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and fuel-cell vehicles are also included on the list. The list is long and includes any vehicle with at least an “electric motor as the motor for propulsion,” whether a bus, a truck, or a […]

Highway charging has exploded in France this summer

August 26, 2024

This summer, electric vehicles began traveling in France. The number of charging sessions has exploded on the highway aires, but there was no capacity overdemand. In July, energy provider TotalEnergies noticed a strong increase (+127%) in charging sessions on highways and expressways’ fast-charger sites. During the same period, the number of charging points doubled. Between […]

EY study: car industry profits are shrinking, strategic shift needed

August 26, 2024

The global automotive industry is weakening, with German carmakers experiencing a continued decline in earnings during the first half of the year, according to a study by auditing and consulting firm EY released on Friday. German car giants Volkswagen, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz collectively earned €25.9 billion in operating profit (EBIT) from January to June, marking […]

ID. Buzz as camper van available in the U.S.

August 22, 2024

The Volkswagen ID. Buzz was introduced to the U.S. market last year, and there is already a proposition for a camper conversion. At the same time, VW itself is hesitating to launch an ID. Buzz California camper version in Europe for fear of lack of demand. On the contrary, an American converter, Peace Vans, already […]

Ford rethinks its EV strategy

August 22, 2024

Ford is recalibrating its electrification strategy yet again, canceling plans for a fully electric sport utility vehicle in a shift that may cost the carmaker around $1.9 billion. In addition to scrapping an all-electric three-row SUV that had already been delayed, Ford will postpone a next-generation electric pickup and reduce spending on EVs to 30% of […]

EU Commission finalizes import tariffs for EVs from China (update)

August 22, 2024

The EU Commission has presented the draft for the final additional tariffs on imported electric vehicles from China. The logic of the planned tariffs remains basically the same, but the respective tariff rates have been lowered slightly, and regulation is now also known for Tesla. Meanwhile, China has already reacted by opening an inquiry on […]

GM is cutting in its software and services organization

August 20, 2024

According to the Detroit News and Reuters, General Motors Co. is laying off more than 1,000 salaried employees globally in its software and services organization, including more than 600 employees working at its Global Technical Center in Warren (Michigan), to streamline its operations under new leadership. The layoffs represent about 1.3% of the company’s global […]

Dongfeng launches low-cost Nammi Box EV in Europe

August 20, 2024

The Chinese car manufacturer Dongfeng Motor launched a new low-cost EV in Europe. Starting at around €23,000, the Dongfeng Nammi Box EV is one of the cheapest EVs in Europe at the moment. Dongfeng is one of China’s oldest and largest automakers. It was the second state-owned auto brand established following FAW. Dongfeng builds Nissan […]

Nevera R is Rimac’s first hypercar

August 19, 2024

Electric sports car manufacturer Rimac recently presented the hyper-GT Nevera and wants to develop a hyper-sports car based on it. Rimac has pursued this idea in the further development of its first Nevera model. The R model is even more powerful and, above all, equipped with a more dynamic chassis. And… it is strictly limited […]

Porsche adjusts EV targets and invests in Varta (update)

August 19, 2024

Porsche is responding to the slower electric ramp-up. Following the recent changes in the production of the electric Taycan, the production of the combustion-powered Cayenne is also being extended. Meanwhile, it has acquired 32% of the shares of battery specialist Varta. Porsche has cautiously adjusted its target that more than 80% of cars delivered in […]

South Korea wants carmakers to disclose their battery suppliers

August 16, 2024

A fire incident with an EV caused the South Korean Ministry of Transport to ask carmakers to disclose the names of their battery suppliers. Earlier this month, a fire broke out in the underground car park of an apartment complex in Incheon, South Korea. The fire was apparently caused by a Mercedes EQE. While the […]

BMW invests in charging infrastructure in South America

August 16, 2024

The BMW Group has entered into a strategic alliance in Mexico with Vemo, an operator of public charging stations. As part of the partnership, BMW is investing in constructing 144 new charging stations in the country. Other alliances in different South American countries will follow. The new charging points in Mexico are to be installed […]

Tesla drops entry-level variant of its Cybertruck

August 16, 2024

American EV manufacturer Tesla removed the basic version of the Cybertruck, which costs $60,990, from the US configurator before the first deliveries of this variant began. Therefore, the new entry-level price for the electric stainless steel pickup is $99,990. Tesla CEO Elon Musk once promised the Cybertruck with a base price of $39,990, but it […]

‘BYD wants to be seen as a leading European brand in five years’

August 16, 2024

According to senior vice president Stella Li, BYD’s number two, the most important Chinese EV manufacturer aims to be seen as the leading tech brand of the car industry and considered alongside the major brands within half a decade. “Five years from now, we would like consumers to view BYD as like one of the […]

Volkswagen Trinity, VW’s EV flagship, not before 2032?

August 14, 2024

The Volkswagen Trinity was once regarded as the VW Group’s first upcoming electric flagship and was due to be launched in 2026. The launch seems to have been postponed to 2032, and the first VW product on the new SSP platform could be the full electric Golf. It was already clear that the 2026 date […]

More details about Smart #5 production version released (Update)

August 13, 2024

The new Smart #5 is the brand’s largest model yet and its most powerful, putting out more than 450 kW/600 hp in its most potent form. Smart is 50/50% owned by Mercedes and Geely and builds its cars in Xi’an, central China. It has its world premiere in Australia at the end of August and […]

BMW board member:’EVs should have their dedicated lane on highways’

August 12, 2024

Milan Nedeljkovic, BMW Group board member responsible for production, says that fully electric vehicles must have their own dedicated lane on highways. In an interview with the German newspaper Münchner Merkur, Nedeljkovic explained that this would make the possession and use of an EV far more attractive. “When EVs are constantly overtaking you while you […]

Mitsubishi to join Honda-Nissan ‘electric alliance’ (update)

August 12, 2024

Sources familiar with the matter said on Sunday that Mitsubishi was in talks to join the Nissan-Honda alliance to play catch-up with foreign rivals in developing electric vehicles and advanced technology for next-generation vehicles. The deal has now been officialized. Former Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn says this is a ‘disguised take-over’ by Honda. The three […]

Mercedes tests autonomous driving level 4 in China

August 06, 2024

According to CNEVPost, the German premium car manufacturer Mercedes-Benz has been given the go-ahead to test Level 4 (L4) autonomous vehicles in Beijing, following approval for L3 testing in the Chinese capital city late last year. To our knowledge Mercedes is one of the few manufacturers to have obtained the permission to use Level 3 […]

Mercedes has high ambitions for its new CLA EV range

August 06, 2024

According to a media report, a mid-size SUV will follow shortly after the new CLA four-door Mercedes, which is set to launch soon. This X174 model (internal codename) should be on the market at the end of 2025 and is labeled as ‘a Tesla Model Y fighter’. The news comes from Automotive News, which cites […]

Could the future of Audi Brussels be Chinese?

August 05, 2024

Several media outlets speculate about a possible Chinese takeover of the Audi factory in Forest (southwestern part of Brussels). The factory’s future as an Audi outlet looks dark, and Chinese companies looking for a solution to the import tariff war started by the EU could bring a solution. Currently, the Brussels factory is idle because […]

Belux market shrunk by 7.3% in July, EVs account for 25.1%

August 02, 2024

According to figures from the sector federation Febiac and the federal mobility and transport authority, the car market in Belgium and Luxembourg decreased by 7.3% despite the fact that July counted 3 more working days in 2024 compared to 2023. 32,151 new car registrations were noted in July. The total for the first seven months […]

Stellantis stumbles financially in H1 and faces delivery problems

August 01, 2024

Last week, the Stellantis Group published its results for the first half of 2024, and they weren’t good. The net benefit for H1, € 5.6 billion, decreased by 48% compared to the record-breaking performance last year. Meanwhile, the manufacturer is confronted with delivery problems for its new, long-awaited enlargement of its electric portfolio. Turnover for […]

BMW suffers in China but sells a growing number of EVs in Q2

August 01, 2024

In the second quarter of 2024, BMW Group saw its earnings drop a bit due to a weak Chinese market and the investment costs for the ‘Neue Klasse’. On the other hand, the Munich-based carmaker was successful in selling more EVs. BMW is not the only one struggling with a demand slowdown in China. The […]

Toyota sales slide almost 5% in H1, 2024

July 31, 2024

Number one car manufacturer Toyota’s global sales fell over 5% last month and decreased by 4.7% for the first half of 2024. This is mainly due to the decline in sales in Japan (-32%) and in China (-10.8%). The good figures for the U.S. and Europe couldn’t compensate for the ‘Asian’ loss in sales. Worldwide, […]

Chinese smartphone manufacturer Meizu to launch its own EV

July 31, 2024

There were already Huawei and Xiaomi, but now a third Chinese smartphone manufacturer is planning to enter the electric car business. Meizu, owned by the Geely Group, wants to launch its first electric car this year, and it will be based on the Geely SEA platform. At the ChinaJoy 2024 trade fair, Liao Qinghong, Meizu’s […]

BMW builds five new battery assembly plants for ‘Neue Klasse’

July 30, 2024

The BMW Group is significantly expanding its production network for the next generation of high-voltage batteries. Across the globe, the principle of ‘local for local’ will apply, so plants will be built in Germany, Hungary, China, Mexico, and the US. “Close connection of battery production with vehicle production is part of our strategy,” explains Markus […]

AkzoNobel develops protective powder coatings for EV batteries

July 30, 2024

Dutch paints company AkzoNobel’s Resicoat brand has developed innovative powder coating technology that provides improved electrical protection for electric vehicle (EV) battery systems in just one spray. There’s a growing demand in the EV market for coatings with a high dielectric strength to help increase the safety of battery systems. AkzoNobel’s Powder Coatings business has […]

BYD goes (very) upmarket with Yangwang U9 supercar

July 30, 2024

Until now, China’s biggest EV car manufacturer, BYD, was best known for its low-cost electric cars. That hasn’t stopped the Chinese EV maker from taking on new market segments. Its latest: luxury electric supercars. BYD’s first electric supercar, the Yangwang U9, has entered production ahead of deliveries later this summer. Yangwang Yangwang was launched in […]