July 22, 2025
Stellantis reported a preliminary net loss of €2.3 billion for the first six months. The company expects a greater impact from the US tariffs on vehicle and auto parts imports in the second half of the year. Stellantis also explained that President Donald Trump’s tariffs had cost it €300 million so far, as the company […]
July 18, 2025
US ride-hailing company Uber announced on Thursday that it plans to deploy at least 20,000 robotaxis over the next six years. The robotaxis are based on the Lucid Gravity model. The company said the fleet would be comprised of SUVs manufactured by U.S. electric vehicle manufacturer Lucid and equipped with self-driving technology developed by start-up […]
July 18, 2025
Yesterday, Volvo Cars reported a group operating profit (EBIT) of SEK -10.0 billion for the second quarter of 2025. This is due to the challenging automotive market and the Trump administration’s import tariffs. That’s why Volvo will also build its XC60 best-seller in the U.S. “The result reflects a continued challenging environment for the automotive […]
July 17, 2025
A recent long-term test by Germany’s largest automobile club, ADAC, provides a reassuring answer on the long-term health of a popular fully electric car, the Volkswagen ID.3. After putting the electric hatchback through a four-year, 160,000 km endurance test, the results look very promising. The key finding was remarkable: the high-voltage battery still had a […]
July 17, 2025
France is heading towards a fourth lawsuit in the Dieselgate saga. After Volkswagen, Peugeot-Citroën, and Renault, it’s Fiat-Chrysler’s turn to be investigated for fraudulent software in some of their diesel cars. The manufacturer contests “the entire jurisdictional argumentation”. Fiat-Chrysler is suspected of having commercialised between 2014 and 2017 diesel vehicles of the brands Fiat, Alfa […]
July 17, 2025
Renault Group has named its recently appointed CFO, Duncan Minto, as interim CEO to replace Luca de Meo, who is leaving the automaker to run the luxury group Kering. Minto will run the company alongside Renault Group Chairman Jean-Dominique Senard, Renault said in a news release on July 15. It said the search for a […]
July 16, 2025
The French government has announced a second season of its social leasing scheme for EVs. An envelope of €370 million is destined for subsidising the rental of at least 50,000 EVs for three years or more. Social leasing of (smaller) EVs has been a significant success in France last year. Even overwhelmingly so, because 50,000 […]
July 15, 2025
According to the analysis of sector federations Febiac and Traxio, the Belgian car market saw 608,426 cars sold in the first half of 2025. 234,616 of them were new ones (-10.9%), 373,810 were second-hand (+0.9%). In both markets, electrification evolves further. BMW and Dacia are the winners when looking at the specific models. With the […]
July 14, 2025
Volkswagen and SAIC close their joint plant in Nanjing, China. Production has already come to a standstill. In Nanjing, the partners had mainly built combustion models such as the VW Passat and Skoda Superb. Production is now moving to a nearby plant. There had already been rumors last year about the closure of the plant […]
July 14, 2025
The Paris prosecutor’s office has asked for a third lawsuit in the so-called dieselgate scandal. After Volkswagen and Peugeot-Citroën (part of Stellantis now), it’s Renault’s turn. The French manufacturer denies any infringement. Renault has supposedly “specially calibrated” Euro 5 and Euro 6 vehicles sold between 2009 and 2017 to pass the legal tests, but they […]
July 11, 2025
There’s a scientific consensus that electric vehicles are the cleanest form of propulsion. A new study by the International Council on Clean Transportation now shows that their climate advantage is growing faster than previously assumed. Today’s EVs sold in Europe emit 73% fewer greenhouse gases over their lifetime compared to petrol cars. The reason is […]
July 11, 2025
Hyundai presented the new Ioniq 6 N at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in West Sussex, England. This marks Hyundai’s second high-performance EV following the Ioniq 5. In terms of technical specifications, the performance offshoot of the Ioniq 6 offers an output of 478 kW and 770 Nm of torque (with N Grin Boost), 175 […]
July 11, 2025
German car manufacturer BMW Group reported a 0.5% decline in sales for the first half of the year, marking a positive sign amid the country’s ongoing automotive sector crisis, which is being intensified by competition from China. The group clearly increased EV sales, but the growth in this area is slowing. The premium carmaker, which […]
July 10, 2025
The Mazda 6 was briefly absent from the European market. At the beginning of the year, the fully electric successor made its European debut at the Brussels Motor Show. This second half of the year, it comes into the market, and we were able to drive it. The newcomer is based on the Chinese Chang’an […]
July 10, 2025
The Volkswagen Group recorded 465,500 BEV deliveries worldwide in the first half of 2025, 47% more than in the same period of last year. The VW Group’s electric cars were in demand in the USA and especially in Europe; however, there was a sharp decline in China. The 465,500 electric cars delivered in the first […]
July 09, 2025
Kia has confirmed plans for a sub-€25,000 electric city car as part of its upcoming EV line-up, alongside a next-generation SDV platform and range-extender technology for larger models. The brand continues to balance EVs, hybrids, and combustion engines to meet global demand. Kia is preparing an entry-level electric city car to launch before the end […]
July 04, 2025
BMW is gearing up to launch production of its ‘Neue Klasse’ series of vehicles. In September, at the IAA, the iX3 will be launched as the first vehicle of this class. To meet nearly the entire global demand for electric drives, BMW’s factory in Steyr was upgraded to produce both combustion engines and electric drives. […]
July 04, 2025
The recall problems at Stellantis don’t stop. Following issues with the PureTech gasoline engines and Takata airbags, the manufacturer is forced to recall nearly a million cars equipped with the 1.5 BlueHDi diesel engine. The timing chain has flaws and is prone to failure, which can potentially lead to an engine breakdown. Some 930,700 vehicles […]
July 03, 2025
On Wednesday, 2 July, the Belgian Federal Minister of Mobility, Climate, and Ecological Transition, Jean-Luc Crucke, and the Mayor of Bornem, Greet De Bruyn, accompanied BMW Group Belux CEO Alexander Wehr to leave an ‘imprint’ at the launch of the rebuild of BMW’s headquarters in Bornem. The plans were announced at the end of 2023 […]
July 02, 2025
In June 2025, the figures of the federal service Mobility & Transport and Febiac show a 16.4% decrease in registrations in Belgium and Luxembourg, with 41,527 newly registered cars. Cumulatively, 234,616 cars were newly registered during the first six months of 2025, representing a 10.9% decrease compared to the same period in 2024. Noticeable is […]
July 01, 2025
Mitsubishi Motors aims to sell 75,000 to 80,000 vehicles annually in Europe, a gain of 20 to 30 percent over last year, with the help of two new Renault-sourced models that arrive in 2025, regional CEO Frank Krol told the specialized magazine Automotive News Europe. It’s also thinking of (re)introducing some of its own Japanese […]
July 01, 2025
Volkswagen has increased its stake in US partner Rivian. A second payment of one billion US dollars (approximately €850 million) became due on June 30, following Rivian’s achievement of the targets agreed upon in the contract. Meanwhile, the group also thinks about a new ‘Nova’ platform for its ICE/PHEV luxury and supercars. VW had invested […]
June 30, 2025
BMW has to recall more than 70,000 electric vehicles in the U.S. due to a software issue with the electric motor. It could lead to a sudden loss of propulsion while driving, increasing the risk of an accident. The i4, i5, i7, and iX model series are affected. As is customary in the United States, […]
June 27, 2025
Mercedes-AMG has presented the CONCEPT AMG GT XX, a technology platform featuring axial flux motors and a newly developed high-voltage battery. Delivering over 1,000 kW of system output, the concept previews a fully electric four-door performance model scheduled for series production in 2026, based on the AMG.EA platform. “The CONCEPT AMG GT XX is the […]
June 26, 2025
The financial analysis platform TradingPedia analyzed global sales of electrified vehicles worldwide in 2024 by examining new car registration data from the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) and the International Energy Agency (IEA). The fact that China is by far the leading country in EV sales is confirmed here. According to TradingPedia research, China led […]
June 26, 2025
According to the data of the European car manufacturers’ association, ACEA, new car registrations increased by 1.6% in May, compared to the same month last year. EV sales rose 25% last month. For the first five months, there was a slight decrease of 0.6% due to fewer sales in the first three months of this […]
June 25, 2025
The French government has ordered the immediate immobilization of 800,000 additional vehicles because of the presence of possibly lethal Takata airbags. All car brands are involved in the massive and urgent recall that is now needed. Last week, French car manufacturer Citroën initiated a ‘stop drive’ for all its C3 and DS3 models produced between […]
June 25, 2025
Renault is gathering its collection of historic vehicles, artworks, and archival documents in a new exhibition center outside Paris, at the landmark Flins site, set to open in 2027. The public will be able to explore the brand’s unique heritage through tours and themed exhibitions. This ambitious project aims to showcase the brand’s 125-year history […]
June 24, 2025
A survey of HR service provider Acerta shows that the CO2 emissions of company cars have diminished by one-third in two years. The reason is apparent: since mid-2023, only zero-emission vehicles are 100% tax deductible. This has also resulted in a spectacularly increased presence of EVs in Belgium’s professional car market. The Acerta study is […]
June 24, 2025
The US Supreme Court has revived a challenge by fuel producers against California’s strict vehicle emissions rules, casting doubt on the state’s planned 2035 ban on new gasoline cars. The ruling could significantly impact EV policy leadership in the largest US car market. The conservative-dominated Supreme Court has granted fuel producers the right to challenge […]
June 23, 2025
VW is said to be toying with the idea of a particularly high-performance ID.2 R, which could become the brand’s first model to feature all-wheel drive using in-wheel motors. Should VW give the green light, the ID.2 R would sit above the already confirmed ID.2 GTI in the line-up and potentially even be pitched against […]
June 23, 2025
As of today, Antonio Filosa has started as the new CEO of Stellantis. After three weeks of visiting Stellantis factories, R&D centers, and offices worldwide, he officially started his new job by reshuffling his management team. Meanwhile, important decisions are to be made soon as the world’s fourth-largest car manufacturer has to recover from an […]
June 20, 2025
Audi CEO Gernot Döllner has confirmed that the brand has reversed its 2021 decision to phase out the production of cars with combustion engines (ICE) by 2033. The German carmaker no longer makes promises and communicates fixed deadlines “in the spirit of flexibility”. In an interview with the English car magazine Autocar, Döllner emphasised that […]
June 19, 2025
The 102nd edition of the Brussels Motor Show (BMS), to take place from January 9 through January 18, will not only show cars and vans but also motorbikes. This will be the first re-entrance of exhibitors of motorized two-wheelers since 2020. Yesterday, BMS organizer Febiac held its annual general assembly, and there, the federation of […]
June 19, 2025
The infamous Takata airbag scandal, which began in 2014, has resurfaced in the automotive world. Due to a deadly incident last week in France, Citroën is immobilizing all its C3 and DS3 models in the whole of Europe. 441,000 vehicles are concerned. Last week, a 37-year-old woman died on a French motorway near Reims in […]
June 18, 2025
Nissan has pulled the sheet off its Leaf today. The name is an obligation: in 2010, the first generation of the compact car was one of the earliest electric vehicles (EVs). Now Nissan is presenting the third generation. On a new platform and with ambitious range promises. The order books are due to open in […]
June 17, 2025
In its annual Global Automaker Rating, the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) assessed how the 21 largest original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are progressing in their transition to electric vehicles. It shows the force with which China’s OEMs are shaking up the market. Since 2023, the ICCT has presented an annual manufacturer assessment of the […]
June 16, 2025
Renault Group CEO Luca de Meo leaves the French car manufacturer. He also leaves the automotive industry to become CEO of Kering, a luxury conglomerate that regroups brands like Gucci, Saint Laurent, Balenciaga, and Bottega Veneta. A dry announcement of the Renault Group on Sunday evening rocked the automotive world and especially the whole of […]
June 13, 2025
The BMW Group is industrialising its ‘Virtual Factory’, with production planners continuously scaling applications in the digital twins of over 30 production sites to accelerate production planning worldwide. What once required several weeks of real-world modifications and testing can now be precisely simulated in the BMW Group’s Virtual Factory. To create optimal conditions for upcoming […]
June 13, 2025
Drivers of high-fronted cars are unable to see children as old as nine, tests find. The hood height of new vehicles in Europe is increasing by half a centimeter a year, on average, driven by the growth in SUV sales, new research assembled by Transport & Environment (T&E) finds. The trend is part of the […]
June 13, 2025
The iX3 is the first BMW model based on the ‘Neue Klasse’ and will be unveiled at the IAA Mobility in September. The Munich-based company is providing some closer insights into the test drives with the prototypes, including fast charging with up to 400 kW. “Longer range, faster charging, an all-new display and operating concept, […]
June 11, 2025
Antonio Filosa has been chosen as the new CEO of the Stellantis Group, pending confirmation at the annual shareholders meeting on July 18th, which is expected to be a formality. The board of Stellantis took its time to choose a successor to the ousted Carlos Tavares. In the meantime, Agnelli heir John Elkann, Chairman of […]
June 11, 2025
The Chinese Geely Holding does not intend to join the race for the best production sites in Europe and the US. Amid subsidy criteria and ongoing global tariff conflicts, localised production in Europe and the US has become an increasingly relevant topic for Chinese carmakers. Still, Geely doesn’t want to get involved in this. At […]
June 11, 2025
Renault and Software République are unveiling ‘vision 4rescue’, a demo car featuring a high-tech ecosystem that enables the emergency services to work more efficiently in critical situations. Featuring nearly 20 interconnected solutions, the ecosystem was designed to standardize the different technologies used by the emergency services for a faster and better-coordinated response. Based on the […]
June 10, 2025
Another Cadillac EV has earned the special and sporty ‘V’ badge. The 2026 Cadillac Optiq-V is a new entry-level sports electric vehicle (EV) with over 500 horsepower, sporty styling both inside and out, and additional upgrades. It’s also GM’s first vehicle with a built-in NACS port, unlocking access to Tesla Superchargers. After introducing the Lyriq-V […]
June 10, 2025
The Chinese electric car manufacturer Leapmotor is continuing its expansion in Europe with the support of its Stellantis partner. In the past two weeks, the company has established sales partnerships in seven new European markets, ranging from Ireland to Bulgaria. Specifically, Leapmotor is now also present in Ireland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary, Croatia, […]
June 10, 2025
BMW will build the electric versions of the upcoming X5 and X7 SUVs, most likely called the iX5 and iX7, at its Spartanburg plant in South Carolina, the company confirmed to the specialized media Wards Auto. An iX6 coupe similar to the current X6 is expected to follow. This should give the company some peace […]
June 06, 2025
The number of new speed pedelecs sold in May decreased by 13.4%, cumulated over 5 months, the regression is just 3.7%. Second-hand ones, on the contrary, are increasingly popular, with a 17.1% increase compared to May last year. Filip Rylant, spokesman of mobility federation Traxio: “The registrations of new speed pedelecs are fluctuating less than […]
June 06, 2025
The beloved VW Golf hatchback is falling out of favor. Volkswagen is moving Golf production to Mexico as demand for the current gas-powered model sinks. The upcoming EV version will replace it in VW’s German production alongside a new electric SUV. Since the first Golf rolled off the assembly line in late March 1974, Volkswagen […]
June 05, 2025
In an interview with the German newspaper Die Welt, Renault Group CEO Luca de Meo says that “small cars and LCVs with electric propulsion will soon be cheaper than their ICE counterparts.” De Meo has pointed out several times already that one of the most significant problems for the breakthrough of EVs is the price. […]
June 04, 2025
According to the mobility federation Traxio, the second-hand market in Belgium decreased by 8% in May 2025. Looking at the first five months of the year, the decrease in sales limited itself to just 1%. The question of whether the second-hand market is following the same path as the new car market remains unclear. The […]
June 04, 2025
Renault presents a new 160 hp 1.8-tech full-hybrid engine with a 1.4 kWh battery, which will power the Captur and Symbioz. The advantages include increased power, enhanced responsiveness, and improved fuel economy, with CO2 emissions of 98 g/km for Symbioz and 99 g/km for Captur. In the same way as with the previous generation, the […]
June 04, 2025
The new German government appears to be rushing to launch the first subsidy measures for electric vehicles again. As part of a larger package, electric cars are to be made more attractive for companies. Special depreciation allowances are expected to be available from July. This is the result of a draft bill from the German […]
June 03, 2025
According to data from the Federal Public Service Mobility & Transport and the sector federation Febiac, 34,338 new cars were registered in Belgium and Luxembourg in May 2025. That’s 11.7% less than last year in May. Once again, the decrease is entirely due to the regression of the professional market (_20.1%), while individual buyers bought […]
June 02, 2025
Maserati and D’Ieteren Luxury Performance, the Luxury division of D’Ieteren Mobility Company, a 100% Subsidiary of D’Ieteren Automotive, have joined forces and further expanded their cooperation for the Belgian market. As of May 28, 2025, D’Ieteren Luxury Performance is the sole distributor of Maserati in Belgium, operating with three sales outlets in Antwerp, Brussels, and […]
June 02, 2025
Toyota’s Aygo X urban crossover gets electrified, it’s the first full hybrid in its segment. The newcomer has the lowest CO2 emissions of any non-plug-in car on the market, claims Toyota: 86 g CO2/km. At the same time, a GR Sport version will be introduced in the Aygo X lineup. “The Aygo X has attracted […]
June 02, 2025
BMW has announced a series of model upgrades for summer 2025. In terms of electric cars, this includes the i4, where not only the two rear-wheel drive models become more efficient, but a more powerful top-of-the-range model will also be added to the range. The two variants, i4 eDrive35 and i4 eDrive40, will be equipped […]
May 29, 2025
A German court has condemned four former top managers of Volkswagen to jail sentences for “fraud and ganging up”. It’s been almost ten years since the biggest scandal in the automotive world, known as the ‘Dieselgate’ scandal, broke out in the United States. Volkswagen Group had installed fraud software in its vehicles to circumvent official […]
May 29, 2025
The three-millionth electrified vehicle rolled off the assembly line today at the BMW Group’s main plant in Munich, a BMW 330e Touring (PHEV) in Portimao Blue, destined for the UK market. In 2024, one in four vehicles sold by the company were already either fully electric or plug-in hybrids. At BMW Group plants, vehicles with […]
May 28, 2025
The EU Parliament has approved the Commission’s request to soften the 2025 CO2 fleet targets. The proposal received 458 votes in favour, 101 against, and 14 abstentions. All that remains is for the European Council to approve it, which it did on 27 May. The more flexible CO2 targets are one measure the EU Commission […]
