Walloons have problems with rules on traffic circles

July 17, 2025

Walloon drivers are generally unfamiliar with the specific rules governing priority at roundabouts, also known as traffic circles. This is what the Walloon Road Safety Agency (AWSR) warns about. In Wallonia, about 140 accidents involving deaths and injuries occur each year at traffic circles. Cyclists and motorcyclists are particularly vulnerable in this situation because they […]

Flanders announces major infrastructure investment plans

July 16, 2025

The Flemish government has reached an agreement on infrastructure investments related to mobility for the coming years. During the remaining years of the legislature, Flemish Minister of Mobility Annick De Ridder (N-VA) plans to allocate 2.2 billion euros per year for infrastructure to boost mobility. Among the most important projects are the Limburg North-South Connection, […]

Ford Belgium offers fully electric cargo conversion for Explorer SUV

July 16, 2025

Looking for a comfortable electric van with lots of range, but no need for a high payload? Ford has you covered with the new Explorer Cargo, a van conversion of the electric SUV. It’s available for both new and existing models, and is performed by a Belgian specialist. The Ford Explorer is the Blue Oval’s […]

Sabena Engineering inaugurates new hangar at Brussels Airport

July 15, 2025

The aircraft maintenance company Sabena Engineering has inaugurated a new hangar at Brussels Airport. Among other things, it will take care of the Belgian army’s A400M military transport aircraft. The hangar has a surface area of 6,000 m². The first aircraft will be able to be serviced there by the end of the summer. Sabena […]

Brabo III to provide Port of Antwerp much-needed extra power

July 15, 2025

System operator Elia has put the finishing touches to the high-voltage BRABO III grid. The new grid is almost complete with the completion of mast number 58. It should be effectively powered by early 2026, which will support industry in the Port of Antwerp. “This reinforcement is necessary because demand for electricity in the port […]

Belux market electrifies further in first half of 2025

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 […]

International train travel booms at NMBS/SNCB

July 14, 2025

The number of international train travelers at the Belgian public railroad company NMBS/SNCB is increasing year after year. Since 2019, the number of bookings through NMBS/SNCB International has risen by over 50%. The most popular countries are France, the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. NMBS/SNCB sells tickets to more […]

Justice Minister Verlinden makes ‘traffic manslaughter’ a criminal offence

July 11, 2025

Today, Minister of Justice Annelies Verlinden (CD&V) will present a bill to introduce ‘traffic manslaughter’ as a criminal offense. The term ‘traffic manslaughter’ is introduced as a new criminal law concept. This is a terminological change, but it also entails heavier penalties in certain circumstances. Anyone who causes a fatal traffic accident in Belgium faces a […]

Inglorious new record for NMBS/SNCB: highest number of cancelled trains

July 11, 2025

With 4,070 abolished trains per month in the first half of the year, the Belgian public railroad company NMBS/SNCB scored a new record, but one of the kinds you prefer not to show off during company presentations or half-yearly overviews. The same period in 2023, the previous record year, involved 4,016 trips per month. In […]

Brussels ombudsman wants more flexibility in dealing with LEZ

July 10, 2025

Ombuds Brussels, the institution responsible for overseeing good governance in the Brussels Region, has launched several concrete proposals aimed at increasing consideration of vulnerable groups about the low-emission zone (LEZ). For example, Ombuds advocates that it should be possible to buy a day pass through non-digital channels. Additionally, all violators should receive a warning before […]

NMBS/SNCB puts Londerzeel station up for sale

July 10, 2025

The Belgian public railroad company NMBS/SNCB has put the former station building of Londerzeel up for sale through its real estate platform. The setting price for the building with a land area of 277 m² is 245,000 euros. The municipality of Londerzeel, in Flemish Brabant, is pleased that NMBS/SNCB is finally taking steps to give […]

French court gives green light for acquisition of McPhy by Cockerill

July 09, 2025

Walloon industrial group John Cockerill has received approval from the Belfort Commercial Court for its acquisition of McPhy. That French company produces electrolyzers to produce green hydrogen, which can be used, among other things, as fuel for various modes of transportation. With the acquisition, John Cockerill Hydrogen aims to create a world champion in hydrogen […]

‘Slight loss of 7% for Belgian new motorcycle market in 2025’

July 09, 2025

After an excellent 2024 – the best in the past 15 years – new motorcycle registrations during the first half of 2025 showed a decline of -7% to 14,461 units. All in all, a relatively good result. In June, we even saw growth again (+5.6%). The figures were released by the mobility federation Traxio and […]

Renta: ‘90% of 13,200 privately leased cars in Belgium drive on gasoline’

July 09, 2025

On March 31, 2025, more than 13,000 cars (specifically, 13,201) were rented in Belgium through a Private Lease formula. A full 90 percent of these were equipped with a gasoline engine – hybrid or otherwise. Electric Private Lease cars represent only four percent of the total. Renta, the Belgian federation of long-term and short-term vehicle […]

De Lijn indexes fines for fare-dodging by almost 20%

July 08, 2025

The Flemish public transport company De Lijn will increase the amount of its administrative fines by 18.37%. The acceptable amounts thus follow the fare indexation implemented in April. According to Flemish Minister of Mobility Annick De Ridder (N-VA), it is logical for fines to follow that price trend and should “continue to encourage people to […]

Brussels’ car usage falls, public transport on the rise

July 08, 2025

In Brussels, the bus, metro, streetcar, and train are regaining importance after a decline during the Covid-19 pandemic. Not only is the number of travelers increasing proportionally, but the number of trips by public transport in the capital is also rising, according to a recent survey by Brussels Mobility. Looking purely at the market share, […]

EnergyVision wins contract for 5,000 Belgian rail charging points

July 08, 2025

Energy provider Energy Vision is permitted to install 2,500 charging stations for electric cars at the railway company NMBS/SNCB’s station car parks. This was reported by the newspaper De Tijd. The charging stations, with a total of 5,000 charging points (with the possibility of expansion), are expected to be operational by 2032. The project involves a concession […]

First self-driving German freight trains with Belgian tech

July 08, 2025

Deutsche Bahn will run a driverless train on the tracks for the first time in Europe in September. This will happen thanks to technology from OTIV. This Ghent-based start-up specializes in AI-driven systems that enable freight trains, buses, and streetcars to operate autonomously in complex environments safely and efficiently. According to the business newspaper De […]

Belgian mobility minister wants to pave the way for self-driving Teslas

July 07, 2025

Will we soon have self-driving Teslas in Belgium? The American carmaker has already applied to the European Commission in March for approval of autonomous driving (Full Self Driving), and more specifically, supervised hands-off driving. According to the Vers L’Avenir newspaper, Federal Minister of Mobility Jean-Luc Crucke (Les Engagés), unlike his predecessor, is already in favor. […]

Flanders to stimulate EV uptake by pushing down electricity price

July 07, 2025

The Flemish Government has presented a new climate plan for 2030, which is expected to appease the European Commission and avoid heavy fines. One of the most visible new measures is the intention to push down electricity prices by shifting 362 million euros in taxes to the natural gas invoice by 2028. Families heating with […]

Unions: Belgian rail’s welfare survey results are disastrous

July 04, 2025

Belgian public railroad company NMBS/SNCB is to roll out an action plan to “improve the working environment of employees.” It is doing so following a welfare survey conducted early this year by IDEWE, an external service for prevention and protection at work. According to the unions, the survey’s results and conclusions, which measured, among other […]

Flanders cancels 72 of 80 planned section controls

July 04, 2025

Flemish Minister of Mobility, Annick De Ridder (N-VA), is cancelling 72 planned section controls on regional roads. De Ridder only wants section controls at ‘black spots’, where serious accidents occur, which reduces the list to about ten of those speed checks. The decision has sparked outrage among experts. The number of section controls in Flanders has increased significantly […]

Stellantis to recall up to a million diesel cars

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 […]

Not Ghent but Slovakia will build Polestar’s mass-market model 7

July 03, 2025

Polestar is staking its European future on a new production strategy that focuses on local manufacturing for regional markets. The Swedish electric performance brand, owned by China’s Geely, confirmed this week that its upcoming Polestar 7 will roll off the lines at Volvo Cars’ under-construction factory in Košice, Slovakia.  The 7 marks the premium brand’s […]

First Belgian driving simulators for trucks and emergency services

July 03, 2025

Belgian drivers active in the transport sector and emergency services can now prepare themselves for complex traffic situations in a state-of-the-art driving simulator. As it happens, the Flemish employment service VDAB has invested in four advanced truck simulators, which are housed at the Provincial Institute for Education and Training (PIVO) in Asse. The simulators are […]

BMW Group Belux starts rebuilding its headquarters in Bornem

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 […]

Belux car registrations -16.4% in June, -10.9% for th first six months in 2025

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 […]

Political party MR wants to relaunch mining in Belgium

July 02, 2025

The French-speaking liberal party MR wants to relaunch mining in Belgium. They advocate rebuilding a full value chain, from mine to recycling. After all, the energy transition is driving up demand for metals, and Europe needs to reduce its dependence on China in particular, according to the party’s study center. “If we have an idea […]

Ayvens first leasing giant to promote extending EV lease to six years

July 02, 2025

Leasing company Ayvens, formerly LeasePlan/ALD Automotive, is one of the first major leasing companies to actively promote extending the typical EV leasing contract from four to six years. “The combination of technical reliability and limited maintenance costs makes an extension of leasing contracts extra interesting today – both for the environment and the wallet,” Ayvens says […]

VIAS: ‘Van drivers distracted 8% of their time on the road’

July 01, 2025

A new observational study by the Vias traffic institute has revealed that Belgian van drivers are most often distracted by their mobile phones or other devices. On average, they are not entirely focused on traffic for 8% of the time, it turns out. The Vias researchers observed almost 20,000 drivers for a month at 161 locations […]

De Lijn gets 588 new electric buses thanks to subcontractors

July 01, 2025

Flemish public transport operator De Lijn is becoming greener without having to do anything about it. As of today, the private bus operators that provide rides on behalf of De Lijn are deploying 588 new electric buses on De Lijn’s network. According to the Federation of Belgian Bus and Coach Operators (FBAA), this is “the […]

Elia CEO warns for gigawatts of electricity shortages beyond 2035

June 30, 2025

Frédéric Dunon, the CEO of the high-voltage grid operator Elia, warns that if the government does not intervene, the electricity supply will be compromised by 2035.  “A clear energy strategy is urgently needed,” he says. “We need to know which energy mix we want: do we want more offshore wind energy, more nuclear energy, and […]

Children up to 12 with beach flowers travel free on coastal tram

June 30, 2025

Children younger than twelve can travel for free on the coastal tram in July and August if they have a beach flower with them. Transport company De Lijn presented its colorful summer campaign last Friday in Bredene.  With this campaign, De Lijn is linking a true coastal tradition to one of its most iconic lines and […]

First Brussels pedestrian zone celebrates 10 years

June 30, 2025

The pedestrian zone in the center of Brussels, between Place Fontainas and Boulevard Adolphe Max, has been in place for ten years since Sunday. The zone has since become one of the busiest in the capital, but it has also been criticized for being too focused on tourists and events, rather than on residents. Additionally, […]

Belgian rail postpones decision on CAF order under political pressure

June 30, 2025

The Board of Directors of the Belgian public railroad company NMBS/SNCB has postponed its decision on designating Spanish CAF as the preferred bidder for a billion-euro order for new railcars. NMBS/SNCB’s decision drew considerable political criticism, and CAF competitors Alstom and Siemens also appealed to the Council of State. In a reaction, NMBS/SNCB refers to […]

Pyrrhic victory for Belgium: PHEV tax break only for self-employed

June 30, 2025

After months of tense negotiations with the European Commission, the Belgian federal government has decided to drastically limit its planned extension of tax deductions for plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs). What was once pitched as a broad incentive to support businesses transitioning away from older combustion engine cars will now apply only to self-employed individuals. Companies […]

Flight tax threatens to erode Brussels Airlines profits by €1 million

June 27, 2025

The increase in the flight tax that the De Wever government wants to introduce will cost Brussels Airlines 1 million euros. So, write the business newspapers L’Echo and De Tijd. Indeed, it turns out that the increase also applies to tickets that were already purchased before the introduction of the new law, usually on July […]

Planning Bureau: Belgium’s company car tax perks cost €6 billion 

June 27, 2025

Belgium’s tax-friendly treatment of company cars is depriving the state of up to €6 billion a year in lost revenues, as calculated in a damning new report by the Federal Planning Bureau. The analysis, published on Thursday, highlights how a system initially designed to ease wage costs has evolved into one of the most expensive […]

John Cockerill finds €116 million for hydrogen subsidiary

June 26, 2025

Walloon industrial group John Cockerill has completed a 166 million euros capital increase. With that much-needed money, it intends to pursue its strategic development plan around hydrogen, and thus the production of its electrolyzers. Among others, the semi-public investment company SFPIM and gas grid operator Fluxys are stepping into the project. John Cockerill Hydrogen had […]

Private jet flights soar in Belgium five times more than EU average

June 25, 2025

Although the average CO2 emissions per passenger per km are on average up to 10 times higher for a private jet flight compared to a regular scheduled flight, the demand for private flights in Belgium is five times higher than in the rest of Europe. According to the business newspaper L’Echo, which bases its figures […]

CO2 emissions of Belgian company cars decreased by one-third in two years

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 […]

De Lijn’s first Chinese e-buses from BYD hit the streets

June 24, 2025

Since Monday, June 23rd, the Flemish public transport company De Lijn has officially put its first electric buses, manufactured by the Chinese company BYD, into service. These are the first of 92 e-buses ordered. At Jacob Autocars, which is part of Hansea, one of the largest private bus companies in Belgium that also provides transport […]

Toyota rolls out five VDL fuel cell trucks for its European logistics

June 23, 2025

Two years after the first demonstration truck, Toyota Motor Europe has now taken delivery of its fifth VDL hydrogen fuel cell truck, which its logistics partners will use in a five-year test. The trucks will drive between Belgium, France, Germany, and the Netherlands, delivering parts with zero tailpipe emissions. VDL Groep manufactures Toyota’s new fuel […]

Another Chinese EV, Voyah Courage comes to Belgium

June 23, 2025

The Voyah Courage, a “premium” electric SUV built by Chinese conglomerate Dongfeng Motor, is coming to Belgium this summer. The brand is distributed by the Ghistelinck group, with one dealership currently located near Ghent. And while the specs seem decent, we still don’t know the price. Voyah is part of Dongfeng Motor’s plan to conquer […]

Nearly two million summer passengers for Brussels Airlines

June 23, 2025

Brussels Airlines expects nearly 2 million passengers in July and August, the airline reports. That’s 600,000 more than a year earlier. To cope with this influx of passengers, the Lufthansa subsidiary will deploy a fleet of 50 aircraft, or six more than last year. Among other things, Brussels Airlines is adding an extra Airbus 320 […]

Chery introduces Omoda 9 SHS PHEV in Belgium and Netherlands

June 23, 2025

Chery Group—China’s largest vehicle exporter—announces a second model, alongside the Omoda 5 (ICE and EV), the flagship SUV, the Omoda 9 SHS. This one isn’t fully electric, but it is a plug-in hybrid with an electric range of 145 km, and it is offered for €52,900. The Omoda 9 is known in China as the […]

Another upswing in bicycle leasing in Belgium

June 20, 2025

More than 52,000 new leased bicycles were added in Belgium last year. That’s according to a market analysis by mobility federation Traxio. It makes 2024 an absolute record year. There are currently 166,796 leased bikes on the road in Belgium. Almost two-thirds of bikes are electric. Especially Flanders scores well Almost 40% of all bikes […]

Ford stops Mustang Mach-E sales as it can trap passengers with locked doors

June 20, 2025

Ford has issued a global stop-sale on its electric Mustang Mach-E as it grapples with a potentially serious safety issue that may prevent the doors from unlocking, putting occupants at risk of being trapped. The recall affects nearly 317,000 vehicles spanning model years 2021 to 2025, raising fresh concerns among customers and dealers about delivery […]

Belgium nears a U-turn on plug-in hybrid tax break under EU pressure

June 20, 2025

The Belgian Arizona government appears increasingly cornered over its controversial attempt to revive tax breaks for plug-in hybrid vehicles in corporate fleets. As it becomes clear that the proposed measures likely breach earlier commitments Belgium made under the EU’s post-COVID-19 recovery programme, the penalty for the revived incentive could be costly. Not a favorable outlook […]

ArcelorMittal in Ghent threatens to shut down green prestige Steelanol project

June 19, 2025

Steel giant Arcelor Mittal is considering closing its innovative Steelanol plant in Ghent, a prestigious showpiece for the company’s decarbonization strategy. The plant, which converts CO2 from blast furnace gases into ethanol, is struggling with strict and unfavorable European regulations, threatening to make the project financially unsustainable. The Steelanol plant captures residual gases from the […]

Belgian transport union launches truckers hotline in 21 languages

June 19, 2025

The Belgian socialist transport trade union BTB-ABVV is launching a multilingual hotline for truckers. They can go there in 21 languages to ask questions about their rights or to report abuse or malpractice. “Every driver deserves a correct wage, dignified working conditions, and access to help, regardless of nationality or employer,” BTB-ABVV states. “The hotline […]

Lifebuoy for John Cockerill’s hydrogen electrolyser division?

June 18, 2025

The much-needed capital injection of 80 to 100 million euros that John Cockerill in Seraing is looking forward to to save its hydrogen division appears to be on the way. So reports the business newspaper L’Echo. In the past, John Cockerill Hydrogen already raised 230 million euros from various investors, but that money quickly ran […]

€76 million of EU’s recovery fund money goes to Belgian railroad

June 17, 2025

The Belgian government is allocating over 76 million euros from the European Recovery Fund to rail. With just under 70 million euros, railroad network operator Infrabel will get the lion’s share of the envelope. Among other things, the money will be used for the electrification of the network, while stations will also be upgraded with […]

Air traffic controller Skeyes launches platform to map drone flights

June 17, 2025

The Belgian air traffic controller Skeyes has developed a digital platform that publishes drone flight data in real-time. The platform was officially certified on Monday by the Federal Public Service Mobility at the Skeyes site in Steenokkerzeel (Belgium). It marks a new step toward an airspace where both drones and manned aircraft can fly safely. […]

Brussels’ MIVB/STIB goes for 300 additional new e-buses

June 17, 2025

According to CEO Brieuc de Meeûs, the Brussels public transport company MIVB/STIB will launch a tender next week to order 300 new all-electric buses. This is stated in several media outlets, including Le Soir and Bruzz. The plan is to deploy the new buses in 2028 and 2029. Some 450 fully electric MIVB/STIB buses are […]

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 […]

Flanders to become largest shareholder of Brussels Airport

June 16, 2025

Flanders will become the new largest shareholder of Brussels Airport. Through its investment company PMV, it will invest 2,77 billion euros in the airport located in Flemish Zaventem, acquiring a 39% stake in the airport operator. “We want to be in the cockpit when it comes to the future of our airport. If we don’t […]

Colruyt switches its truck fleet to HVO100 biodiesel ‘for the time being’

June 13, 2025

Supermarket chain Colruyt is going to switch its current fleet of diesel trucks to HVO100 biodiesel – 100% Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil, which is made entirely from biomass. The HVO100 diesel reduces CO₂ emissions by up to 90% compared to conventional diesel and fits into existing diesel engines without technical modifications. It is yet another transitional measure […]

290 extra e-buses for De Lijn, fifty ‘made in Belgium’

June 13, 2025

After a year of dragging its feet on greening its fleet, the Flemish public transport company now seems to be reaching full cruising speed in terms of curbing its CO2. On top of the 230 new buses currently being delivered, De Lijn is ordering another 290 electric buses. This investment of 185 million euros aligns […]

Record number of rides for Walloon public transport TEC

June 12, 2025

The Walloon public transport company TEC carried out 155.4 million rides last year, 146.4 million of which were in scheduled services. That’s an increase of 4 million or 2,78% over 2023. Interestingly, no figures are yet available on the number of travelers in 2024; for 2023, it reported 151.6 million travelers. But it does state […]