December 08, 2025
Smart has unveiled the first official images of its new #6 sedan via China’s MIIT filings, confirming a significant shift in direction for the brand — one that points to a different trajectory than the one Smart follows in Europe. The #6 mirrors the plug-in hybrid approach of the Smart #5, underscoring how Smart China […]
December 05, 2025
It begins with a thud that shouldn’t be survivable. In a video ricocheting across Chinese social media and picked up by YouTube channel Planet Car News, a two-ton palm tree with a trunk thicker than a man’s torso is dropped on a gleaming BYD Yangwang U8L luxury SUV. The impact is violent, the shockwave rippling […]
December 04, 2025
The European Commission wants to make Europe less dependent on rare materials and other critical raw materials. It is allocating a budget of €3 billion for this purpose. Among other things, the program includes restricting the export of waste that can be recycled for valuable materials essential to the green transition, such as rare-earth metals […]
December 02, 2025
Since December 1st, China has introduced new, stricter regulations to improve the safety and quality of e-bikes, particularly their batteries. With more than 350 million e-bikes, the country has the world’s largest fleet. The stricter safety requirements govern battery safety and are intended to prevent illegal modifications that could reduce the risk of fire. The […]
December 02, 2025
Geely took to the legendary Paris-Beijing route – or rather, vice versa – to make a point about the durability of its Galaxy M9 SUV. Tale to the story: the car not only reached its destination in good shape, but engineers also dismantled the model overtly to demonstrate its resilience. Automakers typically prefer their vehicles to […]
November 28, 2025
Omoda is expanding its European range with a hybrid version of the Omoda 5. The new HEV aims for the likes of the hybrid Kia Niro and the oddball Nissan Qashqai e-Power. It comes with a facelift and the hope of gaining more traction in the Belgian marketplace through a more classic take on electrification. […]
November 28, 2025
When Leapmotor first unveiled the B05 at the IAA Mobility show in Munich last September, it was clear that the compact electric hatchback was conceived with Europe in mind. What was less clear then was how aggressively the Chinese newcomer, backed by Stellantis, intended to position itself. Now, following the official launch of the model […]
November 27, 2025
CATL, the world’s largest manufacturer of automotive batteries, and automotive giant Stellantis have started construction of a battery factory in Figueruelas, near Zaragoza. The expected capacity of the LFP battery factory is up to 50 kWh, enough to supply tens of thousands of EVs with batteries each year. For CATL, this is the third battery […]
November 27, 2025
Horse Powertrain, the Renault-Geely joint venture backed by Saudi Aramco, has unveiled the production-bound version of its ‘Future Hybrid System,’ signalling a decisive shift from an intriguing idea shown earlier this year to a fully industrialised technology aimed at mass-market deployment by 2027. It’s more than yet another powertrain technology. It signals a shift in […]
November 27, 2025
BMW is reportedly considering equipping some electric models with range extenders, primarily for the Chinese market. The larger model series are the main candidates, as they are more likely to have the space for an additional powertrain. News agency Bloomberg broke the news on BMW’s plans, citing sources familiar with the company’s strategy. Apparently, the […]
November 26, 2025
The Volkswagen Group has completed the final expansion stage of its Technology and Innovation Center (VCTC) in Hefei. This will enable Volkswagen to independently develop complete vehicle projects and technologies for the Chinese market. The new operational facilities of the Volkswagen Group China Technology Company (VCTC) expand local research and development capabilities by combining software […]
November 25, 2025
GAC has begun building its Aion V electric SUV at Magna Steyr’s plant in Graz. While giving the Austrian contract manufacturer fresh volume after a series of wind-downs, this is one of the first actual Chinese passenger cars produced in Europe. While the Aion V isn’t a common sight on Belgian roads, the midsize electric […]
November 24, 2025
BYD has moved decisively into the global lead in battery-electric vehicle sales, widening the gap with Tesla and signalling a shift in the balance of power in the world’s largest and most contested segment of the auto market. New data for the third quarter of 2025 shows BYD selling more than 582,000 BEVs worldwide, comfortably […]
November 24, 2025
AUDI, the China-only EV offshoot of the brand, is preparing to broaden its lineup. At the Guangzhou Auto Show, a second model was previewed. Predictably, the concept previews the addition of an SUV, joining the E5 Sportback. The new vehicle, called the AUDI E SUV Concept, is the second product from Audi’s sub-brand developed with […]
November 18, 2025
A new international survey by the Global EV Alliance suggests the electric-vehicle landscape is being shaped as much by politics and perception as by product and pricing. As for car brands, 41% of buyers are reluctant to buy Tesla due to political concerns, while one in ten opposes cars made in China. The Global EV […]
November 17, 2025
The brain drain at Tesla is continuing. Two of its most visible vehicle program managers have left the company, including the chief of its best-selling car, the Model Y. The departures land at a moment when the automaker is reorienting itself around robotics and autonomous driving. Symbolically, the core automotive business shows further signs of […]
November 13, 2025
EVs are increasingly showing supercar performance, but this might hit a ceiling soon. China is preparing to introduce a sweeping new rule that would cap how quickly cars can accelerate when started, for instance. A new draft issued by the Ministry of Public Security proposes that all passenger vehicles be, by default, unable to accelerate […]
November 12, 2025
Chinese carmaker XPeng has taken another step in the electrification race with the unveiling of the G6 EREV, an extended-range version of its midsize SUV featuring a 55.8 kWh battery that delivers a pure-electric range of over 400 km (CLTC) or 325 km (WTLP). That’s roughly the distance from De Panne to Eupen on pure electricity. […]
November 12, 2025
Yutong, China’s biggest bus manufacturer, based in Zhengzhou, which has supplied electric buses to Norway, Denmark, and the Netherlands, has built a remotely operated ‘kill switch’ into its vehicles. This mechanism gives the manufacturer digital access to systems for software updates and diagnostics. Still, in theory, it is also possible to disable or influence the […]
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 […]
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 […]
November 10, 2025
When Chinese electric carmaker XPeng Motors unveiled its new humanoid robot Iron last week, the audience at a Guangzhou tech fair couldn’t believe their eyes. The tall, silver-skinned figure glided across the stage with slow, deliberate female movements — so human that murmurs rippled through the crowd. “It’s just a woman in a suit.” But […]
November 10, 2025
The latest ‘Electromobility Report’ from the Center of Automotive Management (CAM) in Bergisch Gladbach, Germany, shows that e-mobility worldwide has been experiencing a significant upswing so far this year. In the world regions most important to the automotive industry – China, Europe, and the USA – approximately 12.8 million highly electrified vehicles were sold from the […]
November 06, 2025
Beijing Mercedes-Benz has launched the Chinese variant of the Mercedes CLA EQ, the all-electric version of the third-gen CLA. It features a longer wheelbase and some localized technology, but is built on the same platform and uses the same electric drivetrain. And yet, it’s almost half the price of the European version. The all-new Mercedes […]
November 05, 2025
Geely’s Swedish-Chinese subbrand Zeekr has just rolled out a refreshed version with more power, more range, and a surprisingly long list of luxury features of its compact electric SUV, the Zeekr X, a sibling to the Volvo EX30 (Belgium-built )and the Smart #1. It packs a 61.47 kWh LFP battery, offering up to 530 km […]
November 03, 2025
Chinese EV giant Xpeng has begun mass production of a ‘real flying car’ with the first flying body rolling of the assembly line. It’s the first time a major automaker, not a start-up, has crossed that line. Xpeng’s flying-car division, recently rebranded Aridge, announced this week that the first model rolled off the line at […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
October 29, 2025
Chery, China’s 4th-largest auto manufacturer, might not yet be a familiar name to most Western European consumers. And yet, it has been China’s largest auto exporter for over 20 years. We travelled to Chery HQ in Wuhu, China, to attend the 2025 Chery International User Summit and learn how the company plans to become China’s […]
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 […]
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 […]
October 15, 2025
According to a new report from UK-based research, analytics, and data company Rho Motion, global EV sales—battery electric (BEVs) and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) combined —passed the 2.1 million mark for the first time in September 2025, up 26% YoY. The Reuters press agency adds a regional snapshot detailing that China contributes the most with 1.3 […]
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 […]
October 08, 2025
The European Commission wants to erect a tariff wall to protect the strategically important steel industry from global overcapacity. Welcomed by the European steel industry, which is in a state of survival, but met with skepticism by European carmakers who fear higher production costs. Specifically, the Commission wants to limit tariff-free imports of steel from […]
October 07, 2025
The Chinese EV brand Zeekr, part of Geely Holding, has announced a new design refresh for its flagship 001 EV model, the second in as many years. This latest upgrade to the 001 features Zeekr’s 900V architecture, enabling better performance and some of the fastest charging speeds we’ve ever seen. The interior also appears quite […]
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 […]
September 29, 2025
Smart has officially launched pre-sales in China for its first plug-in hybrid (PHEV), the #5 EHD (Electric Hybrid Drive). It marks a significant shift for a brand once committed to being BEV-only. Prices start at 189,900 yuan (some €24,000), and deliveries are expected before year’s end. The Smart #5 EHD had already been listed in […]
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 […]
September 24, 2025
The Zeekr 001, which we first drove in 2023, was never a weakling to begin with, but now it’s had another dose of steroids. In China, the updated version for 2026 is presented with a power boost from 400 kW (544 hp EU specs) to 680 kW (912 hp) for the two-motor version. This makes […]
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. […]
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 […]
September 22, 2025
BYD’s latest version of its luxury sports car, the Yangwang U9 Xtreme, has set a new record as the world’s fastest production car, clocking a top speed of 496.22 km per hour (308.34 mph) at the ATP test facility, an independent automotive proving ground in Papenburg, Germany. Many passenger planes lift the nose for takeoff […]
September 18, 2025
Two Xpeng AeroHT eVTOLs collided at an air show in Changchun, China, according to various Chinese and American media reports. At least one passenger was taken to the hospital with injuries, but these are not believed to be life-threatening. The cause of the accident is still unclear. There have been relatively few incidents involving eVTOLs, […]
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 […]
September 17, 2025
Volkswagen Group’s premium Audi brand is fighting back in the world’s largest car market with a range of new, more extended versions of its models under the joint SAIC-AUDI (styled in all capitals) brand. And the first of the line-up for mass production, the E5 Sportback is hot: 10,153 orders within 30 minutes of launch […]
September 16, 2025
In Graz, Austria, the first European-assembled models of the Chinese Xpeng G6 and G9 have rolled off the production line. The factory will initially assemble the two SUV models, but additional Xpeng vehicles are in the planning for the future. For Xpeng, which started selling in Norway in 2021 and has since expanded to over […]
September 12, 2025
After announcing it at the end of August, Chinese Dreame Technology has unveiled the first render images of the electric supercar it wants to build to challenge other supercars like Bugatti. And you might even see ‘some resemblance’ to the actual Bugatti Chiron, successor to the Veyron. Dreame has ambitions to build this car even […]
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 […]
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 […]
September 10, 2025
At the IAA Mobility show in Munich, we can see an avalanche of Chinese carmakers expanding their European offer and/or preparing themselves to expand into the European market. On the other hand, we saw the leading German brands pull out all the stops in their efforts to counter the ‘Chinese invasion’. There are a lot […]
September 10, 2025
Following the Deepal S07, the Chinese car manufacturer Changan is now also introducing the smaller electric SUV Deepal S05 in Europe. The European Deepal S05, which was just unveiled at the IAA trade show in Munich, will start at a list price of €38,990 in Germany. The Deepal S07 was introduced in Europe in March […]
September 10, 2025
Some analysts say IAA Munich looks more like a Shanghai auto show extension these days, as Chinese brands are all competing for European customers’ favor. The Seres-Huawei joint venture adds some more heat by unleashing three Aito-rebranded crossovers on the Old Continent. Contrary to the low-budget Seres 3 we know in Belgium today, Aito is […]
September 09, 2025
Leapmotor, the Chinese manufacturer distributed internationally by Stellantis, has unveiled its latest European model at the IAA Mobility in Munich. The Leapmotor B05 is a compact electric hatchback, based on the same platform as the B10 SUV. It’s not only aimed at European customers, but will also be produced in Spain. The Leapmotor B05 will […]
September 08, 2025
Horse Powertrain, the Renault-Geely joint venture founded in 2023-2024 to develop next-generation low-emission powertrains, has presented a new ultra-compact range extender system at IAA Mobility 2025, the Horse C15. Why does it matter? REEVs (Range-Extended EVs) offer a pragmatic middle ground between battery-only and hybrid drives, with a gasoline engine used as a generator only […]
September 04, 2025
It definitely sounds Chinese in Western ears: Xpeng. Still, it’s steadily making a name for itself, with G9 SUV, G6 SUV, and P7 sedan in over 20 European countries, with aggressive expansion plans aiming to enter 60 global markets by the end of 2025. We drove two of them on German roads, the refreshed midsize […]
September 04, 2025
Volvo is preparing to launch what could become its most important EV yet. The EX60, a midsize electric SUV set to debut January 21st, 2026, in Stockholm, will deliver the most extended range of any Volvo to date and go head-to-head with the Tesla Model Y, Porsche Macan EV, and Mercedes-Benz GLC with EG Technology […]
September 02, 2025
According to a recent report from energy thin tank Ember, China has installed 256 gigawatts of additional solar capacity in the first half of this year – more than two-thirds of the global total and more than double the amount installed in the first half of 2024. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), Chinese […]
September 01, 2025
Chinese electric vehicle maker Leapmotor has selected Stellantis’ assembly plant in Zaragoza to establish its first European manufacturing base. While the car group’s Tychy plant had already produced some vehicles from Leapmotor, Poland has politically fallen out of favour and seems to have lost its assembly slot to Spain. The rumors were growing over Leapmotor’s […]
September 01, 2025
The Jetta brand, VW’s brand for China and part of Volkswagen’s joint venture with FAW, wants to launch five new models by 2028, including four New Energy Vehicles. The first model is expected to launch in 2026, reportedly for a price equivalent to less than €12,000. In China, Jetta is no longer the Golf-format sedan […]
