Eurostat figures show Belgium performs poorly on renewable energy

July 24, 2026

Figures from the European statistical office Eurostat show that renewable energy accounted for more than a quarter (26.2%) of final energy consumption in the European Union in 2025. A year earlier, that figure was 25.2%, and the EU binding target for 2030 is 42.5%, with an ambition to reach 45%. Eurostat calculated that the EU share […]

BMW develops the ‘brains’ for humanoid factory robots

July 24, 2026

BMW is developing its own software platform for future humanoid factory workers. At its Landshut component plant, the carmaker is developing a modular software stack that connects production data, artificial intelligence, and robots from different suppliers. Rather than building a BMW-branded rival to Tesla’s Optimus or XPeng’s IRON, it wants to control how humanoid robots […]

Ford and Geely Auto to produce next-generation multi-energy vehicles in Spain

July 23, 2026

Ford and Geely Auto plan to form a manufacturing joint venture at Ford’s Valencia, Spain, plant, combining scale and factory utilization, to build Ford and Geely’s next-generation multi-energy vehicles. Under the proposed ownership structure, Ford will own 66% of the new entity and Geely Auto 34%. The partnership secures the future of the Valencia plant, […]

Renault revenue grows, with Belux still a global top-ten market

July 23, 2026

Renault Group entered the second half of 2026 with revenue still growing, even as worldwide vehicle sales came under pressure. Its latest financial update showed first-quarter revenue rising by 7.3% to €12.53 billion, while newly published figures reveal that global sales slipped by 0.4% in the first half. Against that mixed backdrop, Belgium and Luxembourg […]

EU car registrations up 5.7% in first half-year; EVs grow to a 20.7% market share

July 23, 2026

According to data from the European Car Manufacturers Association (ACEA), new EU car registrations rose 5.7% year-to-date, with a strong June performance (+13.6%) contributing to a positive first half of 2026. This came against a backdrop of persistent geopolitical headwinds weighing on the outlook. The market continued to benefit from robust consumer demand for a […]

Range Rover adds all-electric GT as fifth model in luxury line-up

July 23, 2026

Range Rover is adding an all-electric grand tourer to its line-up, creating a fifth model alongside the Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, Velar, and Evoque. The new Range Rover GT is being positioned as the most road-focused and car-like model in the brand’s history and is expected to reach European markets during 2027. More streamlined […]

European transportation network not ready for increasing climate extremes

July 22, 2026

Last June, Western Europe was hit by the most widespread heat wave on record, and several countries in Southern Europe are currently still grappling with persistent, intense heat and wildfires. UNECE, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, then called on countries in Europe, North America, and Central Asia to urgently make their transportation infrastructure […]

Renault cuts more Nissan ties as Spanish parts deal end

July 22, 2026

Renault will stop sourcing components and spare parts from Nissan’s plants in Ávila and Cantabria at the end of 2026, adding another chapter to the gradual unwinding of the once tightly integrated Franco-Japanese alliance. Nissan confirmed that Renault had decided not to renew the commercial arrangements with the two Spanish sites. The impact will be […]

Renault 5 Turbo 3E storms Goodwood with 555 hp

July 22, 2026

Renault has unleashed the near-production version of its 5 Turbo 3E at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. The electric “mini-supercar” completed repeated runs up the famous hill climb between 9 and 12 July, marking its first public dynamic appearance in the United Kingdom. The 5 Turbo 3E is Renault’s most powerful road-going model to date. […]

EU wants to close price gap between electricity and gas

July 21, 2026

The share of electrical energy has remained stuck at 23 percent over the past ten years, and that needs to increase. The European Commission aims to double the share of electricity in energy consumption to 46 percent by 2040, thereby reducing the European Union’s dependence on gas and oil imports. “The current heatwaves in Europe […]

Honda unveils autonomous EV, but it only drives on grass

July 20, 2026

Honda is finally ready to deliver a fully electric vehicle that can drive itself, avoid obstacles, and work for hours without human supervision. There is only one small catch: it is a lawnmower. The Japanese manufacturer has launched its new ProZision range of battery-powered commercial mowing machines in the United States. Alongside two conventional ride-on […]

Toyota Europe courts Uber drivers without going all-in on EVs

July 20, 2026

Toyota and Uber are expanding their long-standing partnership with a new European program intended to make electrified vehicles more accessible to ride-hailing drivers. The initiative will launch in ten countries in July before being rolled out more widely across Europe. Uber drivers and fleet operators will be offered preferential conditions on new Toyota and Lexus […]

Lamborghini kicks its ‘not mature’ EV further down the road

July 16, 2026

Lamborghini has again defended its decision to turn the electric Lanzador into a plug-in hybrid. This time, the argument is no longer only about weak demand or poor returns. Product director Stefano Cossalter says EV technology is not mature enough to deliver the emotion Lamborghini owners expect. Cossalter, responsible for the Urus and Lanzador, told […]

Renault confirms ‘structural shift’ as EVs go mainstream

July 15, 2026

Renault is seeing what its UK boss Adam Wood calls a “structural shift” toward electric cars, as higher fuel prices combine with a new generation of more attractive and affordable models to move EVs beyond their early-adopter niche. And the trend appears to be more than a British blip, with Renault reporting stronger EV orders […]

BYD redraws global brand map as Europe moves centre stage

July 15, 2026

BYD is simplifying its overseas brand structure as international markets become a central source of growth rather than an export sideline. The Chinese group will combine its Dynasty and Ocean ranges under the BYD name abroad, merge Denza’s and Fang Cheng Bao’s overseas operations, and keep ultra-luxury brand Yangwang independent. The reshuffle creates a clearer […]

Renault Group has produced 1 million EVs in France

July 15, 2026

More than one million electric vehicles have been designed and produced in France since 2010, including 600,000 in ‘Electricity’, Renault Group’s electric industrial pole of northern France. Electric vehicles are accelerating in France, with vehicles coming off the production lines of bodywork and assembly plants in Douai, Maubeuge, Dieppe, Batilly, and Sandouville, driven by the […]

Belgian John Cockerill unveils first French-built electrolyzer stack

July 14, 2026

The Belgian company John Cockerill Hydrogen has unveiled its first hydrogen electrolyzer designed and manufactured entirely in France. The unveiling took place in Belfort at McPhy’s industrial site, which John Cockerill Hydrogen acquired last year, along with some of its staff and patents. The 30-metric-ton unit enables the production of decarbonized hydrogen from water. Push […]

Dutch Vantrack turns Kia PV5 into €65,000 electric camper

July 14, 2026

Dutch camper specialist Vantrack will open reservations in September for a modular camping conversion of the electric Kia PV5 Passenger. Priced from €65,000 including the vehicle, the LightCamp promises to undercut most complete electric campervans currently offered in Europe. Its public debut is scheduled for the Kampeer & Caravan Jaarbeurs in Utrecht from 30 September […]

Mercedes’ two-sided EV push: from core C-Class to extreme AMG CLA

July 14, 2026

Mercedes-Benz has begun production of its new electric C-Class at its heavily expanded factory in Kecskemét, Hungary. At the same time, AMG is showcasing the 500 kW electric CLA 45, a far more extreme interpretation of the same transition. Together, the two models reveal the breadth of Mercedes’ EV strategy: one is a core-volume saloon […]

Touring launches EU vignette guide for drivers

July 13, 2026

Starting May 1 of next year, Belgium plans to require a road vignette for all drivers on Belgian highways and regional roads. “Yet another one,” the exasperated drivers must be thinking as they prepare to set off on vacation by car, because the myriad systems for road and environmental vignettes and low-emission zones (LEZ) across […]

BYD officially launches Denza Z, its first sports car for Europe, at Goodwood

July 13, 2026

BYD has officially unveiled the European version of the Denza Z at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. CEO of BYD, Stella Li, and former F1 champion Jenson Button took the wraps off the sports car that intends to go head-to-head with the Porsche 911. Or rather, the Maserati GranTurismo Folgore. Because the driveline is fully […]

Several thousand protesters demonstrate against the Seine-Scheldt Link canal

July 13, 2026

On Saturday in France, protesters demonstrated against the construction of the Seine-Nord Europe canal, a key component of the Seine-Scheldt Link, a large-scale inland waterway project intended to connect the French river with ports in Belgium and the Netherlands by 2032. Protesters are particularly concerned about the impact on waterways and wetlands, and the loss […]

Don’t charge to 100% and Ionity will reimburse you

July 10, 2026

As the charging sector shifts its focus from infrastructure rollout to rethinking payment schedules, the latest pricing innovation comes from Ionity. Europe’s largest ultra-fast charging network will literally pay drivers to disconnect before their battery is full. The reason? Free up charging space. The new scheme, called ‘Fast Lane Reward’, gives you 5 kWh of […]

Could satellite speed control become EU’s next road-safety battle?

July 10, 2026

“EU’s drive to let satellite technology force your car to slow down to 20 mph?” The British tabloid headline sounds like the perfect culture-war story. Yet behind the Daily Mail’s framing lies a serious question for Europe’s car industry and regulators. Now that vehicles can read speed limits, know where they are, and control their […]

Airbus and MTU to jointly develop hydrogen propulsion for aviation

July 09, 2026

The European aerospace corporation Airbus plans to establish a joint venture with aircraft engine manufacturer MTU Aero Engines to produce hydrogen-powered engines. These engines are intended to eventually serve as an alternative to fossil-fuel-powered internal combustion engines, thereby reducing CO2 emissions from aviation. Fuel cells Through the joint venture, which is expected to become operational […]

BYD reaches 17 million NEVs and eyes a bigger role in Europe

July 09, 2026

BYD has reached another symbolic milestone in its rapid rise as the world’s largest new energy vehicle manufacturer. On July 8, the Chinese carmaker announced that its 17 millionth NEV had rolled off the production line. The milestone car was the new Seal 08, the flagship sedan of BYD’s Ocean range, launched only days earlier […]

Level 4 autonomous driving Maserati gets Belgian highway permit

July 09, 2026

A fully autonomous driving Maserati Granturismo from AIdoptation has been granted permission to legally cruise the E313 and E314 at 120 km/h. At the same time, the person in the driver’s seat does something else entirely. This is the first time that Level 4 driving has been permitted on public roads anywhere in Europe.   […]

Polestar brings back the rear window on its 4 SUV

July 08, 2026

Polestar has released more details about the upcoming new version of the 4. Rumored to be a shooting brake, the model will be called SUV and will go on sale on September 2. In any case, it brings back the rear window, which was replaced by a camera on the original 4.  A rear window […]

Renault boss turns small EV profits into a warning for EU

July 08, 2026

Renault CEO François Provost has put one of the European car industry’s most sensitive questions on the table: can small electric cars be profitable, or will Europe’s volume manufacturers be pushed out of their home market by Chinese competition? In an interview with Les Echos, the LVMH-owned French business daily widely read in political and […]

Flanders updates signage on highways

July 07, 2026

Signage on Flemish highways is getting a facelift. The Roads and Traffic Agency (Agentschap Wegen en Verkeer, AWV), the road authority responsible for Flemish highways and regional roads, wants signage to be consistent across the entire Flemish highway network, guided by the principle of providing less but more relevant information per sign and improving traffic […]

Mercedes moves electric ‘Baby G’ production from Germany to Hungary

July 07, 2026

Mercedes-Benz builds its compact cars in Germany. But for the upcoming electric ‘Baby-G’, the brand has changed its plans and is looking eastward. According to Automobilwoche, the German Rastatt plant will not be awarded the contract. The smallest G ever will most likely be stamped by the Hungarian division and roll off the line at […]

Leapmotor opens B03X orders in Belgium from €24,900

July 07, 2026

Leapmotor has opened the European order books for the B03X, the compact electric crossover it hopes will turn the Chinese brand from a niche newcomer into a serious contender in Europe’s volume EV market. At €24,900, the B03X will compete for the same buyers as Stellantis’ own Fiat Grande Panda Electric, Citroën ë-C3 Aircross, and […]

BNEF still sees record global EV sales despite US policy retreat

July 06, 2026

BloombergNEF expects global electric-car sales to set another record in 2026, even as the United States moves sharply in the opposite direction. Its new Electric Vehicle Outlook forecasts 23.3 million passenger EV sales worldwide this year, 11% more than in 2025, giving plug-in cars a 27% share of the global new-car market. The headline is […]

Brussels Airlines cuts noise pollution in half over 12 years

July 04, 2026

Brussels Airlines has taken delivery of its 8th Airbus A320neo aircraft. Thanks to its investment in this quieter aircraft model, the Belgian airline has halved its fleet’s noise pollution since 2014. Although Brussels Airlines’ approach to reducing noise pollution is sincere, its legal strategy is moving in the opposite direction. Indeed, it recently vehemently opposed […]

Belgians are taking the train more often for their summer vacations

July 03, 2026

Last summer, 1.6 million train tickets to international destinations were purchased from the Belgian public railway company NMBS/SNCB, a 6% increase over the previous year. Current ticket sales also confirm this upward trend. One reason Belgians are increasingly choosing to travel by train is the growing range of destinations available. Currently, you can travel from […]

Fiat bets big on the city with new small car strategy

July 03, 2026

At a dedicated event in Rome, Fiat CEO Olivier François unveiled what the company calls its “micromobility vision.” The lineup consists of a threesome running on batteries: the existing Topolino, the earlier announced three-wheeler Tris, and the new Multiplina Concept. In these retro-crazy times, the Italian brand is reinterpreting the classic Fiat 600 Multipla.  Highest […]

Tesla posts its best sales result ever, but BYD still in the lead

July 03, 2026

As Tesla has registered its strongest second quarter on record, the negative spiral initiated by Musk seems to have been countered. The American EV maker is back on track, but BYD still outsold it by roughly 77,000 fully electric vehicles on a global level. According to figures published this week, Tesla delivered 480,126 units in […]

Markus Flasch, CEO of BMW Motorrad, is new president of ACEM

July 02, 2026

Markus Flasch, CEO of BMW Motorrad, has assumed the presidency of the European Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers (ACEM) as of 1 July 2026. His two-year mandate begins at a pivotal moment for the sector, as Europe’s mobility landscape is undergoing profound change and the industry faces a convergence of regulatory, mobility, and competitiveness challenges. The […]

‘Belgians see cars as essential luxury they can barely afford’

July 02, 2026

Belgian motorists overwhelmingly regard the car as essential to everyday life, yet increasingly see it as a luxury they can barely afford. That is the central finding of a European survey commissioned by Cardoen’s French parent group, AramisAuto, which places Belgium among the more cautious markets for electrification and low-emission zone policy. The OpinionWay study surveyed […]

Chinese lifeline must help refresh Jeep’s lineup in Europe

June 30, 2026

Stellantis is betting on Chinese Dongfeng to get Jeep back on track in Europe. In addition to greenlighting the import of the American Recon, the lineup will be completed in 2028 with a Chinese-built plug-in hybrid SUV. But Brussels is already drafting tariffs on the exact type of vehicle this partnership produces. Jeep’s European portfolio […]

CEO Smart Europe: ‘We’ll definitely discuss European production of the #2’

June 30, 2026

Although Smart reinvented itself around the booming SUV segment, sales have yet to meet expectations. With the recently appointed Wolfgang Ufer at the helm as its new CEO, the brand is bringing a Mercedes veteran to the role just as its most iconic model, the #2, is ready for a rematch. “It’s the best two-seater […]

Seven EU states oppose further easing of CO₂ targets (update)

June 30, 2026

Seven EU member states – Denmark, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden – have called on the European Union to maintain a clear and ambitious path toward electrification. The countries oppose any further easing of the regulations included in the EU’s auto package due in December, despite calls from Germany and others for […]

T&E: ‘Booming air tourism fuels housing rent hikes all over the EU’

June 29, 2026

Unchecked tourism growth, fueled by increased air traffic, is driving an unaffordable housing crisis across Europe, says the NGO Transport & Environment (T&E). Some of the most popular destinations, like Spain, Portugal, Italy, and Greece, have seen protests from residents in the high-season summer months, often due to the strain on affordable housing. Southern Europe […]

Shell presents a small EV that could be a big deal

June 29, 2026

In the wake of the new European E-car rules, a similar concept from an unexpected name has surfaced. Shell has unveiled a small urban EV called the Triple10 Challenge, which shows some interesting features for a car of its size. This is more than oil supermajor window dressing for green credentials. Shell still pumps roughly […]

Polestar banned from selling in the US, focus now on Europe

June 26, 2026

Polestar has been officially denied to sell cars in the United States as of 2027. After the brand withdrew from China due to low adoption, the luxury EV maker now also risks losing the world’s second-largest car market. The company will focus largely on Europe. But that is still the backyard of German premium. Polestar […]

T&E: EU promises seamless rail travel, but major cross-border gaps remain

June 25, 2026

The new rules the EU plans to introduce for booking tickets for cross-border rail travel still mean that nearly half of the busiest international train journeys are difficult or impossible to book. That’s according to T&E, a lobby group for sustainable mobility, in a new report. T&E also proposes several changes and measures that would […]

Ford hasn’t admitted it yet, but new Mustang Mach-E is shelved

June 25, 2026

No, the Mach-E is not canceled today. Ford is still building it in Mexico and shipping it to dealers. But a second-generation Mach-E built on Ford’s new Universal EV architecture isn’t going to happen. A dead end seems ahead for the battery-powered vehicle that galloped the Blue Oval into the EV era, despite its unfortunate […]

Spain launches new EV incentive scheme in July

June 25, 2026

Spain’s new ‘Plan Auto+’ subsidy program is nearly ready for launch. Applications can reportedly be submitted starting in July, and retroactively for EVs purchased on or after January 1, 2026. The maximum grant is €4,500 per vehicle, but complex conditions apply. Spain has restructured its electromobility incentives at the beginning of 2026, dividing them into […]

Increasing demand for cooling pushes energy prices to record highs

June 24, 2026

Yesterday, we reported that electricity prices are rising sharply due to the massive demand for power to run air conditioners. The heat of the past few days and the demand for cooling are driving power prices to record highs. Prices above 1,000 euros per megawatt-hour have not been seen since 2020. However, to obtain electricity on […]

Fastned’s bet attracts fresh millions from private investors

June 24, 2026

Fastned has raised €36.5 million in its latest retail bond issue, providing fresh capital for its European expansion as the Dutch fast-charging specialist continues to build stations faster than it turns a net profit. The company said €35.1 million of the June issue came from new investments, with the balance rolled over by existing bondholders. […]

Škoda Peaq: seven-seat electric flagship built to undercut Kia EV9

June 24, 2026

Nomen est omen. A peak is a summit. So, conveniently, the new Peaq sits at the top of Skoda’s electric range. Stuffed with seven seats and a 91 kWh battery at best, the Czech brand has built its largest vehicle in 130 years. The Kia EV9 and Hyundai Ioniq 9 are facing a strong contender, […]

Geely E2 heads for Belgium with Chinese sales star pedigree

June 24, 2026

Geely will introduce the E2 in Belgium after the summer, bringing one of China’s biggest recent EV successes to the crowded European small-car market. The compact five-door is intended to make Geely a player at the accessible end of the electric market, starting around €20,000, but final Belgian prices and several core technical details remain […]

UK-made EVs risk higher EU prices as new Brexit tariff deadline looms

June 23, 2026

European and British carmakers are again seeking a reprieve from a post-Brexit trade rule that could impose a 10% tariff on electric vehicles crossing the Channel from 1 January 2027. The risk does not arise simply because a car is assembled in Britain. To remain tariff-free under the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, an electric […]

Heat pushes electricity prices to highest levels in years

June 23, 2026

The heat of the past few days is driving electricity prices to their highest level in years. On the wholesale electricity market, 658.09 euros per megawatt-hour must now be paid. It has been since December 2022 that electricity has been this expensive. The most expensive time is around a quarter to nine and nine o’clock in […]

Sweden asks EU to reject Tesla FSD over speeding issues

June 23, 2026

Sweden’s Transport Administration has told the European Union to vote against rolling out Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (Supervised) software unless the company disables a feature that allows the car to break posted speed limits. Belgium has approved since the beginning of the month.  The Swedish recommendation arrived in a letter dated one month ago, addressed to […]

ACEA: EU car market grows 4% in May, EV shift is reshaping industry

June 23, 2026

New car registrations in the European Union rose 4.0% in the first five months of 2026, reaching 4.75 million units. The headline masks a much more profound market shift: battery-electric cars now account for 1 in 5 registrations, while gasoline and diesel are rapidly losing ground. According to the latest figures from ACEA, 950,521 battery-electric […]

Volvo offers to open its factories to Chinese sister brands

June 22, 2026

Volvo Cars CEO Hakan Samuelsson has made an explicit offer to his Chinese parent company. In an interview with Automobilwoche, Samuelsson said it would be “positive and possible” for Geely’s sibling brands to produce vehicles at Volvo’s European factories, including the Ghent, Belgium, plant. Samuelsson’s offer is a direct invitation for Geely Auto (the brand, […]

Europe on final straight-line for tariffs on PHEVs made in China

June 22, 2026

According to German newspaper Handelsblatt, the European Commission has finalized a proposal for punitive tariffs on plug-in hybrids made in China. These bread-and-butter models could face a similar fate to their counterparts with full-electric drivelines. However, the percentages would be lower. Europe set out to punish Chinese electric cars. Instead, it created a market for […]

Volkswagen to cut 50.000 jobs? Blume says real problem is ‘relevance’

June 19, 2026

At the annual general meeting, VW CEO Oliver Blume didn’t shy away from blunt words. Though the group is on track shedding 50,000 workforce, he stated that the “business model is no longer working today.” Volkswagen is struggling hard with the modern-day reality of car building, to the point that the question no longer is […]

Maserati bets on sharper nose and a partner to boost sales

June 19, 2026

Maserati has had a rough few years. Sales are down. The brand’s EV pivot has moved more slowly than planned, and the Grecale, its core volume model, has quietly fallen behind the competition on the one metric that matters most for electric cars: range. Revised Folgore versions of the Grecale and GranTurismo must help fix […]

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