March 18, 2022
By 2025, there will be an electric Maserati across the entire range, and by 2030, the last car with a combustion engine will have left the factory. That was the CEO of Maserati Davide Grasso’s message in a nutshell on Thursday’s media briefing on the financial results of the carmaker for 2021. Grasso also released […]
March 18, 2022
The Ministers for the Environment of the European Union have reached an agreement in Brussels on the rules for using and reusing industrial batteries and batteries for domestic use. Future batteries should be more sustainable, reusable, and have a longer life-span. This implies that the production, use, and processing of used batteries has to become […]
March 17, 2022
Audi took the wraps from the A6 Avant e-tron concept as a prelude to its annual media conference. The station wagon is the second concept hinting at Audi’s electric future in the mid-size executive class, sharing most of its technology with the A6 Sportback e-tron unveiled in Shanghai last year. The message? Audi is not […]
March 16, 2022
According to an analysis by Wells Fargo, global car production could shrink with up to 700 000 units during the first half of the year or 15% of Europe’s output. With 17 factories, Ukraine is one of the top producers of wire harnesses, which is in particularly high demand for building EVs. Due to the […]
March 15, 2022
The European Union is envisioning a total ban on exporting to Russia premium and luxury cars from brands like Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Ferrari, Bentley, Lamborghini, and Porsche, among others, as part of its fourth package of sanctions. According to Bloomberg news agency, it would apply to all models above €50 000. It also would include […]
March 15, 2022
According to the statistics of the European manufacturers’ organization, ACEA, almost one-third (31,2%) of the newly registered buses in the EU are already powered by alternative fuels. The other two-thirds are still diesel-powered. Overall in 2021, 68,8% of all new buses registered in the European Union ran on diesel. However, electrically-chargeable buses posted strong growth, […]
March 14, 2022
Today, Ford announced significant strides toward an all-electric future in Europe, which will see the company transform and offer a new generation of seven all-electric, fully-connected passenger vehicles and vans by 2024. “I am delighted to see the pace of change in Europe – challenging our entire industry to build better, cleaner, and more digital […]
March 08, 2022
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has announced his decision to expand the Ultra-Low-Emission Zone (ULEZ) to all of Greater London. As for now, the zone covers the areas within the North and South Circular Roads, but under the expansion, the whole territory within the M25 will be monitored for polluting cars. The rules remain […]
March 03, 2022
In February, more than three-quarters of the Norwegian registrations were EVs. Moreover, the Ioniq 5 was the best-selling model in the Scandinavian country. The result stands in deep contrast to the European picture, where EVs entering the market have plummeted to half their share at the end of 2021. Though the Norwegian registration figures from […]
March 03, 2022
On both sides of the frontline, the automotive industry has to take measures to cope with the consequences of the hostilities in Ukraine. While local production in Russia is mostly suspended until further notice, international car export to the country is grinding to a halt. Meanwhile, the sanctions lead to the temporary closure of assembly […]
March 02, 2022
Toyota Motor Europe (TME) has sent its first batch of Yaris cars across the channel by train freight. This stepping stone will lead to a broader logistics network that ultimately connects the European plants of the car manufacturer by rail. As a result, it targets a significant CO2 reduction. In France, Toyota’s Valenciennes Vehicle Logistics […]
February 28, 2022
Belgian rail network manager, Infrabel, and rail company NMBS/SNCB will be able to invest an additional 445 million euros in the coming years thanks to European and federal money. The money comes on top of the investments via the traditional allocations they receive. For Infrabel, it is 357 million euros, for NMBS/SNCB 88 million euros. […]
February 28, 2022
The EU Commission has granted 10 million euros to the European Battery Alliance (EBA) Academy to come up to speed. The latter, part of the renewable energy agency EIT InnoEnergy, intends to supply support for the industry to train, upskill and reskill some 800 000 workers needed by 2025 to meet demand in the battery […]
February 23, 2022
A decision has not yet been taken, but Volkswagen has admitted that it is preparing a framework to get the Porsche brand publicly listed. The German group has to reach an agreement with its largest shareholder, Porsche SE, a separate legal entity that despite its name has nothing to do with the sports car business […]
February 21, 2022
Voyah is the latest Chinese car manufacturer to hit the European market. The premium EV brand is opening a flagship store in Oslo. With the first batch of its SUV Free to arrive in June, customers should get their deliveries in Q4. Following the example of BYD, XPeng, and Nio, the company intends to expand […]
February 18, 2022
Already unveiled at the IAA Mobility in September last year, Kia has finally released full specs on the plug-in hybrid version of the all-new Sportage. The Korean car brand doesn’t miss out on its first PHEV version in the Sportage range, claiming that the compact SUV can reach a maximum of 78 kilometers of emission-free […]
February 18, 2022
Sales of electric vehicles, including battery-electric and plug-in hybrids, rose by 109% last year, according to research by analyst company Canalys. Demand for electric cars is gaining strong momentum globally, but the growth of more than 109% shows a very different face from one region to the other. Where electric vehicles represent 15% of the […]
February 17, 2022
As in the rest of Europe, the Tesla Model 3 was the best-selling EV in Belgium last year. It accounted for 2 466 registrations and comfortably took the lead. The podium is completed by the Brussels-made Audi e-Tron (1 887) and the BMW iX3 (1 413). The latter receiving a bronze medal doesn’t come as […]
February 16, 2022
The Swedish automotive group Hedin reinforces its position as the biggest Mercedes dealer in Belgium. It has acquired four additional retail points with workshops in and around Antwerp from Mercedes Group. Hedin already owns fifteen dealerships of the German brand, including three Truck Centers. While it is a multi-brand player offering 32 different makes, it […]
February 11, 2022
The European Parliament wants to make batteries more sustainable by reducing their environmental and social impact. Therefore, the Environment Committee has adopted a new proposal to strengthen the EU rules for the design, production, and disposal of batteries. The parliamentary committee wants batteries to carry a label that reflects their carbon footprint, an upper limit […]
February 09, 2022
Alfa Romeo has finally lifted the curtain on its compact SUV, Tonale. In many ways, this is the little brother to the Stelvio, but despite being smaller, it carries a lot more weight on its shoulders. As the first electrified Alfa, it must compensate for the poor sales performance of the Stelvio and its saloon […]
February 07, 2022
On Tuesday, Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton will present the European Chips Act. It embodies the ambitious plan of the European Union to leverage the research in and production of its chip industry. Though not yet approved, the Union wants to invest 42 billion euros in the sector, doubling its presence on the global market […]
February 03, 2022
The decision of the European Commission on Wednesday to give gas and nuclear energy a ‘green’ label provokes criticism. For environmental organization Greenpeace, it’s an act of ‘greenwashing’. But getting that label for gas won’t come without a considerable cost. To get a green label for gas, power plants have to keep their CO2 emissions […]
February 02, 2022
Grenoble-based industrial start-up, Verkor, has announced it will build the third battery Gigafactory of France in Dunkirk. The foundation stone for the plant should be laid in 2023, and the first high-performance, low-carbon battery should be delivered by 2025. Production capacity is planned to rise from 16 to 50 GWh by 2030. This €2,5 billion […]
February 01, 2022
The 55 billion euros of fossil fuel subsidies handed out annually by EU governments threaten to derail the union’s ambitious climate plans, the European Court of Auditors (ECA) said on Monday. “Taxing energy can support efforts to combat climate change. But current tax levels do not reflect the extent to which different energy sources pollute,” […]
January 28, 2022
The output of the British car industry sunk to a significant low in 2021. With 859 575 vehicles assembled, it reached the same level as in 1956. The fall in production was at 6,7% compared to the pandemic year 2020, and down by more than a third compared to the last ‘normal’ year, 2019. “Last […]
January 27, 2022
“2021 was a breakthrough year for Tesla and electric vehicles in general,” announced Tesla CEO Elon Musk while commenting on the earnings results of his company. It was indeed a record year. It’s the second consecutive year that Tesla is in the black, but the rise in income is nothing less than spectacular. Compared to […]
January 26, 2022
Practice makes perfect. Only a week after Bosch and Volkswagen announced a collaboration for equipment solutions in battery factories, the two German giants are teaming up for another technology roll-out. This time the supplier and car-maker will join forces to scale up autonomous driving. Basically, they want to accelerate the market launch, for which both […]
January 25, 2022
The European Court of Auditors fears Belgium won’t meet the requirements of the Union for the roll-out of the 5G ultra-fast telecom network in all major cities and along the major transport routes by 2025. Belgium is at the bottom of the class, together with Greece, Cyprus, Bulgaria, and Croatia. A former Belgian minister, Annemie […]
January 19, 2022
Since the beginning of the registrations, dating from 1990, the European market never performed so weakly. According to the federation of European car manufacturers (ACEA), sales fell back in 2021 to 9,7 million units across the EU, a further decline of -2,4 percent compared to the year before. And 2020, heavily affected by Covid-19, was […]
January 18, 2022
According to a YouGov survey, a large majority of people support stricter EU car emission rules for manufacturers to make cars as clean as possible. YouGov, commissioned by Transport & Environment (T&E), questioned more than 8 000 people from seven European countries: France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Poland, Roumania, and the Czech Republic. More than three-quarters […]
January 14, 2022
This Thursday, the European Court of Justice overturned the partial annulment of a European regulation relaxing Euro 6 emission standards. It had been requested and obtained back in 2018 by the cities of Brussels, Paris, and Madrid, which saw the relaxing as a ‘license to pollute’. After the dieselgate scandal was brought to light, the […]
January 14, 2022
Lithium, cobalt, and nickel, the metals essential to the manufacture of the batteries for electric cars, are so sought after that Europe is preparing to open mines and refineries to reduce its dependence on imports. After all, Europe is far too dependent on external powers, particularly China, for its energy transition. With soaring prices – […]
January 14, 2022
Already the most established player in the field of performance cars, with Porsche, Bentley, Lamborghini, and Bugatti, the Belgian car importer D’Ieteren is adding one more name to its portfolio of exclusive brands: Rimac Automobili. David Favest, General Manager of Bentley, Lamborghini, and Bugatti at D’Ieteren, explains: “We are very proud of becoming one of […]
January 12, 2022
The chip shortage put a dent in the production of Volvo Car Gent last year. But for 2022, the company is looking forward. The plant plans to triple its output of all-electric models and take its final steps to become a climate-neutral site. 2021 wasn’t the best of years for Volvo Car Gent. While output […]
January 07, 2022
Airlines have no reason to fly planes empty in Europe to keep their airport slots. That is what ACI Europe, the association representing Europe’s airports, says, expressing dismay at the controversy that arose after Lufthansa said carrying out some 18 000 unnecessary flights just to keep its time slots. About 3 000 of these are […]
January 03, 2022
From 1 January this year, France restricts international freight transport by trucks over 44 tons. More than 40 tons will only be permitted for intermodal transport by French trucks. France has ended all ambiguity surrounding the maximum weight for cross-border transport with the new legislation. The UPTR, the Professional Union of Transport and Logistics in […]
December 30, 2021
Swedish battery-startup Northvolt has commissioned its Skellefteå factory in the north of the country by producing the first prismatic battery cell on site. Production will fully start in 2022, ramping up to a capacity of 16 GWh annually. That’s enough to power about 300 000 electric cars. Ultimately, the factory will output 60 GWh per […]
December 27, 2021
Urban.brussels has delivered the building permit to start converting the Brussels Schuman Square in the European quarters of the Belgian capital, merely a three-lane roundabout today, into a green pedestrian esplanade. Brussels building agency Beliris is to start works by the end of 2022. The latter was confirmed on Friday by Minister-President Rudy Vervoort (PS) […]
December 17, 2021
Is it driving on sunshine for less than € 30 000 within a few years? That’s the new target for Dutch start-up Lightyear, a specialist in solar cars. The news breaks shortly after the company secured the necessary fundings for its pioneering car, the One (pictured above), which will be offered for a retail price […]
December 15, 2021
The EU Commission has presented a four-pillar Action Plan for a cleaner, greener, and smarter mobility on the cross-border transport network through Europe and its nine major corridors. That means shifting more passengers and freight to rail and inland waterways, the roll-out of charging points every 60 km along highways, hydrogen filling stations at 150 […]
December 14, 2021
The Italian Interministerial Committee for the Ecological Transition (CITE) has aligned itself with the EU Commission’s proposal to ban the sales of new cars with an internal combustion engine from 2035. For light commercial vehicles, this would be extended to 2040. A note from the Ministery for Ecological Transition specified it would apply to cars […]
December 14, 2021
The German government is extending subsidies for electrified cars by one year. In 2022, the purchase of an e-car will continue to be subsidized up to a maximum of 9 000 euros and 6 750 euros for plug-in hybrids. These subsidies, introduced in July 2020, have played a vital role in the record increase in […]
December 13, 2021
Three additional Chinese carmakers, NIO, Xpeng, and Lynk & Co, have joined Volkswagen’s open CO2 Pool to help achieve the EU goals for 2021-2022. Those are set at a maximum of 95 g/km average CO2 output over the entire fleet of newly sold cars. The latter was published by Berlin-based EU industry market analyst Schmidt […]
December 13, 2021
All new trains of Belgian railway company NMBS/SNCB will have at least eight places for bicycles starting in 2025. This is stated in a preliminary draft law by Minister of Mobility, Georges Gilkinet (Ecolo), the Council of Ministers approved on Friday. The obligation will apply to new trains that are put into service. Existing trains […]
December 03, 2021
Toyota’s idea of our electric future is not just about battery-electric cars. That was the bottom line of the Kenshiki (translated as ‘Insight’) forum held in Brussels on Thursday. The brand showcased the new production model Corolla Cross Hybrid, some European premieres, and further outlined its path toward carbon-neutrality in Europe by 2035. Alongside the […]
November 24, 2021
The Flemish Minister of Energy Tinne Van der Straeten (Groen) has signed a political agreement in Copenhagen for the construction of an undersea high-tension cable between Belgium and Denmark. The 600-km-long cable connection, called Triton Link, will be used to transport the surplus of energy of the numerous Danish wind farms to our country. Triton […]
November 19, 2021
The chip crisis isn’t going anywhere soon, and it shows in the latest registration figures. In Belgium, 25 045 cars were registered for October, 35,3 percent less than last year’s comparable month. According to the European manufacturers association ACEA, October was the worst month in European car sales since recording sales figures. Overall the year […]
November 17, 2021
[email protected], the Antwerp project to set up an infrastructure to capture CO2 and push it in liquid form through pipelines into storage, is one of the seven large-scale selected projects to be subsidized by the European Innovation Fund (EIF). The project gets part of the €1,1 billion subsidies the European Commission has available. [email protected] is […]
November 16, 2021
The latest battery cell from Northvolt answers to one of the most important criticisms against battery production: the unethical and ecologically questionable mining process. The Swedish battery manufacturer has successfully produced its first lithium-ion battery cell made entirely from precious recycled metals. The nickel, cobalt, and manganese used in this cell came from the waste […]
November 09, 2021
The Greek government has finally thought its climate plans through and is joining the leading group of European countries to ban the sales of new ICE cars already in 2030, five years ahead of what is currently on the EU Commission’s table. Second-hand cars are not affected. In 2025 Greece wants all new taxis in […]
November 04, 2021
More details have emerged on Mini’s plans to become a fully electric brand by 2030. As of next year, BMW’s sub-company will launch a new generation of an all-electric platform, and in the year 2025, its showrooms will see the last model equipped with a combustion engine. The target is that by 2027 half of […]
October 28, 2021
To celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Renault 4, the brand decided to team up with designer Mathieu Lehanneur to reinvent the vehicle. At the same time, CEO Luca de Meo pleads for less complaining and more innovation throughout the French car industry. The iconic Renault 4L has turned 60. It was a small and […]
October 20, 2021
The replacement of the Nissan Leaf will be a crossover model based on the Alliance platform CMF-EV. It will be built at the plant in Sunderland, England, starting in 2025. This was confirmed by Nissan’s European boss Guillaume Cartier to the British magazine Autocar. The Nissan Leaf hatchback was one of the first EVs to […]
October 19, 2021
There’s a chance that Volvo Cars chose Ghent as the site to build an entirely new (giga)factory for batteries. The plant should produce 300 000 to 400 000 battery packs per year and provide jobs for 3 000 people. Like many other car manufacturers, Volvo wants to be more independent of the (primarily Asian) battery […]
October 13, 2021
Months away from the French elections, President Emmanuel Macron has unveiled his ‘France 2030’ plan. Grounds are laid to invest 30 billion euros in hydrogen, nuclear, electric cars, green airplanes, renewable energies, and even aerospace. The president wants France to “become a great innovation nation again.” To the energy sector, Macron has allocated a total […]
October 12, 2021
Canadian group Rock Tech Lithium has invested 470 million euros in constructing the first lithium hydroxide converter in Europe. The plant that is to be built in Brandenburg (Germany) should produce around 24 000 metric tons of lithium hydroxide per year, starting in 2024. This would be enough to equip around 500 000 EVs. “Our […]
October 07, 2021
The European Parliament demands a zero-tolerance for alcohol and drugs on the road throughout the European Union. There should also be a 30 km/hour speed limit in every residential area. Since the current European recommendations are 20 years old, the Parliament considers the time to open the debate on new road safety measures. Moreover, things […]
October 01, 2021
British motorists driving outside the UK are no longer allowed to use the old-style ‘GB’ indication on their cars. Instead, they have to display a ‘UK’ sticker, or they need the UK identifier on their license plate. The new UK governance guidance has been in place since Tuesday, September 28th, and is said to be […]
September 30, 2021
Eric-Mark Huitema, Director General at the European car manufacturers association ACEA, rings the alarm bell. He warns that the ambitious ‘Fit for 55’ emission reduction program of the European Commission is doomed to fail. The lack of charging infrastructure necessary to implement the energy transition will be a stumbling stone. “A badly managed transition will […]
