Europe’s auto sector breathes again as Nexperia chip shipments resume

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 […]

Shareholders approve Elon Musk becoming a trillionaire

November 07, 2025

It does resound in a Trumpian style. Too big and brash to be countered, Elon Musk raked in the approval from Tesla’s shareholders for his incredible record pay package of $1 trillion (€920 billion). But will the Tesla CEO be free from the court, after it blocked his previous wages? Tesla shareholders have voted to […]

New Renault Twingo E-Tech Electric: the rebirth of a game-changer

November 06, 2025

Launched in 1992, Renault Twingo radically transformed the A segment with its bold new vision of the city car. Today, Renault wants to reinvent the electric A segment, with a bold ‘reinvention’ of its former success story. “Contrary to popular belief, the current size of the A segment is not a reflection of low demand: […]

BMW CEO: ‘Our business model is robust and resilient’

November 06, 2025

German luxury carmaker BMW Group more than tripled its earnings in the third quarter, the company announced on Wednesday, in a rare beacon of hope for the country’s ailing automotive industry. Net profit came in at about €1.7 billion between July and September, compared to €476 million in the same quarter last year, when BMW […]

First BMW sedan in the ‘Neue Klasse’ will be the i3

November 06, 2025

BMW CEO Oliver Zipse confirmed the i3 name for the next Neue Klasse model during the company’s quarterly results call. Production is scheduled to begin in Munich in the second half of 2026, followed by rollouts at additional plants. “With the eighth generation of the 3 Series, we will bring the Neue Klasse and its […]

Jaguar’s all-new electric car will come in 2026

November 06, 2025

Jaguar will present its first new all-electric model in 2026 and not at the end of 2025 as originally announced. The British company is focusing primarily on the US market for its upcoming EV, despite current developments there. “We’ll unveil it next year and start taking orders. Then deliveries will start relatively soon after that,” […]

Clea Martinet, Renault: ‘EV manufacturing costs will fall significantly’

November 05, 2025

Cléa Martinet, Renault’s Director of Sustainability, says that “by 2028, manufacturing costs are expected to fall by around 40% compared with the first generation of the electric Megane.” In an interview with the German magazine Autoflotte.de, she explained that the most significant levers are the switch to LFP battery cells, more efficient electric drives, and […]

Ampere and Stratus Materials to develop cobalt-free cathode technology

November 04, 2025

Renault’s electric Ampere division and Stratus Materials have closed a Joint Development Agreement (JDA). The aim is to use cobalt-free battery technology in the next generation of electric vehicles. This so-called LXMO technology offers an energy density comparable to that of NMC (Nickel-Manganese-Cobalt) batteries at a lower price, similar to that of LFP (Lithium-Iron-Phosphate) batteries. […]

Shell and Remitrans open first semi-public truck charging station

November 04, 2025

SBRS, Shell’s heavy-duty charging solutions subsidiary, and Belgian transport firm Remitrans have partnered to open the first semi-public truck charging station in Europe. The two 400 kW fast-chargers are open for the public during the day, but only available for Remitrans’ vehicles during the night. Semi-public chargers are nothing new. For electric cars, these solutions […]

Belux market in October: -6.8%

November 04, 2025

According to data from the federal government service Mobility & Transport and the sector federation Febiac, 33,955 cars were registered in Belgium and Luxembourg in October 2025, 6.8% fewer than in the same month last year. Once again, the decrease is due to the professional market (-10.3%, 20,726 registrations compared to 23,112 last year in […]

Renault Group and Geely strengthen their cooperation

November 04, 2025

Renault Group, Geely Holding Group, and Geely Automobile Holdings (together, ‘Geely’) have signed agreements under which Geely will acquire a 26.4% stake in Renault do Brasil. This transaction continues the strategic cooperation between Renault Group and Geely. The aim is to enhance the development of the Renault and Geely brands in Brazil while paving the […]

Decade after Paris: catastrophic 4°C warming avoided, danger persists

November 03, 2025

Thanks to the Paris Climate Agreement, our planet is no longer heading toward a catastrophic 4 degrees of warming, but is still facing an additional 2.6 degrees Celsius. That is what climate specialists from the World Weather Attribution and Climate Central have calculated. Ten years ago, the Paris Climate Agreement was signed. World leaders pledged […]

European truck manufacturers want to weaken CO2 targets

November 03, 2025

Truck manufacturers Volvo Trucks, Daimler, Scania, MAN, Iveco, and Ford have sent a letter to the EU calling for the CO2 emission regulations for the sector to be relaxed. While they do not question the cornerstones of the current standard, they do question the stages between the annual targets. The news was reported by the […]

Audi profits rebound after Brussels plant write-off

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 […]

China signals ‘flexibility’ in worrying Nexperia export ban

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 […]

BMW gains international approval for its driver assistance system (DCAS)

November 03, 2025

BMW is one of the first European car manufacturers to receive approval for its driver assistance system (DCAS). The German carmaker can now offer its ‘Motorway Assistant’ for the new iX3 in 60 countries without having to apply for approval in each country. The DCAS regulation was adopted by the United Nations Economic Commission for […]

Subaru hints at electric rebirth for STI

October 31, 2025

Subaru has presented a vision of how its performance arm can be made future-proof. At the Japan Mobility Show, the automaker introduced the Performance-E STI Concept, a quite attractive electric hatchback that reimagines the brand’s storied STI badge. Don’t look for turbocharged boxer engines underneath this one. It’s been three years since Subaru dropped the […]

BYD launches first non-Japanese electric kei car: the Racco

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 […]

Mercedes-Benz sees profits shrink

October 30, 2025

German carmaker Mercedes-Benz on Wednesday said its third-quarter profit fell nearly 31% year on year, as Germany’s crucial automotive sector struggles amid rising costs, competition, and trade barriers. Profit fell to €1.19 billion from €1.71 billion in the third quarter of 2024. Adjusted group earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) slipped to about €2 billion […]

Turkish SynPet to invest €300 million in new plastics recycling plant Antwerp

October 30, 2025

After more than ten years of research and fine-tuning of its pilot plant in Istanbul, Turkish SynPet Technologies has chosen the Port of Antwerp to build its first large-scale plastic recycling plant. The project will represent a 300-million-euro investment. If all goes according to plan, the plant will be operational in 2028 and will process […]

Bill Gates: ‘Global warming will not lead to humanity’s demise’

October 30, 2025

According to the American billionaire and philanthropist Bill Gates, global warming “is not going to lead to the disappearance of humanity”. While climate change will have “serious consequences, particularly for people in the poorest countries, […] people will be able to live and prosper on most of the planet in the near future,” writes Bill […]

Honda shows two EV prototypes at Japan Mobility Show

October 30, 2025

Honda has revealed two new electric prototypes at the Japan Mobility Show 2025 in Tokyo: the Honda 0 α SUV and the compact Super-ONE Prototype. Both models represent the next step in the company’s electrification strategy. The Honda 0 α joins the Honda 0 Series lineup, following the Honda 0 Saloon and Honda 0 SUV […]

Mazda shows two concepts and new CX-5 at Japan Mobility Show

October 30, 2025

During the press conference at the Japan Mobility Show 2025 on Wednesday, Mazda Motor Corporation unveiled two concepts, the Mazda Vision X-Coupé and the Mazda Vision X-Compact (‘X’ pronounced as ‘cross’). Both are embodying the Company’s theme for this year’s exhibition: ‘The Joy of Driving Fuels a Sustainable Tomorrow’ for 2035. “This phrase expresses not […]

Uber targets 100,000 robotaxis in partnership with Nvidia, Foxconn, and several car OEMs

October 29, 2025

Uber said on Tuesday it aims to deploy 100,000 self-driving vehicles on its ride-hailing platform, working with US chipmaker Nvidia to supply the computing systems that will power them. Car manufacturers involved are Stellantis, Mercedes-Benz, Lucid, and possibly others. Nvidia’s new autonomous driving platform, Drive AGX Hyperion 10, will be installed in vehicles from multiple […]

Alstom consolidates its BeLux activities under French flag

October 29, 2025

French train manufacturer Alstom is consolidating its activities in Belgium and Luxembourg into its French entity, according to business newspaper L’Echo. At the same time, it is also parting ways with its Benelux CEO, Bernard Belvaux. “The new organizational structure will take effect on December 1 and reflects the close ties that exist between the […]

The new Alpine A110 will be fully electric

October 29, 2025

Renault’s sports car brand Alpine has confirmed an all-electric successor to its combustion-engined A110. Production of the current model will end in mid-2026, paving the way for the third-generation, fully electric A110, based on the new Alpine Performance Platform (APP). Alpine has officially confirmed that the next generation of its iconic A110 will be fully […]

Opel forced to shut down German testing facilities: 300 jobs lost

October 29, 2025

Around 300 employees at Opel’s vehicle testing facilities near Frankfurt are set to lose their jobs as French engineering firm Segula Technologies, which operates the sites, winds down its activities following insolvency. The two affected facilities, in Rodgau-Dudenhofen and Rüsselsheim, which have long been central to Opel’s engineering heritage, are among the most significant test […]

EU car registrations up 10% in September, EV share at 16% of the market

October 28, 2025

According to the data provided by the Association of European Car Manufacturers (ACEA), new EU car registrations increased by 0.9% compared to the same nine months last year, marking the third consecutive month of growth. This recent momentum has been driven in part by the launch of new models, with September alone posting a strong […]

Can a ‘charging mandate’ keep plug-in hybrids alive after 2035?

October 28, 2025

The German car lobby is pushing an unusual idea to boost sales of plug-in hybrids as the EU seeks to measure their real-life emissions more accurately. The proposal? A legal obligation for plug-in hybrid drivers to charge their cars regularly. The punishment for not abiding by that obligation is reduced power. A creative solution, but […]

Next Peugeot e-208 is coming in 2026

October 28, 2025

Peugeot will introduce the new ‘STLA Small’ platform in 2026 with the second generation of the e-208. It allows significantly higher battery capacities and ranges. Inside, the electric small car is set to feel distinctly futuristic and airy. Since the launch of the current generation, which has been on sale since 2019, Peugeot has been […]

Alpine A390: the sporty family fastback is here (Update)

October 28, 2025

This spring, Alpine, Renault’s sporty subsidiary, has unveiled its second electric model and its first SUV: the A390. The five-seater fastback promises the same agility and performance as the A110 sports car, but adds daily practicality and a more high-end interior. Now it’s ready to order, with prices starting at €67,500 for the ‘basic’ GT […]

Porsche profits plunge in 2025, and cost-cutting is foreseen

October 27, 2025

Profits plunged by 95.9% at Porsche in the first three quarters of the year compared to the same period last year, with a change of strategy regarding its electric vehicle rollout seen as partly to blame. Profit after tax for the period over the nine months came to only €114 million, the German sports carmaker […]

Electric 1000 MBX: Skoda reimagines a forgotten classic

October 27, 2025

After the 110R, Skoda’s design studio has taken another dive into its archives, reviving one of its most obscure models — the 1000 MBX coupé — as a fully electric concept. The reinterpretation, unveiled as part of the brand’s ‘Icons Get a Makeover’ series, gives the rare 1960s two-door a futuristic twist under Skoda’s ‘Modern […]

Alexandre Malval to head Renault design in 2026

October 27, 2025

Effective January 2, 2026, Alexandre Malval has been appointed Vice President of Design for the Renault brand. He will report to Laurens van den Acker, Chief Design Officer and member of the Renault Group Leadership Team. He will also join the Renault brand management committee. “We are delighted to welcome Alexandre Malval to our Design […]

Renault sees sales and revenue increase, financial outlook confirmed

October 24, 2025

In the third quarter of 2025, Renault Group achieved a 9.8% increase in registrations compared to the same period in 2024, totaling 529,486 vehicles sold. Both international and European sales contributed to this performance, up 14.9% and 7.5% respectively. In Europe, passenger car sales grew by 10.9%, outperforming a market up 7.5%. All brands were […]

GM announces eyes-off driving, conversational AI, and unified software platform

October 23, 2025

At its GM Forward media event in New York, General Motors showcased how manufacturing scale, software expertise, and AI are converging to transform the car from a mode of transportation into an intelligent assistant. Chair and CEO Mary Barra and other senior leaders unveiled advancements in AI, robotics, energy, and autonomy, demonstrating how the company […]

Eurostar goes big: 50 new double-deck Alstom trains with up to 1,000 seats

October 23, 2025

High-speed train operator Eurostar has ordered 50 trains from French company Alstom. These are double-decker trains, a first for Eurostar. Thanks to their double configuration, with two trains coupled together, they offer more than 1,000 seats per journey while traveling at a maximum speed of 320 km/h. Eurostar needs the trains to open new routes […]

Tesla’s record sales can’t save its crashing profits

October 23, 2025

Tesla’s latest quarterly report shows the electric-car maker couldn’t benefit from record sales, driven by the prospect of the EV credit abortion in its home country. Despite delivering a record 497,099 vehicles in the third quarter — a 7 percent increase year over year — the company’s net profit tumbled 37 percent to $1.37 billion. […]

Michael Jost: ‘There’s no alternative to electric drives for cars’

October 23, 2025

Michael Jost, former head of VW Group’s product strategy, recently addressed the car industry, policymakers, and the general public at the E4Testival in Germany. His message was clear: “There is no alternative for electromobility and the so-called technology openness is an illusion.” His discourse was titled “Electrify the world – think bigger.” He asked his […]

AEM secures development partnership on electric motors without rare earths

October 22, 2025

British startup Advanced Electric Machines specializes in electric motors that do not use rare earths. After facing financial difficulties in recent years, it has now secured a development partnership with a major automotive supplier. The British startup Advanced Electric Machines (AEM) has apparently reached a milestone, announcing that it has signed a development agreement with […]

Auto industry braces for escalating chip crisis over Nexperia (update)

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 […]

Volvo Cars launches free home charging initiative, starting in Sweden

October 21, 2025

Volvo Cars is offering Swedish car buyers one year of free home charging with the launch of its free charge initiative. Volvo Cars is partnering with Swedish energy company Vattenfall to introduce this offer, which aims to make the switch to fully electric cars more attractive and accessible for more customers. Insights from the first […]

Leapmotor D19: world’s biggest battery in an EREV

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 […]

BMW fears that iX3 production will fall short of demand

October 20, 2025

BMW’s German market responsible Christian Ach says in an interview with the German magazine Automobilwoche that the German domestic orders for the first car of the Neue Klasse, the iX3, already surpass those of the current combustion X3. “In the first six weeks after its unveiling at the IAA in Munich, we received over 3,000 […]

Stellantis invests more than €11 billion in the U.S.

October 16, 2025

The multi-brand car manufacturer Stellantis will invest $13 billion (€11.2 billion) to expand its U.S. operations and boost domestic production over the next four years. It will focus primarily on new combustion-engine (ICE) models. New Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa described the plan as the most significant single investment in the company’s 100-year history. With the […]

The new Nissan Leaf will start soon at €37,000

October 16, 2025

Following its world premiere in June, Nissan has released further details about the third-generation Leaf. Orders are expected to be possible before the end of this year at prices just below €37,000. There is also specific information about the version with the large battery. Following the start of orders before the end of the year, […]

T&E: ‘PHEVs pollute almost as much as petrol cars’

October 16, 2025

The EU car industry wants plug-in hybrid vehicles to be considered carbon neutral, but data from thousands of vehicles shows that PHEVs emit just 19% less CO2 per km, on average, than petrol and diesel cars. Carmakers are lobbying and asking EU lawmakers to treat hybrids as clean vehicles under a ‘technology-neutral’ approach to decarbonizing […]

Longest Scheldt microtunnel completed to reuse heat from waste incineration

October 15, 2025

Work on extending the Ecluse steam network from the left to the right bank of the Scheldt has reached a significant milestone. On Tuesday, October 14th, Flemish Minister for Energy and Climate Melissa Depraetere visited the site to inaugurate this technical achievement. The Ecluse tunnel under the Scheldt River, the longest microtunnel in Belgium, transports […]

Markus Haupt confirmed as CEO of Seat and Cupra

October 15, 2025

The Supervisory Board has appointed Markus Haupt as the new Chief Executive Officer of Seat and Cupra with immediate effect. Haupt has served as interim CEO since 1 April and will now take on the role permanently. When Wayne Griffiths unexpectedly left the Seat CEO position in spring, the Supervisory Board of Seat and Cupra […]

The new Renault Clio: 6th generation of a best-seller (Pricing update)

October 15, 2025

Over its 35-year history, the Renault Clio has always set the benchmark in its category in Europe and has remained Renault’s best-selling model throughout its five previous generations. The sixth generation has been entirely redesigned to accentuate the values that have already attracted so many customers. As usual, the car is also slightly larger, more […]

Five car makes face UK’s high court over dieselgate scandal

October 14, 2025

The High Court in London has opened one of the most attention-grabbing consumer trials in recent years. Five car manufacturers are accused of deceiving millions of drivers by installing defeat devices to cheat pollution tests. The case, expected to run for three months, revives the scandal that has haunted the industry for a decade. Billions of […]

Ford changes strategy (again) in Europe and names new CEO

October 14, 2025

Ford has nominated a new CEO for Europe as it wants more region-focused cars again. Jim Baumbick is named Ford of Europe’s first president in three years; his first task will be to develop and build those more Europe-focused cars. Ford has named Jim Baumbick as its first dedicated European boss in three years, as […]

Volkswagen ID Unyx 07: first China-developed EV for local market

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 […]

DS N°4 is now also available as a BEV

October 13, 2025

With a new name and fresh design, the revamped DS 4 is entering the second half of its life as the DS N°4. For the first time, there is also a pure electric version, the E-Tense, which shares its technology with the Opel Astra Electric and offers a range of 450 kilometers. Built in Rüsselsheim, […]

Stripped-down Tesla Model Y Standard cuts under 40,000 euros in Europe

October 13, 2025

As previously announced, Tesla has begun assembly and sales of its new base model, the Model Y Standard. The new Model Y Standard, priced from €39,990 in Belgium, lowers the barrier to entry by trimming away some of the brand’s hallmark features. The Standard must help revive flagging European demand, though some European markets have […]

D’Ieteren Luxury Performance: all luxury brands together

October 13, 2025

D’Ieteren is by far the most prominent car importer in the Belux and has now decided to regroup all its luxury brands under one umbrella, D’Ieteren Luxury Performance. The importer wants to streamline the (booming) business while also offering even better service. Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, Maserati, Porsche, and Rimac were gathered in the exclusive surroundings […]

From rockets to rail: Martin Sion becomes Alstom’s new CEO

October 10, 2025

Starting in April, Martin Sion, currently executive chairman of European aerospace company ArianeGroup, will become the new CEO of French railway manufacturer Alstom. Sion will replace Henri Poupart-Lafarge, the current CEO. Poupart-Lafarge, who has been CEO of Alstom since 2016, announced in May that he would not be seeking a fourth term. Martin Sion had […]

BMW Group adjusts outlook for 2025

October 09, 2025

The BMW Group was unable to quite match its forecasts and sales figures from the first half of the year, and the stock market has reacted accordingly (-8.25%). Meanwhile, BMW has now achieved six-figure electric car sales in a total of six quarters. The group achieved volume growth year-to-date in September across the European and […]

T&E: ‘Demands EU car industry would halve EV sales’

October 09, 2025

The car industry is demanding loopholes in the EU car CO2 law that would halve the bloc’s ambition of selling only zero-emission cars in 2035. That’s according to T&E analysis of a leaked position paper by the European car industry lobby ACEA. Carmakers are demanding more than 10 loopholes, including counting cars that run on alternative […]

Stellantis CEO finalizes his top management reshuffle

October 08, 2025

Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa has completed his homework and redesigned a significantly revamped Stellantis Leadership Team (SLT) to face the tough challenges of the coming years. Filosa has now positioned his man (and women) where he wanted them. “With these new appointments, we are promoting exceptional talent from inside and out to leadership roles as […]