New look VW Touareg retains PHEV options

May 26, 2023

Volkswagen has given its flagship SUV a minor facelift, which brings it stylistically up-to-date with the newer models of the range. The technical improvements remain quite modest, but the model is still available with two plug-in hybrid drivetrains, including the powerful Touareg R. While the big SUV is no longer as popular as it once […]

BMW launches all-electric 5 Series: the i5

May 25, 2023

BMW has unveiled the all-new G60 generation of the 5 Series, which gets a radical new look and, for the first time, a fully-electric version in the shape of the i5. Gasoline, diesel, and plug-in hybrid versions are still on the table, however. While its main rival, the Mercedes E-Class, went for a traditional look […]

Electric sports car from Alpine and Lotus is dead end

May 25, 2023

Alpine and Lotus will not be co-developing an all-electric sportscar. The sports car brands have axed their collaboration under “mutual agreement” and will go through the development process alone. The project was scheduled to spawn a successor to the Alpine A110 and the new Lotus Type 135. Developing electric cars is costly, particularly when the […]

Swedish Cary Group buys Belgian Autoglass Clinic and Touring Glass

May 25, 2023

The Swedish car glass specialist Cary group has announced the acquisition of both Autoglass Clinic and Touring Glass, which are the second and third most important glass repair players in Belgium after the undisputed market leader Car Glass. ‘We want to grow into a strong number two”, says Charline Leroi from AutoGlass Clinic, who remains […]

Sporty bikes are gaining ground again

May 25, 2023

According to sector federation Traxio, 198 095 sporty bikes were delivered in 2022, 28,5% of the total bikes delivered for 2022. That’s a rise of 23 623 units compared to 2021. There was also a sharp rise in electric bikes in some subsegments of these sporty bikes, while the so-called ‘last-mile’ segments are also growing […]

Caterham shows electric Seven but won’t build it yet

May 24, 2023

Caterham has unveiled an electric version of the Seven, which shows the direction the neo-classic model might take in an electrified future. It boasts quick charging speeds, good on-track performance, and barely any weight penalty compared to its gas-powered counterparts. But don’t count on being able to order one just yet. With small-scale sports car […]

New top-spec Skoda Enyaq adds more range

May 24, 2023

The Skoda Enyaq is the next EV on VW’s MEB platform to receive the new-gen APP550 electric motor, which delivers more power while consuming less. Its battery pack is also slightly bigger, but until further notice, Skoda offers it exclusively on the new top-spec Laurin & Klement version That’ the Enyaq in its most luxurious […]

ACEA: Euro 7 ruling to cost up to 2 600 euros per car

May 24, 2023

The lobby organisation for car manufacturers ACEA is flashing the lights again on the proposed Euro 7 rules, which are considered unnecessary and a waste of money by many car brands. A new survey has calculated that the price increase could be four to seven times higher than initially accounted for. “The effects on the […]

E-bike manufacturer Cowboy goes also offline

May 23, 2023

Cowboy, the Belgian manufacturer of city e-bikes, drops its online-only strategy. By the end of the year, the company wants a retail network of at least 300 independent bike shops in 60 Belgian and foreign cities. In Belgium, contracts will be closed with “some ten retail partners”. Names will follow later when their personnel has […]

Geely doubles its stake to electrify Aston Martin

May 23, 2023

Chinese car giant Geely is increasing its interest in iconic British sports car brands. The owner of Lotus has raised its share in Aston Martin to 17 percent, a little more than a half year after it stepped in, buying 7,6 percent in September last year. Geely is now the third-biggest shareholder of Aston Martin. […]

Gotion adds manganese to LFP and achieves 1 000 km range

May 23, 2023

Chinese battery maker Gotion High-Tech, a company heavily backed by Volkswagen, has unveiled its L600 battery. Its cells use lithium manganese ferro phosphate chemistry capable of providing a range of 1 000 kilometers. Under the optimistic Chinese driving cycle, that is. Battery packs promising 1 000 kilometers of range aren’t new, but until today, these […]

ALD Automotive completes LeasePlan acquisition

May 23, 2023

Vehicle lease company ALD Automotive announced that it has successfully acquired 100% of LeasePlan, one of the world’s leading fleet management and mobility companies, from a consortium led by TDR Capital. This transformative acquisition represents a step-change that positions the combined group as the leading global sustainable mobility player with a total fleet of 3,3 […]

VW on saving course to secure future investments

May 23, 2023

The Volkswagen Group is planning a billion-euro savings program for its core brand VW to bolster profitability and generate money for investments in the energy transition. The group will present its overhaul plans to investors at a conference on 21 June. According to the German newspaper Handelsblatt, the program could increase annual results by at […]

Fisker not averse to collaboration with others

May 22, 2023

Last week, Fisker Inc. CEO Henrik Fisker declared he is exploring collaboration with other companies to scale up market share faster, speaking at the Reuters Automotive Conference in Munich. During interviews at the conference, senior executives of other EV makers, Polestar and Smart, said they are open to partnerships to address supply chain and technology […]

Stellantis threatens to leave UK and urges for more battery production sites

May 22, 2023

British car plants will close with the loss of thousands of jobs unless the Brexit deal is swiftly renegotiated, Stellantis warned. Ford also added its voice to the latest warning from the auto industry since Britain left the European Union. Stellantis told lawmakers that under the current deal, it would face increased tariffs when exporting […]

Volvo receives record order for up to 1.000 e-trucks

May 22, 2023

Volvo Trucks has signed a letter of intent to sell 1 000 electric trucks between now and 2030 to Holcim, one of the world’s largest building solution providers. The deal is the largest commercial order to date for the company’s electric rate. The first 130 electric Volvo FH and FM trucks will be delivered to […]

Subaru to sell 400 BEVs annually in 5 years

May 22, 2023

Subaru plans to sell 200 000 battery-electric cars per year by 2026 and to create production capacity for 400 000 BEVs annually by 2028. The increase in production is to be supported by an EV-only factory in the company’s home country. Atsushi Osaki, who will replace the current CEO Tomomi Nakamura at Subaru in June, […]

Zeekr starts delivery of 001 with +1.000-km range Qilin battery (update)

May 22, 2023

In January, Zeekr, part of the Geely Group, has given its shooting brake 001 an update for 2023. Now it starts delivering the single-motor WE version with a 140-kWh battery pack as an option for around €13 000 extra. This new Qilin battery from CATL, promises a range of over 1 000 km, according to […]

Electric hypercar Rimac Nevera sets 23 new world records

May 19, 2023

Croatian brand Rimac has set an impressive 23 speed and performance world records in one day with its electric hypercar Nevera. The 1 914-hp machine now holds the infamous 0-400-0 kph speed and braking record, which it did in only 29,93 seconds. When the Croatian brand Rimac created the Nevera, it set out to build […]

Renault brings R5 concept to Roland-Garros 2023

May 19, 2023

Renault has been a partner of the French Roland-Garros tennis Open since 2022, bringing a specially kitted-out R5 concept in a satin-white finish at this year’s tournament. Furthermore, Renault will provide 185 hybrid and electric vehicles as official transport. For the 2023 Roland-Garros tennis Open, French carmaker Renault is embracing its role as a partner. […]

BMW to build ‘New Class’ in China and goes boating in Cannes

May 19, 2023

As already mentioned earlier, BMW will launch its dedicated electric ‘new class’ of cars in 2025, with initial production in Europe and also in the United States. Today, the Munich car manufacturer announced that the ‘Neue Klasse’ will also be built in China. Meanwhile, the Group showed off on another level in Cannes (where the […]

EU car registrations up again in April

May 19, 2023

In April 2023, the EU car market saw a significant increase in passenger car registrations, with 803 188 units sold, marking a 17,2% growth from the previous year. All the EU’s major markets grew solidly last month, with Italy (+29,2%) and France (+21,9%) leading the way. From January to April 2023, the EU car market […]

Mercedes VAN.EA to increase e-van sales to 50%

May 19, 2023

Mercedes has unveiled its new VAN.EA architecture. The modular underpinnings can house a variety of van models, from medium to large, and must significantly boost electrifying its utility department. The first models on the new platform are expected in 2026. The VAN.EA platform, which will be produced in sites all over the world from Mercedes, […]

Meet the all-electric Nissan Navara: Ebro

May 19, 2023

It’s been two years since Nissan ceased production of the Nissan Navara and closed its factory near Barcelona. But a Spanish group of investors is reanimating the model and preparing to launch an all-electric Navara called Ebro. As pickup trucks are challenging to comply with stern emission rulings in the EU, Nissan decided to withdraw […]

ArcelorMittal to build new e-steel unit for EV motors in France

May 17, 2023

Steel giant ArcelorMittal announced it will build a new unit at its existing site in Mardyck (North of France) to produce 220 000 tons of steel for EV motors starting in 2024. With this 300 million euros investment, ArcelorMittal will triple the production of this type of electrical steel with specific magnetic properties due to […]

GM confirms return to Europe

May 17, 2023

The number one American car manufacturer General Motors is gearing up for its return to Europe with an EV line-up. The Cadillac Lyriq could be among the first to hit the road here, as the carmaker is preparing to kick off EV sales in Europe this autumn, but only in some countries. GM European President […]

Ford to introduce E-Tourneo Courier

May 17, 2023

A few weeks after the compact electric delivery van E-Transit Courier, Ford also presented its passenger car version, E-Tourneo Courier. The battery-electric five-seater with a length of just under 4,40 meters and an “SUV-inspired design” is intended to score with a generous amount of space for passengers and luggage. With an output of 100 kW, […]

Dieselgate: finally Belgian class action against VW on trial

May 16, 2023

Nine years after the Dieselgate scandal ‘exploded’, Volkswagen and its Belgian importer D’Ieteren Auto are facing trial in Brussels in a class action initiated by consumer organization Test Aankoop/Test Achat (TA). According to TA, several trials abroad have proved enough that Volkswagen has used cheating software in its cars. D’Ieteren itself admitted 300 000 vehicles […]

EU backs Spanish subsidy program for EV batteries

May 16, 2023

The EU Commission has approved an 837 million euros program by the Spanish government to support the production of batteries for EVs. This reports the news site elective.com. The program is open to battery manufacturers and suppliers of essential components or related materials. The Spanish government plans to launch two new electric vehicle and battery […]

Is Renault brooding on a €20 000 BEV?

May 16, 2023

French car manufacturer Renault is working on a €20 000 EV to make electric car ownership more mainstream and affordable in Europe. The carmaker is thus taking up the challenge with the Volkswagen Group (and probably a bunch of Chinese manufacturers to come) to serve the lowest segments of the car industry. The proposed EV, […]

Is Macron wooing Musk to bring Tesla production to France?

May 16, 2023

French President Macron is accelerating his plans to put France at the forefront of the zero-emission transition in the automotive industry. After his CO2 tax favoring local-built EVs and announcing a battery plant in Northern France, Macron met with Elon Musk at the Choose France Summit to discuss an investment. After the summit, which took […]

Maserati officializes death of V8 and commits to electric

May 16, 2023

At the fifth Motor Valley Fest, an open-air event in Modena during last weekend, Maserati reinforced its push toward electric drive. The House of the Trident announced special Zéda editions of its Levante, Ghibli, and Quattroporte to mark the end of production of its V8 engine, set for late 2023. After having already announced and […]

Macron announces several battery projects in the north of France

May 15, 2023

French President Emmanuel Macron visited Dunkerque last week to illustrate his fight for re-industrializing the north of France. The Taiwanese group ProLogium just announced the northern French port as its choice to build a new battery factory. Total investment is estimated at €5,2 billion, of which between 1 and 1,5 billion would come in different […]

Honda expands European range with hybrid ZR-V and electric e:Ny1

May 15, 2023

Honda is accelerating its electrified assault on the European market with the hybrid ZR-V, a compact SUV between the HR-V and the CR-V, and the e:Ny1, an electric SUV that looks strikingly similar to the current HR-V. While Honda has fallen a bit behind in terms of electrification, with currently only a few hybrids and […]

Volvo EX90 and Polestar 3 delayed due to software issues

May 15, 2023

Volvo and Polestar’s new electric flagships are coming later than expected. Delays in the software development of the shared electric platform mean that both the Volvo EX90 and Polestar 3 are not expected before 2024, rather than the second half of 2023. The Volkswagen Group is not the only car manufacturer struggling with the software […]

Northvolt Drei battery factory confirmed in northern Germany

May 15, 2023

“Northvolt has decided to proceed with the next steps concerning its expansion in Heide (northern Germany),” said CEO Peter Carlsson in a joint press release with the German government. Nevertheless, the Swedish battery manufacturer continues considering building an extra gigafactory in North America. In October last year, former Tesla manager Carlsson made all alarm bells […]

Mercedes introduces carbon-friendly aluminium on EQE and EQS

May 15, 2023

Mercedes starts to manufacture the EQE and EQS models with aluminium of a significantly reduced carbon footprint as of this summer. As aluminium production emits up to four times more CO2 than steel, this is an important step in further reducing greenhouse gas emissions from its EVs. Compared to the average, the reduction in the […]

Macron could exclude non-European electric cars from EV bonus

May 12, 2023

French President, Emmanuel Macron, could announce a reform of the government’s EV bonus plan. The suggestion could be based on the vehicle’s carbon footprint, thus excluding cars produced in heavy-polluting countries such as China. However, it’s easier said than done. For a few months now, France has considered a way to exclude vehicles built far […]

Cupra UrbanRebel becomes Raval, Seat stops producing cars by 2030

May 12, 2023

Cupra does a nifty bit of sleight of hand and transforms its previously announced UrbanRevel into the future Raval. Still a concept car, the urban electric car remains largely the same and foresees the future entre-level Spanish EV to be produced from 2025. Spanish and self-declared sporty brand, Cupra, has us talking about them in […]

Silence opens first Urban Store in Belgium

May 12, 2023

Silence, a manufacturer of microcars and scooters, has opened its first ‘Urban Store’ in Belgium.  The exact location is ‘Gare Maritime’ in Brussels, one of the city’s increasingly popular and biggest shopping hubs. As a manufacturer of electric vehicles, Silence is a daughter of Acciona, worldwide active in offering regenerative solutions for a CO2-neutral economy. […]

German study: ‘e-fuel could cost €1 per liter in the long run’

May 12, 2023

According to German Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, electric fuels have the potential to reach cost parity with actual oil-based fuels. Today’s price of 50 euros per liter could fall to 1 euro as industrialization and cheaper CO2 capture reap benefits. But uncertainties remain to be resolved. As the EU approved electric or synthetic […]

Japanese car manufacturers fairly optimistic about year to come

May 12, 2023

The beginning of May is always an important moment for Japanese companies. Their fiscal year ends in March, so the results are publicized now. Yesterday, we already talked about number one Toyota’s performance; today, we look at some others, in casu Nissan, Honda, and Mazda. The mood tends to be rather optimistic, the Japanese putting […]

Ford pilots hydrogen-fueled E-Transit in the UK

May 11, 2023

Ford is trialing the viability of a hydrogen-powered E-Transit thanks to funding from the UK’s Advanced Propulsion Center (APC). The pilot program will investigate the total cost of ownership, real-world range, and uptime, but we will have to wait until after 2025 for the results. Ford has dabbled in hydrogen fuel cell-powered vehicles several times, […]

ABB tests Megawatt Charging System (MCS) with some help from Scania

May 11, 2023

The Swiss charging infrastructure specialist ABB is testing its upcoming Megawatt Charging System (MCS) for fast-charging heavy electric vehicles. A pilot charger has successfully been used on a next-gen electric truck from Scania, bringing MCS chargers closer to reality. Where CCS (Combined Charging System) has been the standard for AC and DC charging of electric […]

Annual Volkswagen shareholder meeting disrupted by naked protest and pie throwing

May 11, 2023

Protests and incidents disrupted the annual shareholders’ meeting of German carmaker Volkswagen at a Berlin convention center on Wednesday. Climate and human rights activists threw, for example, a cream pie at Wolfgang Porsche, a representative of the company’s owning family, who was celebrating his 80th birthday just that day, although the target was missed. The […]

Will Nio market solid state battery cars already this summer?

May 11, 2023

BMW has promised a prototype by 2025. Toyota says it has developers working like ants to make it work. And specialist Dotstore says we shouldn’t expect them before the beginning of the next decade. And then there’s Chinese EV start-up Nio, who filed for three BEV models with assumed solid-state technology expected to hit the […]

Fisker Ocean production targets lowered and off-road version coming

May 11, 2023

After handing over the first Fisker Ocean to a Danish customer and reserving the first German specimen for himself, CEO Henrik Fisker has adjusted its production forecasts for the year 2023 and announced a new off-road version of the electric SUV called Force E. Fisker corrected its production forecast for the Ocean when announcing its […]

Toyota’s revenue increases amidst ‘difficult year’

May 11, 2023

The world’s biggest carmaker, Toyota, managed to boost revenue last year by 18%, while output was still plagued by supply chain constraints. The results from its last fiscal year unveil a slipping net income, but the performance nonetheless exceeds expectations. The group’s new boss Koji Sato comments that he sees further sales growth for the […]

Colruyt starts testing with electric 44-ton and refrigerated trucks

May 10, 2023

Colruyt is working toward its goal of having all of its transport operations zero-emission by 2035. The retail group has taken delivery of a 44-ton Volvo FM Electric and five smaller electric refrigerated trucks from Volvo and Scania. The heavy truck will distribute goods to the Colruyt Group supermarkets and stores, while the refrigerated trucks […]

Alpine showcases future electric hot-hatch with A290_β concept

May 10, 2023

French sportscar manufacturer Alpine is at the dawn of a new era, that of electric sportscars. The new A290_β concept foresees the future A290 electric hot-hatch, with some design fantasies, such as the three-seat configuration inside. Whether we like it or not, Alpine is going full electric. That should be no surprise to anyone interested […]

Iveco and Nikola to go their own way in zero-emission trucks

May 10, 2023

Italian commercial vehicle manufacturer Iveco and American electric truck startup Nikola are going their own way from now, the first focussing on Europe, the other on its North American market. Iveco will assume full ownership of the joint venture in Ulm, Germany. Iveco Group acquires the JV partially by paying in cash ($35 million) and […]

VDL Nedcar strike extended again (update)

May 10, 2023

Even after two days of an ‘official’ strike at VDL Nedcar in Born, the Dutch VDL Group still didn’t want to meet the union’s ultimatum to double the social plan, resulting in the unions extending the strike further on Wednesday and Thursday. According to the unions, willingness is high with the Nedcar workers to continue […]

LEVC launches new BEV platform

May 09, 2023

Geely’s subsidiary LEVC (London Electric Vehicle Company) has presented its modular electric platform SOA (Space Oriented Architecture), which was developed together with the parent company. With this, the manufacturer wants to become “a leading global provider of purely electric mobility solutions”. The first LEVC model based on the SOA will be “a completely new offering, […]

First Fisker Ocean delivered in Europe (update)

May 09, 2023

The first electric car from the American manufacturer Fisker Inc. is allowed to roll on the roads in Europe. The Fisker Ocean has received sales approval for the European market. The first Fisker Ocean One Launch Edition was handed over to its owner at the recently opened Fisker Center in Copenhagen on Friday. “I’m super […]

Volkswagen is trying to tie up loose ends with Bosch and Cariad (Update)

May 09, 2023

The Volkswagen Group and car supplier giant Bosch will not realize their planned joint venture to equip battery cell factories. Volkswagen and its battery subsidiary PowerCo are now pursuing the plan without Bosch as a partner, but Bosch will remain on board as a supplier. At the same time, CEO Oliver Blume is getting fed […]

ElringKlinger scores major contract to outfit BMW EVs

May 08, 2023

German automotive supplier ElringKlinger has scored a big contract with a term of several years with BMW. The company will supply cell contact systems to BMW Group series electric models in the new class (‘Neue Klasse’). The high-volume series production for Europe is scheduled to start in 2025, with the plant in Neuffen, Baden-Württemberg, taking […]

VW and Shell to install battery-boosted DC chargers

May 08, 2023

Volkswagen and Shell Germany have put the first battery-boosted charging station into operation at a Shell gas station in Göttingen, Germany. If the trial deployment is successful, further examples of Elli’s pole could be created at pit stops by Shell in Europe. The Flexpole charging columns from Volkswagen’s energy brand Elli deliver up to 150 […]

Volvo starts testing 1.000 km range hydrogen truck on public roads

May 08, 2023

After unveiling the prototype in 2022, Volvo Trucks has started testing its hydrogen fuel cell electric truck on public roads. It promises a range of 1 000 km, with refueling times of less than 15 minutes. But series production is still a few years away. In June 2022, Volvo Trucks presented its hydrogen-electric heavy truck, […]

Volvo cuts 1 300 office jobs but leaves Ghent untouched

May 05, 2023

Volvo is the next car manufacturer to lay off staff in the wake of the electric transition challenging the automotive industry. To streamline its efficiency, the company is reducing its office-based national workforce by 6%, corresponding to 1 300 jobs. So, the cuts are made entirely in Sweden. In an official statement, CEO of Volvo […]

Peugeot e-2008 and Citroën ë-C4 get new battery and more range

May 05, 2023

Peugeot’s smallest SUV is given a slight mid-life update, with a facelift taking cues straight from its recently updated sister sedan, the 508. Not only is the 2008’s skin tighter, but the electric version also gets a more powerful motor and a new, larger battery, which increases the range. Sister company Citroën does precisely the […]