September 23, 2022
The Hopium Māchina, the French premium hydrogen sedan, is one step closer to production. CEO Olivier Lombard has announced that his company will construct a manufacturing facility in the North of France. Hopium has chosen Vernon, in the region of Douains, to erect its first plant. Once operational, the production lines will be capable of […]
September 23, 2022
With the launch of the G9, Chinese EV maker XPeng is trying to make up for a difficult year. The detailed specifications unveil a high-end SUV with a charging capability that dethrones the Porsche Taycan as the fastest in the world. In August, XPeng Motors showcased a new 480 kW ultra-fast supercharger so that, in […]
September 23, 2022
French carmaker Renault is proposing its 42 000 employees in its home country a ‘purchasing power’ premium of up to 1 000 euros, after negotiating with the unions for months about a wage raise. The company declared that the bonus would apply to all working in France, including part-time workers, and won’t replace future salary […]
September 22, 2022
The European Commission has given 13 member states the green light to boost hydrogen projects with up to €5,2 billion in state funding, an exception to the standard policy because considered an ‘Important Project of Common European Interest’ (IPCEI). The Hy2Use state funding project was jointly prepared and notified by thirteen Member States: Austria, Belgium, […]
September 22, 2022
On Friday, 23rd of September, at 9 p.m. to be precise, the nuclear power plant Doel 3 in Antwerp will be closed after a 40-year career. It’s the first of the seven nuclear plants in Belgium to close down in the context of the nuclear phase-out. Despite Flemish Minister of Energy Zuhal Demir’s call to […]
September 22, 2022
Who says a birthday cake can’t be spicy? Celebrating 50 years of its R5 icon, Renault pulls the veils of the R5 Turbo 3E, a commemorative concept car following in the footsteps of the iconic Turbo series. This all-electric sports version, limping between the real and virtual world, will be showcased to the public at […]
September 21, 2022
Punch Powertrain, the Chinese-owned Belgian manufacturer of fuel-efficient powertrains, will set up with carmaker Stellantis a new production unit for gearboxes for hybrid cars at the historic Fiat plant in Mirafiori near Turin. That production should start in the second half of 2024. Financial details of the investment were not disclosed, but, according to Reuters, […]
September 21, 2022
Wednesday, 21st of September, Belgian circular materials technology company Umicore inaugurated its carbon-neutral production facility for cathode-active materials for electric vehicles in Nysa, in the south of Poland. It will be Europe’s first ‘gigafactory’ with a complete circular and sustainable battery materials value chain. The gigafactory will supply battery materials to Umicore’s car and battery […]
September 20, 2022
If Volkswagen offloads its natural gas stock, bought two years ago in a favorable trade, the company could be in for a multi-million euro deal. Or how the gas crisis has spawned an unforeseeable windfall for the financial balance of Europe’s biggest carmaker. In 2020, Volkswagen bought a massive gas supply, intended to prepare a […]
September 20, 2022
Polestar CEO Thomas Ingenlath calls upon his colleague carmakers to wake up and act now and not wait for policy changes to make the promises a reality that were ‘set in stone’ at COP26 last year. That was to have 100% zero-emission new car and van sales in leading markets by 2035 or earlier. To […]
September 20, 2022
BMW has yet to officially confirm which models it will build on the all-electric New Class architecture, but a blogger in close contact with in-house sources leaked on an internet site that a 1 Series and 2 Series are in the making, together with an iX4. However, the enthusiast’s channel also says that the current […]
September 19, 2022
Despite the stormy climate at the stock exchange, with a recession looming and profit warnings ringing alarm bells, Volkswagen is launching an IPO of its goldcrest Porsche on the 29th of September. Referring to its most iconic sports model, 911 million shares will be made publicly available, representing a quarter of the company. On Sunday, […]
September 19, 2022
For two decades, enthusiasts of the kind have been waiting for it. The neo-retro concept (Microbus released in 2001) that was initially presented with a strong gasoline engine has finally reached its production stage, and even in 2022, the flag more than ever covers the load because neo stands for a 100% electric drive, while […]
September 16, 2022
An American Tesla-hacker called Green has unveiled that Tesla embeds special codes in its software related to the official crash tests conducted by safety organizations. It is not precisely confirmed what this special code accomplishes, but reportedly, it is related to the automatic driving functions, not the barrier tests themselves. The news broke when Green […]
September 16, 2022
A recent Greenpeace East Asia (GPEA) report ranking global car manufacturers on their environmental credentials has placed Toyota at the bottom of the list. According to the study, the Auto Environmental Guide 2022 discovered that fossil fuels still power 499 out of every 500 Toyota models sold worldwide. General Motors, Mercedes-Benz, and Volkswagen performed best […]
September 15, 2022
In March, Opel showed the ElektroMOD study based on the classic Manta. From then on, there was much speculation about whether a derivative production model would follow. Today, the brand announces with the Blitz that GSe will become a sub-brand for the more dynamic electric models. Opel wants to push electrification in all segments so […]
September 15, 2022
“American manufacturing is back. Detroit is back. America’s back.” US president Joe Biden opened the floor of the Detroit Motor show during the press day with strong vigor. To promote his electrification strategy and support the manufacturing workers as part of his re-election program, Biden attended to get Detroit back on the map as one […]
September 14, 2022
Honda has planned to thoroughly decarbonize its Motorcycle Business to the point that it should be carbon-neutral from 2040. Ten electrically powered two-wheelers will be launched worldwide in the next three years. Despite this electrification, the development of thermal engines will also go on. The Japanese manufacturer is serious about the electrification of its motorbikes, […]
September 14, 2022
Volvo Trucks is starting series production of the fully electric range of its popular heavy trucks, the Volvo FH, Volvo FM, and Volvo FMX, able to handle a total weight of 44 tons Gross Combination Weight (GCW). The production will start in the Tuve factory in Gothenburg, Sweden, and next year at the factory in […]
September 13, 2022
Renault is getting ready to sell electric vehicles in Latin America starting next year. The list comprises Megane E-Tech Electric, Kangoo E-Tech Electric, and Master E-Tech Electric coming to Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, and Mexico. More countries will follow shortly. Meanwhile, it has already introduced the Kwid E-Tech Electric, the rest of the world’s version of […]
September 12, 2022
Williams Advanced Engineering (WAE) has unveiled a new electric vehicle platform specifically for hypercars called EVR. It is designed for a peak power of 1 650 kW and enables acceleration from 0 to 100 km/hour in less than two seconds. Williams Advanced Engineering unveiled the architecture at the Cenex LCV (Low Carbon Vehicle Show) in […]
September 12, 2022
Thanks to the Bolt, Chevrolet has positioned itself as a pioneer in e-mobility. Now joining the line-up is the Equinox EV, a crossover debuting in the compact category with a price point that blushes the competition. With the Bolt, Silverado EV, and Blazer EV, Chevrolet already has several all-electric cars in its range. The Equinox […]
September 12, 2022
The motor show in Detroit, officially known as the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), will now take place in September and is following a new concept. The media day is next Wednesday, on the 14th of September, and after some professional days, the show opens to the public from 17 to 25 September. Being […]
September 09, 2022
By the middle of this decade, Mercedes-Benz Vans stated that all newly introduced vans would be electric only. And looking beyond that date, it will build large electric vans in Europe together with American startup Rivian. For this, both companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and will set up a 50/50 joint venture for […]
September 09, 2022
The BMW Group is set to launch a new era of e-mobility from models of its ‘Neumodels e Klasse’ using newly-developed round battery cells optimized for the new architecture. “The newly-developed sixth generation of our lithium-ion cells will bring a huge leap in technology that will increase energy density by more than 20%, improve charging […]
September 08, 2022
The sky-rocketing gas prices are making another victim. As a raw material for the production of AdBlue, Germany’s biggest manufacturer of the additive SKW, Piesteritz warns of a shortage. The projected bottleneck could severely impact the logistics sector. The urea-based fluid AdBlue became a prerequisite for trucks and passenger vehicles with the Euro 6 norms […]
September 08, 2022
Nissan acquires an essential stake in battery manufacturer Vehicle Energy Japan. Following the transaction, the company will become a subsidiary of Nissan, in which existing shareholders like Maxell and Hitachi Astemo will also have a stake. After selling its majority stake in battery producer AESC in 2018, Nissan is returning to its own battery production. […]
September 07, 2022
The Dutch government participates in Lightyear. This is done through a consortium, Invest-NL, founded by the Dutch government. Lightyear raises capital of €81 million; it is not known precisely how significant the Invest-NL share is. Lightyear is a Dutch start-up established in 2016 and wants to build electric cars that can be charged through the […]
September 07, 2022
The Flemish axial flux electric motor developer Magnax has closed a new financing round of € 20 million. The money will be used to accelerate product development, enlarge the engineering team and expand support for customers and partners. “In the EV space, e-Motor technology is evolving rapidly,” says co-founder Daan Moreels. OEMsrecognizeg the very interesting […]
September 06, 2022
The 100th-anniversary edition of the Brussels Motor Show (BMS) will be held from 14 to 22 January 2023. Organizer Febiac proudly announces that already 18 of the 20 most important brands on the Belgian market have confirmed their participation. Others can still jump in… The Brussels Motor Show has always been one of the major […]
September 06, 2022
The board of the VW Group approved Porsche AG’s IPO when the capital market’s evolution is not disturbed too much. The Board of Surveillance of the Group has also agreed. The actual Initial Public Offering is scheduled for the end of the year; from the end of September on will be given by the intention […]
September 06, 2022
British niche builder Ariel has jumped on the electric bandwagon. But, as can be expected from the brand that previously stupefied the automotive business with the mind-blowing Atom, it chooses an entirely different path once again. As a result, the Hipercar looks spectacularly awkward, and a gas turbine assists its battery pack as a range […]
September 06, 2022
On August, 28 917 cars have been sold in Belgium and Luxembourg, a 7% increase after 14 months of regress. Of course, this can’t compensate for the lesser figures in the cumulated first eight months of the year (-12,7%), but it’s a sparkle of hope for the sector. We can observe the same tendency in […]
September 05, 2022
According to Jato Dynamic’s latest figures for car registrations in Europe, July 2022 was marked by new vehicle registrations continued to fall by 10 percent to 866 038 units. BEVs accounted for 10,4% of total registrations while PHEVs further lost ground, ‘no longer qualifying for a number of incentives across Europe.’ Year-to-date sales of new […]
September 02, 2022
As of Thursday, September 1st, Oliver Blume acts as CEO of both Porsche and the Volkswagen Group. He succeeds Herbert Diess as announced and sets the course right from the start. German media has learned that Blume will reduce the Board of Management to take decisions more quickly. Specifically, this concerns Hildegard Wortmann (Sales) and […]
September 02, 2022
Taiwanese electronics producer Foxconn, well-known for its collaboration with Apple, has unwrapped its first car. The Luxgen N7 is a seven-seater, all-electric crossover debuting on Asian markets in October. However, technical details remain sparse. Foxconn’s automotive branch is called Foxtron and showcased three concepts a year ago, featuring a crossover (Model C), a sedan (Model […]
September 02, 2022
There were few doubts Polestar’s electric roadster would appeal to many: the 500 limited edition versions of the Polestar 6 LA Concept are ‘sold out’ in less than a week. Later this year, reservations for the regular version will open. Finally, hostilities broke off after three years, and the way is cleared for Polestar in […]
September 01, 2022
Further details have emerged on Renault’s revision of its business operations in the wake of the electric transition. According to press agency Reuters, Ampère will be the new entity overseeing the all-electric range, while matters concerning combustion engines will reside under a branch called Horse. Moreover, Renault intends to keep only a stake of 40% […]
September 01, 2022
As of today, the new CEO of Renault Brand Belux and Renault Belgium Luxembourg is Martin Domise. He is the successor to Jérôme Pannaud, who has been in charge of the region for four years. Martin Domise was born in Amiens (northwest of France) in 1989 and studied at the famous commercial school HEC in […]
September 01, 2022
Toyota, the world’s number one car manufacturer, has announced that it will invest 5,3 billion euros in launching its own battery production. The plants will be built in Japan and the US, and production will start between 2024 and 2026. The investment is partially included in the big investment envelope that Toyota decided on last […]
August 31, 2022
Hyundai recorded 37 446 pre-orders for its new Ioniq 6 on the first day of the reservations in South Korea. This is significantly more than was the case with the Ioniq 5 on the first day of its pre-sales launch (23 760) and more than ever before in the manufacturer’s history. Hyundai presented the Ioniq […]
August 31, 2022
The French government seems to be persevering in its plans to subsidize electric vehicle leasing. Thanks to government support, all-electric vehicles could become available for as little as €100 per month. The news came up after a television appearance by Budget Minister Gabriel Attal. Such an EV leasing scheme would also follow an election promise […]
August 30, 2022
A Greenpeace East Asia research report shows that 93% of Toyota’s manufacturing facilities are at high risk from the consequences of climate change. Honda and Nissan also occupy positions high up in the ranking; Volkswagen and Renault are in the lower parts of the operations risk comparison. This conclusion is based on an analysis of […]
August 30, 2022
Scottish EV start-up Munro Vehicles has developed an electric all-terrain challenger for the Land Rover Defender and Mercedes G-Class. The company has started taking pre-orders for its first offroader but is predominantly betting on the North-American market for its business model, where it has found a partner for deliveries as of next year. Scotland’s first […]
August 30, 2022
Smart having become half Chinese doesn’t put Brabus off getting its hands on the recently launched #1. The tuning company, which is traditionally affiliated with Mercedes and its sub-brands, has used some of its mojos to lift the compact cross-over to a new and sportier level. The upgrades on the outside are overtly visible, but […]
August 30, 2022
The multinational steel-making company Tata Steel, with key operations in India, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom, is investing 65 million euros in designing a new plant where the blast furnaces will no longer run on coal but on ‘green’ hydrogen by 2030. The new plant will be built in IJmuiden, the Netherlands, and should […]
August 30, 2022
Japanese carmaker Honda is joining forces with South Korean LG Energy Systems (LGES) to build a new lithium-ion battery cell factory in the US for supplying exclusively Honda and Acura branded EVs. The plant, in which both parties are investing $4,4 billion, will have an annual production capacity of approximately 40 GWh by the end […]
August 29, 2022
Ford is reopening US order banks on Tuesday for the Mustang Mach-E with updated prices and features. Ford had put an order freeze on all variants of the current model year of its all-electric Mustang Mach-E in the United States. Problems with the supply chain, the overwhelming demand, and the possible overheating of battery connections […]
August 29, 2022
BYD (Build Your Dreams) is launching three models on the European market this year, including in Belgium. NMN was allowed to drive them on a closed test track, so we can get a first impression of what these models have to offer. BYD is no unknown player in the automotive world. A few days ago, […]
August 29, 2022
Kia has started the final test program of the EV9. It has announced its world premiere for the first quarter of 2023. Test drives with camouflaged prototypes are currently taking place in Namyang, South Korea. Last year, at the LA motor show, Kia showed the first concept of the EV9; now, the production version is […]
August 26, 2022
Opel has announced that a van-sized camper based on the battery-electric Zafira-e Life will be launched next year. The ‘Crosscamp Flex’ presented at the Caravan Salon from 27 August to 4 September is still a prototype. The camper was built based on an Opel Zafira-e Life with a 75 kWh battery pack. Opel does not […]
August 26, 2022
Under the slogan ‘Premium meets Responsibility’, the Belgian car importer BMW Belux has donated once again seven new cars (BMW and Mini models) to technical schools all over the country. For 2021 and 2022, this brings the score to 30, as 23 were already given last year, totaling a value of almost €1,5 million. Furthermore, […]
August 25, 2022
After rival BYD announced that it had stopped manufacturing pure combustion-engined cars, Haval decided to go the same length. With one important footnote: its deadline is set at 2030. By the end of the decade, Great Wall Motors’ popular subbrand Haval will stop making ICE-only powered SUVs. The company stated that it would only manufacture […]
August 25, 2022
While Europe is in a catch-up race for battery cell production, it holds a top position worldwide for producing electric motors used in electric cars and wind turbines. However, because of the sector’s strong dependence on imports for its rare earth materials, Europe has kickstarted the REEsilience project. This must investigate local sourcing while setting […]
August 25, 2022
The Mexican government has founded a state-owned company to extract and market lithium. According to a decree by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, the raw material is to be produced and distributed exclusively by Litio para México (lithium for Mexico). The company aims to start operations in six months at the latest. According to the […]
August 24, 2022
During a three-day visit to Canada, the German chancellor Olaf Scholz has tried to realize as many deals as possible in the domains of raw materials and energy production with the North American country. In his wake, Volkswagen and Mercedes Benz signed agreements with the Canadian government to secure access to crucial battery raw materials […]
August 24, 2022
Ford Motor Co. is preparing to cut as many as 8 000 jobs in the coming months to boost profits and help to fund its push into the electrified vehicle market. That’s what news agency Bloomberg has heard; other sources (like the Wall Street Journal) talk of at least 4 000 job cuts. On Monday, […]
August 24, 2022
Chinese BYD (Build Your Dreams) has big ambitions for Europe. It plans to launch three fully electric models (Han, Tang, and Atto3) in the European and Belgian markets before the end of the year. And BYD will be able to bring these models to consumers quickly because it builds not only cars but also batteries, […]
August 22, 2022
During a presentation of its financial results, Chinese auto group Geely said it would raise its electrification ambitions. The company wants 50% of its sales to be electric next year. Geely, the parent company to Volvo, Polestar, Lynk & Co, and Lotus saw sales sliding back by 9% during the opening half of 2022. Covid-19 […]
August 22, 2022
Since July, Swedish-Chinese Lynk & Co has raised its monthly subscription price for the the 01 SUV PHEV from €500 to €550 (VAT incl.) or a full 10% for all new contracts. For existing subscribers, the raise will be effective only from September 1st, 2022, as a kind of ‘gesture’. In an email to all […]
