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 […]

Hödlmayr applies for permit to store Stellantis’ overstock cars in Brustem

October 08, 2025

The German logistics company Hödlmayr, in cooperation with Stellantis, is currently using part of DronePort’s site in Brustem (Sint-Truiden, Limburg) to store a large number of new cars in ‘overstock’ produced by Stellantis.” Now, Hödlmayr has applied for a permit. What began as a temporary stopgap solution for car manufacturer Stellantis at the end of […]

Electric motorbike pioneer Zero Motorcycles moves to Europe

October 08, 2025

Pioneering electric motorcycle manufacturer Zero Motorcycles is relocating its administrative headquarters from the United States to the Netherlands. The Netherlands will thus become the company’s global headquarters. However, the US locations will continue to play an important role. Zero Motorcycles officially justified the move by stating that Europe has become the most important growth engine. […]

EU’s intended tariff wall against cheap steel evokes mixed reactions

October 08, 2025

The European Commission wants to erect a tariff wall to protect the strategically important steel industry from global overcapacity. Welcomed by the European steel industry, which is in a state of survival, but met with skepticism by European carmakers who fear higher production costs. Specifically, the Commission wants to limit tariff-free imports of steel from […]

Mercedes EV sales are picking up again

October 08, 2025

Mercedes’ electric car sales have fallen year-on-year for six consecutive quarters. The Stuttgart-based company has now reported growth again for the third quarter of 2025, thanks in part to the new CLA. Things are also looking up for vans. Since the first quarter of 2024, Mercedes-Benz has only seen declining electric car sales. That has […]

Renault’s Ampere inaugurates Battery Cell Innovation Laboratory

October 08, 2025

Ampere, Renault’s electric subsidiary, inaugurates its Battery Cell Innovation Laboratory, a center of excellence designed to anticipate technological breakthroughs and strengthen Renault Group’s competitiveness in the electric vehicle sector. Operational since September 30, 2025, in the Lardy Technical Center, this cutting-edge laboratory is fully dedicated to battery cell prototyping and evaluation. It will play a […]

Merz ups pressure on EU Commission regarding ICE ban in 2035

October 07, 2025

The German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, declared yesterday that he wants the EU Commission to abolish the EU ban on the sale of ICE cars after 2035. “I don’t wish Germany to be one of the countries supporting this bad interdiction,” he said on the TV channel NTV. The pressure of big German car companies like […]

Tesla upgrades Model 3 and Y with more range and signal stalk

October 07, 2025

After months of sliding deliveries and growing unease about Elon Musk’s political antics, Tesla is crawling back. The American carmaker has not only retooled its two best-selling models, the Model 3 sedan and Model Y crossover, but also recorded a sales recovery during the third quarter of the year. Even in Europe, sales are partly […]

Zeekr updates 001 flagship with 900V architecture

October 07, 2025

The Chinese EV brand Zeekr, part of Geely Holding, has announced a new design refresh for its flagship 001 EV model, the second in as many years. This latest upgrade to the 001 features Zeekr’s 900V architecture, enabling better performance and some of the fastest charging speeds we’ve ever seen. The interior also appears quite […]

Hip and (very) affordable: the Dacia Hipster Concept (Update)

October 06, 2025

With the Hipster Concept, Renault’s low-cost brand, Dacia, aims to reinvent the future of electric mobility, making it ‘ultra-affordable’ and ‘ultra-essential’. Or, in short, the Dacia way of thinking. And, after some investigative work, we found that the price of a production version could be around €15,000. “Dacia Hipster Concept breaks with automotive conventions and […]

Nissan cancels EV production plans in the U.S.

October 06, 2025

Nissan Motor has announced it is no longer going ahead with plans to produce two new EVs at its Canton plant in Mississippi from late 2028 / early 2029. It will instead examine the production of hybrid SUVs at the plant from 2028. Nissan’s original plans to produce EVs at the plant in 2028 had […]

Dacia revamps compact range, including a hybrid Sandero

October 06, 2025

Dacia, Renault Group’s budget brand, has given its entire compact range a refresher with technology from the larger Duster and Bigster models. Plus, the cheap electric Spring gets a new battery and far more powerful motors, enhancing its usability. While low prices are still a staple at Dacia, the Romanian manufacturer’s model range has become […]

Voyah launches Courage SUV EV in the Benelux

October 03, 2025

Voyah Benelux has announced that the new Courage electric SUV is available to order. The company is the importer of Chinese brands, including Voyah, Dongfeng, and Mhero, all of which are issued by the Dongfeng Motor Corporation. Dongfeng is one of the oldest and most significant Chinese car manufacturers, producing approximately 3.5 million vehicles annually. […]

Dieselgate: agreement VW Group and Winterkorn annulled

October 03, 2025

The German Federal Court of Justice (BGH) has annulled a resolution of the VW Group General Assembly dating from 2021 stipulating that former CEO Martin Winterkorn had to pay €11.2 million to the company for its responsibility in the gigantic scandal of fraud diesel software commonly known as ‘Dieselgate’. The agreement also foresaw a €4.1 […]

BMW Group wants top innovation for its plants

October 03, 2025

Last Tuesday, Oliver Zipse, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG, officially opened the BMW Group plant in Debrecen. The BMW Group’s newest and most innovative production site marks the beginning of a new era for the company. Meanwhile, BMW Group Plant Leipzig is planning a hydrogen pipeline link, paving the way for […]

Heijmans unveils Europe’s first self-driving electric road roller

October 03, 2025

Dutch construction giant Heijmans has launched what it claims to be Europe’s first autonomous electric road roller. The prototype must help tackle labour shortages and cut emissions on infrastructure projects. Heijmans is one of the Netherlands’ biggest construction firms. As part of tightening tender rules, it has been steadily preparing its heavy-duty equipment for zero-emission operations, primarily […]

ZF to cut 7,600 jobs in restructuring of core powertrain division

October 02, 2025

German car parts supplier ZF has reached a deal with unions and employee representatives to eliminate an additional 7,600 jobs. The cut is part of a restructuring push at its largest business unit. After Bosch announced similar measures, the strains on the automotive supplier industry are mounting. The job-cutting plan from ZF affects Division E, […]

Isuzu D-Max EV arrives in Europe (Update)

October 02, 2025

After unveiling the prototype of its electric one-ton truck last year, Isuzu has commenced production of the D-Max EV in Thailand, with the first models scheduled to arrive in key European markets just now. The UK and other right-hand-drive markets are expected to follow in 2026. In Belgium, pricing starts at €71,015, excluding VAT. While […]

Belux car sales in September show slight decrease of 0.5%

October 02, 2025

According to data from the federal public service Mobility & Transport and sector federation, Febiac, 31,519 new cars were registered in September. Compared to the same month last year, this represents a 0.5% decrease. Overall, registrations fell back 9.2% during the first three quarters of the year, while 323,868 new cars were registered. Febiac expects […]

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