February 18, 2026
Although not as precarious as for other car manufacturers, 2025 has been a complicated year for Mercedes-Benz. The German premium car manufacturer has een its net benefit almost halve while turnover decreased by 9%. Meanwhile, battery issues affecting the EQA and EQB have prompted global recalls. Mercedes-Benz has already begun replacing battery packs in North […]
February 18, 2026
The Cummins factory in Oevel (Westerlo, Belgium), formerly known as Hydrogenics, is stopping production of hydrogen technology after a quarter of a century. According to the unions, one hundred jobs will disappear. The publicly traded Cummins has halted global sales of electrolyzers; only current contracts are still being completed, leaving the company with losses of just […]
February 18, 2026
According to several internal sources, the German specialized magazine Manager Magazin concludes that the Volkswagen Group is working on a new cost-cutting program targeting additional savings of up to €60 billion. Of course, economies at such a scale would involve reducing the workforce beyond the already announced 35,000 and, eventually, closing additional plants, following the […]
February 18, 2026
The European Commission is preparing legislation that would require electric vehicles to be assembled in the EU and source at least 70% of their components locally to qualify for state subsidies. The move could pave the way for a formal ‘Buy European’ industrial policy, recently called for by Volkswagen, Stellantis, and other European car manufacturers. […]
February 17, 2026
King Liu, founder of Taiwanese bicycle brand Giant, passed away yesterday at the age of 91. Liu founded Giant in 1972 and built his small business into the world’s largest bicycle manufacturer, producing more than 6 million bicycles per year at its peak. Liu was also passionate about bicycle culture, even though he himself had […]
February 17, 2026
APMA, Canada’s only carmaker, has unveiled two ambitious electric vehicle concepts in Toronto. They present further proof that the country can design and build next-generation cars on its own. The new models are called Vector and Borealis, and could see the light of day around the end of the decade. At the 2026 Canadian International […]
February 16, 2026
China’s car industry is facing a regulatory reset. After the fire-prone battery standards and the ban on retractable door handles, a new draft for safety rules published by the country’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) signals two remarkable backsteps: no more yoke-style steering wheels and no more screen-dominated dashboards. Could this ripple through […]
February 16, 2026
In early 2026, China’s luxury passenger car market reached a critical inflexion point as traditional European premium brands collectively adjusted pricing strategies amid continued sales erosion in the world’s largest auto market, according to the influential local website 36kr. Data from the 2025 calendar year showed that cumulative China sales for BMW, Mercedes‑Benz, and Audi […]
February 16, 2026
Following its brand activation in early January 2026, BMW Alpina is presenting itself as an exclusive new brand under the BMW Group’s custodianship. “The brand embodies an exceptional balance of supreme ride comfort and high performance,” says the press release. “The new badge design complements the recently revealed wordmark, collectively defining the brand’s contemporary iconography.” […]
February 13, 2026
The climate is no longer the US government’s problem. On Thursday, the Trump administration rolled back the mechanism allowing the government to regulate planet-heating pollution. Trump says he believes climate change is a hoax, and has withdrawn the United States from global efforts to combat it. President Trump officially disavowed scientific research that labels CO2 […]
February 13, 2026
Waymo has begun operating its latest autonomous driving system on public roads without safety drivers. In the long contest to commercialise robotaxis, the company moves one step ahead of its rivals. With a cheaper hardware stack, a planned 50,000-vehicle supply deal with Hyundai, and ambitions to exceed one million paid rides per week, this subsidiary […]
February 13, 2026
Toyota has overtaken Volkswagen in battery-electric car sales in China. A symbolic passing of the crown in the world’s largest car market that underlines the growing pressure on Europe’s biggest automaker. The reversal comes as Volkswagen has slipped to third place overall in China, ceding ground to domestic rivals and exposing the limits of its […]
February 13, 2026
The European Commission has exempted Volkswagen’s Cupra brand from additional tariffs on its China-built Tavascan. Cupra is the first automaker to secure approval under the EU’s price floor mechanism for Chinese-made battery electric vehicles. In detail, the decision removes a 20.7 percent anti-subsidy duty that had been applied on top of the bloc’s standard 10 […]
February 12, 2026
German premium car manufacturer BMW is recalling some 575,000 cars worldwide to replace the starter motor, which can fail to function or, in rare cases, overheat and catch fire. Models of concern are found throughout the BMW portfolio: the 2-Series coupe, 3-, 4-, and 5-Series, the 6-Series Gran Turismo and the 7-Series, the X4, X5, […]
February 12, 2026
Failed investments in money-losing electric vehicles and a late-year disruption of aluminum supplies for F-Series pickups drove Ford Motor Co. to an $11.1 billion (€9.3 billion) net loss in the fourth quarter, resulting in the automaker’s worst financial performance since 2008. Fourth-quarter revenue declined 5 % to $45 billion, and adjusted earnings before interest and […]
February 11, 2026
The smallest Mercedes model, the A-Class, was actually supposed to be discontinued under Mercedes’ new entry-segment model strategy, with the electric CLA serving as the gateway to the Mercedes world. Now, Mercedes development board member Jörg Burzer has confirmed a new A-Class, which is planned for 2028. In 2023, Mercedes CEO Ola Källenius announced four […]
February 11, 2026
Solid-state batteries are becoming less of a hype and more of a reality. One of the main actors in the pioneering technology, QuantumScape, launched its battery pilot line. A milestone in setting up and scaling production is widely regarded as the biggest hurdle for this heralded technology. The promise is finally becoming a product. And […]
February 10, 2026
In an extensive reaction to the EU Commission’s watering down of the 2035 environmental targets for mobility and transport, the NGO Transport & Environment (T&E) urgently warns that Europe risks falling even further behind on EVs compared to global competition. “If the EU automotive industry doesn’t transform fast, it will lose its international competition, with […]
February 10, 2026
Belgium’s greenhouse gas emissions, especially CO2, have been falling for over twenty years, but in 2024, they stopped declining and even increased slightly again (about +0.2%) compared with 2023. Although long-term emissions are declining, projections indicate that current plans are not on track to meet EU or national targets for 2030. The rebound is mainly […]
February 10, 2026
BYD intends to localize production of its compact electric SUV, the Atto 2, in Hungary. This should reduce its retail price by several thousand euros compared to the lots built in China, avoiding import fines. However, the Hungarian site itself is facing regulatory scrutiny from Brussels over alleged state subsidies. BYD is betting that European […]
February 10, 2026
Skoda has released the first technical details of its fully electric Epiq, which the brand will unveil in the first half of 2026. The compact electric vehicle will be offered by Skoda in three variants, with power outputs ranging from 85 to 155 kW. The new Skoda Epiq will be available with two versions of […]
February 09, 2026
The world’s largest automaker, Toyota, appoints a new CEO: Current CFO Kenta Kon will take over from Koji Sato, who will join the board of directors. The personnel changes will take effect on April 1, 2026. The 57-year-old Kenta Kon has been with the Toyota Group since 1991. He built his career in the finance […]
February 09, 2026
The European dream of a battery production powerhouse lies in smithereens after Automotive Cells Company (ACC), the joint venture between Stellantis, Mercedes-Benz, and TotalEnergies, confirmed it is abandoning two of its flagship factory projects in Italy and Germany. What was once hailed as the continent’s ‘Airbus of batteries’ now hinges on a single plant in […]
February 09, 2026
BMW Group has entered into a strategic partnership with circular-economy specialist PreZero to develop a scalable approach to vehicle recycling across Europe. The cooperation aims to turn end-of-life vehicles from a regulatory obligation into a structural source of high-quality secondary raw materials. For Belgium, where end-of-life vehicle management is centrally organised through Febelauto, the initiative highlights […]
February 09, 2026
Stellantis is recording extensive charges of approximately €22.2 billion, largely related to its electric vehicle business. According to the new strategy outlined by CEO Antonio Filosa, the company aims to become a ‘beacon of freedom of choice’ by offering more internal-combustion and hybrid vehicles. Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa has been working since his appointment in […]
February 09, 2026
China’s Changan Automobile and battery giant CATL have unveiled what they claim is the world’s first mass-produced electric vehicle powered by sodium-ion batteries. It’s a major step for a technology that has long been seen as a lower-cost, safer alternative to lithium-based systems. The car, a variant of Changan’s Nevo A06 sedan, contains a 45 […]
February 06, 2026
Volvo Cars has reported one of the most bruising financial years in its modern history. The company has suffered a collapse in earnings, a stinging share price crash, and mounting doubts about its electric future. Navigating a worsening global auto market has been particularly difficult, according to its CEO, but the failing EX90 also took […]
February 06, 2026
Europe’s two largest carmakers, Volkswagen and Stellantis, are no longer asking Brussels for protection against growing Chinese competition. They are pushing for a structural rewrite of how Europe’s environmental rules interact with industrial competitiveness. In a joint opinion piece published in Les Echos and Il Sole 24 Ore, two leading business dailies in France and […]
February 06, 2026
Stellantis, the mother company to Peugeot, is facing severe production setbacks on several of its electric vehicle models after one of its key battery factories failed to scale up output. The crisis centers on Automotive Cells Company (ACC), the much-celebrated European venture from the group’s cooperation with Mercedes and Total. Cell production struggles have left […]
February 05, 2026
BMW’s ‘mother plant’ in Munich has now started producing the first pre-series vehicles of the upcoming BMW i3. This marks the beginning of the final preparation phase for the start of series production of the electric sedan in the 3 Series format in the second half of 2026. The new production lines at BMW’s Munich […]
February 05, 2026
Ford Motor and China’s Geely Group are said to be in early talks about sharing European manufacturing capacity, allowing Geely to assemble vehicles at under-utilized Ford plants in Europe, rather than on a full joint venture or merger of operations. While neither company has confirmed details publicly, several media outlets, including Reuters, have reported negotiations, […]
February 04, 2026
In northern Antwerp, energy provider Fluvius has begun construction of Flanders largest heating network to date. Residual heat from the waste-processing company Indaver will be used from the end of this year to heat about 3,800 social housing units, eight schools, and a municipal workshop in the Luchtbal (Antwerp) and Rozemaai (Ekeren) neighborhoods. Such a […]
February 04, 2026
Renault could offer its next-generation electric cars with a new ‘super hybrid’ powertrain that uses a small petrol engine to boost range. Renault’s VP for Product Performance, Bruno Vanel, said the change in approach is a recognition that the company “has to remain flexible in the C- and D-segment” because, while it is working towards […]
February 04, 2026
Porsche has officially begun production of the all-electric Cayenne, marking a significant milestone in the brand’s electrification strategy at a moment when its future electric sports cars appear increasingly uncertain. While the Cayenne Electric is moving from concept to reality, persistent reports suggest Porsche may be reconsidering—if not outright abandoning—plans for electric versions of the […]
February 04, 2026
From 2027 onward, the Chinese government will prohibit the registration of new cars with fully retractable door handles and electric unlocking systems, while existing models will be subject to a transitional arrangement. The Chinese ban is likely to have global repercussions. A potential ban has been discussed for months; now it has been decided. The […]
February 03, 2026
The European Union is struggling with its strategy to reduce its dependence on other countries for the supply of strategic raw materials for the energy transition. Obstacles hinder domestic production, and recycling remains embryonic. However, demand for these materials will only increase sharply over the decade. Raw materials such as lithium, nickel, cobalt, copper, and rare […]
February 03, 2026
Prototypes of Jaguar’s new all‑electric luxury four‑door GT have begun their latest round of winter testing. Taking on extreme temperatures as low as -40°C in the Arctic Circle. The new four‑door GT is undergoing the most rigorous global validation programme in Jaguar history, with 150 prototypes covering hundreds of thousands of miles across hot desert […]
February 03, 2026
A new analysis by Transport & Environment of the European Commission’s proposed revision to the 2035 CO₂ rules warns that the target rollback will reduce EV sales, boost fossil fuel use and emissions, and send a damaging signal to investors at a time when China is gaining ground in the battery car market. The European […]
February 03, 2026
According to data from Febiac and the Federal Public Service Mobility, registrations of new cars in Belgium and Luxembourg decreased by 18.7% to 32,997, compared with last year. Febiac states that the new Euronorm installed on the 1st of January plays a role here: registrations were partly moved forward to December 2025. Febiac hopes that […]
February 02, 2026
Earlier this week, the European Commission, in its assessment of the National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP), acknowledged that Belgium has raised its ambitions, but that the country still needs to make additional efforts in the areas of renewable energy and energy efficiency. Belgium’s environmental protection spending rose to €18 billion in 2023, equivalent to 3% of […]
February 02, 2026
Mercedes-Benz’s flagship has had a comprehensive update: more than 50% of the car is newly developed, updated, and refined. “The new S-Class delivers the most comprehensive update within one S-Class generation,” boasts Mercedes. The purpose-built Mercedes-Benz Operating System (MB.OS) is the supercomputer behind the new S-Class, powering every domain and integrating all systems into a […]
February 02, 2026
Benjamin Bate, Tesla’s Director of Vehicle Operations and Engineering in Fremont, has left Tesla after more than eight years. Bate is an experienced production manager and is completely changing industries. The US-based EV news portal Electrek discovered that Bate had left Tesla via his LinkedIn account. Over his eight-year tenure at Tesla, Bate held several […]
January 30, 2026
Antwerp’s industry gets an electric jolt. Windrose, a little-known Chinese electric truck startup with outsized ambitions, has chosen the Belgian port city as the site of its first European factory. With promises of thousands of vehicles, hundreds of jobs, and a streamlined supply chain linking China, Belgium, and France, the decision marks a breakthrough after […]
January 30, 2026
Renault brand CEO Fabrice Cambolive, who is also the Group’s Chief Growth Officer, is seeking growth outside Europe, particularly in Brazil, India, Morocco, South Korea, and Turkey. Key projects include the launch of the Boreal compact crossover in Brazil, the Filante midsize SUV in South Korea, and the start of local production of the Duster […]
January 29, 2026
A near-50% profit slump in 2025 forces Elon Musk to redraw the company’s future. He is using the end of Tesla’s two original flagships to underline a decisive strategic shift: away from low-volume luxury cars and toward autonomy, artificial intelligence, and humanoid robotics. Tesla’s decision to discontinue the Model S and Model X comes at […]
January 29, 2026
The German automaker has announced several model updates for spring 2026. Among other changes, the two all-electric models, iX1 and iX2, will receive new SiC inverters that reduce consumption and enable longer ranges. Additionally, the new iX3 now offers a 22-kW charger. Shortly after the BMW brand Mini revealed minor efficiency-enhancing updates for its electric […]
January 28, 2026
Belgium has raised its ambitions in its National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP), but still needs to make further efforts in renewable energy and energy efficiency in the coming years. But for the time being, the country will not be presented with a multi-million dollar bill. If an EU member state fails to reduce its CO2 […]
January 28, 2026
Since 2024, Mini has offered an electric SUV with the Countryman Electric. Now, the ‘British’ BMW Group brand has slightly modernized the drivetrain technology, enabling the Countryman E to exceed 500 kilometers of WLTP range for the first time. Mini first unveiled the fully electric Countryman at the IAA in Munich in 2023, and since […]
January 28, 2026
Dacia will continue to sell the Spring alongside its upcoming Renault Twingo-based EV, making it the only firm to offer two affordable, electric city cars at once. Dacia product boss Patrice Lévy-Bencheton, speaking to the English car magazine Autocar, explained that the two cars can coexist even though they are both A-segment EVs. “They are still […]
January 27, 2026
Last Monday, the countries bordering the North Sea, together with grid operators and the offshore wind industry, signed a new investment pact to relaunch and expand offshore wind power generation in the North Sea after several years of failed auctions and investor pullback. The pact agreed to during a summit in Hamburg includes connecting offshore wind […]
January 27, 2026
In the battle for China’s car market, the high ground remains occupied. While Western carmakers have been steadily losing share in the broader landscape — overtaken in many segments by aggressive, fast-rising domestic rivals — their dominance at the very top of the market is proving stubbornly resilient. New data on 2025’s best-selling ultra-luxury vehicles […]
January 27, 2026
In 2025, new EU car registrations increased by 1.8% compared to the same period last year, according to data from the Association of European Car Manufacturers ACEA. However, overall volumes remain well below pre-pandemic levels. In December, the EU’s new-car market grew by 5.8%. The battery-electric car market share reached 17.4%, in line with projections […]
January 27, 2026
Carmakers across Europe have been granted breathing room to meet their CO2 targets. Some of the industry’s biggest names—most notably Volkswagen—were spared from facing hefty fines. The acceleration of EV sales last year, now at almost 20% of registrations, helped buy them some extra time. According to a report by the ICCT (International Council on […]
January 26, 2026
The geopolitical changes seem to be ending the lifecycle of the all-electric Chevrolet Bolt prematurely. With the dismissal of EV incentives, the SUV will be discontinued in 2027 and replaced by two internal combustion engine models that GM currently builds in China. The electric crossover Bolt has just begun arriving at U.S. dealerships, but its […]
January 26, 2026
Guangzhou Shipyard International has launched the world’s largest car carrier to date, capable of transporting 10,800 vehicles. The LNG dual-fuel vessel is surpassing the previous generation of 9,000–9,500-car ships that only recently seemed enormous, and it’s intended for South Korean Hyundai. On the surface, it is a story about scale and engineering. Underneath, it is […]
January 26, 2026
Nissan announced Friday that it has reached an agreement with Chery for Chery to acquire its production assets in Rosslyn, Pretoria (South Africa). Chery South Africa will acquire the land, buildings, and related assets of the Nissan plant, including its nearby stamping facility, by mid-year. “Nissan has a long and proud history in South Africa […]
January 23, 2026
French car manufacturer Renault Group intends to reintegrate its electric vehicle division Ampere into the main company. It was spun off in 2023, and a planned IPO for Ampere had already been halted some time ago. With a new CEO at the helm, François Provost, Renault is apparently reassessing the situation. This is reported by […]
January 23, 2026
According to Germany’s largest union, the ID. 4’s update will also affect its name. In the wake of the earlier announced return of the well-known family names, it will be labeled ID. Tiguan. It must help its recent electric sales surge in Europe and turn it into a more durable recovery. At a higher management […]
January 23, 2026
According to the German news magazine Der Spiegel, German premium car manufacturers BMW and Mercedes-Benz have received significantly more pre-orders for their competing new electric SUVs than expected. As a result, both manufacturers are accelerating production of their ‘electric SUVs of a new era’, the BMW iX3, the first member of the ‘Neue Klasse’, and […]
January 22, 2026
With the world premiere of the Volvo EX60 in Sweden — its longest-range and fastest-charging model to date — Volvo Cars has launched far more than a new electric SUV. It marks a strategic turning point for the brand. The EX60 is designed as the cornerstone of Volvo’s next phase: a high-volume, fully electric model […]
