July 23, 2026
The Irish low-cost airline Ryanair will, after all, withdraw 5 airplanes from Charleroi and cut 2 million seats for the 2026 winter and 2027 summer seasons in Belgium due to the federal government’s increase in the boarding tax. By actually pulling planes out of service now, Ryanair is effectively sending the message that its threats […]
July 16, 2026
From 1 May next year, drivers, Belgian and international alike, will need a digital road tax sticker (‘road vignette’) to drive on motorways and regional roads in Belgium. Last Friday, the country’s three regional governments announced that foreign motorists should contribute to the maintenance of the country’s roads, agreeing to introduce a new road vignette. […]
July 13, 2026
Starting May 1 of next year, Belgium plans to require a road vignette for all drivers on Belgian highways and regional roads. “Yet another one,” the exasperated drivers must be thinking as they prepare to set off on vacation by car, because the myriad systems for road and environmental vignettes and low-emission zones (LEZ) across […]
July 07, 2026
Signage on Flemish highways is getting a facelift. The Roads and Traffic Agency (Agentschap Wegen en Verkeer, AWV), the road authority responsible for Flemish highways and regional roads, wants signage to be consistent across the entire Flemish highway network, guided by the principle of providing less but more relevant information per sign and improving traffic […]
July 06, 2026
From January 1, 2027, China will abolish the annual vehicle tax exemption for plug-in hybrids, range-extender vehicles, and several classes of electrified commercial vehicles. BEV passenger cars, however, will remain tax-exempt as they are not subject to China’s displacement-based vehicle tax. As reported by CnEVPost, China’s Ministry of Finance, the State Taxation Administration, and the […]
July 01, 2026
A Mercedes-Benz SLK 230 Kompressor imported from Germany has become the center of a dispute that raises broader questions about how Flanders taxes older vehicles. Despite VIN-specific manufacturer data confirming a CO₂ emission of 220 g/km, the Flemish tax authority insists on using a fictional default value of 279 g/km, resulting in more than €2,100 […]
June 30, 2026
Starting Wednesday, July 1, the grace period in Brussels will officially end, and the tax authorities will begin issuing fines to the latest group of drivers who violate the low-emission zone (LEZ) standards. Specifically, more than 13,000 vehicles – Euro 5 diesel and Euro 2 gasoline cars that received a warning earlier this year – […]
June 30, 2026
Seven EU member states – Denmark, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden – have called on the European Union to maintain a clear and ambitious path toward electrification. The countries oppose any further easing of the regulations included in the EU’s auto package due in December, despite calls from Germany and others for […]
June 26, 2026
Between 2019 and 2024, the number of unique classic cars, or old-timers, driving through Brussels’ Low-Emission Zone (LEZ) more than tripled, from around 4,500 to nearly 14,000 vehicles. This is according to figures from Brussels Environment that Member of Parliament Benjamin Dalle (CD&V) requested. According to the Brussels parliamentarian, this indicates that these cars are […]
June 26, 2026
Last year, almost one in five used cars failed the pre-sale vehicle inspection due to a major or dangerous defect. Goca Flanders, the industry federation for vehicle inspections and driving tests, reported this on Thursday in its 2025 annual report. In 2025, a total of 3,600,249 cars underwent inspection, of which 482,809 were used vehicles, 2% […]
June 25, 2026
From July 1, the Flemish kilometer charge for trucks will be linked to the vehicle’s CO2 emissions – the more environmentally friendly the truck, the lower the rate. In reality, the new measure will represent a material cost increase for many conventional trucks, leading the political parties Anders and Vlaams Belang to view this as a […]
June 25, 2026
Spain’s new ‘Plan Auto+’ subsidy program is nearly ready for launch. Applications can reportedly be submitted starting in July, and retroactively for EVs purchased on or after January 1, 2026. The maximum grant is €4,500 per vehicle, but complex conditions apply. Spain has restructured its electromobility incentives at the beginning of 2026, dividing them into […]
June 16, 2026
The Brussels Environment Council is calling on the region to adopt “a coherent strategy to reduce the weight of passenger cars gradually.” According to the Council, the weight of new passenger cars has increased by about 50% over the past 20 years. In 2023, more than half of new registrations in Brussels were SUVs, with […]
June 16, 2026
After 16 European countries, including Belgium and the Netherlands, called for uniform European legislation on e-scooters late last year, the Benelux countries are now also urging the European Commission to work toward a harmonized European framework for e-scooters and other light electric vehicles. The three countries point to increasing fragmentation in national regulations, “which leads […]
June 16, 2026
As Tesla is gradually but quickly rolling out its supervised autonomous driving tech in Europe, details are emerging about how the company is trying to influence the approval process. According to Reuters, a policy manager is on a roadshow with a polished presentation that overestimates the safety benefits of FSD Supervised. After Tesla obtained approval […]
June 15, 2026
Three suspects, including a driving school director, have been arrested and placed in pretrial detention as part of an investigation into a large-scale driver’s license fraud scheme, the Antwerp police announced Friday. Investigators believe the fraudulent activities generated nearly half a million euros over approximately 3 years. The suspects were offering early appointments for practical […]
June 12, 2026
Just as the issues surrounding the use of shared e-scooters in Brussels were starting to improve – save for a rise in the number of accidents – the Brussels government has decided to ban shared e-scooters starting in 2027. The decision stems from a rising number of accidents, increased nuisance to other road users, and […]
June 11, 2026
Starting in July, anyone caught driving drunk will be given a twelve-hour driving ban. Until now, a driving ban following a positive alcohol test could last two, three, six, or twelve hours. The Federal Public Service Mobility and Transport reported on Tuesday that the legislative amendment was published in the Official Gazette. By systematically revoking driver’s […]
June 08, 2026
Normally, the LEZ fines for Euro 5 diesel and Euro 2 gasoline vehicles were set to take effect in Brussels on June 7, but the date has been postponed yet again. Brussels Minister of Finance Dirk De Smedt (Anders) has now confirmed that the fines can be collected starting July 1. Specifically, 13,219 vehicles that […]
June 08, 2026
China wants its electric cars to become slimmer and more efficient after years in which bigger batteries, longer range claims, and SUV-style comfort features have made passenger cars larger and heavier. According to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV, the average passenger car in China weighed 1,704 kg in 2024, roughly one-third more than in 2012. Some […]
June 04, 2026
A study by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) shows that plug-in hybrids in Europe emit, on average, five times more CO₂ than official test values suggest. According to the study, the gap between real-world and certified emissions is particularly large for plug-in hybrids compared to other powertrain types, and continues to widen. In […]
June 03, 2026
Turning on your hazard lights instead of placing the warning triangle will become the new primary warning method for drivers whose vehicles break down on Belgian roads. The new rule takes effect on June 1, 2027. It is being introduced because placing a warning triangle along busy roads is no longer considered safe. After all, […]
June 02, 2026
Last year, the federal police recorded 10,1 million traffic violations in Belgium, a new record. Approximately 83% of all recorded traffic violations were speeding offenses. However, the majority of these are minor violations, involving speeds of 0-10 kph over the limit. This trend is largely attributable to the fact that traffic enforcement in Belgium is […]
June 02, 2026
For years, parking fines for vehicles with foreign license plates were not always collected in Brussels. That situation is now coming to an end thanks to the introduction of a new international collection system. Parking.brussels is engaging a specialized collection agency to address these violations. Of the total number of parking tickets issued in Brussels, […]
May 28, 2026
France has presented its national electrification strategy. As part of the plan, President Emmanuel Macron announced that Stellantis will invest more than one billion euros in producing a new generation of electric vehicles at its Mulhouse plant from 2029 onward. This week, President Macron hosted representatives from industry and politics at the ‘Réunion de l’équipe […]
May 26, 2026
Both train conductors and drivers at De Lijn, MIVB/STIB, and LETEC will soon be allowed to wear body cams. This was decided by the Federal Council of Ministers. The draft legislation must still be approved by the Council of State and then by Parliament before it can take effect. With this measure, the government hopes […]
May 25, 2026
The resolution by the socialist political party Vooruit to allow bicycles on trains free of charge has been unanimously approved by the Parliamentary Committee on Mobility. The resolution also calls on the government to work toward a single combined ticket for all public transport. Currently, passengers who want to bring their bikes on trains pay […]
May 19, 2026
Germany has launched applications for its new electrified vehicle subsidy program. Backed by a €3 billion budget, the scheme aims to support around 800,000 battery-electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids, and range extenders by 2029 through income-based grants of up to €6,000. Germany has officially opened applications for its new electric vehicle subsidy scheme after the program […]
May 19, 2026
The Antwerp-based ZAS Hospital Group is advocating a ban on shared e-scooters between midnight and 8 a.m., according to Gazet van Antwerpen. With this proposal, emergency services aim to halt the rise in accidents involving this mode of transportation. However well-intentioned it may be – and understandable given the frustration of emergency room doctors who […]
May 18, 2026
If the European Commission has its way, there will be a single ticket for anyone wishing to travel by train across Europe. The measure, described as “a game-changer for rail travel” by European Commissioner for Transport and Tourism Apostolos Tzitzikostas, is intended to make cross-border travel on the continent easier. For international train travel, passengers […]
May 12, 2026
The drastic reform of the car inspection procedure in Flanders, planned by Flemish Mobility Minister Annick De Ridder, goes in the opposite direction to the new regulatory plans of the European Union, says GOCA, the sector federation currently responsible for the technical and safety inspection. “We have a growing impression that a more ideological viewpoint […]
May 12, 2026
Verne, the Zagreb startup backed by Mate Rimac, has launched the continent’s first commercial self-driving ride service. The dream of joining the United States and China is European. But don’t be mistaken: the underlying tech is Chinese. Since last April, citizens of Zagreb have had an interesting option for their morning commute. The Croatian autonomous […]
May 11, 2026
Three months after Ghent introduced a financial penalty for drivers who hog public charging points, the numbers paint a clear picture: behavioral change. The number of long-stay sessions has decreased, charger availability has increased, and the city’s revenue amounted to €230,000. There is a particular frustration that unites EV drivers across Europe: arriving at a […]
May 04, 2026
The trade deal between the US and the EU, which was agreed just last summer, is already showing cracks. President Trump signals a return to the tariff playbook and proposes imposing a 25% duty on European cars and trucks. But this time the trigger is geopolitical as much as economic. Donald Trump’s tariff menace has […]
May 01, 2026
The ‘mobility budget’ system must be simplified before it becomes mandatory. That is what the social partners think. “Today, it is still far too complex,” they say. The mobility budget is a system that allows employees to exchange their company car for a budget they can spend on various ‘greener’ mobility solutions, such as a smaller […]
April 29, 2026
The Belgian Chamber’s Mobility Committee has unanimously approved a resolution by Vooruit to allow free bike use on trains. Whether this will ever actually happen, however, remains to be seen. A resolution is not legally binding. For the resolution to take effect, the government would need to amend the management contract with NMBS/SNCB. In an […]
April 22, 2026
Europe’s rail renaissance will never reach its full potential unless passengers are able to book connecting and international trains in a few clicks. That’s the conclusion of new research by T&E (Transport & Environment), which finds that on almost half of the EU’s busiest international air routes, booking the same journey by train is difficult […]
April 21, 2026
Belgium has finalized an action plan to remove dangerous e-scooters from the market more quickly and prevent them from entering the market in the first place. As part of this effort, 75,000 euros will be allocated this year for technical testing, and a safety label for e-scooters will be introduced in January. With this action […]
April 20, 2026
Germany’s Bundestag has established the legal framework for a new electric vehicle subsidy aimed at low- and middle-income households. While applications are not yet open, the scheme will apply retroactively to EVs registered since the start of the year. The foundation for the new incentive scheme is Germany’s ‘Act on Promoting Climate-Neutral Mobility’, which the […]
April 17, 2026
A group of 31 European NGOs, including Oxfam, WWF, CAN Europe, and T&E, has called on the EU to tax excess oil profits to support Europeans in the crisis. In a letter, the NGOs, which represent more than 40 million citizens across more than 2,000 member organizations, call for funds to be targeted to shield […]
April 17, 2026
In France, old, polluting cars are once again allowed to drive in the city center. After all, the French parliament has decided to abolish the environmental sticker and low-emission zones – measures intended to reduce pollution in cities. The ‘zones à faibles émissions’ (ZFE), as they are called in France, were introduced in 2021 with […]
April 17, 2026
The Regional Environmental Permit Commission (Gewestelijke OmgevingsVergunningsCommissie, GOVC) has issued favorable opinions – although conditional – for the permits for the Ventilus high-voltage line. It is the final step before the decision by Flemish Environment Minister Jo Brouns (CD&V). Ventilus is the high-voltage line that Elia, Belgium’s high-voltage grid operator, plans to lay through West Flanders […]
April 16, 2026
Nearly three out of four Walloon drivers (72%) admit that they sometimes park their vehicles in a way that causes an obstruction. This is according to a study by the Walloon Road Safety Agency (AWSR). The most common situations involve parking too close to a crosswalk, on a sidewalk, or double-parking. The AWSR points out […]
April 15, 2026
According to the NGO Transport & Environment (T&E), the latest demands of the European car industry for weaker climate targets could result in an extra €74bn of oil imports, “just as interest in buying EVs reaches new peaks”.That’s according to T&E analysis of a leaked position paper issued by the Association of European Car Manufacturers […]
April 14, 2026
What had been in the works for a while has now become official: Brussels Airport Ombudsman Philippe Touwaide has been fired. Touwaide had come under fire for his lack of neutrality and his personal conduct toward the airport’s top management. The dismissal comes as no surprise. The Federal Public Service Mobility has recommended Touwaide’s dismissal […]
April 14, 2026
According to a recent survey among 5,000 Belgian drivers by the Traffic Safety Institute Vias, more than one in three drivers admit they often drive too fast. Speeding is clearly no marginal behavior in Belgium, it’s mainstream, and seen as relatively socially acceptable. One in four respondents (26%) exceed the speed limit several times a […]
April 10, 2026
In 2024, the police fined about 460 drunk cyclists. Various newspapers reported this in recent days. And even more striking: about 270 times, this also led to the revocation of the driver’s license. In that case, the cyclist not only received a hefty fine but also had to leave his car or motorcycle parked for a […]
April 08, 2026
Anyone driving to France should watch out for a new traffic sign on French highways: some lanes are marked with a raised diamond, indicating that the lane is reserved for cars with at least two occupants – also called ‘carpool lane’. Taxis and electric cars are also allowed to use them. The sign is often located […]
April 07, 2026
Is the Brussels saga surrounding the Low-Emission Zone (LEZ) finally coming to an end? The Brussels government has finally set a schedule for the new LEZ fines system. If the technical obstacles are resolved, the imposition of LEZ fines should begin on June 7. Euro 5 diesel vehicles and Euro 2 gasoline vehicles, which in […]
April 01, 2026
On Tuesday, Colruyt’s online grocery service Collect&Go launched an innovative home delivery service in Leuven using an unmanned electric vehicle. The project began as a pilot earlier. The launch is part of the broader development of sustainable and efficient urban logistics. The vehicle is – for the time being – remotely controlled and monitored via […]
March 30, 2026
Despite criticism from all sides, Flemish Mobility Minister Annick De Ridder (N-VA) is pushing through her plans to reorganize the car inspection. The Minister wants to change and simplify the system because, in her eyes, it’s ‘gold-plated’ and asks too much of the common Flemish car owner. The most important changes are the abolition of […]
March 30, 2026
It appears that, as of April 1, you are still safe for the time being from the automatic €350 fine for drivers entering the Brussels Low-Emission Zone (LEZ) in a Euro 5 diesel or Euro 2 gasoline vehicle. Even though your vehicle is officially banned, no fines will be issued for the vehicles in question […]
March 26, 2026
Germany’s Environment Minister Carsten Schneider has unveiled the Climate Protection Program 2026. The government’s joint plan sets out strategic decisions to achieve climate neutrality, including measures to expand electric mobility. Germany is legally committed to achieving greenhouse gas neutrality by 2045. Under the Federal Climate Protection Act, emissions must be cut by at least 65% […]
March 24, 2026
As many as 35 of the 40 e-scooters inspected in Belgian stores and online shops do not comply with legal requirements. This is according to recent inspections by the Economic Inspectorate. Half of the e-scooters inspected were sold online; the other half were sold in physical stores. Only three of the scooters sold online complied […]
March 23, 2026
Last Friday, a remote-controlled ship sailed on the Walloon river network for the first time. The Novandi 2, a 110-meter-long cargo vessel, departed from Oupeye on the Albert Canal for its maiden voyage and was waved off by the Walloon Minister of Mobility and Infrastructure, François Desquesnes (Les Engagés). The remote control system, installed by tech […]
March 19, 2026
No ruling has yet been issued in the climate lawsuit filed by Hainaut farmer Hugues Falys against French oil giant TotalEnergies. The Commercial Court of Tournai has postponed the ‘Farmer Case’ until September 9. The court wishes to await the ruling in a Paris court case, which is expected on June 25. TotalEnergies is accused […]
March 18, 2026
On the island of Malta, they are tackling traffic congestion with a remarkable measure: young drivers (aged 18-30) will receive 25,000 euros when they hand in their driver’s license for five years. The Maltese government introduced the measure to reduce the growing number of cars on the road. The new regulation was introduced in January […]
March 17, 2026
Two friends and fellow students, Alessandro Heirman (27) and Lindert Bottelberghe (25), from Ghent have developed software to catch motorists overtaking cyclists in a bicycle zone. “In combination with artificial intelligence (AI), we have developed a software system capable of using cameras, which can even be already installed cameras, to detect cars overtaking a cyclist […]
March 10, 2026
Last February, a staggering 94.4 percent of private car buyers in Denmark opted for a battery-electric vehicle. Denmark is rapidly evolving from a European middle-of-the-pack country into an electrification frontrunner. It is successfully closing in on long-time leader Norway. Denmark is rushing for Norway’s slipstream as the latest country to switch car registrations almost fully […]
