November 07, 2025
More than half of all electric cars on Belgian roads are leased or rented. According to new figures from the vehicle rental federation Renta, its members alone operate 195,990 fully electric cars, representing 51% of Belgium’s total EV fleet. The data highlight the crucial role of corporate leasing in driving the country’s vehicle electrification. Renta […]
November 05, 2025
The second-hand car market was quieter in October than last year, with a 2.8% decline to 65,351 units. In October 2024, 67,201 used cars were registered, 4,203 more than in October 2023. The used car market continues to perform well, with 621,316 used cars registered over the past 10 months, an increase of 0.5% compared […]
November 04, 2025
The Spanish carmaker Ebro has unveiled the S900, a large, seven-seat plug-in hybrid SUV designed to push it into the same league as Europe’s established players. Once known for its sturdy commercial vehicles, Ebro has re-emerged as an SUV brand, with a bit of help from China. Ebro’s name doesn’t resound widely across Europe (yet?), […]
November 04, 2025
According to data from the federal government service Mobility & Transport and the sector federation Febiac, 33,955 cars were registered in Belgium and Luxembourg in October 2025, 6.8% fewer than in the same month last year. Once again, the decrease is due to the professional market (-10.3%, 20,726 registrations compared to 23,112 last year in […]
November 04, 2025
Renault Group, Geely Holding Group, and Geely Automobile Holdings (together, ‘Geely’) have signed agreements under which Geely will acquire a 26.4% stake in Renault do Brasil. This transaction continues the strategic cooperation between Renault Group and Geely. The aim is to enhance the development of the Renault and Geely brands in Brazil while paving the […]
November 03, 2025
Audi’s third-quarter earnings have risen sharply, mainly because last year, the burden of shutting down its Brussels plant weighed heavily on the results. However, the positive figures mask deeper financial strain from tariffs, falling volumes in China, and rising costs associated with its transition to electric vehicles. Audi reported an operating profit of €468 million […]
October 31, 2025
Kei cars are Japanese car culture at heart. So it’s symbolic and sensitive at the same time that Chinese automaker BYD has pulled the wraps off its first kei car, the Racco, at the 2025 Japan Mobility Show. Though the car is small, it is a bold step into Japan’s compact-car market. The Racco writes […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
October 23, 2025
Astara Auto Finland, the company that imports Kia vehicles into Finland, is giving away free gasoline-scented car air fresheners to buyers of the new Kia EV4. And no, this is not a joke. You have to admit, the smell of fuel is popular among gearheads, but those with EVs no longer get to experience it. […]
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. […]
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 […]
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 […]
October 17, 2025
Mercedes-Benz has unveiled the configurator for its eagerly anticipated entry-level electric CLA. Powered by a smaller lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery, the CLA 200 ships for €49,610 in Belgium, almost €6,000 less than the CLA 250+ with NMC pack. The German carmaker has built its new four-door coupé on its modular MMA platform, which underpins […]
October 16, 2025
The end of the EV paradise? Norway’s 25% VAT exemption for electric vehicles has been in place for over 20 years, making it one of the earliest and longest-running EV incentives in the world, but now it’s thinking about scrapping it from 2027. Alongside, the government proposes increasing the registration tax on fossil fuel (ICE) […]
October 15, 2025
According to a new report from UK-based research, analytics, and data company Rho Motion, global EV sales—battery electric (BEVs) and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) combined —passed the 2.1 million mark for the first time in September 2025, up 26% YoY. The Reuters press agency adds a regional snapshot detailing that China contributes the most with 1.3 […]
October 14, 2025
Three years after its launch, Nissan has given the Ariya a modest but meaningful update. The electric SUV retains its core engineering but gains a sleeker design and much-needed digital upgrades. With Google built-in technology and the ability to power external devices, the Ariya is being repositioned as more practical and better connected. When it first […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
October 09, 2025
According to Christophe Dubon, spokesman for car and two-wheeler federation Febiac, the new motorcycle market performed well in the first nine months of the year. “During the first nine months of 2025, the new motorcycle market experienced a slight decline of -4.3%, with a total of 21,728 registrations, which is not a bad result. The […]
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 […]
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. […]
October 08, 2025
After launching an upgraded “Premium” version of the Model 3 sedan and Model Y SUV, Tesla has also introduced a stripped-down “Standard” version of its two core models. They now list at $5,000 less in the US: $36,990 for the Model 3 Standard and $39,990 for the Model Y Standard. Prices for Europe have not […]
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 […]
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 […]
October 07, 2025
Belgium’s car market is shifting gears. While sales of new vehicles continue to fall, the second-hand sector is gaining ground, increasingly becoming the backbone of automotive sales. Almost two out of three cars registered in Belgium this year were second-hand. According to the mobility federation Traxio, the summer months saw a decline in second-hand sales, […]
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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
October 02, 2025
A Dutch survey analyzing the habits and pain points of EV drivers has successfully separated some facts from fiction about electric driving. It appears that more than half never need to charge their cars while underway, and that the overwhelming majority charge their cars using solar panels. If you’re looking for the real needs of […]
October 01, 2025
For two decades, the car dashboard has been a battleground between the tech industry and traditional manufacturers. New figures suggest that the first have won over the driver, but carmakers are far from ready to concede. A survey of 1,000 Dutch motorists by ‘Ikwilvanmijnautoaf.nl’ found that more than half of them rely primarily on Google […]
October 01, 2025
As of today, the tax credit for purchasing electric cars, both new and used, has expired in the US. Some manufacturers are reportedly trying to extend the availability of subsidies through their dealers for a little longer. As U.S. President Trump decided in the summer, the tax credits of $7,500 for the purchase of new […]
September 30, 2025
The recently appointed new CEO of the Renault Group, François Provost, gave his first international press interview recently at the IAA in München. His central message was clear: EU legislators should focus on reducing the cost of BEVs, rather than forcing manufacturers to sell significantly more of them. The Frenchman was recently named CEO of […]
September 30, 2025
Swedish bus maker Volvo Buses has unveiled a new coach chassis capable of travelling up to 700 kilometers on a single charge. The BZR Electric platform, already used in its intercity buses, has been reconfigured with an expanded battery system that surpasses much of the competition. The new milestone bus is ready for Scandinavian and […]
September 30, 2025
Mitsubishi has reintroduced the Eclipse Cross name to European roads, but this time, the badge will adorn the rear of a French-built electric SUV. The Japanese carmaker has unveiled a fully electric Eclipse Cross this month, with first deliveries planned by the end of 2025. Prices will start at €47,990 for the Intense base version. […]
September 29, 2025
China will require exporters of pure electric cars to obtain government licences as of next year. This will lend Beijing full authority over which models leave its borders and which companies are allowed to compete abroad. The decision aims at controlling the ongoing price wars. However, from a diplomatic perspective, it provides Jinping’s administration with […]
September 29, 2025
Shortly after Stellantis announced temporary closures, competitor Volkswagen is also reducing production at several of its German electric car production sites. Sales of fully electric cars remain too weak. While the August statistics showed a spark of hope for electric cars, with an uptick of 30%, absolute sales numbers still fail to match production. Currently, […]
September 26, 2025
European drivers are buying electric cars at record levels this year, even as the continent’s overall car market shows signs of stagnation. The latest figures from the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) reveal battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) expanding their foothold across the region. Gasoline and diesel models face a steep decline. In August, registrations of BEVs […]
September 25, 2025
Van Mossel, a major player in the automotive sector and acting as a dealer for 32 car brands, is proud to announce the official opening of its brand-new Used Cars Center in Lokeren. “This impressive branch is immediately the largest indoor used car center in Belgium, with a range of more than 300 carefully selected […]
September 24, 2025
Stellantis is preparing to suspend operations across multiple European plants. Slow demand forces the automotive giant to curb output and recalibrate inventories. The company confirmed temporary shutdowns in France and Italy, while reports in the French business daily Les Échos indicate similar pauses in Spain, Germany, and Poland. At the Poissy plant, west of Paris, […]
September 24, 2025
Volvo Cars is pressing reset on its digital platform after a rocky start for its flagship battery-powered SUV EX90. The Swedish automaker has unveiled sweeping upgrades to the 2026 model year, including a jump to 800 V architecture. It also outlined plans to build extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs) in the US, as it seeks to rebuild […]
September 23, 2025
China is intensifying its efforts in the electric car market. The country has unveiled a new strategy that pairs ambitious domestic sales targets with a sharper focus on exports. The new ambitions coincide with a significant increase in sales from Chinese brands in Europe, where their sales have more than doubled in the past year. […]
September 23, 2025
Porsche is dramatically scaling back its push into electric cars, shelving key models and extending the life of gasoline and hybrid vehicles. The sudden reversal comes after a profit warning and has unsettled investors. One of Germany’s most celebrated luxury brands is in turmoil and intends to fight back by looking to its roots. The […]
September 17, 2025
China is poised to ban retractable car door handles by 2027, following a series of fatal crashes that have exposed the dangers of a feature once hailed as a marker of futuristic design. Flush-mounted handles, popularized by Tesla and copied by numerous electric vehicle makers, are designed to sit flat against the car body until […]
September 17, 2025
Ford will cut up to 1,000 jobs at its electric vehicle plant in Cologne, Germany, as part of a restructuring effort aimed at adjusting production to sluggish demand for battery-powered cars in Europe. Operations will be reduced at the site from two daily shifts to a single one starting in January 2026. The Cologne facility, […]
September 16, 2025
Have you seen this face before? Yes, you did. During the Tokyo Olympics, Toyota shuttled athletes with the futuristic, autonomously driving e-Palette, a shipment box on wheels. But the e-Palette didn’t get stuck in its ambassador role. It has now entered the Japanese commercial market not only in its purpose for transport but also as […]
September 16, 2025
Volkswagen is delaying the rollout of two of its most critical future models, the all-electric Golf and T-Roc. The German carmaker is struggling with rising costs, plant disruptions, and strategic uncertainty regarding its long-term electrification plans. The battery-powered Golf, initially slated for 2028, won’t arrive before the decade’s end, according to sources familiar with Bloomberg. […]
September 15, 2025
Tesla’s Cybertruck was meant to redefine the electric pickup market. Instead, it has become a cautionary tale for the EV maker, exposing the cracks in its once-dominant position. Just months after launching a cheaper rear-wheel-drive version (in April 2025), Tesla has quietly scrapped the model from the configurator, acknowledging what the market already knew: buyers […]
September 12, 2025
Europe is warming up for the arrival of kei-cars, a symbol of affordable mobility in Asia. The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has thrown her weight behind calls from Renault and Stellantis for a new generation of cheap, lightweight cars, pledging to work with manufacturers to make them a reality. But […]
September 11, 2025
Chinese luxury carmaker Hongqi has announced that its latest electric SUV, the EHS5, will come to Europe as part of an ambitious plan to launch 15 new electric and hybrid models by 2028. The brand, known in China as the ‘Red Flag’, hopes the car will help it break into a crowded market dominated by […]
September 11, 2025
Chinese state-owned automaker Guangzhou Automobile Group (GAC) has officially entered the European market with the launch of its first global model, the Aion V electric SUV. The debut took place at the IAA Mobility show in Munich, where the company presented five models. The Aion V had previously been unveiled at the Paris Motor Show […]
September 10, 2025
At the IAA Mobility show in Munich, we can see an avalanche of Chinese carmakers expanding their European offer and/or preparing themselves to expand into the European market. On the other hand, we saw the leading German brands pull out all the stops in their efforts to counter the ‘Chinese invasion’. There are a lot […]
September 10, 2025
Some analysts say IAA Munich looks more like a Shanghai auto show extension these days, as Chinese brands are all competing for European customers’ favor. The Seres-Huawei joint venture adds some more heat by unleashing three Aito-rebranded crossovers on the Old Continent. Contrary to the low-budget Seres 3 we know in Belgium today, Aito is […]
September 10, 2025
BYD is reputed as an electric vehicle brand. However, in Belgium, its best-selling model features a plug-in hybrid driveline. After the Seal U DM-i, the Chinese carmaker is now doubling down with the Seal 6 DM-i, available as a sedan or an estate. Both come with some striking numbers, but is the ride just as […]
September 09, 2025
According to the NGO Transport & Environment, European carmakers sold 38% more electric cars in the first seven months of the year, ensuring that all but Mercedes-Benz are on track to comply with the EU’s 2025-27 emission targets, new T&E research finds. However, the two-year extension of the targets allowed carmakers to take the foot […]
