ACEA report: new EVs, old reality: Europe’s roads still stuck in the past

February 02, 2026

The European car parc is changing far more slowly than the political debate around electrification might suggest. That is the central message of the latest ‘Vehicles on European Roads‘ report published by the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA). While sales headlines often focus on record EV registrations or sudden dips in demand, the report instead […]

EU commercial vehicle market in the red in 2025, except for buses

January 29, 2026

The ACEA’s EU commercial vehicle registration numbers for 2025 are in, and the results are not good. The overall market has dropped significantly compared to 2024, albeit not as much as feared in the first half of the year. Only the bus market has grown, while electric alternatives are slowly gaining market share. After Q2 […]

At the top end of the ultra-luxury car market, China still speaks Western

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 […]

EU car registrations up 1.8% in 2025, BEV market share grew to 17.4%

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 […]

GM ditches electric Bolt early to make room for ICE models 

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 […]

China-built world’s largest car carrier reshapes Hyundai’s export future

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 […]

Facelifted Volkswagen ID.4 will be called ID.Tiguan

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 […]

BMW iX3 and Mercedes GLC meet high demand

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 […]

EX60 marks a turning point for Volvo’s electric strategy and for Ghent

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 […]

2025 sales: Dacia confirms, Alpine explodes

January 21, 2026

In an earlier contribution, we already discussed the relatively good sales figures of the Renault brand and the Renault Group in a challenging environment. Today, we put the spotlight on Renault’s daughters Dacia and Alpine. There are also persistent, indirectly confirmed rumors that the Renault Group will produce drones for the French Army. Dacia: 10 […]

Germany revives EV subsidy to boost private demand

January 20, 2026

Germany is bringing back purchase incentives for electric vehicles. The country seeks to reboot private demand after a sharp market slowdown, giving its domestic auto sector some breathing room. Germany’s federal government has outlined a new subsidy program that will offer buyers between 1,500 euros and 6,000 euros toward the purchase of electric and certain plug-in […]

Renault brand sold 10% more cars in 2025

January 20, 2026

The Renault brand delivered a strong performance in 2025, with 1,628,030 vehicles sold worldwide (+3.2% increase PC+LCV vs 2024), driven by a 10% increase in global passenger car sales (1,292,000 units). “This marks the third consecutive year of growth for the Renault brand, confirming the consistency and success of its commercial strategy, with steady and […]

Traxio: ‘Record of 23,681 speed pedelecs registered in 2025’

January 19, 2026

Last year, a record number of speed pedelecs – 23,681 – were registered in Belgium, both new and used. “2025 was a record year for second-hand speed pedelecs (9,623 units, +24%) and the third best year ever for new ones (14,058 units, +2.6%),” explains Filip Rylant, spokesperson for mobility federation Traxio. “All in all, this […]

Porsche’s China engine is misfiring, and sales are paying the price

January 19, 2026

Porsche closed 2025 with its steepest global sales decline since the financial crisis era. The main scapegoat? Another year of falling deliveries in China. The slide erased gains elsewhere and forces the sports car brand to seriously rethink how it competes in the world’s largest auto market. Porsche delivered 279,449 vehicles worldwide last year, down […]

EU Commission considers extending EV tariffs to Chinese hybrids

January 19, 2026

The European Union is weighing whether hybrid vehicles from China should face the same penalties as battery electric models made in the region. Just as Brussels and Beijing are attempting to steady their relationship with price floors, the debate has been reopened. Chinese brands are heavily mediatized for their competitive electric cars, but hybrids account […]

349,775 visitors prove that the Brussels Motor Show is alive and kicking

January 19, 2026

In just nine days (and a press day), the Brussels Motor Show drew almost 350,000 visitors to the Heyzel expo halls. That’s over 42,000 more than the year before (nearly +14%) and proof that the BMS has achieved a status that inevitably leads to the title of the most crucial motor show event in Europe. […]

Premium under pressure but BMW Motorrad maintains its lead

January 19, 2026

BMW Motorrad has reaffirmed its position at the pinnacle of the premium motorcycle segment. With 202,563 motorcycles delivered worldwide in 2025, the Bavarian manufacturer surpassed the 200,000-unit mark for the fourth consecutive year. This underlines the strength of its brand and product strategy at a time when the wider two-wheeler market is showing signs of […]

Toyota Motor Europe scores sales record in 2025

January 16, 2026

Toyota Motor Europe (TME) sold a record 1,229,038 Toyota and Lexus vehicles in 2025 (+1%). TME’s mix of electrified vehicles grew to 77%, an increase of 5%, with sales of battery electric vehicles up 46%, plug-in hybrids up 76%, and hybrids up 3%. Toyota Professional’s range of commercial vehicles also achieved an all-time sales record […]

Nissan’s new NX8 for China bets on two horses: EV and EREV

January 16, 2026

Nissan’s newest SUV, developed and launched first in China, signals a clear break from the product playbook that has defined the brand’s global lineup for the past decade. The NX8, a car from the Dongfeng Nissan subsidiary, is a reminder that much of Nissan’s zero-emission innovation is now emerging from its Chinese joint venture rather than […]

Tesla ends one-time FSD purchases over low adoption

January 15, 2026

Tesla is closing the door on a long-standing sales tactic for its most controversial software feature, Full Self-Driving (FSD). Starting next month, buyers will no longer be able to purchase it outright, but will need to chose a monthly subscription. CEO Elon Musk, who pitched FSD as one of the company’s major income assets, confirmed […]

Renault courts premium buyers with new Filante crossover flagship

January 14, 2026

Renault has lifted the curtain on its new Filante crossover with an unmistakable message. The French carmaker is no longer satisfied with its role as a producer of sensible, mid-market vehicles. Instead, it is placing a costly bet on wealthier customers. But its ambition has no place on European roads. The Filante is Renault’s largest […]

Stellantis ends Jeep and Chrysler PHEV production in North America

January 14, 2026

Stellantis has officially discontinued all plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) sold under its Jeep and Chrysler brands in North America. The CEO of Stellantis’ biggest competitor, GM, is somewhat surprised by this decision. Although GM has also slowed EV production, Mary Barra remains convinced that EVs will be the endgame. It will only take longer. […]

VW Group delivered almost 1 million BEVs in 2025

January 14, 2026

The Volkswagen Group delivered 983,100 electric vehicles worldwide across all brands in 2025, nearly a third more than in 2024. In Europe, deliveries increased by 66%. With a 32% increase compared to the 744,800 battery-electric vehicles delivered in 2024, the VW Group has returned to its growth trajectory. In 2024, global electric vehicle sales had declined […]

Mazda Europe CEO on EVs, profit, and trust: ‘otherwise we could not survive’

January 14, 2026

The Brussels Motor Show has quietly grown into one of Europe’s most relevant automotive stages, and for Mazda, it has taken on a particular symbolic value. With Belgium lacking a domestic car brand, Brussels functions, as Mazda Europe CEO Martijn ten Brink put it in an interview with newmobility. news, like the “Switzerland of the automotive […]

Kia on top, China still out: what Arval’s 2025 fully electric top ten reveals

January 14, 2026

Leasing company Arval published its Top Ten most-ordered company cars for 2025, and one thing stands out immediately: every single model on the list was fully electric, and none came from a Chinese brand. In Belgium, this outcome is hardly accidental. From 2026 onwards, only zero-emission company cars will remain 100 percent tax-deductible, a fiscal […]

Mercedes EV sales slide deepens as BMW widens the gap

January 13, 2026

Mercedes-Benz entered the new year under growing pressure to demonstrate that its electric strategy remains on track. Latest figures show the German premium carmaker lost more ground to BMW in battery-electric vehicle sales last year. Chased hot on the heels by the competition, demand has weakened in key regions. A spark of hope comes from […]

Katrin Adt, Dacia CEO: ‘We don’t want more volume at a high cost’

January 13, 2026

At the Brussels Motor Show, gaining in international importance, we were able to meet an increasing number of company representatives. One of them was Katrin Adt, the recently appointed new CEO of Dacia. Her message was clear: “We want our offer to be simple and affordable. Expanding into the fleet/leasing market is certainly not one […]

Price floors instead of tariffs: EU’s risky bet on Chinese EVs

January 13, 2026

The European Union has opened a narrow path for Chinese electric vehicle makers to sidestep punitive import duties. Detailed guidance shows how minimum prices could substitute for tariffs that have caused trade tensions between the two blocs since 2024. But why does Brussels want to hand over its extra income from punitive tariffs to the […]

MINI’s electric turn fuels its growth from niche to core business

January 12, 2026

MINI’s performance in 2025 offers an interesting case study for policymakers following the transition of Europe’s automotive sector. While much of the industry struggled with declining volumes, rising costs, and uncertainty around electrification, the BMW Group’s compact brand managed to grow. Global MINI deliveries increased by 17.7 percent to 288,290 vehicles, with electrification emerging as […]

Traxio & Febiac: ‘Used motorcycle market 2025 rebounds, new market stable’

January 12, 2026

New motorcycle registrations fell by 12.2% in 2025 (to 24,872 units) compared to 2024. However, 2024 was the best year of the past 15 years. The sector expects a strong start to 2026, thanks in part to the Brussels Auto Show, where nearly 20 motorcycle brands will be represented this year and at least 310 […]

Kia debuts its affordable EV2 electric car in Brussels

January 12, 2026

Kia kicks off the new year with the unveiling of the EV2, its affordable electric car designed to drive adoption among the broadest audience. At the Brussels Motor Show, the world premiere was a key driver of its international appeal. Unveiled to the public in Brussels during the press day last Friday, the Kia EV2 […]

810 km on a charge: Volvo’s all-new EX60 aims to crush range anxiety

January 09, 2026

Volvo Cars is raising the stakes in the crowded compact electric SUV market with its upcoming EX60. The battery-powered successor to its bestselling XC60 will travel farther and charge faster than any electric Volvo before. The EX60, set for full disclosure on January 21, is positioned as a critical model for Volvo as it tries […]

Longer range lifts Volkswagen electric Transporter’s appeal for fleets

January 09, 2026

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has refreshed its electric Transporter and Caravelle with a larger usable battery, faster charging, and an all-wheel-drive option. This should align the vans better with the needs of fleet buyers who demand electric light commercial vehicles to move beyond city-only duties. A lack of incentives and demanding use cases are hampering the […]

Alpine extends its distribution network in Belgium

January 08, 2026

Reinforced by its recent sales successes, Alpine is substantially enlarging its dealer network in Belgium. “This strategic enlargement follows the dynamic growth curve of Alpine and shows that Alpine wants to be even closer to its customers to deploy its electric portfolio progressively,” says the importer, Renault Belgium. Alpine already has ‘Alpine Stores’ in Antwerp, […]

Former Polestar CEO Thomas Ingenlath returns to Volvo Cars

January 08, 2026

Volvo Cars announces the appointment of Thomas Ingenlath as Chief Design Officer, effective 1 February 2026. Meanwhile, Volvo also reported its December sales and 2025 results. “The appointment of Thomas Ingenlath marks the return of one of the most influential designers in the company’s recent history and reinforces Volvo Cars’ leadership in design,” Volvo proudly […]

Norwegian car sales are now (as good as) fully electric

January 06, 2026

Norway closed out 2025 with a milestone: nearly 100% of electric car registrations. The country has officially reached its long-standing target: a new car fleet free of tailpipe emissions. Simultaneously, the share of electric cars on Norwegian roads now overshadows that of diesel cars. Norway’s new-car market shattered records in 2025, both in total sales […]

‘Belgian used car market hits best results since 2006’

January 06, 2026

Last year, the Belgian second-hand car market achieved its best results since 2006. While the new car market continues to decline, the volume of used cars remains stable at a historically high level. Registrations increased by 0.9% (+6,194 units) after consecutive years of growth and a very strong 2024. In December alone, 59,090 used cars were registered, […]

EV interest rebounds among Belgian households, BNP survey suggests

January 06, 2026

Nearly one in five Belgian households now report considering a switch to a fully electric car within the next two years, while almost a quarter already drive some form of electrified vehicle. These are some of the figures BNP Paribas Fortis presents prominently in its latest mobility survey, released ahead of the opening of the […]

Renault bigger than Stellantis in France

January 06, 2026

In a French car market that decreases by another 5% in 2025 (YOY), Renault Group has sold more cars than Stellantis in the hexagon: it has reached almost 26.4% market share selling Renaults, Dacias, and Alpines, against 25.8% of share for the 14 Stellantis brands. If one counts LCVs into the equation, Stellantis is still […]

Dutch drivers flock to Belgium to fill up, paying 40 cents less per liter

January 05, 2026

At the start of this year, fuel prices in Belgium are at their lowest level since the peak prices of 2022. The official maximum prices for fuel have become a lot cheaper than they were a year ago. The fact that prices at the pump in Belgium are so low has not gone unnoticed by […]

From Hefei to Brussels: NIO’s Belgian debut and Hedin’s EV bet

January 05, 2026

When the doors of the Brussels Motor Show open next Friday, the spotlight in Hall 7 will fall on two names that are still unfamiliar to most Belgian car buyers: NIO and Firefly. Their presence is more than just another brand launch at a crowded auto show. It marks Belgium’s official entry point into a […]

Belux registrations: an excellent December limits year decrease to -7.5%

January 05, 2026

According to data from the sector federation Febiac and the federal public service Mobility & Transport, December was a very good month (+23.2%) for new car registrations, limiting the decrease for the whole year compared to 2024 to -7.5%. In 2025, 414,770 new cars were registered in Belgium and Luxembourg, 33,507 fewer than last year, […]

Van Mossel Automotive Group to import Maserati in the Netherlands

December 31, 2025

On Monday, sports car manufacturer Maserati, part of the Stellantis Group, appointed Van Mossel Automotive Group as sales and service partner for the Netherlands. Van Mossel will open two new Maserati showrooms in 2026. Earlier this year, there was already a collaboration between Van Mossel and Maserati about the import and service of the brand […]

Dutch tighten fiscal screws, tilting EV-friendly balance toward Belgium

December 30, 2025

From 2026 onward, the Netherlands will tighten the fiscal screws on electric cars, steadily dismantling the generous incentives that once made it one of Europe’s most EV-friendly markets and shifting the balance toward countries such as Belgium. The most tangible change affects the motor vehicle tax (MRB). Fully electric passenger cars, which enjoyed a full […]

Is the VW ID. Buzz leaving the US?

December 29, 2025

Volkswagen has confirmed that there will be no 2026 model year for the ID. Buzz in the US. However, US plans for the MEB van have not been completely canceled; a revised model is expected to follow in 2027. Back in July, Volkswagen temporarily suspended deliveries of the ID. Buzz to the US. At the […]

VW abandons direct sales model in Europe

December 23, 2025

Volkswagen is discontinuing direct sales through the agency model for private customers across Europe. This means the distribution of electric vehicles will gradually return to the traditional dealership model. Almost exactly a year ago, VW decided that, from January 2026, battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) for private customers would return to the traditional dealer model in Germany […]

EU car registrations up 2.1% in November, +1.4% year-to-date

December 23, 2025

In November, EU car registrations rose 2.1% according to data from the European Car Manufacturers Association (ACEA). For the year to date (YTD), the rise is 1.4%. With the EFTA countries and the UK included, the increase is 2.4% and 1.9%, respectively. Despite the recent positive momentum, overall volumes remain well below pre-pandemic levels. The […]

Audi to scrap plans for its own US plant?

December 22, 2025

The Volkswagen Group has completed its planning round for the next five years, although with a delay, but has not yet presented any results. This is likely also due to the situation at Audi, where CEO Gernot Döllner is said to have abandoned plans for a standalone US plant, but not for Audis built in […]

Tesla residual values sink Dutch single-brand leasing firm MisterGreen

December 22, 2025

The Dutch leasing company MisterGreen, which built its entire business around Tesla vehicles, is winding down. Betting everything on one car manufacturer is a risk. The decline in car values has eroded the company’s financial health. MisterGreen is set to close after failing to survive a sharp drop in the value of its Tesla fleet, […]

BYD hits 15-million NEV milestone overtaking Tesla and VW combined

December 19, 2025

Chinese automaker BYD announced this week that cumulative output of its electric and plug-in hybrid models has reached 15 million units, a figure that now exceeds the combined lifetime electric-vehicle production of Tesla (8.1 million) and the Volkswagen Group (under 3 million). That acceleration mirrors what is happening across the global market. Recent analysis shows […]

Arval–Athlon talks point to a new 2.3 million-vehicle leasing giant

December 18, 2025

The announcement in an official press release on 18 December that BNP Paribas’ subsidiary, Arval, has entered into exclusive negotiations to acquire Athlon from Mercedes-Benz Group is widely seen as the next significant milestone in consolidating Europe’s vehicle leasing market. If completed, the transaction would create a full-service leasing group managing around 2.3 million vehicles, […]

Peugeot gets nostalgic and reboots the 103 moped

December 16, 2025

Peugeot is reaching for its two-wheeled past as it prepares to relaunch the 103, one of Europe’s most famous mopeds. But instead of pedal power, it comes with a battery pack this time. Set for launch next year, the reborn 103 blends familiar styling cues with modern tech.  For decades, the Peugeot 103 was a […]

Renault Twingo E-Tech Electric: Belgium gets the €19,500 price

December 16, 2025

Renault has put a number on its promise to democratise electric city cars. As promised, the new Twingo E-Tech Electric starts at €19,500 in Belgium, making it one of the very few fully electric cars from a mainstream European brand to slip under the symbolic €20,000 threshold. And that, more than any design cue or technical […]

Urban Cruiser is ready: Toyota’s answer to Europe’s compact EV boom

December 15, 2025

Toyota takes another step in the gradual expansion of its European electric vehicle range with the unveiling of the final all-new Urban Cruiser, a compact battery-electric SUV designed to compete in one of the continent’s fastest-growing segments. The model made its world premiere at the Brussels Motor Show earlier this year. Positioned below the bZ4X […]

BMW makes its battery bet clear with NMC recycling push

December 15, 2025

BMW has quietly drawn a strategic line in the fast-evolving battle over electric-vehicle batteries. With the commissioning of its new battery cell recycling facility in Bavaria, operated with circular-economy specialist Encory, the German carmaker is not only closing the loop on its electric drivetrains but also making a clear statement about which battery chemistry it […]

Skyworth wants to prove that budget-EVs can charge fast

December 13, 2025

Best known until now for televisions and household electronics, Chinese Skyworth has set its eyes on the Belgian car market. To stand out in the plethora of Chinese newcomers, the brand promises an 11-minute charge with grace from the 800-volt network. The question remains whether its K800V SUV can earn enough trust with sharp numbers […]

Car lobby wins battle to keep combustion engines alive in the EU after 2035

December 12, 2025

Europe will no longer hold on to its long-promised ban on new registrations of gasoline and diesel cars as of 2035. The Commission has settled for a rewrite, now demanding that the average vehicle sold will be obliged to emit 90% less CO2 after that deadline. Pitched as a measure to safeguard jobs in the […]

Smart #6 sedan looks fit for Europe, but probably won’t get here

December 08, 2025

Smart has unveiled the first official images of its new #6 sedan via China’s MIIT filings, confirming a significant shift in direction for the brand — one that points to a different trajectory than the one Smart follows in Europe. The #6 mirrors the plug-in hybrid approach of the Smart #5, underscoring how Smart China […]

Lexus confirms LFA return as electric halo, but no solid-state pack?

December 05, 2025

Lexus is officially resurrecting its most hallowed nameplate, but it is compliant with modern times. The screaming V10 engine that defined the original icon is swapped for a battery pack. While expectations are that this model will crown Toyota as one of the first legacy manufacturers to turn to solid-state battery packs, that part of […]

Fiat Grande Panda and Dacia Bigster winners of VAB’s family car election

December 05, 2025

For the 39th edition of the Family Car election by Flemish mobility club VAB, the participating journalists and VAB members could choose from two pricing categories. In the past, there was a third category for electric cars, but it has since been abolished as more affordable BEVs have entered the market. This year, (partial) electrification […]

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