Chinese Changan confirms European car factory

July 04, 2025

Changan Automobile, one of China’s largest state-owned automakers, is accelerating its push into Europe. The carmaker has confirmed its intention to build its first manufacturing facility on the continent as part of a broader strategy to grow its electric vehicle footprint. The mounting trade barriers have persuaded the carmaker to localize operations. “We are committed […]

Not Ghent but Slovakia will build Polestar’s mass-market model 7

July 03, 2025

Polestar is staking its European future on a new production strategy that focuses on local manufacturing for regional markets. The Swedish electric performance brand, owned by China’s Geely, confirmed this week that its upcoming Polestar 7 will roll off the lines at Volvo Cars’ under-construction factory in Košice, Slovakia.  The 7 marks the premium brand’s […]

Factories at risk: Stellantis’s grim warning over van electrification lag

July 03, 2025

Stellantis is warning of potential factory closures across Europe as the automaker struggles to align with the European Union’s increasingly stringent CO₂ emissions targets. The alarm was sounded this week by Jean-Philippe Imparato, the group’s Europe chief, who described the situation as “just months away from a drama” if no regulatory adjustments are made before […]

Traxio: ‘Strong first semester for used cars, with 61.4% of registrations’

July 03, 2025

According to Filip Rylant, spokesperson for the mobility federation Traxio, the second-hand car market performed well in the first six months of the year, with 373,810 used car registrations, representing a 7.1% increase compared to the same period last year. The second-hand market performed strongly in the first half of the year, with no less […]

BNEF expects 22 million passenger EV sales this year, up 25%

July 03, 2025

The American research organization BloombergNEF (BNEF), widely regarded as an authority in global analyses across various domains, including electric mobility and clean energy, expects EV sales to surge this year like never before, with a 25% increase to 22 million vehicles. Nearly two-thirds of those 22 million will be sold in China, 17% in Europe—a […]

Belux car registrations -16.4% in June, -10.9% for th first six months in 2025

July 02, 2025

In June 2025, the figures of the federal service Mobility & Transport and Febiac show a 16.4% decrease in registrations in Belgium and Luxembourg, with 41,527 newly registered cars. Cumulatively, 234,616 cars were newly registered during the first six months of 2025, representing a 10.9% decrease compared to the same period in 2024. Noticeable is […]

Ayvens first leasing giant to promote extending EV lease to six years

July 02, 2025

Leasing company Ayvens, formerly LeasePlan/ALD Automotive, is one of the first major leasing companies to actively promote extending the typical EV leasing contract from four to six years. “The combination of technical reliability and limited maintenance costs makes an extension of leasing contracts extra interesting today – both for the environment and the wallet,” Ayvens says […]

Trump and Musk reignite feud as subsidies row threatens Tesla

July 02, 2025

The bromance between Donald Trump and Elon Musk appears to be ending as the two men are shifting from allies to adversaries. This week, the simmering tensions between the president and the world’s most famous tech billionaire boiled over again. Trump threatened to pull Tesla deeper into turmoil just as the carmaker faces a growing […]

Musk’s right hand at Tesla ousted over sales slide

June 27, 2025

Tesla has dismissed one of its most senior executives amid its sales debacle and growing unease over CEO Elon Musk’s polarizing public profile. Omead Afshar, a long-time confidant of Musk and head of operations for North America and Europe, was quietly let go, according to Forbes. The departure reflects deepening turbulence within the electric vehicle […]

Planning Bureau: Belgium’s company car tax perks cost €6 billion 

June 27, 2025

Belgium’s tax-friendly treatment of company cars is depriving the state of up to €6 billion a year in lost revenues, as calculated in a damning new report by the Federal Planning Bureau. The analysis, published on Thursday, highlights how a system initially designed to ease wage costs has evolved into one of the most expensive […]

Global EV sales in 2024: China by far in the lead

June 26, 2025

The financial analysis platform TradingPedia analyzed global sales of electrified vehicles worldwide in 2024 by examining new car registration data from the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) and the International Energy Agency (IEA). The fact that China is by far the leading country in EV sales is confirmed here. According to TradingPedia research, China led […]

New Stellantis CEO confronted with big decisions reshuffles management

June 23, 2025

As of today, Antonio Filosa has started as the new CEO of Stellantis. After three weeks of visiting Stellantis factories, R&D centers, and offices worldwide, he officially started his new job by reshuffling his management team. Meanwhile, important decisions are to be made soon as the world’s fourth-largest car manufacturer has to recover from an […]

Chery introduces Omoda 9 SHS PHEV in Belgium and Netherlands

June 23, 2025

Chery Group—China’s largest vehicle exporter—announces a second model, alongside the Omoda 5 (ICE and EV), the flagship SUV, the Omoda 9 SHS. This one isn’t fully electric, but it is a plug-in hybrid with an electric range of 145 km, and it is offered for €52,900. The Omoda 9 is known in China as the […]

Ford stops Mustang Mach-E sales as it can trap passengers with locked doors

June 20, 2025

Ford has issued a global stop-sale on its electric Mustang Mach-E as it grapples with a potentially serious safety issue that may prevent the doors from unlocking, putting occupants at risk of being trapped. The recall affects nearly 317,000 vehicles spanning model years 2021 to 2025, raising fresh concerns among customers and dealers about delivery […]

Belgium nears a U-turn on plug-in hybrid tax break under EU pressure

June 20, 2025

The Belgian Arizona government appears increasingly cornered over its controversial attempt to revive tax breaks for plug-in hybrid vehicles in corporate fleets. As it becomes clear that the proposed measures likely breach earlier commitments Belgium made under the EU’s post-COVID-19 recovery programme, the penalty for the revived incentive could be costly. Not a favorable outlook […]

Trump reignited war on EVs: a bitter legal clash with California (update)

June 19, 2025

In an unprecedented attempt to unravel years of climate policy, US President Donald Trump has launched a renewed offensive against electric vehicle mandates and state-level emissions rules. His move sets the stage for a bitter legal clash with clean car advocate California and its allies. On top of that, the two Chambers of Congress have […]

Hyundai’s luxury brand Genesis expands further in four EU markets

June 17, 2025

Genesis, founded in 2015 as an independent luxury brand of South Korean Hyundai, was initially active only in its home country and the United States, later expanding to Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and Germany. It is now focusing further on Europe, entering the markets of France, Spain, Italy, and the Netherlands with first deliveries expected […]

Opel adds AWD and a performance edge to Grandland Electric

June 16, 2025

Opel has unveiled an all-wheel-drive version of its Grandland Electric SUV, intensifying the competition in the fiercely contested mid-size electric crossover market. The new variant, dubbed the Grandland Electric AWD, brings more than just four driven wheels to the table—it arrives with a punchy 325 hp. The model mimics the Peugeot e-5008 dual motor, with […]

Tesla’s carbon credit goldmine could run dry under new Trump bill

June 12, 2025

A Republican-led push in the US Congress threatens to blow a hole in one of Tesla’s most lucrative sources of profit: the sale of carbon and fuel economy credits. If the bill gets approved, it would deprive the electric vehicle maker of billions in future revenue. No wonder Tesla CEO Elon Musk slashed the proposal, […]

Toyota’s new bZ5 takes on Tesla Model Y in China… at half the price

June 11, 2025

Toyota has officially launched its new all-electric bZ5 mid-size SUV in China, taking direct aim at Tesla’s Model Y — but at less than half the price. In a market where electric vehicle competition has become fierce, the Japanese automaker is relying heavily on local partnerships to bring affordable EVs to market. The bZ5 is […]

New speed pedelecs increasingly leased, second-hand market booms

June 06, 2025

The number of new speed pedelecs sold in May decreased by 13.4%, cumulated over 5 months, the regression is just 3.7%. Second-hand ones, on the contrary, are increasingly popular, with a 17.1% increase compared to May last year. Filip Rylant, spokesman of mobility federation Traxio: “The registrations of new speed pedelecs are fluctuating less than […]

Caught in the slow lane: profits from Chinese rivals outpace Western carmakers

June 06, 2025

The West’s once-dominant car manufacturers are losing ground at an alarming rate to the new generation of fast-rising competitors from Asia, especially China. According to a study by the consulting firm EY, the profit gap is expected to continue growing. A new quarterly report by consultancy EY reveals a strong divide between Western and Asian […]

BYD and Ayvens extend EV leasing offer to Belgium and Luxembourg

June 06, 2025

BYD has launched its full-service leasing offer in Belgium and Luxembourg, marking the latest phase of the Chinese electric vehicle giant’s expansion across Europe in partnership with mobility provider Ayvens. The rollout, branded BYD Lease, is the first formal result of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) the two companies signed last year to accelerate the […]

Mercedes G-Class goes silent and so do the buyers

June 04, 2025

Mercedes is facing a harsh market reality with its all-electric G580 with EQ Technology. Sales figures published by the German media outlet Handelsblatt suggest that the high-end electric SUV is falling well short of expectations. In stark contrast, the iconic G-Class continues to thrive with its blasting combustion engines. To make matters worse, Mercedes is […]

BYD supercharges Europe with EV network: as fast as refueling

June 04, 2025

Chinese carmaker BYD has unveiled plans to deploy a sweeping network of ultra-fast electric vehicle chargers across Europe — and not in some distant future, but within the next 12 months. The bold move forms part of the company’s strategy to become a dominant force in the European car market by the end of the […]

Traxio: Belgian second-hand market down 8% in May

June 04, 2025

According to the mobility federation Traxio, the second-hand market in Belgium decreased by 8% in May 2025. Looking at the first five months of the year, the decrease in sales limited itself to just 1%. The question of whether the second-hand market is following the same path as the new car market remains unclear. The […]

NIO rolls into Belgium with Hedin in the driver’s seat

June 04, 2025

Are Belgian EV drivers ready for battery swapping? Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer NIO is gearing up to make its debut in Belgium and Luxembourg this September, as part of a wider push across Europe. The move is part of a strategic partnership with Swedish dealer group Hedin Mobility, which will oversee distribution, retail, and aftersales […]

Belgian EV dream Addax Motors files for bankruptcy

June 02, 2025

Once hailed as a beacon of Belgian innovation and green industrial ambition, Addax Motors — the only homegrown manufacturer of electric vans in the country — has filed for bankruptcy. The announcement, which puts 40 jobs at risk, brings a sudden halt to a bold experiment in sustainable manufacturing that began with lofty goals and […]

D’Ieteren to import Maserati in Belgium

June 02, 2025

Maserati and D’Ieteren Luxury Performance, the Luxury division of D’Ieteren Mobility Company, a 100% Subsidiary of D’Ieteren Automotive, have joined forces and further expanded their cooperation for the Belgian market. As of May 28, 2025, D’Ieteren Luxury Performance is the sole distributor of Maserati in Belgium, operating with three sales outlets in Antwerp, Brussels, and […]

After record sales in Spain, Darren Tu set to expand Omoda & Jaecoo in Belux

June 02, 2025

Omoda and Jaecoo have appointed Darren Tu as Managing Director for its Belux operations, after his successful tenure at the Spanish division, where the brands succeeded in outpacing legacy brands in the sales charts. The move appears to signal growth potential, as witnessed by holding company Chery. But how much momentum do these brands have […]

China braces for new price war as BYD offloads stock

May 27, 2025

China’s biggest carmaker, BYD, has rolled out sweeping price cuts across its Dynasty and Ocean series electric vehicles in a move that underscores growing pressure in the world’s largest auto market. The discounts — as high as 34% — come amid ballooning dealer inventories and a cooling appetite among Chinese consumers, and have sent shockwaves […]

500 tweaks: Nio bets on big upgrade for ET5 and EL6

May 27, 2025

Chinese electric carmaker Nio has unveiled updated versions of its core models: the ET5 saloon, ET5 Touring estate, and EL6 SUV. The trio accounts for a large chunk of the firm’s global sales and has received over 500 upgrades ranging from styling tweaks to major technological enhancements, improving driver assistance. The updates are most noticeable […]

From collapse to comeback: HiPhi resurrected by Lebanese investor

May 27, 2025

After halting production for a year and teetering on the brink of collapse, Chinese premium EV brand HiPhi is preparing a return. This time under new ownership. Lebanese EV startup EV Electra acquired a majority stake in the embattled automaker. The stage is set for a potential reboot of one of China’s most ambitious electric […]

EU car registrations up 1.3 % in April, EVs and hybrids soar

May 27, 2025

According to data from ACEA, the European Car Manufacturers Association, new EU car registrations fell by 1.2% in April 2025 compared to last year’s first four months. Nonetheless, registrations rebounded with a 1.3% increase last month, showing signs of recovery despite the ongoing unpredictable global economic environment. The battery-electric car market share for April 2025 […]

All-electric 6e sparks interest, but Mazda’s total sales to remain flat

May 26, 2025

With sales leveling off last year, Mazda Belgium remains on a steady course. The all-new, all-electric 6e is gaining traction and could reposition the brand in the fleet sector. But despite strong interest, the new model won’t drive up total sales, as key models are aging. Mazda Motor Corp. reported global sales of 1.3 million […]

Fiat Tris revives Ape as electric workhorse, but Europe must wait

May 23, 2025

Fiat has unveiled the Tris, its first three-wheeled electric commercial vehicle. It is aimed at affordable, low-emission transport in dense urban areas. Designed for Africa and the Middle East, the compact EV blends Italian design with pragmatic utility. It is a modern take on the nostalgic Ape. After the Topolino, a rebadged Citroën Ami, Fiat […]

Milestone: BYD surpasses Tesla in European BEV sales

May 22, 2025

BYD has overtaken Tesla in battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales in Europe for the first time, marking a major turning point in the continent’s electric vehicle market. The milestone is reached bilaterally. As the Chinese carmaker profits from a model offensive, Tesla is witnessing one of its weakest performances since entering the European marketplace. In […]

Making waves: BYD enters into budget-friendly EV market with Dolphin Surf

May 22, 2025

Chinese carmaker BYD is making another push into the European electric vehicle market, this time at the more affordable end of the spectrum. Its new compact model, the Dolphin Surf, launched this week in several continental markets, including Belgium, arrives with a promise that could rattle established players: fully electric motoring for just under €22,000. […]

China races ahead as U.S. struggles to keep pace in global car manufacturing

May 22, 2025

It’s no secret that the global car industry is undergoing a power shift, but the numbers suggest that the United States are more severely on the back foot than generally assumed. A new benchmark report by Chinese manufacturing network RapidDirect places the U.S. a distant fifth among the world’s top automotive producers—well behind China, Germany, […]

All-electric KGM Musso goes head-on with Maxus T90 (update)

May 21, 2025

The Chinese Maxus T90, the first all-electric pickup in Belgium, is getting stiff and rugged competition from South Korea. Neither Kia nor Hyundai is stepping up on an emission-free alternative for the utilitarian market, but KGM—formerly known as Ssangyong—adds a Musso with a traction battery to its range. It will be available in Belgium as […]

Van Mossel unveils Europe’s largest MG showroom

May 20, 2025

Despite the EU’s stringent import duties, MG’s export ambitions haven’t withered. Last week, Europe’s number one Chinese brand opened its largest brand store to date in Roermond, the Netherlands. The flagship showroom is designed to anchor the brand’s identity against the backdrop of shifting consumer priorities. The new site, developed in partnership with Dutch dealership […]

Powerdot pledges €40m to reach top-three fast-charging networks in Belgium

May 19, 2025

Portuguese electric vehicle charging firm Powerdot is ramping up its European ambitions, pledging €140 million to expand fast-charging infrastructure across France and Belgium. The move was announced at this year’s Choose France summit, the government-backed initiative designed to woo foreign investment. The company is earmarking €100 million for France and €40 million for Belgium in […]

Geely profits triple over soaring China sales

May 19, 2025

The Chinese holding company Geely posted a sharp rise in first-quarter profit. Record sales and cost controls helped the automaker tighten its grip on its fast-moving domestic market. But in the near future, the Chinese car group, which owns Volvo, Polestar, and others, will face mounting export pressures and, consequently, push for a corporate restructuring. […]

Toyota adds estate version ‘Touring’ to bZ4X offer

May 16, 2025

Toyota is set to launch an estate car version of its all-electric SUV model, the bZ4X, next year. It will be called the BZ4X Touring and will be 14 cm longer than the standard car. Its European launch is planned for the first half of 2026. The bZ4X Touring features 33% more trunk space than […]

IEA: one in four new cars will be electric in 2025

May 15, 2025

According to the latest report by the International Energy Agency (IEA), electric vehicle sales are on course to top 20 million globally in 2025, marking a significant milestone for the automotive sector. This figure translates to one in every four new cars sold this year being electric—a remarkable rise considering the lingering economic uncertainty and […]

Skoda sharpens up its range with new Enyaq RS duo

May 14, 2025

Skoda is doubling down on the performance EV segment with the refreshed Enyaq RS and Enyaq Coupé RS, which now complete the Czech automaker’s facelifted Enyaq lineup. Featuring sharper styling, enhanced performance, and upgraded tech, the RS variants target buyers looking for electric SUVs with a sportier edge without compromising the brand’s notorious everyday usability. […]

China at turning point: electrified vehicles dominate car sales for first time

May 13, 2025

Electrified cars have overtaken gasoline and diesel models in China’s vast passenger car market for the first time. In March, so-called new energy vehicles (NEVs), which include battery-electric and plug-in hybrid models, accounted for 51.1% of all retail car sales in the country. The milestone signals not just the rapid maturation of China’s electric vehicle […]

BYD e7: this is the world’s most affordable full-size EV

May 13, 2025

BYD’s latest all-electric saloon, the e7, has quietly begun arriving at dealerships across China after it was previously leaked. The e7 is expected to be priced very low, potentially starting at 70,000 yuan or under €10,000, making it one of the world’s most affordable full-sized EV sedans. The model offers a stripped-down but capable alternative […]

Cadillac’s €300,000 Celestiq: the most exclusive car no one asked for

May 09, 2025

Cadillac’s hand-built electric flagship, the Celestiq, was meant to mark the return of American automotive grandeur. Instead, it risks becoming an expensive ghost — rarer than a Bugatti, but not by the board’s initial plan. Nearly three years since its glitzy announcement, fewer than 25 buyers have committed to the €300,000 EV, and even that […]

UK manages to salvage a 10% tariff deal on cars with Trump

May 09, 2025

With more drama than some critics feel is appropriate, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and US President Donald Trump announced a deal that brings the 27% tariff on British cars imported into the US virtually back to 10% like before and slashes the 25% tariff on steel. The price: 13.000 tons of tax-free US beef […]

Sharp redesign for Toyota Corolla Cross and first-ever GR Sport

May 09, 2025

Toyota has refreshed the styling of its five-year-old Corolla Cross, enhanced cabin comfort, and introduced a GR Sport variant for the first time in the European lineup. The updated model will arrive in summer 2025, with the GR Sport following in the fall. Positioned between the C-HR and RAV4, the Corolla Cross was initially seen […]

Polestar to offer battery health certificate to second-hand buyers

May 08, 2025

Polestar is introducing official battery health certificates for used versions of its Polestar 2 electric car. The new offer must calm nerves across Europe’s struggling second-hand EV market. The Electric car maker says the new certificate will help ease fears over battery life and falling used EV prices. The certificate will become mandatory in the […]

Traxio: ‘+18.8% used speed pedelecs registered in April’

May 07, 2025

In April, the number of registrations of new speed pedelecs increased slightly by +0.3% to 1,150 units, and more growth is emerging thanks to additional registrations by federal civil servants and education staff. “The wider access to bicycle leasing for government staff will have an even more positive impact on the figures in the coming […]

Plunging used EV prices force leasing sector to rethink business model

May 07, 2025

Retail prices for electric vehicles in Belgium dropped nearly 12 percent year-over-year in Q1 2025. The numbers affirm the ongoing trend of low interest in zero-emission cars on the secondhand market. As the mismatch between supply and demand grows, leasing companies seek to reassess their residual value strategies. Will corporate vehicles become increasingly more expensive? […]

Ferrari in top form won’t bother its clients with Trump’s tariffs

May 07, 2025

Italian sports carmaker Ferrari is in roaring good health. Net revenues in the first three months of 2025 topped 1.79 billion, up 13.0% versus the prior year, and total shipments of 3,593 cars were 33 more than in the same period last year. Ferrari will announce six new models, which include the newly launched 296 […]

Hyundai-Kia’s plan of attack amid global headwinds: a lot more affordable EVs

May 06, 2025

South Korean management reads Julius Caesar. As attack is the best defense, the Hyundai group plans to launch a major product push to combat the economic cooldown and Trump tariffs. Most particularly in the lower regions of the electric category. What’s coming, as the fifth largest carmaker retools its strategy to stay competitive in a […]

Traxio: ‘Private individual demand pushes up used car market by 1.8%’

May 06, 2025

The used car market continues to grow, with 63,710 registrations in April (+1.8%, and +18.7% compared with April 2023). This steady growth underlines the market’s resilience, which is supported by continued demand from private individuals. The used car market represents 90.4% registrations by private individuals, who often do not have the means to purchase an expensive […]

800 km range, 800 V charging: the all-new electric Mercedes CLA (update)

May 05, 2025

Mercedes has officially opened the online configurator for its groundbreaking all-new CLA. As for now, only the 250+ and 350 4Matic can be ordered in Belgium, with a starting price of 56.870 euros. Entry-level versions –  set to lower the price considerably thanks to the integration of a cheaper LFP battery -, will be added by […]

Tesla board mulls leadership change amid steep sales drop

May 05, 2025

Should Elon Musk stay or should he go? Many have lately asked this question for Tesla, as the car company suffers a massive sales and revenue drop due to the CEO’s political endeavors. According to American media, the board has actively been scouting for a replacement. A month after reporting a staggering 71 percent drop […]

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