February 28, 2025
The carjacking years seem far behind us as a phenomenon from the beginning of the century, but recent figures from the federal police show that consumers should take guard. There’s an increase in car thefts in Belgium, targeting certain models. With car thefts on the rise, Belgian motorists should start considering theft risk as a […]
February 28, 2025
Last year, the Flemish public transport company De Lijn carried 373 million passengers, up 4.5%. According to Director General Ann Schoubs, this increase in passengers immediately proves that the new transportation plan introduced in 2024 has worked. In 2025, 200 new e-buses will be delivered to De Lijn, and a search for 600 new drivers […]
February 26, 2025
Transavia, Air France-KLM’s low-cost airline, will impose an additional surcharge on recent tickets purchased for flights departing from France. The increase is due to the country’s rise in air travel taxes. This rises from 2.63 euros to 7.4 euros for domestic or European flights and doubles to 15 euros for non-European destinations. Remarkably, Air France […]
February 26, 2025
Fast charging specialist Electra and mobility company Bolt are entering into a strategic partnership to strengthen the transition to electric driving. The deal will give Bolt partner drivers access to the largest fast-charging network in Belgium at preferential rates. Through the partnership, which was previously launched in France, the two companies aim to accelerate the […]
February 25, 2025
Eighty percent of road deaths in Belgium are men, and injury accidents involving men are, on average, twice as severe as accidents involving women. This is mainly because men take more risks in traffic. These are some conclusions from a new statistical analysis by traffic safety institute Vias. Eighty percent of road deaths in Belgium […]
February 25, 2025
Freight transport by train in Belgium rose slightly again last year. Over 55.2 million tons of freight were transported by rail, 3.2% more than in 2023 but still less than the peak years of 2008 (73 million tons) and 2021 (63 million tons), according to data on the open data website of rail network operator […]
February 25, 2025
While one would expect a luxury carmaker like Lamborghini to bet on solid-state technology for its debut in the electric supercar market, the Italian carmaker ordered a study at Princeton University to investigate sodium-ion chemistries. The results are promising. As sodium-ion chemistries don’t rely on lithium, they are a cost-effective alternative to current lithium-ion battery […]
February 24, 2025
The Flemish government is still awaiting more than 14 million euros in outstanding fines for violations of the mileage charge. About 13 million euros of that is charged to foreign trucks. The business newspaper De Tijd reports that barely half of the fines are collected from some countries. Although about half of the freight traffic […]
February 24, 2025
The Flemish public transport company De Lijn has placed a new order for charging poles for electric buses. This time, it involves 600 to 900 charging poles from SPIE-Ekoenergetyka with a capacity of 50 to 180 kW, representing an investment of 24.2 million euros. The order is important in preparing De Lijn’s 50 depots to […]
February 24, 2025
Exactly 1,150 Tesla cars smashed the world record ‘Tesla Light Show’ on Sunday evening, February 23rd, 2025. At 7 p.m., the cars put on an impressive show with light and sound in Brustem (Sint-Truiden, Limburg) – the largest synchronized Tesla light show ever. The Droneport runway in Brustem provided the backdrop for the world record attempt. […]
February 21, 2025
The hip Brussels electric bike maker Cowboy will now fully assemble its bikes in France instead of Hungary. To do so, it will partner with ReCycles, a French manufacturer with more than 30 years of experience in the sector, which will also manage the stock of parts. The reason for the move is to enhance […]
February 21, 2025
Lizy, the Brussels-based second-hand car lease platform, is expanding its activities to the Netherlands. The company aims to make car leasing more accessible, sustainable, and cheaper. And the formula is working. In five years, Lizy has convinced more than 4,000 customers to opt for a young second-hand car instead of a new car. Lizy previously […]
February 21, 2025
Fastned, the European fast-charging company, has completed its most successful bond issue. With over €36.5 million raised in the company’s first tranche of 2025, Fastned raised the most significant amount ever in a single bond issue. More than €20 million of this latest issue resulted from new investments, and over €16 million came from existing […]
February 20, 2025
Over 4,600 shared cars were driving around in Flanders in 2024, 11% more than in 2023. The number of car sharers also increased by 22% last year to 46,600 drivers, according to the annual report of Way To Go, the former Autodelen.net. The same annual report also shows shared bicycles and e-scooters accounted for 24 […]
February 20, 2025
The Zeeland Bridge will close for eight weeks next year. The part of the bridge that opens to ships, the so-called ‘bascule bridge,’ will be renovated, and the road surface will be renewed simultaneously. The Zeeland Bridge is an impressive structure that spans more than five kilometers. It was officially inaugurated in December 1965 and […]
February 20, 2025
Some 77% of passengers who took a bus trip with De Lijn in 2024 are satisfied with their journey. This is according to a survey conducted by the Flemish Department of Mobility among 13,097 passengers between March and December last year. Only 6% of them gave the public transport company a score lower than five […]
February 20, 2025
Flanders has distributed 18,543 premiums for electric cars, totaling 72.8 million euros. Most premiums were paid to private individuals—14,637 for new vehicles (under €40,000) and 3,141 for second-hand ones. In addition, 523 premiums went to non-profit organizations and foundations and 242 to car-sharing providers. The previous Flemish Mobility Minister, Lydia Peeters (Open Vld), introduced the […]
February 19, 2025
The number of cyclists in Brussels during the morning rush hour – between 8 and 9 a.m. – increased by 4 percent last year compared to 2023. Women represent 40% of Brussels cyclists. The number of cyclists has increased by an average of 12 percent annually since 2010, almost five times as much in 14 […]
February 19, 2025
Belgian legislation on ultralight motorized aircraft (ULMs) had been renewed after 26 years. This also makes it possible to fly ultralight helicopters and autogiros in Belgium, the Federal Public Service Mobility and Transport reports. The maximum allowable mass of a ULM will also be increased. The new regulations better reflect today’s reality. ULM is an […]
February 19, 2025
Bolt and Dott, the only two operators selected by Brussels Mobility for shared bike and e-scooter services in the Brussels Capital Region, are joining forces to improve vehicle parking in the capital and reduce nuisance. The joint initiative, to be implemented five days a week in the most sensitive or affected areas, should ensure more […]
February 18, 2025
Flemish Minister of Mobility Annick De Ridder (N-VA) is asking the mayors to act against aggression on De Lijn buses, with a bus ban as the big stick. This measure already exists, but in a letter to the mayors, the Minister brings this possibility more widely to their attention. In 2023, De Lijn received 2,039 […]
February 17, 2025
Belgian public railroad company NMBS/SNCB is going to thoroughly reform its fare range before the end of this year, possibly sometime in October. One of the new things it is launching, is a paying benefit card that offers 40% discount during off-peak hours. In general, season tickets will not change, but 10-ride passes will be […]
February 14, 2025
Fifteen years after the train disaster in the Flemish-Brabant village of Buizingen, the rollout of the rail safety system ETCS, a train cruise control, is almost complete. The rollout was accelerated after the disaster, which killed 19 people. As of the end of this year, no trains not equipped with this cruise control will be […]
February 14, 2025
The Walloon government has ratified an adaptation to its road tax reform that will take effect in July this year. The adaptation will ease the burden on households and promote green mobility. Installed under the previous government, the new taxation scheme primarily targets larger and heavier cars. This move impairs families and individual buyers who […]
February 13, 2025
The mobility budget has become more popular over the last few years. Designed as an alternative to a company car, it can be spent on public transport, shared cars, bicycles, or possibly a small, environmentally friendly company car. Although only a minority of employers (3.2%) offer it, one in 20 employees exchanged their company car […]
February 12, 2025
Last year, travelers offset their air travel emissions by purchasing approximately 28,000 tons of CO2 equivalents (CO2e) through the Brussels-based climate consultancy agency Greentripper. The organization uses ‘CO2 equivalent’ because this takes into account all greenhouse gases, not just CO2. According to Greentripper’s data, last year’s result is a status quo compared to 2023. The precise […]
February 12, 2025
Whether the action can count on much sympathy remains to be seen, but the trade unions VSOA Spoor and OVS have submitted notices for a railway strike of no less than nine days, from 21 February at 10 pm to 2 March at 10 pm. The strike is mainly directed against a number of measures […]
February 12, 2025
According to Deloitte’s Global Automotive Consumer Study 2025, four key trends will impact the Belgian automotive market most in the coming year. The most important is the hesitation to switch to electric cars. The study surveyed more than 31,000 consumers in 30 countries, including 999 Belgians, from October through December 2024 to explore opinions regarding […]
February 11, 2025
Nowhere is train traffic less punctual than in Genk (Flanders) and Rixensart (Wallonia). In 2024, NMBS/SNCB scored an overall punctuality score of 90%. That is, nine out of ten trains arrived at their destination “with less than six minutes delay”. However, Genk’s punctuality rate is only 75.7%. One in four trains arrives in Genk with […]
February 11, 2025
Five people were killed, and nine were seriously injured: that is a painful record of accidents last year at level crossings in Belgium. In total, there were 30 accidents, one less than in 2023. According to rail infrastructure manager Infrabel, the balance is clearly in decline. During the 2008-2021 period, for example, there were an […]
February 11, 2025
During the last Bob campaign—between November 29th, 2024, and February 3rd, 2025—only 1.22% of drivers took a positive breath test, the lowest figure in the past thirty years. Last year, it was 1.57%; ten years ago, it was still 2.8%. During the nine weeks, more than 600,000 people (605,759) were checked—200,000 more than in 2024. […]
February 11, 2025
According to a report in the newspaper De Tijd, the number of public EV charging points in Flanders nearly doubled in 2024, significantly surpassing government targets. This further cements Belgium’s position as a frontrunner in the adoption of electric mobility, as new registrations of EVs last year surged to the highest rate of any European […]
February 10, 2025
This wasn’t supposed to happen. Italian tuner Caselani showcased a prototype of an Ami disguised as an old Type H van at the 2CV 24H race at Spa-Francorchamps. The concept was meant to remain a concept. But reactions were so overwhelming that the company decided to offer it as part of its portfolio. From movies […]
February 10, 2025
European aircraft manufacturer Airbus’s development of the hydrogen aircraft is proceeding slower than expected, it says in a statement to the French news agency AFP. In doing so, Airbus is responding to a union pamphlet stating that the aircraft manufacturer has pushed back the target date for the aircraft’s entry into service by five to […]
February 10, 2025
France and Italy will explore the possibility of drilling a second tunnel tube under Mont Blanc in addition to the one already in place, the two countries foreign ministers, Jean-Noël Barrot, and Antonio Tajani, said at a recent meeting in Nice. The Mont Blanc Tunnel, inaugurated in 1962, is 11,6 km long between Chamonix, France, […]
February 10, 2025
Most Dutch citizens want stricter penalties for driving under the influence. According to an Ipsos I&O survey commissioned by the Victim Support Fund (Fonds Slachtofferhulp), among almost 2,200 people aged 16 and older, three-quarters of Dutch people want a zero-tolerance policy for alcohol in traffic. In addition, 84 percent want the alcolock to return for repeat […]
February 07, 2025
It has been proven again: Limburg is the cycling paradise par excellence. In 2024, more than four million cyclists – 4,059,224 to be precise – were counted on the bicycle highways—a slight increase compared to the year before despite an extremely wet summer. An average of almost 11,300 cyclists passed the counters every day. Limburg […]
February 07, 2025
Plug-in hybrids saw a modest decline in Europe last year (-4%), and despite renewed government strategies and binding CO2 targets, their popularity isn’t expected to rise much. Stricter emission rulings will prevent carmakers from launching new models. So, as the Belgian government provides some slack for these plugged fossil drivelines, nothing fundamental is about to […]
February 07, 2025
In Wallonia, nearly 8 in 10 drivers (77%) admit that they cannot resist the temptation to use their phones while driving. This is according to a survey by the Walloon Road Safety Agency (AWSR) published on Thursday, World Mobile Phone Free Day. In Wallonia, an average of 16 accidents with deaths or injuries are caused […]
February 07, 2025
Chinese premium EV brand NIO has set a new battery-swapping record by performing 136,748 swaps in a single day in its 3,106 swap stations in China, an average of 44 changed battery packs per station. The brand, a clear leader in swapping technology, has already performed over 65 million of these swaps. As travel peaked, […]
February 07, 2025
The British government has called off plans to allow doubling the motor power of e-bikes from 250 watts to a maximum of 500 watts. The main reason for not implementing the measure is because of safety concerns. The decision keeps the U.K. in line with EU countries where the exact same support limit of 25 […]
February 06, 2025
The last locomotive built in Belgium, the so-called “2160,” has been saved from scrapping, according to the newspaper Le Soir. The unit, initially sold to a scrap dealer, is moving to the Musée de Chemin de Fer à Vapeur des Trois Vallées in Treignes, in the province of Namur. Anyone who now thinks that the […]
February 06, 2025
The European Commission is revising its plan to remedy the ongoing EV crisis. Green lobby group Transport & Environment has reflected upon the impact of the upcoming proposal, clarifying that a well-chosen scheme for electrifying company cars could create market demand of 2.2 million EVs by the decade’s end. The study reveals that this would […]
February 05, 2025
At Ypto, the IT company of the Belgian public railway company NMBS/SNCB, consultants have been awarded lucrative contracts without public tender for years. This appears from an investigation by the Treasury, reports the newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws. In a reaction, the NMBS/SNCB states that it has already taken measures at its IT subsidiary Ypto over […]
February 05, 2025
To improve safety on Belgian roads, the new De Wever I government plans to introduce a driver’s license system with points–without describing it in those words. Anyone who accumulates violations in the future will no longer slip through the net but will automatically be summoned to the police court. For example, the coalition agreement states that […]
February 05, 2025
In January 2025, 63,008 second-hand cars were registered, 1,100 units more than in January 2024 and 5,873 units more than in January 2023. According to Filip Rylant, spokesperson for mobility federation Traxio, this indicates a continued growth trend thanks to a gradual price decline and abundant supply. The total figure for January 2023 was 57,135 […]
February 04, 2025
From March 3rd, a lane on the Paris ‘périphérique’ will be reserved for carpool cars, security services, and public transport. Only cars with at least two occupants, public transport vehicles (buses and taxis), emergency services, and persons with reduced mobility are allowed to drive in the left lane of the Paris Ring Road. The rule […]
February 04, 2025
Norway has set another benchmark in electric vehicle adoption, with 8,954 of the 9,343 new passenger cars registered in January being fully electric. This translates to a market share of 95.8%, a new record. Norway remains on track to meeting its goal of EV-only sales by the end of the year, though officials still express […]
February 04, 2025
The new federal government plans to expand the permitted use of smart cameras to facilitate police work. According to business newspaper De Tijd, the intention is to use more AI cameras to track down suspects and, for example, detect mobile phone use behind the wheel. The network of license plate recognition (ANPR) cameras will be […]
February 03, 2025
Looser Low Emission Zone (LEZ) in Flanders allows the Antwerp Classic Car Event (ACCE) to return to its roots at the Cockerill Quay on the borders of the Scheldt River in the Antwerp city center on 3 and 4 May of this year. Some 15,000 car enthusiasts are expected to come and see some 1,000 […]
February 03, 2025
Flemish shared bike provider Blue-bike, owned by public transport operator De Lijn, experienced its most vigorous membership growth last year since its inception in 2011. The more than 45,000 members also made a record number of rides, at just over 377,000. Blue-bike, known for the slogan ‘Always a bike at the tip of your fingers,’ […]
February 03, 2025
Antwerp-based transport company ADLC, which offers transportation by drones to companies, has raised 2 million euros in fresh capital. With that additional money, the company plans to further expand its services in the maritime and offshore industry. From now on, DronePort in Sint-Truiden, at the former air force base in Brustum, Limburg, will also be […]
February 03, 2025
The ramp-up towards compact affordable EVs is taking shape as Kia confirms it will officially launch the EV2 in January 2026. The announcement, made during the company’s full-year 2024 earnings call, marks a significant milestone for Kia’s “EVs for all” strategy, which aims to rapidly increase its electric car share. The importance of these small […]
January 31, 2025
Travel by air has never been more popular. Last year, airlines worldwide counted around 4.89 billion passengers, an improvement from the record of 4.54 billion in 2019, the International Organization of Airlines (IATA) announced. The average aircraft load factor reached 83.5%, which is also a record. IATA expects global air traffic to increase by 8% […]
January 31, 2025
Hyundai is looking to enter the Indian mobility market, not with affordable EVs like the Inster, but rather with specific vehicles made for the busy streets of Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore: electric rickshaws. The Korean manufacturer showed the E3W and E4W concepts at Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025 and plans to partner with local manufacturer […]
January 31, 2025
The city of Brussels wants to strengthen its nighttime transport offering by making the shared nighttime cab service Collecto more visible. The city announced this during a press conference on Thursday afternoon to present the partnership between the two. For this occasion, Collecto was given a new look. Collecto is a collective taxi service available […]
January 30, 2025
London Heathrow Airport, Europe’s largest airport, will get a third runway. The British government supports the idea and is inviting proposals to be brought forward by the summer. “A third runway at Heathrow will lead to growth, boost investment, and make the United Kingdom more open and connected,” said British Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel […]
January 30, 2025
ALD Automotive/LeasePlan, the market leader in Belgium for full-service leasing, car rental, and fleet management, is the first mobility partner in Belgium to offer a leasing formula for drones. The drones are available in all shapes and sizes, can fly manually or automatically, and can be equipped with cameras, detection systems, or speakers. Multifunctional Drones […]
January 29, 2025
Spanish charging station operator Eranovum wants to install more than 1,000 charging stations in Belgium over the next three years. The company says there are many opportunities, especially in Wallonia. In France, the company also wants to install 1,000 additional charging points this year, in addition to the 9,000 it targets in Spain by 2026. […]
January 29, 2025
Europe’s longest indoor e-karting circuit will be built on the former General Motors site north of Antwerp. Experience Factory will operate the circuit. It is not yet known when it will open. The circuit will be 1.1 km long and spread over three floors. It will accommodate 80 electric karts. The Italian Tony Kart is […]
