April 02, 2024
The granting of Brussels Airport Company’s new environmental permit is provoking opposed reactions. According to the citizen forum Burgerforum Luchthavenregio, the Flemish government has let down the residents of the surrounding municipalities around the airport. The Federal Ombudsman also feels that health and pollution have not been sufficiently considered. The Flemish liberal political party Open […]
March 28, 2024
TAP Air Portugal posted a record profit of 177.3 million euros in 2023, up by just under 112 million euros compared to 2022. TAP carried 15.9 million passengers in 2023, up 15.2%, but still lower than before the 2019 health crisis. Meanwhile, Italy’s ITA Airways reduced its loss to 5 million euros last year, down […]
March 27, 2024
UK-based Motability Operations and Callum Designs are ready to launch an electric wheelchair-accessible vehicle concept called eVITA. The companies stress that special solutions are necessary for everyone to go electric. The electric wheelchair-accessible vehicle (eWAV) has a 50 kWh battery pack and two charging ports at the “nearside rear, and a lower front-mounted option for […]
March 27, 2024
With more than 60,000 boarding passengers, Brussels-North railway station was again the busiest station in Belgium on weekdays in 2023, a title it had to leave to Brussels-Midi/South a year before. Brussels-Central, Brussels-Midi, and Ghent-Sint-Pieters followed it. The first Walloon station is Ottignies, followed by Namur. Incidentally, in Wallonia, ticket machines of the public railway […]
March 27, 2024
After encountering delays, the Ford Explorer is finally here. Ford celebrates the introduction to the market at the end of the Explorer’s World Tour. The Explorer was driven around the globe over 30,000 km, crossing six continents and 27 countries, with adventurer Lexie Alford at the wheel. The electric Ford Explorer will start at €48,950 […]
March 27, 2024
Italo-Franco-US carmaker Stellantis has agreed with Italian unions that provide for 1,520 voluntary departures in Turin at the historic headquarters of the car brand Fiat. The Turin plant has been running on reduced production volumes for some time. Those departures include 733 administrative and middle managers and 300 in the bodywork department at the Mirafiori […]
March 26, 2024
From March 31st, the start of the summer season, Brussels Airport will offer nine new destinations. Six new airlines will also make their appearance. More importantly, by Friday, a decision on the new environmental permit for the airport is expected. Brussels Airport and residents will then know whether the annual number of flight movements will […]
March 26, 2024
The newly reshaped Korean brand KG Mobility (KGM, in short) has announced the prices of its electric SUV. The Torres EVX will start in Belgium at €43,990. However, with a ‘launch reduction’ of €4,700, it will dive under the €40K threshold, the limit for the €5,000 Flemish EV incentive. All versions of the Torres EVX […]
March 26, 2024
Germany is starting to build the country’s largest battery factory for electric vehicles. The project will cost 4.5 billion euros and is led by Sweden’s Northvolt, one of Europe’s newly started companies specializing in the construction and development of batteries for electric cars. The factory will be built near Heide, a city of more than […]
March 26, 2024
Mobility organization Touring is calling for a moratorium on the Euro 5 ban in Brussels from January 2025. Tightening the allowable emissions standard in the Brussels Region would exclude 850,000 vehicles, including 700,000 passenger cars and 150,000 vans. Touring says a moratorium would encourage a smoother transition to EVs, pending a more diverse and affordable […]
March 26, 2024
Electric motorcycle maker LiveWire has unveiled its new S2 Mulholland. Like its mother brand, Harley Davidson, the new electric motorcycle is aimed at cruising on long and straight American roads. The new LiveWire S2 Mulholland follows the S2 Del Mar and is built around the same platform. It uses the same 84-hp electric motor and […]
March 25, 2024
The Flemish public transport company De Lijn wants to recruit 800 drivers and 100 technicians this year. To this end, it will organize 14 job days, four for drivers and ten for technicians. “During the job days, everyone can get a taste of a job at De Lijn, learn about the terms of employment and […]
March 25, 2024
Last year, Car-Pass identified 1,640 cases of odometer fraud in selling second-hand cars, 300 more than in 2022. In 2021, 1,578 cases of ‘reverted’ counters were revealed. A Mercedes E200 from 2012 led the top ten: its odometer was turned back by 560,000 kilometers. Of the 1,640 fraud cases, 1,055 cars involved domestic sales. On […]
March 25, 2024
Citroën, Tesla, and Volvo are the top three in the applications for a Flemish premium for an electric car. So, reports Mobility Minister Lydia Peeters (Open VLD). Meanwhile, there are already 2,006 completed applications, and almost half of the premiums have already been distributed. A total of 2,006 completed applications have now been received. These […]
March 22, 2024
A new spring announces itself; a such-and-such new ‘mobility barometer’ is showing up. For just over half of all Belgians (51%), there is little to no belief in a new dawn the electric car could provide by 2035. 36% even think it won’t happen before 2045-2050, and 17% say ‘never for me’. Still, 48% (+7% […]
March 22, 2024
On Sunday, March 24th, AutoTechnica – the leading trade fair for automotive professionals in the Benelux – opens its doors on the Brussels Heizel. State Secretary for Budget and Consumer Affairs Alexia Bertrand (Open Vld/MR) will officially inaugurate the event on Sunday morning. Following the fair’s opening, she will present the European ambitions of Car-Pass, […]
March 21, 2024
The court in Amsterdam has condemned KLM for various misleading green claims in advertisements. According to the judges, the Dutch airline painted too rosy a picture of the beneficial effects of, for example, forest projects as CO2 compensation and the use of more sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The ruling states that such measures only marginally […]
March 21, 2024
Since its peak in 2007, the transport sector has decarbonized three times slower than the rest of the economy, and emissions continue to grow. European transport emissions have increased by over a quarter since 1990, while emissions across the wider economy are declining. A new study by Transport & Environment (T&E) shows that transport alone […]
March 21, 2024
After Paris, Berlin, and New York, Upway, a French chain that sells used electric bicycles, is now opening a depot in Mechelen (Belgium). The new branch will create 65 new jobs. About 2,000 e-bikes will be refurbished monthly, and customers can buy them exclusively online. Research by Upway and iVOX shows that 29% of Belgian […]
March 21, 2024
French carmaker Peugeot presents the new e-5008. Using the same recipe as its predecessor, this is a more extended version of the e-3008 with seats for up to seven passengers. Based on the same STLA Medium platform, the electric Peugeot offers up to 320 hp and 660 km of range thanks to a large 98 […]
March 21, 2024
A previously announced four-day strike by Brussels Airlines pilots was first postponed, but the unions reinitiated it for 27 to 30 March at the last minute on Wednesday evening as negotiating with the employer for higher wages was ‘close’ but ‘not sufficient’. The management proposal to compensate higher wages by less weekend rest days, was […]
March 21, 2024
Belgian e-bike manufacturer Cowboy is launching Cross, the brand’s first all-road bike. With the launch of the third, more robust long-distance model, the Brussels-based company specializing in electric city bikes also wants to target the more adventurous cyclist and consequently reach a wider audience. At 3,999 euros, the price is hefty, so it remains to […]
March 19, 2024
Bolt, an Estonian mobility company that offers ride-hailing, micro-mobility rental, and car-sharing services, among other things, expands its service range in Brussels with the launch of a category dedicated to Persons with Reduced Mobility (PRM), underscoring its commitment to more inclusive urban mobility. The new category includes 30 vehicles specially equipped to meet accessibility needs, […]
March 19, 2024
Brussels Airport accounts for 5.41 billion in added value and more than 64,000 jobs. According to a study on the economic impact commissioned by Zaventem Airport, the Universities UAntwerpen and UCLouvain presented these results on Monday. Meanwhile, management and unions at Brussels Airlines also reached an agreement on Monday regarding better pay for cabin crew. […]
March 19, 2024
Belgian telecom and cable TV provider Telenet is diversifying: the company plans to provide smart home charging stations for electric cars. From April 1st, the telecom company will install charging stations under the brand name Blossom. Blossom will become a separate company within the group and will initially focus on installing and activating smart charging […]
March 18, 2024
According to a recent survey by HR service provider Acerta Consult, more companies – one out of three business leaders – would like to reduce working from home. On the other hand, employees have a different opinion: four out of ten want to go to the office less often. The survey is based on data […]
March 18, 2024
Eight in ten Walloons think cohabiting among road users is problematic, and four in ten say it has deteriorated recently. This is according to a survey conducted by the Walloon Road Safety Agency (AWSR) on aggressiveness and irritating behavior in traffic. One consequence is that traffic aggression is also on the rise, and consequently, the […]
March 15, 2024
French rail group Alstom will operate its own train service in the UK from May 2025 between Wales and London. An application has been submitted to the UK rail regulator Office of Rail and Road (ORR) to operate five daily trains in each direction. “We have been part of the UK rail fabric for two […]
March 14, 2024
Car-sharing company GreenMobility is leaving Belgium and returning to its Danish home market. After previously exiting the Netherlands, Germany, Finland, and Sweden, the Belgian branch will also be sold or closed down. “A pity,” according to Steve Van Avermaet, responsible for GreenMobility’s Belgian activities. “We were the company’s first foreign market and the last one […]
March 13, 2024
Up to 35,000 public charging points for EVs will be added in the Dutch provinces of Flevoland, North Holland, and Utrecht by 2027. The first charging points could already be on the streets from the middle of this year, according to project agency MRA-Elektrisch, which tendered for 74 municipalities for this purpose. The Netherlands passed […]
March 13, 2024
From Friday 22 to Sunday 24 March, Tour & Taxis will host the sixth edition of the bike fair Bike Brussels. In the event location’s ‘Gare Maritime, ‘ more than 150 exhibitors will guide cycling enthusiasts through the latest innovations in the sector, recent accessories that can come in handy for a trip on two […]
March 13, 2024
According to Vias’ latest traffic safety barometer, based on figures from the federal police, there were 7% fewer road deaths last year than in 2022. Last year, 483 people died in traffic, compared to 520 in 2022. The Vias Institute is a Belgian knowledge center that aims to improve road safety, mobility, and social safety. […]
March 13, 2024
The future electric SUV from Hyundai has been spotted testing in various states of cover. Previously announced as Ioniq 7, it could be renamed Ioniq 9 after the success of its brother from Kia, the EV9. What is certain is that both SUVs will share the same 800-volt E-GMP platform. This should give the seven-seater […]
March 13, 2024
On Tuesday, Belgium’s most significant car importer, D’Ieteren Automotive, kicked off its own B2B ‘motor show’ in the industrial settings of Silo Brussels, a former brewery and malthouse located along the canal at Neder-Over-Heembeek. Called ‘Mobility Solutions’ by D’Ieteren, it demonstrates it’s no longer about selling cars only but rather focusing on a far broader […]
March 12, 2024
Belgian public railway company NMBS/SNCB and infrastructure manager Infrabel spent 612 million euros on consultancy between 2020 and 2022. Based on internal documents from both companies, research media Apache and Médor have exposed this. Mobility Minister Georges Gilkinet (Ecolo) had previously said the cost for that period was 44,6 million euros, but the actual amount […]
March 12, 2024
Amsterdam is considering introducing an innovative adaptive speed governance solution for e-bikes. The system is intended to remotely slow down the speed of electric bicycles as they approach the city center. Amsterdam’s Alderwoman, Melanie Van der Horst (D66), recently inaugurated a system demonstration. The initiative specifically tackles the challenges of congested bike lanes, aiming to […]
March 11, 2024
In 2024, there will be 41 major road construction works on the Flemish highways for an investment of 902 million euros, not including Oosterweel. “The interventions are very diverse,” says Flemish Minister of Mobility and Public Works Lydia Peeters (Open Vld). “They range from renewing the road surface to the installation of noise barriers, the […]
March 08, 2024
After five years of loss-making, Brussels Airlines posted record results last year, with an operating profit of 53 million euros. The airline carried 8,3 million passengers for the entire year, 21% more than in 2022. But even though turnover climbed back to pre-corona levels, Brussels Airlines has been plagued by social unrest for some time, […]
March 08, 2024
People often say that women are lousy drivers, but statistics show just the opposite: almost eight in ten road deaths are men. Women are less likely to be involved in serious accidents than men and are generally also less likely to be severely injured in accidents (40% compared to 60% of men). However, it is […]
March 07, 2024
Infrabel has started work in Bilzen to remove all railway crossings in the city’s territory. Seven train crossings will be eliminated and made safer this way. They will be replaced by mobility alternatives, such as bridges (2), tunnels (4), a parallel road, and two sections of bicycle highway. The level crossings will only be closed […]
March 07, 2024
Stellantis, including brands such as Citroën, DS, Peugeot, Jeep, Fiat, and Alfa Romeo, will invest 5,6 billion euros in South America between 2025 and 2030, the largest investment ever in the South American automotive sector. The group aims to develop its EV offerings on the continent and promote its ‘bio-hybrid’ technologies, which combine electrification and […]
March 06, 2024
Colruyt Group has started using a 44-ton electric truck to supply city stores as sustainably as possible. The truck is quieter and generates fewer emissions, making deliveries less inconvenient for residents. Flemish Mobility Minister Lydia Peeters (Open Vld) officially inaugurated the refrigerated e-truck. “Using electric trucks for city deliveries is no longer a thing of […]
March 06, 2024
Dodge has unveiled its new electric car. And it is to deliver on the promise of being the ultimate ‘muscle car’, the new Charger Daytona, a massive 5.2-meter long two-door coupé with all-wheel-drive, a 100.5-kWh battery, and up to 317 miles (510 km) of EPA range. The range-topping Charger Daytona Scat Pack gets 670 hp […]
March 06, 2024
Brussels-based holding company D’Ieteren, best known for car glass repairer Carglass and as an importer of VW vehicles, posted sharply higher profits in 2023. Last year, that adjusted consolidated profit before tax came to 970.8 million euros or a 28.1% increase compared to 2022. Things look rosy for D’Ieteren for this year, too: It expects […]
March 05, 2024
The Dutch electricity grid is becoming increasingly saturated. Top executive Maarten Otto of energy network company Alliander confirmed this when presenting the annual results. He added that demand is growing much faster than the pace at which the grids can be expanded for years, and expansion of the net is not expected to provide additional […]
March 05, 2024
The long-announced ‘three-country train’ Liège-Maastricht-Aachen will start running in the border region between Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany from June 9th. The Maastricht-Aachen section has been active since 2019. However, Belgium could not yet be served due to making the trains of carrier Arriva suitable for the different security systems used in the three countries. […]
March 04, 2024
Start-up Kevin Speed will run high-speed trains (HST) in France from 2028 under the brand ‘ilisto’. The new HST operator signed an agreement with SNCF Réseau, the French rail network operator, to get the necessary train paths for the planned train runs. Specifically, Kevin Speed wants tracks from Paris to the North (Lille), east (Strasbourg), […]
February 29, 2024
Last year, Flanders issued 19 million euros of fines for truck drivers who did not comply with the rules on kilometer tax. That is a record since the system was introduced in 2016. Most of the fines – almost 80 percent – were intended for foreign trucks. The Netherlands, Poland, and Spain, in particular, took […]
February 28, 2024
Like in 2022, Dutch Railways NS made a 191-million-euro loss last year due to increased costs for wages and equipment, but also because the number of expected passengers fell short. NS, therefore, wants to make train tickets considerably more expensive next year, possibly by more than 10%. With that 191-million-euro loss, NS may be doing […]
February 27, 2024
Dutch Railways NS will order ten more Intercity trains, New Generation, on top of the 99 already ordered earlier. The order involves an investment of over 150 million euros. Public transport in the Netherlands is still less popular than it was before the Covid-19 health crisis, yet increasing crowding is noticeable – 15.5% more people […]
February 27, 2024
The Roads and Traffic Agency (Agentschap Wegen en Verkeer, AWV) is building a bicycle bridge and an ecoduct over the Boslaan (N75) in Lanklaar (Limburg province). The new bicycle construction is part of the 5.5-km-long bicycle path through the Lanklaarderbos and will officially open by the end of April. The cycle paths are ready; only […]
February 26, 2024
Share organization Dégage!, with more than 6,000 members, calls in a memorandum for a favorable parking regime in Ghent that encourages people to share their cars. For example, it wants to make parking more expensive for non-shared cars. It also calls for increasing the number of shared cars in the city to 3,000 by 2030. […]
February 26, 2024
The number of bicycle paths along regional roads in Flanders that are in excellent or decent condition has increased slightly, by 3,3%, to 63,8%. This is according to the new bicycle paths report of the Agency for Roads and Traffic (Agentschap Wegen en Verkeer, AWV), which gives a picture of about 7,000 km of bicycle […]
February 26, 2024
Lizy, the Belgian market leader in second-hand leasing, turns five and is celebrating. After expanding to France and tripling turnover in 2023, the scale-up is raising 11.5 million euros of fresh capital. “Demand for affordable electric lease cars continues to grow, a gap in the market that Lizy is filling,” the company says. Five years […]
February 23, 2024
Since the ‘premium window for EVs’ in Flanders opened on 12 February, 3,073 premium applications have been made. Some 2,600 applications were made for new cars, 440 for second-hand cars, 100 for car-sharing, and 40 for vehicles for non-profit organizations. Multiplied by the premium amounts, this amounts to around 15 million euros. Mobility Minister Lydia […]
February 22, 2024
On Wednesday, Flemish Minister for Mobility Lydia Peeters (Open Vld) officially inaugurated Flanders’ largest plaza with fast-charging stations in Sint-Pieters-Leeuw (Flemish Brabant). The 18 fast-charging stations are located in Shopping Pajot’s parking lot in Sint-Pieters-Leeuw, a popular shopping location with 24 stores. So, 18 electric cars can simultaneously recharge their batteries in half an hour […]
February 22, 2024
European aerospace corporation Airbus and French oil company TotalEnergies are joining forces to address sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) challenges. The partnership should contribute to reducing CO2 emissions from the aviation sector to reach net zero emissions by 2050. Eventually, SAF supplied by TotalEnergies can reduce up to 90% of CO2 emissions over their lifecycle compared […]
February 21, 2024
Traffic Safety Institute Vias pleads for the introduction of controls for nitrous oxide – the so-called ‘laughing gas’ – on the road. The drug has gained popularity in recent years, especially among young people. It gives users a buzz similar to that of alcohol and can have a severe influence on one’s driving abilities, so […]
February 21, 2024
The electric bike is becoming more and more popular. More than one in four Belgians, or 28%, used one in 2023, up 4% from a year ago. This is according to a survey by the FPS Mobility. The rise is particularly striking in rural areas. The regular Flemish cyclist living outside a big city uses […]
February 21, 2024
Flanders’ Christian Democratic party CD&V wants to phase out the low-emission zones. That is what party chairman Sammy Mahdi said during a debate at the Automotive eMotion Summit in the Skyhall, the former departure hall of Brussels Airport. According to Mahdi, these zones have proven successful in reducing the amount of air pollution. However, diesel […]
