GM and Hyundai to collaborate in vehicle development and production

September 13, 2024

You can’t have enough leverage in today’s daunting automotive landscape. General Motors, already in a close tie-up with Japanese brand Honda, is adding Hyundai to its list of partners. Both carmakers have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore a range of potential joint ventures. These include vehicle development, production, and the exploration of […]

Baidu-Geely’s new Jiyue 07 sedan claims L4 autonomous driving

September 12, 2024

The new Chinese EV brand Jiyue, created by internet services giant Baidu in a joint venture with Geely, has officially launched its second model, the 07 sedan. Its starting price is 209,900 yuan or roughly 26,700 euros. The first ‘owner’ to receive the keys at the launch was Robin Zeng, chairman and CEO of battery […]

Belgian speed pedelec start-up Specter to expand internationally

September 11, 2024

Specter, the Belgian manufacturer of specially designed speed pedelecs, has raised two million euros in new capital to expand its activities in Belgium and abroad. In addition to the existing partners, Fundracer Capital—a new party with extensive experience in the micro-mobility and bicycle industry—will invest in the start-up. Maarten Baert, founder and CEO of Specter: […]

2025 BYD Han on 800 volts with lower starting price in China

September 10, 2024

BYD has launched an updated version of its flagship sedan. For 2025, the Han gets a new, fifth-generation hybrid system, a LiDAR option for the first time, and an 800-volt architecture for the electric variant. BYD also takes this mid-life refresh as an opportunity to lower the starting price to 165,800 yuan or around €21,000. […]

Renault revives the 70s with one-off R17 Electric Restomod

September 06, 2024

Renault has unveiled a new concept car that reimagines a classic from its past: the Renault R17 Electric Restomod. Based on the sporty Renault 17 coupé from the 1970s, this modernized electric version was developed in collaboration with French designer Ora Ito. The R17 Electric Restomod is to remain a one-off and will make its […]

Lynk & Co finally goes fully electric with Z10 sedan (update)

September 06, 2024

Lynk & Co, the Swedish-Chinese sister brand to Zeekr, Volvo, and Polestar, is going fully electric with the in July newly revealed Z10, a five-meter-long luxury sedan with a pure electric range of over 800 km. Presented first in Gothenburg, Sweden, it now debuts in China, with prices starting at 202,800 yuan (€25,733) to 288,800 […]

IAA: MAN completes electric truck range with 12-tonne eTGL

September 05, 2024

Following the larger eTGS and eTGX models, MAN has now electrified its 12-tonne distribution truck to create the eTGL. It features a range of up to 235 km, a payload of up to 6.6 tonnes, and a fast charging time of around 30 minutes. The new MAN eTGL will make its debut at the IAA […]

IAA: Opel Movano to get hydrogen FCEV variant

September 05, 2024

Opel is bringing a hydrogen fuel cell variant of its sizeable electric van, the Movano Electric, to the IAA Transportation in Hannover. It features a range of around 500 km, 5-minute refueling, and no compromise on the payload or cargo capacity. It will be built in-house at Stellantis’ Gliwice plant in Poland. Earlier this year, […]

Kia prices its new compact electric EV3 SUV (update)

September 04, 2024

Kia has unveiled the EV3, a new compact SUV with electric drive. The 4.30-meter-long model adopts many elements of the large EV9 inside and out; the platform is essentially the same. In Belgium, only the long-range version was available in August, starting at a special price of €39,090 (instead of 41,190) to be eligible for […]

Maxus to show electric eTerron9 pickup and eDeliver5 at IAA Transportation

September 04, 2024

Maxus Motors, part of the Chinese conglomerate SAIC, is bringing two new models in its commercial vehicle range to the IAA Transportation in Hannover later this month: the eTerron9, an electric ‘performance’ pickup, and the eDeliver5, a relatively compact electric van. Both models should join the Maxus model range by the end of the year. […]

Volvo EX90 finally makes its way to customers

September 04, 2024

Nearly two years after its unveiling, the Volvo EX90 is starting to reach customers. Software delays postponed the launch of the electric 7-seater SUV by around a year. The first United States and Europe customers are getting their cars this month, with deliveries ramping up between Q4 2024 and Q1 2025. The Volvo EX90 is […]

Cupra’s new Terramar SUV includes 100-km range plug-in hybrid

September 04, 2024

Cupra, a Volkswagen Group brand, has revealed the new Terramar. Unlike the brand’s new Tavascan, the new mid-size SUV isn’t electric. It shares its platform and powertrains with the new VW Tiguan, including a new plug-in hybrid powertrain with up to 100 km of range. The Tavascan, designed in Spain but built in China and […]

Traxio: ‘Almost half a million used cars registered already in 2024’

September 04, 2024

After an intense period with many used car registrations in July, August saw a slight dip with -4.0%. Still, the provisional annual total is heading toward half a million second-hand car registrations (490,296 units), almost 60,000 more than two years ago. Gradually, more electrified used cars are offered, as 12.7% of registered vehicles are chargeable. […]

Geely’s €10,000 priced Geome Xingyuan EV to challenge BYD’s Dolphin

September 04, 2024

In China, the fierce price war among the big car manufacturers raves on, with Geely throwing in a new weapon, the Geome Xingyan EV, for city dwellers at a bottom price of around 80,000 yuan or 10,170 euros. It’s targeted directly against BYD, which beefed up its popular Dolphin at unchanged prices starting at 99,800 […]

Volvo Trucks to launch 600-km FH Electric heavy truck in 2025

September 03, 2024

Volvo Trucks is almost ready to launch the next generation of its electric heavy trucks. The new long-range FH Electric, coming next year, will offer a range of up to 600 km, doubling what is possible now within Volvo’s 44-tonne range. This would allow for an entire working day of driving on long-distance routes without […]

Zeekr 7X officially launched with up to 780 km range

September 02, 2024

Zeekr, one of Geely’s Chinese subsidiaries, has launched its flagship electric SUV. The Zeekr 7X inherits the 007 sedan’s and the Smart #5’s optimized PMA2+ platform, which gives it an extremely high range of 780 km and ultra-quick charging times. It has already launched in China, with international markets following soon. The Zeekr 7X is […]

Is Tesla’s seven-seat Model Y a candidate for Europe?

September 02, 2024

Tesla plans to start mass production of a seven-seat version of the Model Y at its Giga Shanghai plant in October, with the updated electric SUV set for launch in the Chinese markets. However, according to the National Business Daily, the new Model Y variant has already completed homologation for the European Union market. Officially, […]

BYD to take over its German car import from Hedin

September 02, 2024

What had become apparent over the past few days is now official: BYD is taking sales in Germany into its own hands. To this end, the Chinese car manufacturer founded BYD Automotive GmbH and took over Hedin Electric Mobility, the Hedin subsidiary previously responsible for BYD imports. There were increasing signs that BYD was dissatisfied […]

Smart officially reveals tech-heavy #5 as its biggest model yet

August 30, 2024

It’s been a long runner-up toward the official release of Smart’s largest and most advanced model. After the showstopper concept at the Beijing Autoshow and the leaked images from the Chinese regulator, Smart has now cleared the official pictures and specifications on the #5. The all-electric SUV hits the heart of the electric car market, […]

Chery to launch Omoda 5 and Jaecoo 7 in Belgium end of Q4

August 29, 2024

Chery Automobile, China’s fifth-biggest automaker with over 1.88 million vehicles sold worldwide last year, says it will take on Belgium from the end of Q4 2024 with two models: the Omoda 5 EV and the Jaecoo 7 PHEV. Officially, three dealers, one in Genk, one in Liège, and one in Luxemburg, were already presented, but […]

Mona M03, another ‘Tesla Model 3-killer’ in China at half price

August 28, 2024

In China, the price war among EV makers is raging further with yet another ‘Tesla 3 killer’ launched; Xpeng’s Mona sedan M03 at half the latter’s price: 119,800 yuan (€15,058) euros up to 155,800 yuan (€19,584). A Tesla Model 3 is offered in China in three variants, from 231,900 (€29,149) to 335,900 yuan (€42,222). So […]

Neta S Kombi is first car on CATL’s 800-volt platform

August 26, 2024

Neta has officially launched the S Kombi, an all-electric estate made in China. It is offered in both range extender and full-electric versions. In the wake of the launch, the company announced that the 800-volt version would be built around the platform by battery manufacturer CATL. Despite its practical estate style, Neta has no plans […]

For barista’s: Opel brews a one-off version of the Mokka-e

August 23, 2024

It seems that Opel’s UK department, Vauxhall, doesn’t agree with John Cleese’s opinion that wordplay is the lowest form of humor. Because by presenting the Mokka Cofe-e, the brand has taken the name of its car model very literally. Carmakers like to fool around once in a while. When some clever marketeer found out that […]

Honda’s iconic NSX gets electric successor in 2027

August 23, 2024

A Honda executive has confirmed that the NSX supercar will soon get an electric successor. It will be built on Honda’s 0 Series EV platform, which aims to be as low-profile and light as possible, two essential characteristics for a sports car. Honda global executive vice president Shinji Aoyama told a round table of journalists […]

BMW overtakes Tesla as best-selling electric car in Europe

August 23, 2024

For the first time, Tesla was challenged as the autocratic ruler of BEV sales in Europe by BMW, which sold more fully electric cars than the American electric brand in July 2024. BMW registered 14,869 BEVs that month, with the iX1, i4, and i5 as the driving forces, while the new iX2 registered more than […]

ID. Buzz as camper van available in the U.S.

August 22, 2024

The Volkswagen ID. Buzz was introduced to the U.S. market last year, and there is already a proposition for a camper conversion. At the same time, VW itself is hesitating to launch an ID. Buzz California camper version in Europe for fear of lack of demand. On the contrary, an American converter, Peace Vans, already […]

All-electric brand Zeekr confirms plug-in hybrid top model

August 22, 2024

Zeekr, Geely’s luxury electric car spin-off, has announced it will introduce a hybrid flagship to its line-up starting next year. Zeekr CEO Andy An confirmed the shift to combustion engine technology. It’s a watershed decision as the brand’s focus has been exclusively on battery electric vehicles until now. The trend of hybridized drivelines gaining more […]

VW ID. Buzz gets new motors, batteries, and a cheaper base model

August 21, 2024

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has significantly expanded the ID. Buzz’s model range. Five new variants are available: the sporty ID, two new base models with a smaller battery and a lower price, the Buzz GTX in short—and long-wheelbase versions, and a four-wheel drive variant of the ID. Buzz Cargo. The rear motor of the ‘regular’ ID. […]

BYD’s Denza Z9 GT officially presented and ready for Europe

August 21, 2024

Chinese luxury car brand Denza, a joint venture between BYD and Mercedes-Benz, has officially launched its new Z9 GT. The flagship model, which takes the shape of a shooting brake, has up to 1,000 hp and 630 km of range. This new model will be critical in Denza’s international sales, as it should come to […]

Polestar 4 starts European deliveries, US to follow by Q4

August 21, 2024

Polestar’s SUV coupé 4 has finally hit the European streets. After presenting the model in the Spring of 2023, followed by the launch of production back in November and the sales launch in China, European customers are now getting their hands on Polestar’s latest model, expanding the model range up to three choices. 2024 didn’t […]

Nio’s first ‘affordable’ Onvo L60 rolls off the production line

August 21, 2024

In China, the first L60 production models of NIO’s Onvo sub-brand have rolled off the assembly lines at NIO’s F2 plant in NeoPark, Hefei. The Onvo L60 will be a mid-sized all-electric SUV in an ‘affordable’ model line, positioned as an alternative to the premium NIO brand, also targeted at Europe. Prices start at 219,900 […]

Dongfeng launches low-cost Nammi Box EV in Europe

August 20, 2024

The Chinese car manufacturer Dongfeng Motor launched a new low-cost EV in Europe. Starting at around €23,000, the Dongfeng Nammi Box EV is one of the cheapest EVs in Europe at the moment. Dongfeng is one of China’s oldest and largest automakers. It was the second state-owned auto brand established following FAW. Dongfeng builds Nissan […]

BYD’s Seal U gets update in China with unchanged low price

August 20, 2024

BYD has rolled out an upgraded version of the Song Plus EV in China, known in Europe as the SUV version of the Seal, the Seal U. The starting price in China for the basic version with a 520 km range (CLTC) remains 149,800 yuan (18,922 euros). The cost of the top version with a […]

Nevera R is Rimac’s first hypercar

August 19, 2024

Electric sports car manufacturer Rimac recently presented the hyper-GT Nevera and wants to develop a hyper-sports car based on it. Rimac has pursued this idea in the further development of its first Nevera model. The R model is even more powerful and, above all, equipped with a more dynamic chassis. And… it is strictly limited […]

Temerario completes Lamborghini’s fully electrified line-up

August 19, 2024

Lamborghini’s plan to become the first sports car brand with an entirely electrified line-up went live at the prestigious Monterey Car Week 2024, where the brand launched the Temerario. This all-new entry-level sports car replaces the Huracán. It aims to combine higher performance and higher sustainability with a plug-in hybrid driveline. Following the introduction of […]

Porsche adjusts EV targets and invests in Varta (update)

August 19, 2024

Porsche is responding to the slower electric ramp-up. Following the recent changes in the production of the electric Taycan, the production of the combustion-powered Cayenne is also being extended. Meanwhile, it has acquired 32% of the shares of battery specialist Varta. Porsche has cautiously adjusted its target that more than 80% of cars delivered in […]

Acura Performance EV Concept previews Honda’s 2025 EV platform

August 16, 2024

Acura, Honda’s premium North American brand, has unveiled the Performance EV Concept at Monterey Car Week. The electric SUV coupé previews a production model coming in 2025, built on Honda’s own EV platform and produced in Ohio at the Japanese manufacturer’s new EV Hub. It’s no secret that Honda has some catching up to do […]

Now the old Mercedes G-Class is going all-electric

August 16, 2024

While Mercedes is fully concentrated on launching the all-electric G-Class EV, the engineers from Arcade Cars are feasting on a throwback to the seventies. The London firm unveiled a GE230 featuring no tailpipe emissions through the conversion to battery power. But old habits die hard. The all-electric G-Class, officially known as the G580 with EQ […]

BMW invests in charging infrastructure in South America

August 16, 2024

The BMW Group has entered into a strategic alliance in Mexico with Vemo, an operator of public charging stations. As part of the partnership, BMW is investing in constructing 144 new charging stations in the country. Other alliances in different South American countries will follow. The new charging points in Mexico are to be installed […]

Tesla drops entry-level variant of its Cybertruck

August 16, 2024

American EV manufacturer Tesla removed the basic version of the Cybertruck, which costs $60,990, from the US configurator before the first deliveries of this variant began. Therefore, the new entry-level price for the electric stainless steel pickup is $99,990. Tesla CEO Elon Musk once promised the Cybertruck with a base price of $39,990, but it […]

Mazda EZ-6 electric saloon to come to Europe after all

August 14, 2024

Mazda’s EZ-6, considered an electric successor to the six saloon, will finally go on sale as a global model. The Changan-developed model was initially only meant for the Chinese market, but Mazda is also looking to expand its electric offering in Europe. The Japanese manufacturer has not fully developed the Mazda EZ-6. Mazda solicited the […]

New Hyundai Santa Fe transforms into large boxy SUV (update)

August 14, 2024

Hyundai has unveiled the first pictures of its new Santa Fe. The future mid-size SUV looks wildly different from its predecessor, with a boxy design accompanied by a modern light signature and large wheels. In contrast, the interior opts for technology, with a large curved display and, according to Hyundai, more refinement. The current generation […]

Volkswagen Trinity, VW’s EV flagship, not before 2032?

August 14, 2024

The Volkswagen Trinity was once regarded as the VW Group’s first upcoming electric flagship and was due to be launched in 2026. The launch seems to have been postponed to 2032, and the first VW product on the new SSP platform could be the full electric Golf. It was already clear that the 2026 date […]

Zeekr’s 007 with Golden Battery sets new charging record

August 14, 2024

Geely daughter Zeekr, sister company to Lynk & Co and Volvo, claims a new record for its updated 2024 Zeekr 007 sedan with the ‘Golden Battery’, which can charge from 10 to 80% in 10.5 minutes—4.5 minutes faster than the first generation. It says its in-house developed ‘Golden Brick Battery’ is the world’s fastest-charging mass-produced […]

More details about Smart #5 production version released (Update)

August 13, 2024

The new Smart #5 is the brand’s largest model yet and its most powerful, putting out more than 450 kW/600 hp in its most potent form. Smart is 50/50% owned by Mercedes and Geely and builds its cars in Xi’an, central China. It has its world premiere in Australia at the end of August and […]

Mitsubishi to join Honda-Nissan ‘electric alliance’ (update)

August 12, 2024

Sources familiar with the matter said on Sunday that Mitsubishi was in talks to join the Nissan-Honda alliance to play catch-up with foreign rivals in developing electric vehicles and advanced technology for next-generation vehicles. The deal has now been officialized. Former Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn says this is a ‘disguised take-over’ by Honda. The three […]

Huawei’s luxury saloon Stelato S9 launched in China

August 12, 2024

After debuting at the Beijing Auto Show in April and opening pre-orders back in June, sales and deliveries of Huawei’s Stelato S9, built in collaboration with BAIC, have now officially started. The S9 features advanced autonomous driving tech and an 800+ km range and targets German luxury EVs like the Mercedes-Benz EQS and BMW i7. […]

Audi introduces cheaper Q6 e-tron with smaller battery

August 09, 2024

Audi has launched a new base model, the Q6 e-tron, which slots in below the Q6 e-tron Performance. It has a single motor on the rear axle and a new, smaller 83 kWh battery. This brings Audi’s mid-size electric SUV’s starting price down to below €65,000 in Belgium while still offering a WLTP range of […]

Hydrogen powered Mirai causes strong headaches for Toyota

August 09, 2024

As a strong advocate for hydrogen mobility, Japanese carmaker Toyota faces headwinds over how it promotes and deploys the Mirai. The company has to deal with several lawsuits in California, while a group of scientists wrote an open letter asking to replace the vehicle as the official Olympic Games car. Hydrogen isn’t without merits, but […]

BYD Seal 2025 upgrade includes LiDAR and 800 Volts (update)

August 09, 2024

BYD’s mid-range electric sedan, the Seal, gets a facelift for the 2025 model year and was presented on Thursday. The BEV is offered in China in four variants with a starting price of 175,800 yuan (€22,417), up to 239,800 yuan (€30,475). Like the Sea Lion 07, the 2025 Seal will be built on BYD’s upgraded […]

Ford gives Mustang and Bronco on two wheels the reins

August 08, 2024

In the US, Ford has given the two-wheel ‘offspring’ of two of its most iconic cars, the 60-year-old Mustang and the Bronco, the reins: e-bikes with 750W hub-mounted motors providing 85 Nm of torque and assisted top speed of 45 km/h (28 mph). They’re the fruit of a partnership with N+, which has already created […]

Fiat brilliantly integrates charging cable into new Grande Panda

August 08, 2024

The new Fiat Grande Panda was unveiled nearly two months ago. However, most of us missed its most brilliant feature. Behind the Fiat logo on the front fascia of the electric crossover hides an integrated charging cable that comes out like on a vacuum cleaner. The electric Grande Panda is the first, but it won’t […]

New Italian electric luxury ‘breed’ Aehra reveals Impeto and Estasi

August 07, 2024

Italian luxury electric brand Aehra has revealed the final names chosen for its first two models. The electric SUV will be called Impeto, while the electric saloon will be known as Estasi. Both share a platform with three electric motors, 805 hp, a 120-kWh battery, and more than 800 km range. Aehra also announced that […]

Volkswagen launches sporty ID.3 GTX for €49,990

August 07, 2024

Volkswagen has opened the pre-sales for its electric hot hatch, the ID.3 GTX. Two variants are on offer, the GTX and GTX Performance, with prices starting from €49,990. The official WLTP range has also been determined, with this new variant achieving over 600 km, even with the more powerful motor. Volkswagen first announced the ID.3 […]

Geely launches electric Galaxy E5 SUV in China with new-gen LFP battery

August 06, 2024

Geely has launched the second electric model in its new Galaxy lineup, following the E8 electric saloon. The Galaxy E5 is a mid-size electric SUV with an affordable price tag, modern tech on board, and the company’s newest Aegis Short Blade Battery, which promises a 1 million-km lifespan. The Geely Galaxy E5 challenges other China-built […]

New speed pedelecs are losing ground while used ones flourish

August 06, 2024

In July 2024, the trend of recent months continued: new speed pedelecs are losing ground (-17.8%, 1,119 units), and second-hand high-speed e-bikes continue to grow (+18.1%, 788 units). According to Filip Rylant, spokesman for mobility federation Traxio, the importance of the second-hand market is increasing very quickly. Two years ago, the number of registrations of […]

Mercedes has high ambitions for its new CLA EV range

August 06, 2024

According to a media report, a mid-size SUV will follow shortly after the new CLA four-door Mercedes, which is set to launch soon. This X174 model (internal codename) should be on the market at the end of 2025 and is labeled as ‘a Tesla Model Y fighter’. The news comes from Automotive News, which cites […]

Could the future of Audi Brussels be Chinese?

August 05, 2024

Several media outlets speculate about a possible Chinese takeover of the Audi factory in Forest (southwestern part of Brussels). The factory’s future as an Audi outlet looks dark, and Chinese companies looking for a solution to the import tariff war started by the EU could bring a solution. Currently, the Brussels factory is idle because […]

New VW Transporter T7 finally revealed with three EV powertrains

August 02, 2024

After months of teasers, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has finally unveiled the seventh-generation Transporter (T7). It borrows a lot from the Ford Transit Custom, including its plug-in hybrid and electric drivetrains, and will become available in cargo (Transporter) and passenger van (Caravelle) versions. It is confusing why VW CV took so long to launch the new […]

Belux market shrunk by 7.3% in July, EVs account for 25.1%

August 02, 2024

According to figures from the sector federation Febiac and the federal mobility and transport authority, the car market in Belgium and Luxembourg decreased by 7.3% despite the fact that July counted 3 more working days in 2024 compared to 2023. 32,151 new car registrations were noted in July. The total for the first seven months […]