Alfa Romeo forced to abandon Milano name

April 16, 2024

Deemed illegal, Alfa Romeo is removing the Milano name from its youngest crossover. After an intervention from the Italian government, which threatened legal action over the use of the original name, the car model will be named Junior. The relationship between Alfa’s parent company and the Italian government is at an all-time low. The next […]

Chery to share EV platform with European brands

April 16, 2024

Yin Tongyue, chairman of China’s Chery Auto, said the Wuhu-based car manufacturer is planning to sign a deal with a premium European brand through platform cooperation. “Two premium European brands want to use our platform, and a deal will be signed with one of them, which is a more premium brand than us,” Yin said. […]

Is the Battista Reversario the world’s most exclusive EV?

April 15, 2024

The Pininfarina Battista is already one of the most exclusive EVs on the planet, but the one-off Reversario ups the stakes. This bespoke all-electric hypercar was commissioned by a customer who wanted to add a stablemate to the one he already had. As typical for the hyper exclusive category, it can never be exclusive enough, […]

Sales of Polestar almost halved at the beginning of 2024

April 15, 2024

Sales of EV brand Polestar took a big hit during the first quarter of this year. With only 7,200 units delivered, the figures slid by 40% in a year-on-year comparison. Most automakers managed to grow their EV deliveries compared to the same period last year (but reported strong declines compared to the final quarter of […]

Storm clouds on the horizon for Audi Brussels (Update)

April 15, 2024

Last Friday, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo and other members of the federal and regional governments met with Audi’s top managers to try to save Audi Brussels. “The Factory of the Future” (award title in 2020) is fighting for its survival. Dark clouds are gathering on the horizon. A few months ago, Brussels was […]

Mercedes recalls 341,000 cars worldwide and updates EQS

April 12, 2024

Mercedes-Benz is recalling 341,000 of its cars worldwide because of a fire risk. GLE and GLS models built from 2017 to 2023 are concerned. Meanwhile, the Stuttgarters are upgrading their electric flagship EQS. The recall has been announced by the German transport authority Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt (KBA). The cause for the possible fire risk is a possibly […]

Tesla ups the stakes with a 600 km Model Y

April 12, 2024

In selected European markets, including Belgium, Tesla is extending its Model Y offering. The new rear-wheel drive version can travel exactly 600 kilometers between charges. It bears the badge Long Range for a good reason. As the American automaker comes to terms with a sales slowdown, it is counteracting the trend with a new version […]

Cupra Raval to kick off VW’s small EV production in Spain in late 2025

April 12, 2024

As an aside in a press release about the king of Spain visiting the Martorell production facility, Seat has announced that the Cupra Raval will become the first of the VW Group’s small EVs to be produced at the renewed factory. Production will kick off in late 2025 and will be supplied directly by the […]

Alfa Romeo Milano is brand’s first EV

April 11, 2024

Italian carmaker Alfa Romeo has lifted the veil on the new Milano. The small crossover is the brand’s first-ever EV, and it’s offered in two guises with power ranging from 156 to 240 hp. Both versions share the same 54-kWh battery, offering 410 km of range. That being said, like its numerous brothers from the […]

Sales of electric BMWs rise where competitors drop

April 11, 2024

In a tough market, sales of all-electric BMWs have grown significantly. During the first three months of the year, the Bavarian automaker witnessed a global growth of 27.8%, while competitors like Mercedes and Tesla faced substantial drops. BMW’s solid performance was epitomized by the delivery of its one-millionth electric car. It took the automaker roughly […]

Ford updates electric Mustang Mach-E with more torque, range and versions

April 10, 2024

American automaker Ford is upgrading its electric Mustang Mach-E crossover. All versions are equipped with a new rear e-motor, which produces more torque. The batteries don’t change, but the range is increased on all versions, and fast charging times are cut by almost 20%. The high-performance Mach-E GT is now faster than both the Tesla […]

Canoo under fire for private jet usage of its chairman

April 10, 2024

American EV startup Canoo paid $1.7 million for CEO Tony Aquila’s private jet bills, twice its total revenue last year. According to its earnings report released this week, Canoo lost $302 million in 2023 and is urgently looking for new investors. Aquila, who is also the company’s chairman, owns about 14% of Canoo. In 2022, […]

Is Smart brooding on a new ForTwo?

April 10, 2024

Last month, the last units of the Smart ForTwo came off the line at the plant in Hambach, France. There are rumors that Smart is brooding on a successor but has difficulties finding partners to join forces for the project. Smart Europe CEO Dirk Adelmann recently announced that the company is developing a new platform […]

DS introduces regular hybrid versions of DS 3 and DS 4

April 09, 2024

DS Automobiles has introduced two non-plug-in hybrids to its model range: the DS 3 and DS 4 Hybrid, which make use of Stellantis’ new mild hybrid 1.2 three-cylinder engine, offering a nearly 20% reduction in fuel consumption. But more electric news is coming later this year. The new 1.2 PureTech Hybrid engine was introduced last […]

Opel Frontera returns as compact, fully-electric SUV

April 09, 2024

Opel has resurrected the Frontera nameplate for the successor of the Crossland. The new compact SUV focuses on practicality, clever technology and a high degree of electrification thanks to the choice between a (mild) hybrid or a fully electric drivetrain – although not every detail is yet known. The first Opel Frontera was a fully-fledged […]

Electra to compete with Fastned on the latter’s home turf

April 09, 2024

The French provider of DC fast-charging infrastructure, Electra, is entering the Dutch market and will compete with Dutch charging network provider Fastned on its home turf. The plan is to install 100 fast-charging stations and 600 charging points for EVs before 2030. Electra is already present in France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Italy, and […]

Nio integrates GTP’s AI in Nomi voice assistant

April 08, 2024

Like other car brands, such as Skoda and DS, Nio is integrating artificial intelligence into its cars. Nio’s voice assistant, Nomi, recently received a GPT update. GPT stands for Generative Pretrained Transformer, a form of artificial intelligence. We first ‘met’ Nio in the Nio ET7 sedan we drove in May 2023. Nomi is the little […]

Elon Musk about axing affordable Tesla: ‘Reuters is lying’

April 08, 2024

Tesla was caught in a whirlwind last week when Reuters reported that the carmaker had axed the development of its affordable compact car. But after the news broke, CEO Elon Musk lashed back on his social media platform X: “Reuters is lying (again).” He countered by claiming his company would reveal its Robotaxi, based on […]

Ferrari interested in burning hydrogen

April 05, 2024

According to the specialized website H2mobile, the Italian sports car manufacturer Ferrari seems interested in using a hybrid hydrogen-burning internal combustion engine (HICE) in its sports cars. Ferrari has apparently filed a patent to protect this idea. A number of manufacturers are still investigating the possibility of using hydrogen as a cleaner fuel for internal […]

EX30 pushes Volvo’s sales to historic high in March

April 05, 2024

Volvo Cars achieved a record-breaking sales performance last month, with figures reaching an all-time high. The surge in sales was notably propelled by the enthusiastic market reception of its new all-electric model, the EX30, and robust sales across its diversified portfolio in Europe and the United States. The Swedish automaker disclosed an impressive tally of […]

XPeng will sell G6 SUV Coupe in Europe shortly

April 05, 2024

Chinese electric car manufacturer Xpeng has announced the launch of its third model in Europe. The coupé-like electric SUV Xpeng G6, which has been available in China since last year, can be ordered in Europe from May and will hit the road in Q3/2024. In China, Xpeng launched the G6 last summer as a competitor […]

Smart ForTwo production ends at Hambach

April 04, 2024

The page is officially turned. After over 25 years, the Hambach, France, plant has churned out its last Smart ForTwo. It’s the end for the small 2.5-m car that was seen as a revolution in urban transport. The Hambach plant, often nicknamed ‘Smartville,’ has produced up to 140,000 cars yearly. However, the plant, which benefited […]

Renault updates Captur, its B-segment SUV

April 04, 2024

Today, Renault presented an update on its popular B-Segment SUV, the Renault Captur. Renault calls the category urban SUVs and points out that this is a market accounting for half of all sales in the B-segment, which itself makes up 30% of the total market. “Captur is the B-segment “voiture à vivre” (car for living). […]

Traxio: ‘9% more used car registrations in Q1 in Belgium’

April 04, 2024

The number of second-hand car registrations in the first quarter of 2024 increased by 9% (+15,481 vehicles) compared to last year. Registrations of gasoline cars remained stable (54.9%), but the share of diesel vehicles fell from 35.5% in 2023 to 31.9% this year in favor of hybrid and electric cars, which saw their market share […]

Norwegian electric fleet set to surpass gasoline this year

April 04, 2024

The fuel mix of Norway’s national fleet is nearing a watershed moment. The share of electric cars is poised to eclipse gasoline cars by the end of the year. As a result, fossil fuel sales are also declining. Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) are on the verge of outnumbering petrol cars in Norway, signaling a potentially […]

Mercedes’ new gen EV is coming

April 03, 2024

The upcoming entry-level Mercedes-Benz EV was finally caught out in the wild. The electric Mercedes CLA was spotted testing near the Arctic Circle. The new EV is seen as Mercedes-Benz’s answer to the Tesla Model 3 and will be the most affordable EV from Stuttgart. The new CLA is also dubbed the ‘electric hypermiler’ or […]

Tesla starts 2024 with ‘disastrous’ delivery results

April 03, 2024

Tesla’s first quarter 2024 results ended up being a wake-up call. Deliveries have declined for the first time since the pandemic compared to the previous year. A small consolation is that the carmaker has recaptured the crown from China’s rival BYD, which is the world’s largest EV maker. Car deliveries, in particular, were disappointing. Analysts […]

Belux car registrations down 13.5% in March

April 03, 2024

According to the data provided by the federal government service Mobility & Transport and the car manufacturers federation Febiac, 44,751 cars were registered in March 2024, 13.5% less than in the same month last year. Febiac explains this regress by saying that March 2024 counted two working days less than March 2023, but that can’t […]

VW Golf: an icon celebrates its 50th birthday

April 02, 2024

On Friday, March 29th, 1974, the first Golf rolled off the line in Volkswagen’s home plant in Wolfsburg. Fifty years later, golf is still being produced, and over 37 million units have already been made. But the icon is not ready to die yet. Back in 1974, the new Golf was a gamble for Volkswagen. […]

Waiting up to seven months for smartphone maker Xiaomi’s first EV

April 02, 2024

It looks like enthusiasts who want to buy Chinese smartphone giant Xiaomi’s first electric car, the SU7 sedan, will need the patience of a saint for some versions. Delivery times can stretch up to seven months due to the surprise demand already present in the first hours of pre-ordering. In less than 24 hours, nearly […]

End of line for Renault Zoé

March 29, 2024

After twelve years and over 420,000 units produced, the pioneering Renault Zoé electric subcompact hatchback will end its production run on Friday, March 30th, in the Flins factory. It will be replaced by the new, cheaper, and prettier Renault 5 E-Tech. The Zoé was Renault’s first production electric car. Based on the Clio platform, it […]

BMW 5 Series is World Luxury Car 2024

March 28, 2024

After coming second in the European Car of the Year (COTY) contest, the new BMW 5 Series has been named the World Luxury Car 2024. For the members of the World Car Awards jury, it was the standout new arrival in the field of luxury vehicles that celebrated their debuts in the world’s car markets […]

BYD making biggest profit ever further stokes up Chinese price war

March 28, 2024

With the comfortable certainty of 30 billion yuan (€3,83 billion) profit made in 2023, the top Chinese EV maker BYD can afford to fuel further the price war it initiated to prove electric cars can be sold even cheaper than their ICE siblings. Next in a long row, seeing its price lowered by 5%, is […]

Hyundai to invest $50 billion to secure EV future

March 28, 2024

South Korean car manufacturing group Hyundai announced a massive $50 billion (68 trillion won) investment to secure its position as the auto market transitions to EVs. The Korean automaker will hire 80,000 people in Korea to help it become one of the top three EV makers in the world by 2030. Hyundai’s new investment is […]

Russia restarts production Citroën C5 bypassing Stellantis

March 28, 2024

For the first time since the outbreak of the Ukrainian war, a Russian factory has rebooted the manufacture of a Western car model. The automotive plant in Kaluga has officially started churning out Citroën C5 Aircross models for the local market. Citroën-owner Stellantis admits having lost control in the region. The PSMA Rus facility, as […]

Callum Designs launches eVita, a wheelchair-accessible EV

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 […]

Hyundai’s Genesis shows Neolun and Magma performance concepts

March 27, 2024

Korean premium brand Genesis has revealed the Neolun Concept and GV60 Magma Concept. The first design study is a large luxury SUV with coach doors and a plush interior. What could become the future GV90 aims to rival the Mercedes-Maybach GLS with Royal Blue leather and a concert-hall sound system. The second concept hints at […]

Ford introduces its European Explorer EV at €49k entry price

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 […]

New electric KGM Torres EVX dives under €40K for launch

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 […]

Electric cruising with Harley’s new LiveWire S2 Mulholland

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 […]

Mercedes-Maybach EQS SUV now available in Europe

March 25, 2024

Almost a year after the model was unveiled, Mercedes-Maybach’s first electric model is now available to order in Europe after its debut in the US. But of course, the privilege doesn’t come cheap… The Mercedes-Maybach EQS 680 SUV tries to combine Maybach’s experience in extreme luxury with some sustainable touches to match the model’s all-electric […]

Flexis is born: electric vans from Renault and Volvo Trucks

March 25, 2024

The Renault Group and the Volvo Group have finalized their previously announced joint venture, heralding the birth of Flexis. This new brand aims to break a mould in the electric van market by developing and producing models built on an advanced, software-driven 800-volt platform—a first in this segment. Both companies announced their intent to join […]

EV market share stable in EU in February, Belgium +66,9%

March 24, 2024

According to ACEA data, the EU car market surged 10.1% in February 2024 compared to the same month last year, reaching 883,608 units. Among the four major EU markets, France (+13%) and Italy (+12.8%) grew by double-digits, with Spain (+9.9%) and Germany (+5.4%) following. In February, battery-electric cars held a market share of 12% (stable […]

VW ID.Buzz GTX: fastest trip down memory lane

March 22, 2024

Last week, Volkswagen unveiled the GTX members of the ID.3 and ID.7 Tourer and announced the upcoming arrival of a similar version in an ID. Buzz package. Here it is. Pepped with the same vitamin treatment, the iconic Bulli turns into a rocket for delivery couriers or German fathers with daily access to the Autobahn. […]

Isuzu steps ahead of Japanese rivals with D-Max BEV

March 21, 2024

Pickup truck specialist Isuzu has beaten compatriot Toyota to the game of launching its first battery-powered light truck. The D-Max BEV will be unveiled at the Bangkok International Motor Show on March 27th, and the Japanese niche vehicle maker will be piloted into the electric transition. Isuzu Motors, which has built up a solid reputation […]

BMW Vision Neue Klasse X is next all-electric X3

March 21, 2024

BMW will launch an all-new X3 this year, but the car model everybody is focusing on is the Vision Neue Klasse X. This is the north star for the brand’s next-generation battery-powered SUVs, lifting electrification, digitization, and sustainability to a new level. Following a leak earlier this week, BMW has revealed the BMW Vision Neue […]

French e-bike refurbisher Upway opens first Belgian branch

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 […]

Peugeot presents new electric 7-seater e-5008

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 […]

Belgian Cowboy launches its first all-road e-bike Cross

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 […]

BMW’s ‘New Class’ also built in Regensburg

March 20, 2024

BMW will also produce its ‘Neue Klasse’ (New Class) electric cars at its Regensburg plant. The car manufacturer confirmed this but has not yet provided further details about possible models. As BMW states in a current press release, the initial preparatory work for producing the new platform at the Regensburg plant has already been completed. […]

Mercedes-AMG’s electric future plays on Swedish frozen lake

March 19, 2024

Mercedes-AMG is preparing its first fully electric car, and to illustrate its progress, the company has released some photos of a vehicle prototype on the icy expanses of a Swedish lake. The scene looks playful, but according to the official reading, the prototype of Mercedes-AMG’s battery-powered sports car is undergoing rigorous tests under severe winter […]

Q6 e-tron unveiled is Porsche Macan EV ‘made by Audi’

March 19, 2024

Audi has taken the wraps from the much-anticipated Q6 e-tron, poised to challenge the best-sellers with the cutting-edge architecture it shares with the Porsche Macan EV. The zero-emission model must mirror the success of its combustion-engined sibling, the globally acclaimed Q5. After a prototype reveal last year, Audi has released the full specs and final […]

BMW’s Vision Neue Klasse X concept leaked

March 18, 2024

In a few days, BMW will show the concept of its first SUV variant of the ‘Neue Klasse’, called Vision Neue Klasse X. Rumors have it that this iX3 successor will be the first car of BMW’s new EV class range to appear on the market by the end of next year, before the sedan […]

Porsche 911 Hybrid: with a little help from Rimac

March 18, 2024

According to Frank Moser, product manager at Porsche for both the 718 and 911 models, the Stuttgart-based sports carmaker will add electrified versions to the 911 when the current generation is facelifted in 2025. This is a pivotal moment, as the most iconic Porsche has stuck to the thrill of true combustion engines so far. […]

Tesla to increase price of Model Y in Europe next month

March 18, 2024

When it rains in the US, it dripfeeds to Europe. The previously announced price hike for the world’s best-selling EV, the Tesla Model Y, reaches the continent’s shore. As of April, the price will rise by around €2,000. Tesla’s pricing increase for the Model Y electric SUV in several European countries was announced via a […]

Nissan and Honda confirm cooperation, including on electric cars

March 18, 2024

Japanese car manufacturers Nissan and Honda have officially confirmed plans for a strategic partnership in electric cars and other areas. The manufacturers’ intention to work together was already leaked last week. Honda announces that both companies have signed a letter of intent “to strengthen environmental and electrification technologies as well as software development.” The competitors […]

Škoda to enter €25,000 EV race with sub-compact SUV ‘Epiq’

March 15, 2024

It looks like the automotive industry is sounding the ‘all hands on deck alarm’ to win private buyers over to switching to an EV with a price tag of €25,000 or lower. Škoda joins the race with the all-electric Epiq, the second of six new electric vehicles scheduled for launch in the coming years. For […]

NIO’s ‘family EV’ sub-brand coming to Europe as ‘Onvo’

March 15, 2024

Chinese premium EV maker NIO has chosen ‘Onvo’ as the English name for the line of affordable ‘family electric cars’ it will sell in Europe. In China, it’s called Ledao (乐道), which means as much as ‘happy road’, according to founder and CEO William Li. Under the ‘Alps’ codename, it has been developing a mass-market […]

Lightning strikes at VW with blistering GTX versions of ID.3 and ID.7

March 14, 2024

Lightning never strikes twice in the same spot, except in Wolfsburg. Simultaneously, Volkswagen has announced sharp and sporty GTX versions of the ID.3, the ID.7 Tourer, and the ID.Buzz. Basically, this is the zero-emission revival of the well-known GTI badge. Volkswagen has yet to release the final specs and data on the ID.buzz, but expectations […]

Nissan and Honda join forces to battle Chinese competition

March 14, 2024

Nissan and Honda are preparing to reduce their production capacities in China significantly. The two  Japanese car manufacturers are finding it difficult to keep up with Chinese competitors in the race for electric cars. A solution could be to join forces and slash EV prices consequently. As Nikkei Asia reported, both manufacturers plan to reduce […]

Create a free account, or log in.

Gain access to read this article, plus limited free content.

Yes! I would like to receive new content and updates.