Alfa unveils Junior Q4 as world premiere at Brussels Motor Show

December 19, 2024

Alfa Romeo is bringing a world premiere to the Brussels Motor Show next January. The Italian brand will unveil the four-wheel driven version of its small SUV Junior, based on the hybrid driveline. It seems Stellantis is keen on making a grand entrance in the capital of Europe. With the demise of motor shows worldwide, […]

Lamborghini latest brand to postpone electric

December 18, 2024

Lamborghini’s first EV, likely a production version of the Lanzador concept car, won’t show up in 2028. According to remarks from CEO Stephan Winkelmann, the Italian manufacturer will release its first fully electric model in 2029 at the earliest, citing low market interest in electric sports cars. Although Lamborghini has partly embraced the electrification of […]

MG’s solid state battery for 2025 is less revolutionary than expected

December 17, 2024

MG Motor, a Chinese state-owned SAIC Motor subsidiary, has announced plans to launch an electric vehicle in 2025 powered by a semi-solid state battery. This move comes after earlier statements suggested MG would be the first to deploy a fully solid-state battery. The hybrid solution implies the car brand is backtracking on its earlier full […]

Zeekr 7X on sale in Europe starting at €52,990

December 17, 2024

Zeekr, part of the Chinese Geely group, has launched its flagship electric SUV in Europe. The Zeekr 7X offers a range of up to 615 km, with ultra-fast charging thanks to an 800V architecture and a roomy, premium interior for a starting price of €52,990 in the Netherlands. The Zeekr 7X is the third electric […]

Renault brings back the Renault 5 Turbo in EV format

December 16, 2024

Almost a year after launching its retro-looking electric compact car R5, Renault has announced that it will also revive the R5 Turbo sports car as an electric car next year. Its drive system is expected to produce 368 kW or just over 500 hp. Renault continues on its retro-car course. The regular R5 E-Tech Electric […]

DS presents new flagship, the N°8

December 13, 2024

Stellantis brand DS Automobiles has finally unveiled its new flagship DS N°8. The SUV/crossover coupé will be the carmaker’s latest flagship and the first DS model to launch exclusively with an electric drive. The Stellantis daughter had already teased with partial press releases and pictures of the car, with big numbers on the side panels […]

Toyota’s new Urban Cruiser EV in world premiere at Brussels Motor Show

December 12, 2024

Today, Toyota released information on its brand new EV, the Urban Cruiser. Its public world premiere will be at the Brussels Motor Show in January. The car is likely to be the sister model of the upcoming Suzuki eVX, but Toyota doesn’t hint at this collaboration in any way. With the Urban Cruiser, developed from […]

NIO opens its first battery swapping station in Belgium

December 12, 2024

Chinese premium EV brand NIO has opened its first battery-swapping station in Belgium, at the Hotel & Congress Ter Elst center, at the Kattenberg 1 in Edegem, parallel to the E19 highway. That might sound bizarre, as the brand hasn’t officially been sold in Belgium yet, and no launch date has been communicated so far. […]

Xiaomi YU7: sibling to SU7, rival to Model Y

December 10, 2024

Chinese tech conglomerate-turned-auto manufacturer Xiaomi has unveiled its second all-electric model: the YU7, an SUV based on the popular SU7 saloon. The model was first leaked by China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), after which Xiaomi CEO shared two official images of the YU7 alongside the SU7. Apart from the MIIT’s leaks and […]

Toyota opens orders for 13,000 euro electric SUV in China

December 10, 2024

Toyota’s GAC joint venture has officially opened orders in China for its highly anticipated “new force pure electric SUV,” the bZ3X. While Toyota is slowing down on its global EV plans, the bZ3X plays a pivotal role in the company’s success in the Chinese marketplace—and it might end up in Europe. Toyota has unveiled the […]

New R5 Electric scores only 4 stars at Euro NCAP

December 06, 2024

Safety Institute Euro NCAP (New Car Assessment Program) recently assessed 14 new cars on safety issues. Eleven of them got the highest 5-star ranking, and three of them only got four. One is the MG ZS Hybrid +, and two are from the same stable: the Renault 5 E-Tech Electric and its sporty nephew, the […]

Recaro rescued by Italian supplier, production moves to Italy

December 06, 2024

Recaro Automotive GmbH, the renowned German manufacturer of car seats, has been acquired by Italy’s Proma Group, signaling a major shake-up for the company. As part of the acquisition, production will cease in Germany and move to the Turin region, permanently closing the current site and leaving more than 170 employees without jobs. Proma Group […]

Subaru leads reliability rankings in the U.S.

December 06, 2024

For the second time in four years, Subaru ranked first in Consumer Reports’ annual brand report card, which measures vehicle performance, safety, and reliability. The 2025 report card is part of an updated data set released by Consumer Reports that packages all its automotive rankings in one spot. Consumer Reports also found that Subaru was […]

Traxio: ‘New speed pedelecs sales plunge, used ones surge’

December 05, 2024

According to Filip Rylant, spokesman of the mobility federation Traxio, November confirms the trend of recent months on the bicycle market. Sales of new speed pedelecs dropped by as much as -15.1% (864 units) while second-hand sales continued to grow, with an increase of +7.6% (524 units). Consumers are increasingly opting for the second-hand market. […]

Opel launches new Frontera Electric and confirms final specifications

December 05, 2024

Opel has launched the new Frontera, a compact SUV borrowing the name of the classic terrain vehicle from the 90s. It is based on the same Smart Car platform as the Citroën ë-C3 Aircross, offering the choice between mild hybrid or fully-electric drive. The final specifications for the latter have been confirmed, with over 300 […]

DS teases its new flagship, DS N°8

December 05, 2024

The Stellantis brand DS plans to unveil its first all-electric sedan soon and is gradually releasing the first details. The new electric car will not be called the DS 8 E-Tense but the DS N°8, a sort of crossover coupé style sedan positioned in the luxury segment. A few weeks ago, DS published a teaser […]

Aptera reignites crowdfunding to bring its solar EV in production

December 04, 2024

California-based start-up Aptera Motors is once again turning to crowdfunding in its mission to bring its solar-powered, three-wheeled electric vehicle to the assembly halls. This renewed effort aims to secure the additional $60 million necessary to transition its prototype to a production-ready car. The new crowdfunding campaign follows Aptera’s previous one, which concluded in May […]

Hyundai and Kia embracing EVs drives record sales in US

December 04, 2024

Hyundai and Kia achieved record US sales in November, fueled by surging demand for electrified vehicles and strong performance in the crossover segment. Hyundai’s sales rose 8% year-over-year to 76,008 units, while Kia’s deliveries soared 20% to 70,107, marking a standout month for both automakers. The momentum is expected to continue as Hyundai launches its […]

Ford presents its electric Puma Gen-E

December 04, 2024

Ford has unveiled the electric version of its best-selling model in Europe. The Cologne-based manufacturer emphasizes its dynamic acceleration and efficiency. However, the battery and its price make it unclear whether the Puma Gen-E will be well received and also sell well. One thing is clear: Like many other manufacturers, Ford is not in an […]

Traxio: ‘Used car market continues to perform strongly in 2024’

December 04, 2024

In November 2024, 31,824 new cars were registered, or 15.3% less than in November 2023. Regarding second-hand car registrations, Traxio sees continued growth in the first eleven months of 2024 compared to previous years. In 2024, the figure for the year’s first eleven months went up to 672.625 registrations. In 2023, it was 637.950 units; […]

BMW ships its first e-motors for the ‘Neue Klasse’

December 04, 2024

The BMW plant in Steyr has started pre-series production of the new electric motor for the ‘Neue Klasse’. This phase should lead to series production in around a year. The debut model of BMW’s next generation of electric cars, probably the iX3 successor, has been announced for 2025. The BMW plant in Steyr has now […]

Jaguar Type 00: the new era begins

December 03, 2024

Jaguar unveiled at Miami Design Week 2024 the Type 00, a design study meant to visualize the British car manufacturer’s totally new direction to become a super-luxury electric brand. The Type 00 prefigures a fully-electric four-door GT coming in late 2025 with a new design language and upmarket positioning. But has the brand damaged its […]

Maxus eDeliver 5: cute electric van with 1.1-ton payload

December 03, 2024

Chinese manufacturer Maxus has launched the eDeliver 5 in Europe. This compact electric van, with a bubbly shape, aims to seduce customers with more than just its performance. The eDeliver 5 slots below the traditional one-tonne eDeliver 7, but still manages a payload of over 1.1 ton and a WLTP range of over 300 km. […]

VW extends partnership with SAIC but withdraws from Xinjiang activities

November 28, 2024

Volkswagen and SAIC have extended their cooperation until 2040 to mark the 40th anniversary of their joint venture agreement. At the same time, the German manufacturer wants to stop its activities in the Xinjiang region, where it was criticized for being a partner in what is considered a violation of human rights. The partners are […]

Californian governor wants to exclude Musk’s Tesla from EV incentives

November 27, 2024

California’s Governor Gavin Newsom has unveiled a proposal to revive the state’s electric vehicle rebate program in response to former President Donald Trump’s pledge to eliminate the federal EV tax credit. However, the proposed plan includes a controversial exclusion of Tesla models, the state’s leading EV manufacturer. Elon Musk labeled the move as “insane.” As […]

Trump revives tariff threats, targeting Mexico and Canada

November 27, 2024

As Donald Trump prepares for his second term as US president, his campaign rhetoric quickly transforms into aggressive trade policies. The president-elect has reignited fears of wide-ranging trade wars, confirming his plans to impose substantial tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada. Cars and automotive parts assembled in this region could face excess duties of […]

Maextro S800: Huawei’s electric sub €150k Maybach competitor

November 27, 2024

Maextro, the joint venture between Chinese tech giant Huawei and car manufacturer JAC, has unveiled its first model: the Maextro S800. It is a fully electric luxury sedan meant to compete with the likes of Maybach-Mercedes, Bentley, and Rolls-Royce, but with a sub-€150,000 price tag and high levels of autonomy. Huawei, the Chinese conglomerate primarily […]

Stellantis to close Luton plant in the UK

November 27, 2024

Car manufacturing group Stellantis plans to close its plant in Luton, north of London in the UK. Company sources said that it wants to concentrate the entire production of electric light commercial vehicles (LCVs) in the Ellesmere Port site in Cheshire. The Italian-French-American carmaker explained that the aim is to create a new hub to […]

Uber to start operating throughout the whole of Belgium

November 26, 2024

From December 1st, the American ride-hailing service Uber will also start offering its services throughout Wallonia, just as it already does in Flanders and Brussels. New regulations in Wallonia will make expansion possible. In February, Uber had already launched its UberTaxi service, a classic stand-up cab service in several cities in Wallonia. The price is […]

Bosch to cut 5,500 jobs, two-thirds of it in Germany

November 25, 2024

German automotive supplier Bosch plans to cut 5,500 jobs amid a growing crisis in the automotive industry, a spokeswoman said on Friday. She said that more than two-thirds of these, some 3,800 jobs, will be in Germany, as the company sees a further “need for adjustment.” The figures are based on plans, but exact numbers […]

Toyota’s bZ7 Concept 2025 in China: a fit for Europe?

November 21, 2024

During the Guangzhou Auto Show, Toyota revealed its latest electric car, the bZ7 concept. Slated for production in 2025, this sleek electric sedan underscores Toyota’s growing commitment to the Chinese market and its strategy to challenge domestic players. While Toyota’s global fully electric offerings remain limited to the bZ4X SUV, the brand has rapidly expanded […]

BMW starts pre-series production of ‘Neue Klasse’

November 21, 2024

The first (pre-series) cars of the Neue Klasse have rolled off the production line at the new BMW plant in Debrecen, Hungary. These are not production models but test vehicles of the all-electric X SUV model of the Neue Klasse. As the validation of production processes is “progressing according to plan” with the assembly of […]

Hyundai Ioniq 9 takes the brand to new luxury levels

November 21, 2024

Hyundai has officially revealed its latest electric vehicle, the Ioniq 9, ahead of the Los Angeles Auto Show. The three-row SUV is the equivalent of the Kia EV9 and is slated to hit the market in 2025. As the brand’s flagship model, the SUV must draw in more premium-oriented buyers and rival the Volvo EX90. […]

Ford to cut 4,000 jobs in Europe

November 21, 2024

Once again, Ford has announced plans to reduce its European workforce by around 4,000 employees in 2027. There are 2,900 of them in Germany, 800 in the UK, and some 300 elsewhere in Europe. The car manufacturer hopes to increase its competitiveness in this way. At the beginning of 2023, Ford announced a job cut […]

Mercedes eIntouro: first electric intercity bus by Daimler

November 20, 2024

Daimler Buses presented its first electric high-floor intercity bus at the 2024 eMobility Days in Berlin: the Mercedes eIntouro. It is based on the diesel-powered Intouro but features the latest generation of LFP batteries and over-the-air updates and will be available to order from 2025. After conquering the low-floor electric city bus market with the […]

Jaguar unveils new brand logo ahead of its risky rebirth

November 20, 2024

Second time lucky? Jaguar is setting the stage for a dramatic reinvention aimed at the higher end of the luxury market. Ahead of the reveal of its first battery-powered model of its reinvented era, planned for the beginning of December, the brand has presented the new visual identity that goes along with its rebirth. The […]

BYD releases its Sealion premium EV-challenger on Belgian roads

November 20, 2024

Chinese EV giant BYD, almost on par with Tesla as the biggest in the world, has officially released its Sealion 7 SUV on Belgian roads. It comes in three flavors: Comfort (€48,990), with a range of 482 km; Design (€51,990), a four-wheel version with a range of 456 km; and Excellence (€56,490), also all-wheel drive […]

Denza Z9 electric saloon on sale in China for €43,800

November 19, 2024

The Denza Z9, a full-size electric saloon from BYD’s premium subsidiary, has gone on sale in China for a starting price of around €44,000. It features a choice between a fully electric (BEV) or range-extended electric (EREV) drivetrain, with powerful performance and 630 to 1,100 km of range. After launching the Denza Z9 GT in […]

Nissan unveils N7 electric saloon for China

November 18, 2024

Dongfeng Nissan, the Japanese manufacturer’s Chinese joint venture, has unveiled the N7 electric saloon at the Guangzhou Auto Show 2024. It is based on a new platform and hopes to revitalize Nissan’s slumping sales in China amid global financial troubles for the Japanese manufacturer. The Nissan N7 is the brand’s first electric four-door saloon since […]

Mercedes unveils cutting-edge powertrain tech for upcoming CLA

November 18, 2024

Mercedes-Benz has revealed the highly anticipated electric CLA’s powertrain technology, showcasing a blend of innovative EV advancements and design flexibility. Positioned as a trailblazer for Mercedes’ future entry-level vehicles, the CLA will debut on the new Mercedes-Benz Modular Architecture (MMA) platform, promising unparalleled efficiency. Though Mercedes-Benz keeps the A-Class lineage longer than initially anticipated, the […]

Cadillac boosts EV line-up with Vistiq as fifth model

November 15, 2024

Cadillac is in a hurry to deploy a full-grown EV line-up. Its latest electric vehicle, the Vistiq, slots between the massive Escalade iQ and more compact Lyriq, lifting the number of announced battery-powered models to five (next to the Celestiq and Optiq). The Vistiq promises ample range and top-notch charging technology and is positioned as […]

Pressure mounts on Lynk & Co as Volvo sells full stake to Zeekr 

November 15, 2024

Volvo Cars has announced the sale of its entire stake in Lynk & Co to Geely-owned Zeekr in a deal worth approximately €710 million. This move is part of a larger strategy by parent company Geely to streamline its electric vehicle operations and shift away from an acquisition strategy to boosting synergies across its brands. […]

EV3 first drive: is this Kia’s next bestseller?

November 15, 2024

The Chinese ‘EV supremacy’ in rolling out new electric cars is making headlines nearly daily, but don’t underestimate the South Koreans with the Hyundai-Kia conglomerate. Kia is launching its fully EV3 compact ‘B-SUV’ in Europe in the ‘more affordable’ range, a warning for the Volvo EX30, Smart #1, Renault Mégane e-tech, or the Volkswagen ID.3. […]

New plug-in hybrid Audi A3 also available in crossover trim

November 14, 2024

Audi is enhancing its A3 offering with the introduction of the earlier announced new plug-in hybrid models, the 40 TFSI e and 45 TFSI e. These models boast more power and double the battery capacity over their predecessors. A3 enthusiasts can also look forward to the 40 TFSI e in the rugged Allstreet trim, designed […]

Renault 5 Electric is ready to order (Update)

November 14, 2024

Renault opened the order books for the first two Renault 5 E-Tech electric versions in May. The Techno version costs €32,900, while the Iconic Cinq version costs €2,000 more. Both versions have the 52 kWh battery in the ‘Comfort Range’. Some additional versions have now been added. However, you will still have to wait until […]

Volkswagen and Rivian officially launch joint venture in €5.8 billion EV push

November 13, 2024

Volkswagen and Rivian have officially launched their joint venture, “Rivian and VW Group Technology, LLC,” which aims to accelerate the development of battery-powered vehicles and boost software architectures. The collaboration, valued at €5.8 billion, marks a significant increase from the €5 billion investment initially announced in June. The venture begins operations today. Speaking at the […]

Hertz loss widens beyond expectations due to EV price cuts

November 13, 2024

Hertz reported a staggering €1.2 billion net loss in the third quarter, driven mainly by the write-down on its fleet of electric vehicles (€0.9 billion). The results, which fell significantly short of analyst expectations, highlighted the mounting challenges of the ambitious shift towards electrification for rental and leasing companies. Hertz’s losses stem primarily from a […]

Porsche enlarges Taycan portfolio with three versions

November 13, 2024

After extensive upgrades at the beginning of the year, the Taycan lineup is growing to offer buyers even more ways to get one in 2025. Three additional versions complete the family, now counting 16 different variants. Porsche announced on Tuesday that three new members of the updated Taycan family will be in the showrooms in […]

Chinese EV-brands Voyah, Dongfeng, and Mhero drive into Belgium

November 12, 2024

Belgium welcomes the arrival of three new Chinese electric car brands in the same automotive group. After their debut in the Netherlands, Voyah, Dongfeng, and Mhero are officially available today through the Ghistelinck group network. The first brand store has opened in Eke, Ghent. When the Dongfeng Group entered the Dutch market with three brands […]

Bentley delays time path to become all-electric to 2035

November 12, 2024

In November 2020, Bentley announced as part of its ‘Beyond100’ strategy that the entire model range would be converted to fully electric vehicles by 2030. The VW luxury brand has now postponed this target to 2035. The schedule change is part of the revised corporate strategy ‘Beyond100+’, which the new Bentley CEO Frank-Steffen Walliser, who […]

Mercedes-AMG electric ‘super-SUV’ announced

November 11, 2024

Mercedes-Benz’s sporty subdivision Mercedes-AMG wants to develop a full-size electric SUV from the ground up. The model will be the second vehicle based on the all-electric AMG.EA platform. Development vehicles are due to start their first test drives this winter. The AMG.EA platform, short for AMG Electric Architecture, is designed for Mercedes-AMG’s future performance models. […]

Audi launches new sub-brand in China called… ‘AUDI’

November 08, 2024

Naming policies are sometimes a quirky business in the auto industry. Audi hasn’t been shy of confusing with the namesakes of their models and has now turned that reputation one notch up by launching a new Chinese brand called – well – AUDI. Yes, you spell it in capitals; no, there are no rings anymore. […]

‘New CLA will set the bar’ Mercedes promises

November 08, 2024

German premium car manufacturer Mercedes-Benz says its upcoming entry-level CLA will set the bar for EV range, charging speed, and efficiency with advanced new tech. Ahead of its arrival in 2025, Mercedes is giving us a slightly closer look at its new generation of electric cars. “With the CLA, we are ushering in a new […]

Will Belgium charge up for Alpine’s new hot hatch A290?

November 07, 2024

Alpine has officially launched the A290, an electric hot hatch that ventures into more practical territory. In many respects, this car can be regarded as the modern successor to the famous Renault R5 Turbo. It is also in an emission-free guise, which is a first for the brand. Alpine unveiled its fully electric hot hatch […]

Traxio: ‘Belgian used car market continues to grow’

November 06, 2024

In October 2024, 67,201 second-hand cars were registered, an increase of +9.9% compared to last year and +26.3% more than in October 2022. The figures for the first ten months of 2024 show continued growth in second-hand car registrations: +6.5% between 2023 and 2024 and +14.9% between 2022 and 2024. According to Mobility Federation Traxio, […]

Kia Niro EV soon to disappear, Kia EV2 is coming

November 06, 2024

Kia has already delisted the Niro EV from its German-language website. This is likely due to the new Kia EV3, which is hitting the market with remarkably similar specifications but stands better in every category, from charging to pricing. Meanwhile, Kia is testing rigorously its even smaller EV, the Kia EV2. There are even talks […]

Cadillac Lyriq-V is the brand’s first sporty EV

November 05, 2024

Cadillac has announced its first electric vehicle to “earn” the V-Series badge: the 2026 Lyriq-V. Not much is known about the model, which is set to launch early next year, but thanks to its platform-mate, the Chevrolet Blazer EV SS, we can make some estimations as to what kind of power it will deliver. Cadillac’s […]

New e Vitara is Suzuki’s first all-electric model

November 05, 2024

Suzuki has officially unveiled its first battery electric vehicle, the e Vitara, in Milan, Italy. Building on the concept model ‘eVX’, the model will also appear as a rebadged Toyota in global markets. The newcomer is expected to hit European markets by the summer of 2025. As the Vitara has been a long-time bestseller for […]

Ford temporarily suspends production of the electric F-150 Lightning

November 04, 2024

Because of weak demand, the US automotive group Ford has decided to suspend production of its F-150 Lightning electric pickup truck for six weeks. Ford’s electric car division has been making massive losses for a long time. The combustion version of the F-150 has long been a cult car in the USA and an important […]

Chevrolet Silverado EV can now perform crabwalking

November 04, 2024

As part of a significant update for the 2025 model year, Chevrolet has added the Sidewinder mode to its Silverado EV. This feature enables the truck to move diagonally by turning all four wheels in the same direction, enhancing maneuverability in tight spots or challenging off-road terrain. It’s a further example of how car makers […]