Dieselgate in France, episode four: Fiat-Chrysler’s turn

July 17, 2025

France is heading towards a fourth lawsuit in the Dieselgate saga. After Volkswagen, Peugeot-Citroën, and Renault, it’s Fiat-Chrysler’s turn to be investigated for fraudulent software in some of their diesel cars. The manufacturer contests “the entire jurisdictional argumentation”. Fiat-Chrysler is suspected of having commercialised between 2014 and 2017 diesel vehicles of the brands Fiat, Alfa […]

Brabo III to provide Port of Antwerp much-needed extra power

July 15, 2025

System operator Elia has put the finishing touches to the high-voltage BRABO III grid. The new grid is almost complete with the completion of mast number 58. It should be effectively powered by early 2026, which will support industry in the Port of Antwerp. “This reinforcement is necessary because demand for electricity in the port […]

BMW’s Neue Klasse gets Momenta’s China-specific smart driving tech

July 15, 2025

According to Chinese media, BMW has signed a deal with leading Chinese autonomous-driving technology company Momenta for its Neue Klasse smart driving systems (ADAS). Momenta will provide localized L2/L3 smart driving software, including city and highway navigation systems trained on Chinese roads with specific infrastructure. It’s not uncommon for a Western carmaker to work with a […]

After five comes six: Hyundai presents the Ioniq 6 N at Goodwood

July 11, 2025

Hyundai presented the new Ioniq 6 N at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in West Sussex, England. This marks Hyundai’s second high-performance EV following the Ioniq 5. In terms of technical specifications, the performance offshoot of the Ioniq 6 offers an output of 478 kW and 770 Nm of torque (with N Grin Boost), 175 […]

Dutch TANGO satellites will map global greenhouse gas emissions

July 10, 2025

Two satellites developed in the Netherlands will soon map global greenhouse gas emissions. By collecting and sharing information about greenhouse gases, everyone will know who is and isn’t complying with the Paris Climate Agreement. The launch was initially planned for 2027, but has been postponed to 2028. The two agile satellites are known as the ‘Twin […]

In China BYD lets your car park itself and pays if it hits another one

July 10, 2025

Chinese top EV maker BYD has announced that its cars, equipped with God’s Eye ADAS systems, will be able to park themselves completely autonomously without the need for a driver. BYD is so confident that it says it will pay for any damages the car may cause, including hitting other vehicles. On the Chinese Weibo […]

Lucid Air Grand Touring sets 1205 km world record on single charge

July 10, 2025

Who’s talking about ‘range anxiety’ when driving an American Lucid Air? The latter just set a new Guinness World Record by driving an Air Grand Touring EV through the Alps from St. Moritz, Switzerland, to Munich, Germany, without a single charging stop. The trip included a mix of alpine passes, highways, and secondary roads. Lucid, […]

First self-driving German freight trains with Belgian tech

July 08, 2025

Deutsche Bahn will run a driverless train on the tracks for the first time in Europe in September. This will happen thanks to technology from OTIV. This Ghent-based start-up specializes in AI-driven systems that enable freight trains, buses, and streetcars to operate autonomously in complex environments safely and efficiently. According to the business newspaper De […]

Stellantis to recall up to a million diesel cars

July 04, 2025

The recall problems at Stellantis don’t stop. Following issues with the PureTech gasoline engines and Takata airbags, the manufacturer is forced to recall nearly a million cars equipped with the 1.5 BlueHDi diesel engine. The timing chain has flaws and is prone to failure, which can potentially lead to an engine breakdown. Some 930,700 vehicles […]

Who’s to blame? German court tackles Felicity Ace disaster

July 03, 2025

More than three years after the car carrier Felicity Ace vanished beneath the Atlantic with nearly 4,000 luxury vehicles on board, a German court has begun hearing what could become a landmark test of who’s responsible for the risks of electric vehicle logistics. The trial, which opened this week in Braunschweig, Lower Saxony, pits the […]

First Belgian driving simulators for trucks and emergency services

July 03, 2025

Belgian drivers active in the transport sector and emergency services can now prepare themselves for complex traffic situations in a state-of-the-art driving simulator. As it happens, the Flemish employment service VDAB has invested in four advanced truck simulators, which are housed at the Provincial Institute for Education and Training (PIVO) in Asse. The simulators are […]

Factories at risk: Stellantis’s grim warning over van electrification lag

July 03, 2025

Stellantis is warning of potential factory closures across Europe as the automaker struggles to align with the European Union’s increasingly stringent CO₂ emissions targets. The alarm was sounded this week by Jean-Philippe Imparato, the group’s Europe chief, who described the situation as “just months away from a drama” if no regulatory adjustments are made before […]

Political party MR wants to relaunch mining in Belgium

July 02, 2025

The French-speaking liberal party MR wants to relaunch mining in Belgium. They advocate rebuilding a full value chain, from mine to recycling. After all, the energy transition is driving up demand for metals, and Europe needs to reduce its dependence on China in particular, according to the party’s study center. “If we have an idea […]

From factory floor to front door: a Tesla delivered itself to a customer

July 01, 2025

A Tesla Model Y has driven itself from the company’s Gigafactory in Austin, Texas, to a customer’s doorstep with no one behind the wheel. Or not even somebody watching remotely, according to CEO Elon Musk, who trumpeted the feat as the first “fully autonomous delivery” of its kind. Musk posted triumphantly on X, the social […]

VW Group continues investing in Rivian, but also thinks at its ICE supercars

July 01, 2025

Volkswagen has increased its stake in US partner Rivian. A second payment of one billion US dollars (approximately €850 million) became due on June 30, following Rivian’s achievement of the targets agreed upon in the contract. Meanwhile, the group also thinks about a new ‘Nova’ platform for its ICE/PHEV luxury and supercars. VW had invested […]

Audi is the first to enable gaming while driving

July 01, 2025

Audi’s latest vehicles are now compatible with the AirConsole gaming platform, which uses smartphones as controllers. However, thanks to the Active Privacy Mode on modern Audis equipped with a passenger screen, passengers can now also play games while driving, marking an industry first. Gaming in cars is becoming increasingly the norm. Tesla was the first […]

Mercedes-AMG shows AMG GT XX electric concept

June 27, 2025

Mercedes-AMG has presented the CONCEPT AMG GT XX, a technology platform featuring axial flux motors and a newly developed high-voltage battery. Delivering over 1,000 kW of system output, the concept previews a fully electric four-door performance model scheduled for series production in 2026, based on the AMG.EA platform. “The CONCEPT AMG GT XX is the […]

John Cockerill finds €116 million for hydrogen subsidiary

June 26, 2025

Walloon industrial group John Cockerill has completed a 166 million euros capital increase. With that much-needed money, it intends to pursue its strategic development plan around hydrogen, and thus the production of its electrolyzers. Among others, the semi-public investment company SFPIM and gas grid operator Fluxys are stepping into the project. John Cockerill Hydrogen had […]

German automotive industry forges open source software alliance

June 26, 2025

After some embarrassing failures in the past to do it alone, such as Volkswagen’s, eleven giants from the German automotive industry have realized they need to join forces in developing the software that will increasingly define the car of the future. Under the impetus of the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA), they signed […]

Paris Hype taxis quit hydrogen and switch to battery-electric

June 25, 2025

Hype, the Paris-based company that, no pun intended, created hype with the news that it was offering hydrogen cabs in the Île-de-France region, is pulling out of the hydrogen market. “Gray hydrogen and its alibi of blue hydrogen have won this round in Île-de-France,” says an embittered Hype in a LinkedIn post, pointing an accusing […]

Ford revives LFP battery tech initially ‘made in the US’

June 25, 2025

Ford is moving forward with the construction of its battery plant near Detroit, aiming to produce lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery cells on a domestic scale. The project represents not only a strategic leap toward more affordable electric vehicles but also a symbolic homecoming for a battery technology that was born in the US and later perfected […]

France threatens Tesla with €50K fines per day over misleading FSD ads

June 25, 2025

Tesla finds itself under the French spotlight for all the wrong reasons. The American EV maker has now been slapped with a formal injunction by France’s consumer watchdog, the DGCCRF. The charge? Misleading advertising and dubious business practices, according to French authorities, that veer off the legal path. The case zeroes in—unsurprisingly—on Tesla’s most contentious […]

NIO’s sub-brand Firefly launches Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) rental

June 25, 2025

Firefly, Chinese premium EV maker NIO’s sub-brand, launches its own ‘BaaS’ offer in China, allowing customers to buy an EV and rent the battery instead of purchasing it. This ‘Battery-as-a-Service’, already offered by NIO and its other brand, Onvo,  reduces the initial purchase price by more than 30%. The starting price of its – for […]

Tesla’s robotaxi service debut in Austin sparks safety concerns

June 24, 2025

After years of bold promises and missed deadlines, Tesla has finally launched a pilot fleet of autonomous taxis in the Texas capital. But the debut has already sparked safety concerns and renewed scepticism about the company’s readiness to deliver truly self-driving vehicles. Eyebrows are already raising as this next phase in Tesla’s coming of age […]

90.000 Spanish enclave residents get grid backup with Leaf batteries

June 23, 2025

Empty batteries from Nissan EVs’ Leaf will provide power for some 90,000 residents in the Spanish enclave of Melilla in Morocco. The Japanese automaker is teaming up with European energy company Enel for the groundbreaking project. The project was already announced two years ago, but is now being finally launched. It fits into Nissan’s ‘Ambition […]

Volkswagen looking into in-wheel motors for ID.2 R version

June 23, 2025

VW is said to be toying with the idea of a particularly high-performance ID.2 R, which could become the brand’s first model to feature all-wheel drive using in-wheel motors. Should VW give the green light, the ID.2 R would sit above the already confirmed ID.2 GTI in the line-up and potentially even be pitched against […]

MOIA (VW) launches ready-to-use self-driving ID. Buzz AD

June 20, 2025

MOIA, Volkswagen Group’s autonomous ride-sharing subsidiary, has unveiled the series production version of the VW ID. Buzz AD. The self-driving electric minivan is now available for sale to mobility providers and comes complete with all necessary software solutions and operator assistance. MOIA was founded in 2016 as part of Volkswagen’s ADMT (Autonomous Driving Mobility and […]

Autonomous braking at 130 km/h: Xpeng G7 shows how

June 19, 2025

Having your car braking automatically in an emergency at 130 km per hour and coming to a complete standstill without hitting the obstacle. Some cars can do that today, and Xpeng shows how to do it with its newest G7 SUV equipped with a Turing AI chip, even at night. Xpeng shared a video on […]

Lifebuoy for John Cockerill’s hydrogen electrolyser division?

June 18, 2025

The much-needed capital injection of 80 to 100 million euros that John Cockerill in Seraing is looking forward to to save its hydrogen division appears to be on the way. So reports the business newspaper L’Echo. In the past, John Cockerill Hydrogen already raised 230 million euros from various investors, but that money quickly ran […]

Huawei’s bet on 3000 km range solid state battery

June 18, 2025

A sulfide-based solid-state battery that promises a range of over 3,000 kilometers and can be charged in as little as five minutes? It’s hard to believe, given that we’ve been hearing for years that solid-state batteries are still a decade away, but when a giant like Huawei files a patent for it, there’s no smoke […]

Mitsubishi and Ample team up for battery swapping in Tokyo

June 16, 2025

Ample, a California-based battery swapping company, is launching the ‘Japan Commercial EV Battery Swapping Project’ in Tokyo together with Mitsubishi and Yamato Transport. A fleet of 150 electric trucks and vans will be deployed for daily commercial operations, powered by 14 battery swapping stations located throughout the city. Ample was founded in 2014 and aims […]

Opel adds AWD and a performance edge to Grandland Electric

June 16, 2025

Opel has unveiled an all-wheel-drive version of its Grandland Electric SUV, intensifying the competition in the fiercely contested mid-size electric crossover market. The new variant, dubbed the Grandland Electric AWD, brings more than just four driven wheels to the table—it arrives with a punchy 325 hp. The model mimics the Peugeot e-5008 dual motor, with […]

No app, no card, no hassle: Allego launches seamless EV charging

June 16, 2025

Dutch charging provider Allego has fulfilled its promise and is now offering Plug&Charge technology across its ultra-fast charging network in Europe. The convenience eliminates the need for apps and cards, providing a seamless charging experience. Following in the footsteps of charging point operators like Ionity, Allego has an edge. It pioneers the latest communication protocol. […]

BMW Group is industrializing its ‘Virtual Factory’

June 13, 2025

The BMW Group is industrialising its ‘Virtual Factory’, with production planners continuously scaling applications in the digital twins of over 30 production sites to accelerate production planning worldwide. What once required several weeks of real-world modifications and testing can now be precisely simulated in the BMW Group’s Virtual Factory. To create optimal conditions for upcoming […]

Xpeng starts pre-sales of its mid-size fully electric G7 SUV in China

June 13, 2025

Chinese carmaker Xpeng has launched its G7 SUV in China, anticipating future models, including a sleeker, sportier successor to the original P7 flagship sedan, in Q3 2025. With 4,892 mm in length, 1,925 mm in width, and 1,655 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,890 mm, it sits neatly in between the G6 and G9 […]

BMW gives some insights on its ‘Neue Klasse’ iX3

June 13, 2025

The iX3 is the first BMW model based on the ‘Neue Klasse’ and will be unveiled at the IAA Mobility in September. The Munich-based company is providing some closer insights into the test drives with the prototypes, including fast charging with up to 400 kW. “Longer range, faster charging, an all-new display and operating concept, […]

Volvo’s AI-powered seatbelt knows who you are

June 06, 2025

Volvo’s name remains virtually interchangeable with automotive safety, and once again, the company attempts to push the boundaries of protection for road users. Its latest innovation? An artificial intelligence-powered seatbelt that promises to adapt to every driver and passenger. It can evolve through software updates (OTA) long after the car is sold. The new “multi-adaptive […]

Average speed checks in Limburg reduce accidents by 38%

June 05, 2025

On Limburg municipal roads where average speed checks were introduced, the number of traffic accidents fell by an average of 38% compared to the number of accidents on comparable roads without section controls. This emerges from an analysis by UHasselt researchers reported by the newspaper Het Belang van Limburg, among others. According to the researchers, […]

BYD supercharges Europe with EV network: as fast as refueling

June 04, 2025

Chinese carmaker BYD has unveiled plans to deploy a sweeping network of ultra-fast electric vehicle chargers across Europe — and not in some distant future, but within the next 12 months. The bold move forms part of the company’s strategy to become a dominant force in the European car market by the end of the […]

Cadillac boosts EV line-up with Vistiq as fifth model (update)

June 03, 2025

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 […]

Electric car batteries get cheaper, unless you’re in the West

June 03, 2025

Electric car batteries are getting considerably cheaper, but not everywhere, and not for everyone. The conclusion is based on the latest report by the International Energy Agency (IEA), which notes that battery prices experienced their steepest decline in eight years last year. The effect of scaling is materializing, but there are global differences to be […]

Belgian EV dream Addax Motors files for bankruptcy

June 02, 2025

Once hailed as a beacon of Belgian innovation and green industrial ambition, Addax Motors — the only homegrown manufacturer of electric vans in the country — has filed for bankruptcy. The announcement, which puts 40 jobs at risk, brings a sudden halt to a bold experiment in sustainable manufacturing that began with lofty goals and […]

First section of the Oosterweel Tunnel arrived in Antwerp

June 02, 2025

The first tunnel element for the new Scheldt Tunnel, which left Zeebrugge on Friday, arrived on Sunday in the port of Antwerp. The 160-meter-long, 42-meter-wide, and 60,000-ton colossus made a journey of more than 100 kilometers across the North Sea and the Scheldt, floated by four tugs and a pusher. It now remains “parked” in […]

EU urged to abandon battery independence dream and partner with China

June 02, 2025

The crumbling of Europe’s once-ambitious battery industry has prompted a strong warning from two of the continent’s most senior industrial leaders: forget going for it alone, partner with China, or risk falling further behind. The fall of battery maker Northvolt has left a vacuum in Europe, as it seeks to align itself with major Chinese […]

France finally has a center for checking fire on aircraft engines

May 27, 2025

After the US, France now also has the necessary equipment to conduct fire resistance tests on aircraft engines. So reports the French business newspaper Le Figaro. The platform for aircraft engine fire research will be located at the French National Center for Aerospace Research (ONERA), 15 km south of Toulouse. The center, founded in 1968, […]

500 tweaks: Nio bets on big upgrade for ET5 and EL6

May 27, 2025

Chinese electric carmaker Nio has unveiled updated versions of its core models: the ET5 saloon, ET5 Touring estate, and EL6 SUV. The trio accounts for a large chunk of the firm’s global sales and has received over 500 upgrades ranging from styling tweaks to major technological enhancements, improving driver assistance. The updates are most noticeable […]

Mercedes-Benz Trucks Remote 3.0 app adds real-time vehicle data

May 26, 2025

Daimler Truck has launched the new Mercedes-Benz Trucks Remote 3.0 app, which can now be used with the electric eActros 600 and with the Actros L and Arocs from this summer. The updated app adds more remote real-time vehicle data monitoring, such as charge level, tyre pressure, and more, but a mobile data connection is […]

Hyundai tests charging robots at Incheon airport

May 26, 2025

Hyundai Motor Group and Incheon International Airport Corporation will deploy AI-powered automatic EV charging robots in South Korea to demonstrate the next stage in automated electric mobility infrastructure. The partners have signed a Memorandum of Understanding. The company aims to commercialize its automatic charging robot (ACR) for electric vehicles through a strategic collaboration with Incheon International […]

Smart #5 Brabus first drive: a clinching argument for going electric?

May 26, 2025

Many people are still wondering why, for Christ’s sake, one should go electric instead of staying with the combustion engine (ICE) that has been finetuned to nearly perfection in the last 130 years. The reason is quite apparent: electric cars are superior in nearly every aspect. The Smart #5 Brabus we had the opportunity to […]

Fiat Tris revives Ape as electric workhorse, but Europe must wait

May 23, 2025

Fiat has unveiled the Tris, its first three-wheeled electric commercial vehicle. It is aimed at affordable, low-emission transport in dense urban areas. Designed for Africa and the Middle East, the compact EV blends Italian design with pragmatic utility. It is a modern take on the nostalgic Ape. After the Topolino, a rebadged Citroën Ami, Fiat […]

Honda to cut back on EV investments

May 22, 2025

Honda has announced that it will reduce its investments in electric cars due to declining demand and focus on the growing demand for hybrid vehicles with new models. Motorcycles will also play a larger role in the company’s plans. The Japanese manufacturer has stated that it will reduce its investments in electrification and software from […]

Opel Mokka GSE Rally kicks off revamped GSE sports label

May 22, 2025

Opel’s GSE label, introduced in 2022 as an electrified sports sub-brand, is taking the step towards fully electric sports cars. Under the OMG! GSE campaign, Opel has given a first hint at what we might expect with the Mokka GSE Rally, the successor to the Corsa-e Rally from 2021. Opel has been a pioneer in […]

Apple introduces CarPlay Ultra, Google grows closer to Volvo

May 22, 2025

Apple has introduced the next generation of CarPlay, called CarPlay Ultra, which can take over the instrument display and core features like temperature controls. Meanwhile, Google announced a deepened partnership with Volvo at its developer conference Google I/O, where the Swedish manufacturer will serve as a reference for Android car development. While Apple CarPlay and […]

Volvo FH Aero Electric aims to rival diesel trucks 

May 21, 2025

Volvo Trucks has released more details on its new FH Aero Electric, its most ambitious battery-electric truck yet. The long-distance hauler will debut with an extended driving range, fast-charging capabilities, and payload capacity on par with diesel-powered models. But some patience is required, as the electric flagship model is slated to hit the market in […]

BMW and Solid Power test drive an i7 with solid-state batteries

May 21, 2025

The BMW Group has integrated large-format solid-state battery cells from partner Solid Power into a test vehicle, a BMW i7. The aim is to test how the solid-state cells behave in everyday road operation. BMW and Solid Power have been working together on solid-state batteries for years. The partnership dates back to 2016. Things turned […]

Westfalia shows (semi-)automated overhead charging system

May 20, 2025

Westfalia Technologies, a US-based storage and retrieval systems specialist (not to be confused with the German campervan manufacturer), unveiled the Weplug automated charging system. It features a robotic arm on an overhead gantry that moves from car to car, but some human intervention is still required. Westfalia Technologies was founded in 1992 and specializes in […]

France’s white gold could bring hydrogen mobility back on the map

May 20, 2025

The groundbreaking hydrogen discovery in northeastern France last year is reigniting interest in a long-overlooked source of clean energy—natural hydrogen. At a moment when the bets on hydrogen for transportation are severely off the table, scientists have started mapping vast amounts of mineable hydrogen and laid out the challenges for exploitation methods. Tucked beneath the […]

Antwerp port has premiere with Europe’s first e-tug

May 20, 2025

Since yesterday, the Volta 1, the first electric tug in Europe, has been sailing in the Antwerp port area. With the commissioning of Volta 1, the port is taking another step towards greening. In the long term, the port wants no tugboats to run on diesel fuel anymore because diesel still causes a lot of […]

Powerdot pledges €40m to reach top-three fast-charging networks in Belgium

May 19, 2025

Portuguese electric vehicle charging firm Powerdot is ramping up its European ambitions, pledging €140 million to expand fast-charging infrastructure across France and Belgium. The move was announced at this year’s Choose France summit, the government-backed initiative designed to woo foreign investment. The company is earmarking €100 million for France and €40 million for Belgium in […]

VW confirms upgraded MEB+ electric platform for 2026

May 19, 2025

In contrast with earlier speculations, Volkswagen CEO Thomas Schäfer has confirmed plans to further develop the MEB platform with the MEB+, following longstanding rumors of a refresh. The platform refresh will begin with the launch of the new ID.2 next year. Following the launch of the ID.2, Volkswagen will begin moving all of its electric […]