Kia EV7: filling a gap or crowding the electric lineup?

November 05, 2026

A leaked internal document suggests Kia is preparing another electric SUV, provisionally called the EV7, to fill the gap between the EV5, EV6, and flagship EV9. The Korean manufacturer’s rapidly expanding electric lineup is already paying off in Europe, with battery-electric registrations soaring by 58% this year. But is there enough room for yet another […]

Updated Zeekr 001 could charge in eight minutes, but will EU get it?

November 04, 2026

Chinese premium EV maker Zeekr is preparing another update of its 001 electric shooting brake, potentially introducing battery technology capable of charging almost completely in under nine minutes. But while Chinese customers benefit from increasingly rapid technological advances, European buyers are still offered a considerably slower-charging version. The new Zeekr 001 has appeared in the […]

Renault’s defence ambitions grow with Belgian war robot

November 04, 2026

Renault is expanding its involvement in military technology once again. Less than five months after CEO François Provost insisted that the French carmaker would not become a defense company, Renault has unveiled its third military drone partnership, this time with Belgium’s John Cockerill. The result is Forefront Concept, an electrically powered ground robot designed for […]

Can Belgium’s ‘Android for trains’ revolutionize European rail safety?

November 02, 2026

Last week’s serious train accident in Urda, Spain, has reignited the debate over train and rail safety. Particular attention is on the European Train Control System (ETCS), a European project aimed at standardizing and improving rail safety. But the rollout is proceeding much more slowly than expected. To address this, some are looking to The […]

BYD Yangwang’s U9 Xtreme crashes in 500 km/h record attempt

November 02, 2026

BYD has released footage of its 3,000 hp electric Yangwang U9 Xtreme crashing during testing on a closed track in China. The car was destroyed, but the test pilot was uninjured. The release of the crash footage coincides with the confirmation that BYD’s electric supercar will attempt to break a top speed of 500 km/h. […]

Oil giants strike gold in Iran crisis as EU struggles to protect consumers

November 02, 2026

As the Iran war drives up fuel and energy prices, oil majors are reporting extraordinary profits. BP’s earnings have nearly quadrupled, Shell is making billions from refining, and even US President Trump’s oil investments are gaining value. Meanwhile, European governments are struggling to agree on how to ease the burden on consumers. British oil giant […]

Kia joins list of hydrogen believers with first car in 2029

October 30, 2026

Kia will build its first hydrogen-powered vehicle from 2029, a fuel-cell version of the Carnival minivan. It is the first time the car maker has committed to building a hydrogen driveline, putting it in the same camp as sister brand Hyundai, where Toyota and BMW remain. Kia’s hydrogen surfaced unusually. Where automotive news these days […]

Your Kia could power your home. So why must Belgium wait until 2028?

October 30, 2026

Belgian Kia drivers hoping to use their electric cars as giant home batteries face a frustrating wait. Although the vehicles already have the necessary hardware, Kia Belgium has confirmed to Newmobility.news that Vehicle-to-Home (V2H) and Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) functionality is not expected before the fourth quarter of 2028. Across the border, Kia is already testing bidirectional […]

Deadly rail crash sparks safety row as Spanish train drivers strike

October 29, 2026

A total of 68 people have been killed so far in yesterday’s severe collision between 2 high-speed trains in Spain. The investigation into the causes of the train crash is in full swing, but all signs point to possible human error. The accident is believed to have been caused by an “inexplicable” and “wrong” decision […]

From copying to setting the pace: China’s automotive revolution

October 29, 2026

For decades, Chinese carmakers learned how to build cars from European, Japanese, and American manufacturers. Today, that relationship is increasingly reversing, with European manufacturers turning to China for batteries, electronics, and software. At its annual congress in Suzhou, the China Society of Automotive Engineers (China-SAE) unveiled ten technological developments expected to reach important milestones in […]

Toyota squeezes 15% more from hybrids: clever move or last stand?

October 29, 2026

Toyota is preparing an entirely new generation of hybrid powertrains promising more than 15% better fuel economy. It is an impressive engineering ambition from the company that pioneered mass-market hybrids. But as the automotive industry moves toward fully electric vehicles, is Toyota perfecting a technology whose days are numbered? And how much will private buyers […]

13,500 incidents a year: Flanders upgrades its traffic control center

October 28, 2026

A completely renovated command center, representing an investment of just under 1 million euros, is intended to help the Flemish Traffic Center in Antwerp better manage the increasing number of vehicles and accidents on the Flemish highway network. On a network where an average of 64,3 million vehicle-kilometers are traveled per workday, traffic controllers handled […]

Chinese brains in European VWs? Savings come with security challenge

October 28, 2026

Volkswagen is reportedly considering equipping up to 75% of its future European mainstream models with an electronic architecture developed in China in partnership with Xpeng. The move could save billions of euros but threaten its expensive partnership with American EV maker Rivian. It also raises questions about European homologation, cybersecurity, and European carmakers’ growing dependence […]

World’s largest electric ferry makes waves, but range remains challenge

October 27, 2026

The world’s largest battery-electric ferry has begun carrying passengers between Argentina and Uruguay. With a massive 41 MWh battery, equivalent to more than 500 electric cars, the 130-meter catamaran marks a milestone in maritime electrification. But its relatively short 55-km route raises a bigger question: can batteries ever power ships across much longer distances, or […]

NIO’s European battery swap dilemma: 61 stations, too few cars

October 27, 2026

Chinese EV maker NIO has opened its 22nd battery-swapping station in Germany, bringing its European network to 61. But behind the promise of a fully charged battery in just three minutes lies an uncomfortable reality: too few compatible cars, limited use of expensive infrastructure, and little sign of further expansion. Belgium illustrates the dilemma particularly […]

Belgian Dumarey buys Renault’s F1 engine legacy, aims for 2029 comeback

October 23, 2026

Belgian industrialist Guido Dumarey has agreed to acquire Renault’s historic Formula 1 engine operation in Viry-Châtillon, near Paris. He dreams of returning to F1 as an independent engine supplier by 2029. But after two of his French factories faced closure this year, can he succeed where Renault itself gave up? Renault Group and Dumarey Group […]

Hydrogen cars aren’t dead yet, but can they survive?

October 23, 2026

BMW, Toyota, and Hyundai insist hydrogen cars still have a future, even as battery-electric vehicles become cheaper, faster-charging, and capable of traveling further. At a driving event in Halle, Belgium, journalists could put that claim to the test. Meanwhile, the Belgian hydrogen sector warned of falling behind its neighboring countries. Driving BMW’s hydrogen-powered iX5 through […]

Why has CATL invented a battery range-extender for electric trucks?

October 22, 2026

CATL has unveiled a rather intriguing range extender for electric trucks. The architecture doesn’t use a combustion engine; instead, it uses a dual-battery system that pairs a large, swappable main pack with a small, permanently installed reserve battery. On paper, it is a neat fix for range anxiety, but almost everything that makes it work […]

Ten years after topping it, Tesla falls off the EV innovation ranking

October 22, 2026

Tesla has fallen out of the top ten of the world’s most innovative EV makers for the first time in the ranking’s ten-year history, dropping from sixth to eleventh. The Center of Automotive Management (CAM), which publishes the biannual Electromobility Report, now crowns the Geely Group as the most innovative battery-electric manufacturer. In 2016, when […]

Tesla tops Europe’s car charts as Musk eyes SpaceX merger

October 21, 2026

Tesla has achieved its best-ever sales month in Europe, with the Model Y and Model 3 claiming the top two positions among all cars sold in September. The Model Y also leads Europe’s nine-month sales ranking. Meanwhile, Elon Musk has confirmed that Tesla and SpaceX are exploring a merger that could create a $3.5 trillion […]

Subaru goes solo on EVs, slashing development time in half

October 20, 2026

Subaru has shown a camouflaged version of its first fully in-house developed electric vehicle. The Japanese carmaker is seeking to move away from its rebadged Toyota strategy for its electric lineup. Subaru says it developed the underlying technologies in roughly half the usual time. Two years ago, Subaru claimed that putting an EV family on […]

Foxconn buys half of Mitsubishi Electric Mobility for building EV platforms

October 20, 2026

Foxconn, the world’s largest electronics contract manufacturer, is strengthening its foothold in the automotive industry. The Taiwanese company has bought a 50% stake in Mitsubishi Electric Mobility, the supplier’s automotive equipment arm. Despite the name, Foxconn hasn’t bought itself an EV company from Japan. The announced equal joint venture is about parts making. Mitsubishi Electric […]

Mercedes and Volvo are reinforcing their ties with Nvidia

October 19, 2026

At the same time, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo Cars plan to forge closer partnerships with AI computing giant Nvidia, independently. Both collaborations focus on developing the next generation of automated driving systems. The collaboration brings together Mercedes‑Benz’s and Volvo’s automotive engineering and safety expertise, along with their respective operating systems, and Nvidia’s accelerated computing and AI […]

Tesla’s long-awaited Roadster can fly. But can Musk deliver?

October 16, 2026

Nine years after its original unveiling, Tesla has finally shown a radically redesigned Roadster that can drive upside down, accelerate like a rocket, and even perform aerial flips. The Texas demonstration was undeniably spectacular. But behind Elon Musk’s latest technological extravaganza lie some uncomfortable questions about broken promises, road legality, and whether customers will ever […]

Airbus expects increasing compettion from Chinese Comac

October 15, 2026

Just a few years ago, European aircraft manufacturer Airbus wasn’t particularly concerned about the rise of Chinese aircraft manufacturer Comac. These days, however, Airbus is carefully adjusting its language. “Hardly a week goes by without us discussing competition in China,” said Lars Wagner, Airbus’s Head of Commercial Aircraft, during a recent press conference in Toulouse. […]

The world’s first all-solid-state battery factory is a converted lithium-ion line

October 15, 2026

Chinese battery manufacturer Greater Bay Technology (GBT) has started series production of all-solid-state battery cells at its plant near Guangzhou. The company claims this is a world first, as all benchmark players are still trialing pilot lines. GBT, a battery cell developer backed by automotive group GAC, has officially opened its first factory for solid-state […]

Belgian Zero rider sets 436-km electric motorcycle range record

October 15, 2026

Belgian motorcyclist Jelle Verstaen has set a new Guinness World Record by covering 436.5 kilometers on a production Zero DS without recharging, smashing the previous record by more than 40%. But the spectacular distance came with a little help from geography: a carefully planned route from the French Alps towards the Mediterranean, ridden at an […]

Six Benelux projects join Europe’s battle to reduce reliance on China

October 13, 2026

The European Commission has selected 46 new strategic projects to strengthen the extraction, processing, and recycling of critical raw materials in the European Union, to reduce dependence on countries such as China. Two Belgian projects – one by Umicore in Hoboken and one by Comet Traitements in La Louvière – were also selected, as were […]

BYD expands five-minute charging to new European flagship Atto 8

October 13, 2026

BYD is bringing its ultra-fast Flash Charging technology to its European model range with the new Atto 8, a seven-seat electric SUV unveiled at the Paris Motor Show. Known in China as the Tang L, it takes over the flagship position currently occupied by the Tang, sold in Belgium from €72,000. Offering up to 653 […]

Peugeot revives two iconic models in Paris

October 13, 2026

Peugeot presented two electric concept vehicles at the Paris Motor Show: The E-T16 Concept draws inspiration from the 205 T16 rally car and is said to reference the new E-208 in its interior. The RCZ Vision represents an electric reinterpretation of the RCZ Coupe, featuring a solid-state battery. Like many other European brands in the […]

Double the battery, same two passengers: Smart unveils the #2 

October 13, 2026

As announced by the brand on many occasions, Smart kept its promise and revealed the production version of the #2 at the Paris Motor Show. Compared to its predecessor, the range has doubled, but the price has remained the same. Is the new two-seater a remedy for inflation? Adamant fans will not be disappointed. The […]

Renault’s E-Space reveals a new direction for family cars

October 13, 2026

Renault has fully unveiled its electric E-Space Concept at the Paris Motor Show, revealing a futuristic six-seat interior that looks more like a living room than a conventional car. While the French manufacturer still has no plans to produce the MPV itself, it confirms that one of its most striking innovations, the 1.13-meter-wide OpenR Panorama […]

World first: CMB.TECH’s ammonia-powered bulk carrier makes history

October 12, 2026

The Antwerp-based. shipping group CMB.TECH has launched the world’s first dry bulk carrier powered by ammonia. The vessel Mineral Europa has set sail on its maiden voyage to Australia. It is a Newcastlemax, an ore and coal carrier with a deadweight tonnage of approximately 210,000 metric tons. “The Mineral Europa heralds the fifth revolution in […]

Putin’s electric dream has a Chinese battery problem

October 12, 2026

Russia’s electric-car and plug-in-hybrid market is booming, partly fuelled by petrol shortages following Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries. President Vladimir Putin now wants the country to develop cutting-edge battery technologies, as state-owned Rosatom opens its second gigafactory. But Russia’s EV ambitions face an uncomfortable reality: much of its electric-car industry still depends on Chinese […]

Renault 4 gets cheaper LFP battery and €27,600 price tag in Belgium

October 09, 2026

Renault’s strategy to make its electric models more affordable is taking shape. Following similar improvements to the Renault 5 in August, the French carmaker is introducing a new entry-level Renault 4 with a smaller LFP battery, a less powerful electric motor and a Belgian starting price of €27,600. That is €2,300 below the Renault 4’s […]

Dutch regulator scaled back Tesla FSD review after €365,000 billing row

October 09, 2026

A dispute over a €365,000 invoice prompted the Dutch vehicle regulator RDW to scale back parts of its safety review of Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) Supervised system, according to internal correspondence obtained by Reuters. The revelations raise fresh questions about the transparency and independence of Europe’s approval process, as Tesla pushes regulators to clear its […]

Toyota reinvents its hydrogen bus, but does Europe still need it?

October 08, 2026

Toyota has launched the second-generation Sora, a hydrogen-powered fuel cell bus for public transport. Built in collaboration with Isuzu, it promises more range thanks to improved efficiency. But will it be able to convince European customers? While zero-emission buses in Europe are mostly battery-electric, hydrogen-powered fuel cell solutions can be seen as a viable alternative […]

Tesla’s ‘grey kitten’ problem exposes limits of its vision-only bet

October 08, 2026

Tesla wants its Full Self-Driving technology to conquer Europe, but CEO Elon Musk has highlighted one awkward edge case facing its camera-based approach: detecting small, low-contrast objects in the dark. His example? “Grey kittens on grey tarmac.” Tesla recently extended the operating hours of its Robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, from 10 p.m. to 11 […]

BMW wants more standardized parts for higher efficiency

October 06, 2026

BMW will significantly increase its use of generic components and reduce reliance on bespoke parts as it seeks to lower costs and improve profitability, reflecting a strategy that has helped Chinese automakers gain a competitive edge. The strategy will be a ‘key lever’ in improving BMW’s earnings, the company told investors at its capital markets […]

MAN takes self-driving electric bus into city traffic

October 05, 2026

MAN and the Munich public transport company, Münchner Verkehrsgesellschaft (MVG), have started real-world testing with an autonomous electric bus. While there are smaller commercial projects, such as an autonomous shuttle from De Lijn, this is one of the first full-size electric buses operating autonomously on a regular city route. The autonomous bus service is part […]

T&E: Europe can build the batteries, but who owns the tech?

October 02, 2026

Transport & Environment says Europe is on track to produce enough battery cells to meet its own demand by 2030. On paper, that sounds like a major step toward independence from Asia. But recent failures, delays, and new Chinese investments in Europe show that the reality is more complicated. According to the environmental lobby group […]

Belgium and Engie buy another month for nuclear takeover talks

October 01, 2026

No decision will be made on October 1 regarding the possible nationalization of the nuclear reactors in Belgium operated by energy giant Engie. The Belgian government and Engie have agreed to postpone the deadline for negotiations on a possible takeover until November 4. According to the joint statement from the Prime Minister, the Ministry of […]

Volkswagen to build LFP batteries in Europe together with Chinese Gotion

September 30, 2026

Volkswagen has agreed on new joint ventures with its Chinese battery partner Gotion to bring LFP production to Europe. The move must speed up the switch from NMC to cheaper LFP chemistries while complying with the European Commission’s new Made in Europe draft. The deal between VW and Gotion reorganizes three projects already under construction […]

Study: high-mileage electric cars refuse to wear out, obliterating used car fears

September 30, 2026

A study of millions of British vehicles has found that electric cars become more reliable than petrol cars exactly where used-car folklore says they become riskiest: at high mileage. New AutoMotive, an independent UK transport research organization, carried out the report. The company analyzed a large set of MOT tests – British for technical check-up […]

VW ID. Tiguan: LFP batteries to boost sales?

September 29, 2026

Volkswagen has confirmed what unions already leaked at the beginning of the year: its facelifted ID. 4 will return as the ID. Tiguan. The German carmaker has released camouflaged photos ahead of the world premiere in October, around the Paris Motor Show. Change in strategy As we reported back in January, IG Metall first let […]

Geely buys into Nio’s battery-swap division: a solution for your next Volvo?

September 29, 2026

Geely Auto, the mother company of Volvo and Polestar, has taken a 30% stake in Nio Power, the battery-swapping and charging unit of its Chinese rival. The interest seems bizarre. Barely a week earlier, Geely unveiled a fast-charging technology that makes swapping redundant. Only a few days ago, Geely unveiled a 2.2 Megawatt charger, topping […]

Stadler launches world-first narrow-gauge hydrogen train

September 28, 2026

At InnoTrans 2026 in Berlin, the Swiss train manufacturer Stadler unveiled the world’s first hydrogen-powered train developed specifically for narrow-gauge railways. In collaboration with 3 Italian rail operators, Stadler is building 21 trains for Sardinia, Calabria, and Sicily. 10 of these hydrogen-powered trains will save more than 2,100 tonnes of CO2 per year compared to […]

BMW receives a prestigious award for its Gen6 battery

September 28, 2026

BMW’s Gen6 high-voltage battery, a key technology of the Neue Klasse, has been recognized as a “Global New Energy Vehicle Innovative Technology” at the 2026 World New Energy Vehicle Congress (WNEVC) in China. The judges recognized the key technologies of the BMW Gen6 high-voltage battery based on the new BMW round cells with a high-nickel […]

Tesla’s FSD ignores speed limit in Brussels test and lies to the driver 

September 28, 2026

The Belgian road safety group Johanna has put Tesla’s self-driving system, FSD, to the test and found that it continuously breaks the speed limit. Worse: it lies to the driver about the ruling speed limit even though it reads it correctly. A Tesla running Full Self-Driving broke the speed limit in 55% of the 30 […]

Geely joins charging arms race and makes 4 minute top-ups reality

September 25, 2026

Geely Auto has unveiled a 2.25-megawatt smart-charging system that charges its electric cars from 10 to 70% in four minutes and 30 seconds. That is roughly thirty seconds quicker than BYD’s latest Flash Charging 2.0 platform, the previous benchmark.  The company officially announced the record-breaking charging system at its Safety Center in Ningbo. It’s not […]

Infrabel and Siemens sign €215 million contract for Belgian digital rail

September 25, 2026

The Belgian rail network operator Infrabel has signed a new contract with Siemens Mobility to maintain, further develop, and modernize the Operational Control System (OCS), a digital system that ensures trains run safely and smoothly across the Belgian railway network. The framework agreement, worth 215 million euros, will run for 11 years and is also […]

Leapmotor gets rid of the 12-volt battery in EVs

September 23, 2026

Chinese automaker Leapmotor is removing the 12-volt battery from its future electric cars, relying solely on the high-voltage battery. The new approach is part of a broader redesign of the company’s technical architecture, which will increase cars’ interior space. While electric cars have a high-voltage battery to feed their electric motor(s), they also have a […]

Toyota plans 400,000 factory robots: is human workforce at risk?

September 22, 2026

Humanoid robots are reshaping the factory floor, especially in China. Toyota is joining the bandwagon, targeting 400,000 units to modernize its production infrastructure. Can the bots take over from humans? Toyota has told investors it may need 400,000 robots and roughly 1 trillion yen ($6.4 billion) a year from 2028 to upgrade its factories. The […]

Belgian Solar Team finishes second in 24h European solar race in Zolder

September 21, 2026

Twente University’s Top Dutch Solar Racing has won the 24h iLumen European Solar Challenge on the circuit of Zolder. The Belgian Innoptus Solar Team, run by KU Leuven students, came second in their BluePoint Atlas car, losing its European title. Over the past weekend, the Belgian Zolder circuit was the place to be for solar […]

Only minor Tesla self-driving accidents in Belgium, as fatal crashes reach peak in the U.S.

September 21, 2026

Flanders Minister of Mobility, Annick De Ridder (NV-A), has published the first safety data from three months of Tesla’s supervised self-driving system on Belgian roads. The encouraging results report only five minor incidents. At the same time, FSD had its deadliest month in the US.  Since June, owners of Teslas equipped with FSD are allowed […]

New Audi A4 e-tron delayed until 2029?

September 18, 2026

Audi has seemingly postponed production of the all-electric Audi A4 e-tron to the first half of 2029. The reason, once again, appears to be issues with introducing the Volkswagen Group’s new SSP electric architecture. First introduced in 1994, the Audi A4’s model history has confused some customers in recent years: Audi changed its naming convention, […]

Toyota wants 76% fewer parts to increase profitability

September 17, 2026

Fierce competition in the automotive world, with Chinese brands aggressively trying to expand to the rest of the world, is forcing legacy brands to reconsider their strategies. Toyota’s new CEO, Kenta Kon, thinks he has part of the answer: fewer parts. Kon, who replaced Koji Sato earlier this year, wants to lower production costs to […]

Green hydrogen production starts at former Opel site in Antwerp

September 16, 2026

The U.S. company Power to Hydrogen will start production of green hydrogen this Friday in the Port of Antwerp. The site opens at the so-called NextGen District, the innovation hub of Port of Antwerp-Bruges on the premises of the former Opel factory. The goal is to produce 50 metric tons of green hydrogen annually. The […]

VW Mission Efficiency: 6,89 kWh/100 km and ‘production-ready’

September 15, 2026

Volkswagen has presented a new electric concept car, the Mission Efficiency. The aerodynamic and ‘production-ready’ 2+2 was built on the brand’s MEB+ platform and promises a record-low power consumtion. Volkswagen’s Mission Efficiency concept looks like a modern reinterpretation of the brand’s iconic XL1. But unlike the innovative coupe VW launched in 2013 and sold in […]

Renault Trafic wins van 2027 crown, but can EV vans pay off?

September 15, 2026

Renault’s new Trafic Van E-Tech electric has been named International Van of the Year 2027, even before the first customer vehicles hit the road. The 26-member jury voted unanimously for Renault’s new mid-sized electric van at the IAA Transportation show in Hanover. The award is Renault’s sixth IVOTY title, but the more interesting question is […]

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