SD Worx: ‘Tax increases slightly for fossil company cars’

December 13, 2024

The tax on the private use of a diesel or gasoline company car – the so-called taxable ‘benefit in kind’, (Voordeel Alle Aard, VAA – will increase in 2025. According to human resources service provider SD Worx, a few euros are added monthly. You ‘get’ a car from work but must pay taxes on its […]

BMW opens new aeroacoustic and electric drive center

December 13, 2024

BMW has replaced its old wind tunnel at the Group’s Research and Innovation Center (FIZ) in Munich. The new Aeroacoustics and Electric Drive Center (AEC) is said to house a 100-meter wind tunnel, supposedly the largest vertical acoustic wind tunnel in the world and also the quietest. The building consists of two halves: in addition […]

Flanders delays introduction of road tax for new electric cars

December 13, 2024

The introduction of an annual road tax for new electric cars in Flanders, initially set to take effect on January 1st, 2025, has been postponed. This was confirmed by the cabinet of Flemish Finance Minister Ben Weyts (N-VA) to Het Laatste Nieuws. The delay is attributed to the ongoing development of a taxation formula and […]

Brussels Mobility: closing five ‘redundant’ tunnels saves €100 million

December 13, 2024

The closure of five Brussels car tunnels by 2030, including two on Avenue Louise and two on the central ring road, would save 100 million euros in the long run and have no major impact on mobility. This is according to a cost-benefit analysis of Brussels tunnels commissioned by Brussels Mobility and reported by the […]

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 […]

‘Tourism responsible for 8.8% of global CO2 emissions in 2019’

December 12, 2024

According to a new study by Nature Communications, tourism turnover almost doubled between 2009 and 2019, representing an annual growth of 5.5 percent. However, this strong growth is accompanied by a carbon footprint of 5.2 gigatons of CO2 equivalent or 8.8 percent of global emissions. The primary drivers of emissions growth are slow technology efficiency […]

First barge filled with CO2-captured made bioethanol in Ghent

December 12, 2024

At ArcelorMittal in Ghent, the first barge has been left with bioethanol derived from captured CO2. It is the first time that the steel plant’s so-called ‘Steelanol’ plant has provided enough sustainable fuel for inland barges to start using. The plant, a first for the European steel industry announced in 2019, could eventually reach an […]

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 […]

Facelifted BYD Dolphin with new powertrain to be built in EU

December 12, 2024

The facelifted version of the popular BYD Dolphin hatchback has leaked. According to registration details from China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), the design introduces minor tweaks, but there will be a new powertrain option. Three motor configurations, including a new 130 kW (174 hp) variant, are slated for commercialization. These changes will […]

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. […]

New ACEA President is Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Källenius

December 12, 2024

The Board of Directors of the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) has elected Ola Källenius, Chairman of the Board of Management of the Mercedes-Benz Group, as its new President, who will assume this function from 1 January 2025. Ola Källenius will take over the presidency from Renault Group’s CEO, Luca de Meo, who has held […]

Hyundai Inster gets €24,499 price tag in Belgium

December 11, 2024

Hyundai has commercially launched its ‘cheap’ compact EV, the Inster, in European markets, including Belgium. The Inster aims to compete with the Citroën ë-C3 and Fiat Grande Panda, with a sub-€25,000 price tag and a WLTP range of up to 370 km. The Inster is the European version of the Hyundai Casper Electric, which is […]

Aviation sector expects record 2025 with +five billion passengers

December 11, 2024

IATA, the global airline umbrella organization, expects airlines worldwide to carry 5.2 billion passengers next year, the first time this will exceed the 5 billion mark. More passengers also mean more flights, leading to higher CO2 emissions from the aviation sector. For example, using more sustainable fuels, such as biomass or used oils, could help […]

GM kills off its Cruise robotaxis to focus on ADAS and self-driving for its cars

December 11, 2024

A year after the California DMV suspended Cruise’s robotaxi services in San Francisco following a series of incidents with pedestrians, General Motors is killing off its robotaxi daughter. It dispatches its engineering teams to the motherhouse to focus on more common driving aid systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving for passenger cars. “GM will no longer […]

EEA: ‘Air pollution still causes 239,000 deaths annually across Europe’

December 11, 2024

Every year, around 239,000 deaths in the European Union can be attributed to exposure to fine particulate matter, a key air pollutant. Another 70,000 Europeans die from excessive ozone concentrations and 48,000 from nitrogen pollution. In Belgium alone, this concerns 4,100 deaths from particulate matter, 1,400 from ozone, and 1,200 from nitrogen. The figures come […]

Stellantis and CATL pump €4.1 billion in joint Spanish battery plant

December 11, 2024

French-Italian-American car group Stellantis is joining forces with the world’s biggest battery maker, Chinese CATL, to build a new factory at the Stellantis’ Zaragoza site in Spain to produce low-cost lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries. For CATL, it will be its third battery factory in Europe. “Targeted to start production by the end of 2026, […]

Brussels Motor Show wants to return with a bang

December 11, 2024

The Brussels Motor Show (BMS) will be held from 10 to 19 January 2025 in the Brussels event halls at the Heysel. After skipping 2024, the 101st edition wants to return with a bang. At least 63 exhibitors have signed up to be present, and organizer Febiac hopes that more than 300,000 visitors will also […]

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 […]

Doel 4 restarts: possible damage claims if nuclear shutdown is reversed

December 10, 2024

The Doel 4 nuclear reactor is producing power again for the first time in months. Within two days, the reactor will be running at full power. Meanwhile, the Council of State warns of possible damage claims due to tampering with the nuclear shutdown. Doel 4 had been shut down since late August. As part of […]

Streetcar simulators to help De Lijn drivers in training

December 10, 2024

Flemish public transport company De Lijn is now deploying two advanced simulators during basic training for tram drivers. “This way, our people learn in a safe environment how to deal with numerous obstacles they may encounter on the road,” says the transport company, which trains some 200 streetcar drivers annually. The simulator looks just like […]

Mercedes-Benz Trucks delivers first eActros 600 e-trucks to customers

December 10, 2024

After kicking off series production in November, Mercedes-Benz Trucks has delivered the first eActros 600 long-haul electric heavy trucks to customers. By the end of the year, around 50 units will be handed over to German customers, who have received a state subsidy from the German Federal Ministry for Digital Affairs and Transport for their […]

‘Second warmest November confirms 2024 will be warmest year’

December 10, 2024

November 2024 was the second warmest November worldwide after November 2023. According to the Copernicus Climate Change Service, it confirms the expectation that 2024 will be the warmest year. The average surface air temperature was 14.10°C, 0.73°C above the November average from 1991-2020. November 2024 was 1.62°C above pre-industrial levels, the 16th month in a […]

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 […]

BYD’s next-gen Blade battery to reduce cost by 15% in 2025

December 10, 2024

BYD aims to stay ahead in the fierce EV battery price war with a new generation of its Blade battery that promises higher energy density, faster charging, and reduced costs. As the world’s second-largest EV battery manufacturer, BYD is gearing up to launch its second-generation Blade battery in the first half of 2025. The new […]

D’Ieteren’s net-zero climate ambitions ‘scientifically approved’

December 10, 2024

Belgium’s 218-year-old and most significant ‘car importer,’ D’Ieteren, has officially checked and approved its net-zero greenhouse emission targets for 2030 and 2050. These targets align with the scientific criteria for achieving the climate goals of the Paris Agreement. The targets were ratified by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). That includes a 42% reduction by […]

BMW CEO doesn’t want EU CO2 targets to be postponed

December 10, 2024

BMW CEO Oliver Zipse has spoken out against delaying the EU’s CO2 targets for 2025. At the same time, he continues to argue in favor of remaining open to different technologies but sees electric cars as having the most significant growth potential. In an interview with the German specialized magazine Automobilwoche, Zipse advocates remaining open […]

T&E: ‘Trenitalia is EU’s best rail operator, Eurostar ends last’

December 09, 2024

Italian rail operator Trenitalia, Swiss operator SBB, and Czech carrier RegioJet top a new ranking of European railway companies. The study was conducted by the NGO Transport & Environment (T&E), which advocates for more environmentally friendly transport. The Belgian railway company NMBS/SNCB ranks in the middle. France’s Ouigo, Greece’s Hellenic Trains, and Eurostar close the […]

‘Exceptionally high number of wildfires in North and South America’

December 09, 2024

In 2024, North and South America experienced intense wildfires, mainly affecting the Pantanal wetlands, the Amazon, Canada, and the western US. Eastern Eurasia, including within the Arctic Circle, also experienced above-average fire emissions. The regular monitoring of forest fires by the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) in various regions around the world revealed this. Severe […]

Brussels taxis get two year delay for going fully electric

December 09, 2024

The Brussels Parliament has adopted an ordinance proposal to postpone the taxi sector’s obligation to purchase zero-emission vehicles by two years until January 2027. Green parties denounced the fact that since June, there has been no majority in the Brussels Parliament except for specific files, such as for the two-year postponement of the tightening of […]

Belgium allows boss to pay lump sum for EV-charging at home

December 09, 2024

In Belgium, employers must reimburse their employees with an electric company car for the actual cost of EV charging at home. So far, determining this ‘real cost’ has proved daunting, as electricity prices are ‘blurry’ and vary between employees and among regions, and digital meters aren’t widespread yet. To prevent confusion, the resigning Belgian Minister […]

Executive shake-up continues at Lucid as European boss leaves

December 09, 2024

Lucid Motors has announced another vital leadership change with the departure of Alexander Lutz, its Managing Director for Europe. His departure adds to a growing list of executive exits from Lucid, marking the ninth senior departure in just 14 months. Lutz took on the role only in December last year after leading Polestar’s operations in Italy. He […]

With Tavares pushed out, Stellantis eager to rejoin ACEA

December 09, 2024

Carlos Tavares has hardly closed the door after leaving Stellantis and the French-Italian-American car manufacturing group is eager to rejoin ACEA, the European carmaker lobbying federation based in Brussels, to which Tavares waved goodbye at the end of 2022. It looks like Stellantis wants to make the best of a bad job now and join […]

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 […]

Acquirer Air Belgium wants to keep only half of staff

December 06, 2024

The company that wants to take over the financially troubled airline Air Belgium is known. It is a consortium of two companies: Dutch company PESO Aviation Management and British company Air One Holding International. That consortium also wants to keep only 197 of Air Belgium’s 401 current employees. This was announced before the Nivelles enterprise […]

VAB Family Car of the Year: EVs out of grace?

December 06, 2024

There are no longer any fully electric winners in VAB’s ‘Family Car of the Year’ election this year. The gold medal goes to a hybrid (HEV) from the Chinese brand that sells the most EVs in Europe: the MG3. The other gold winner in the more expensive category is a mild-hybrid Hyundai i30. It perfectly […]

AWV’s ‘dangerous traffic points’ list 2024 contains 264 locations

December 06, 2024

The Roads and Traffic Agency (Agentschap Wegen en Verkeer, AWV) recently published the latest list of unsafe traffic locations where accidents can be linked to the infrastructure – not to individual drivers’ behavior. The list for 2024 mentions 264 locations, which is less than in 2021 (301) and 2022 (300) but slightly more than in […]

Train only popular for half of the Belgians

December 06, 2024

Almost half of Belgians, 47%, never take the train, according to the survey ‘Accessibility of transport in Belgium 2024’ by the Federal Public Service Mobility. The same goes for the bus: 44% of Belgians never take the bus. Although more than eight in 10 respondents regularly use the car every week (82%), only one in […]

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 […]

Brussels EV and heat pump owners face sharply more expensive electricity

December 05, 2024

Brussels energy regulator Brugel has approved Sibelga’s new network tariffs for electricity and natural gas in 2025 and 2029. This will initially result in a higher bill for Brussels households of around 67 euros. At the same time, Brugel is also introducing a specific tariff for reinforcing electricity connection points. The aim is, among other […]

Fastned partners with TfL for 25 fast-charging plazas in London

December 05, 2024

Dutch fast-charging chain Fastned is partnering with Transport for London (TfL), the local government body responsible for most of the London transport network, to establish 25 fast-charging plazas in and around the British capital by 2030. Fastned is setting up a joint venture with Places for London, TfL’s real estate daughter, to invest £16 million […]

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 […]

Silence in and around the church: Popemobile goes electric

December 05, 2024

Pope Francis has introduced a fully electric ‘Popemobile’, a pristine white, battery-powered, and unique G-Class created in close partnership with Mercedes-Benz. This exceptional vehicle is the first emission-free Popemobile and must reflect the Vatican’s dedication to sustainability and efforts in climate change. The new Popemobile, based on the electric Mercedes-Benz G580 with EG Technology, is […]

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 […]

UK train operator launches low-alcohol beer to reduce boozy passengers

December 05, 2024

To reduce the number of drunk train passengers getting into accidents during the festive season, UK train operator Avanti West Coast will serve a new low-alcohol beer on trains running in the West Coast Mainline between London Euston and Scotland. According to the rail company, the ‘Safety Thirst Beer’, which contains 0.5% alcohol by volume […]

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 […]

UK’s Southern Western Railways first to be back in public ownership

December 04, 2024

The new UK government is putting its money where its mouth is: the private rail company Southern Western Railways will become a public transport company again. After all, before the election, Labour had indicated that if the party would be again in government, it would nationalize the entire UK train network within five years. “Our […]

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; […]

NIO lets you swap for a bigger long-range battery for holidays

December 04, 2024

It was already an option in China, but now it’s also available in Europe, in the countries where NIO is already present: temporarily swapping your ‘daily’ standard battery for a bigger, longer-range one, like for going on a holiday trip. The Chinese premium EV maker lets you buy an EV without the battery, offering the […]

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 […]

Ampere opens new software center near Nice

December 03, 2024

Ampere, Renault’s subsidiary for intelligent electric vehicles, has opened a software research and development center in Sophia Antipolis near Nice, France. The goal is to drive the development of Software Defined Vehicles (SDVs). With almost 200 software engineers, Ampere intends to tackle R&D topics such as AI, connectivity, Over The Air (OTA) functionalities, driving aids, […]

T&E: ‘Only 10 out of 77 airlines commit to green fuels’

December 03, 2024

According to a new ranking by Transport & Environment (T&E), only 10 out of 77 airlines are making noteworthy efforts to switch to sustainable alternatives to fossil kerosene. The remaining 67 are either buying too few sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs), the wrong kind of SAFs, or are not considering SAFs at all in their decarbonization […]

De Lijn offers end-of-year ‘all night ticket’ for €2.5

December 03, 2024

On New Year’s Eve, Flemish public transport company De Lijn is offering a 2,5 euros ticket that is valid all night. With the so-called party buses and trams, De Lijn aims to take travelers to their destinations in complete safety all night long. Some lines follow their familiar route, while others have been specially adapted. […]

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 […]

CEO Tavares leaves Stellantis Group immediately (update)

December 03, 2024

On Sunday, the multinational automotive group Stellantis said that its chief executive officer, Carlos Tavares, has resigned, forcing the company to expedite its leadership transition amid a turbulent market environment. Stellantis Group, like other European players, is severely suffering from the dire market conditions in the automotive industry. Not so long ago, CEO Carlos Tavares […]

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. […]

Brussels Airlines to start flying daily to Kinshasa

December 03, 2024

From March, Brussels Airlines will start flying direct to Kinshasa daily. Currently, there are five direct flights a week and two flights a week with a stopover in Luanda (Angola). By broadening its offer to the Congolese capital, Brussels Airlines confirms its reputation as the Lufthansa Group’s Africa specialist. Non-stop “The history of aviation in […]