March 22, 2025
With the next one—the #5—hitting the market in a few weeks, Smart has grown up. With its 4695 mm length, width of 1920 mm, height of 1705 mm, and wheelbase of 2900 mm, it is almost double the size of the original Smart ForTwo, which saw the light of day in 1998. Mercedes’ little brother, […]
March 22, 2025
With 540 356 bikes sold, bicycle sales in Belgium have declined for the second consecutive year. Mobility federation TRAXIO VELO announced this at the opening of the Bike Brussels trade fait at Tour & Taxis, which runs until Sunday. However, this slight 4.75% drop isn’t necessarily a cause for concern, says Frank Glorieux, General Secretary […]
March 21, 2025
China has apparently delayed the approval for the construction of BYD’s Mexican plant. Chinese authorities fear that Mexico could gain unrestricted access to BYD’s advanced technology and know-how and potentially share it with the US. The Financial Times reports, citing two people familiar with the matter, that there are other reasons why Beijing could oppose […]
March 21, 2025
Contract builder Magna Steyr, which today still builds cars like the Mercedes G-Class, Toyota GR Supra, and BMW Z4 that share the same platform at its plant in Graz, Austria, is, according to a new report, closing a deal with Chinese Xpeng and GAC to build EVs for the European market. It would work on […]
March 21, 2025
The European Union and Belgium have made a clear commitment to climate neutrality to achieve the objectives of the Paris Climate Agreement. However, achieving this objective will require significant investments, leading to a profound transformation of our society. According to a new report from the Federal Climate Change Service in collaboration with the Study Committee […]
March 21, 2025
The Chinese Maxus T90, the first all-electric pickup in Belgium, is getting stiff and rugged competition from South Korea. Neither Kia nor Hyundai is stepping up on an emission-free alternative for the utilitarian market, but KGM—formerly known as Ssangyong—adds a Musso with a traction battery to its range. KGM builds upon a long tradition as […]
March 21, 2025
“Our sales in Europe will make a big jump starting in March and April,” says Stella Li, Vice-President of the Chinese car manufacturer BYD. The carmaker still wants to expand its offer of PHEVs and BEVs, including a very affordable entry-level model. Meanwhile, Europe is investigating the financial aid the company got to build its […]
March 21, 2025
North Sea Port, the cross-border port area between Vlissingen (the Netherlands) and Ghent (Belgium), has installed a new jetty with shore power. Ships arriving in Ghent must now dock here. With this investment, North Sea Port strengthens its position as a European sustainable port. The sustainable jetty, located at the head of the Grootdok, is […]
March 21, 2025
Tesla has met its recall, which an over-the-air update can’t fix. The company must reserve all 46,096 Cybertrucks built to date after reports that stainless-steel body panels could detach while driving due to faulty adhesive. This raised safety concerns and further complicated the electric pickup’s rocky launch. The American National Highway Traffic Safety Administration disclosed […]
March 21, 2025
A few days before first deliveries on March 29th, Chinese premium EV maker NIO started customers tests in China with its new flagship ET9 sedan that is to take on the ‘crème de la crème’ of the German premium competition. With a starting price of 788,000 yuan (€100,340), including the battery pack, it is Nio’s […]
March 20, 2025
Advertisers may have returned, and the value may be valued again at 44 billion dollars, but individuals and companies continue to abandon social media platform X. For example, De Lijn, NMBS/SNCB, TEC, and MIVB/STIB, each with a separate message on the same platform, have stated that they are leaving X. The main reason seems to […]
March 20, 2025
IKEA Belgium is ramping up its sustainability efforts by introducing seven new electric trucks for home deliveries. The move aims to modernize its logistics operations. Built by Volvo Trucks in Ghent, these vehicles will handle large orders, such as kitchens and wardrobes, reinforcing the retailer’s commitment to eco-friendly transportation. The purchase of the electric trucks […]
March 20, 2025
French logistics group CMA CGM, best known for its container ships, has also submitted a bid to take over cargo operations with airline Air Belgium. The cargo operations of the judicially reorganized Air Belgium were first to be taken over by Air One Belgium. But about two weeks ago, the Nivelles business court reversed that […]
March 20, 2025
Four scientists from KU Leuven, the University of Ghent, and Transport and Mobility Leuven have concluded that it makes no sense to choose the train instead of the plane for trips within the European Union to emit less CO2. Due to the European emission ceilings, someone else will emit the saved CO2 anyway. The Emission […]
March 20, 2025
Surprisingly, SAIC Motor’s daughter MG will launch a completely new version of its MG4 EV. This car sells well overseas but has very low sales in China. The new version is larger than the previous one and has a brand-new design. This might signal that the company decided to start all over again with its […]
March 19, 2025
“Working on better sidewalks with Stapscore,” a project to improve the quality of sidewalks in Flanders, has won the Flemish Road Safety Award 2025. The winner was announced on Tuesday at the annual road safety conference organized by the Flemish Foundation for Road Safety (Vlaamse Stichting Verkeerskunde, VSV). The award is presented to projects […]
March 19, 2025
Tesla’s turbulent start to 2025, fueled by CEO Elon Musk’s political narrative, is lashing back at its owners. These face not only repercussions from activists throwing eggs and dog excrement at their cars but also higher running costs. For a brand that once set the pace for the global electric vehicle market, Tesla’s past few […]
March 19, 2025
Scientists in China claim to have found a way to breathe new life into worn-out lithium-ion batteries. Researchers at Fudan University have developed a revolutionary lithium injection method that could restore degraded batteries to near-factory conditions. They say this breakthrough could dramatically extend battery lifespan and stabilize EV resale values. The findings, published in the […]
March 19, 2025
The Belgian FPS Mobility registered 277 reports on unruly airline passengers in 2024, according to the newspaper Le Soir. Although FPS Mobility does not have precise statistics on in-flight aggression, crew testimony shows that alcohol and nicotine addiction often play a role in incidents. Indeed, according to the figures on the in-flight incident count of […]
March 19, 2025
British start-up Longbow Motors wants to electrify the sports car segment with its Roadster and Speedster models. Both weigh under 1,000 kg, cost €100,000 or less, and will be available for sale as early as 2026. So where’s the catch? British industrial estates and car graveyards are lined with failed sports car projects from hopeful […]
March 19, 2025
The new federal government wants to explore the idea of driverless trains and see if trains without a train attendant, the so-called ‘one-man car,’ can be done. This is according to the policy statement of federal Mobility Minister Jean-Luc Crucke (Les Engagés). The proposal is remarkable. On the one hand, it may help bring down […]
March 18, 2025
De Lijn’s buses and streetcars were involved in a combined 23 accidents per day last year, a record average. Overall, in 2024, buses were involved in 7,207 accidents, and streetcars in 1,191. So, the numbers are on the rise, as are the number of victims. The figures also show that De Lijn is often not […]
March 18, 2025
Stellantis is partnering with Swedish startup Luvly to explore its innovative flat-pack vehicle production method. This method could dramatically reduce manufacturing and transportation costs and prove a worthwhile Western alternative to Chinese low-cost production. With the Citroën Ami and its siblings at Opel (Rock-e) and Fiat (Topolino), Stellantis has already explored the market for microcars. […]
March 18, 2025
Chinese manufacturer BYD has unveiled its new electric car platform, called ‘Super e’, which promises charging times equivalent to refueling a gasoline car. Thanks to a maximum charging power of 1 megawatt (1,000 kilowatts), 400 km of range can be recovered in just five minutes. The first models on this platform will be the recently […]
March 18, 2025
The crisis at Audi deepens. Just weeks after the full closure of its Brussels plant, the luxury carmaker announced that it will slash 7,500 jobs in Germany by 2029 as part of a broad cost-cutting strategy. The Volkswagen-owned luxury automaker announced the move after lengthy negotiations with the company’s works council. The job cuts, which […]
March 18, 2025
Chinese EV maker NIO, known for its pioneering role in battery swapping, is joining forces with CATL, its major supplier, to set up a worldwide car-swapping network. CATL, the world’s biggest battery maker, puts its money where its mouth is by investing 2.5 billion yuan (€316 million) in Nio Power. Both parties signed an agreement […]
March 17, 2025
Space X boss Elon Musk wants Starship to make its first trip to Mars by the end of 2026, with the humanoid robot Tesla Optimus aboard. He said three to five years later, he could follow flights with humans. “The Starship will leave for Mars late next year, with Optimus on board. If landings go […]
March 17, 2025
A recent report indicates that London’s air quality has significantly improved since the introduction of the Ultra-Low Emission Zone, an area where polluting vehicles are banned or must pay a congestion charge to enter. Annual roadside NO2 concentrations across the capital have been nearly halved (49%) between 2016 and 2023, while preliminary figures indicate London […]
March 17, 2025
Renault has unveiled most of the technical data of its “mini-supercar,” the 5 Turbo 3E, which evokes the spirit of the classic R5 Turbo models. This new model is all-electric, with over 500 hp, an 800 V battery, and supercar performance in a city car package. Renault surprised friend and foe at the end of […]
March 17, 2025
BMW is preparing for an aggressive product rollout. As part of its annual earnings call, the carmaker unveiled plans for more than 40 new and updated models by 2027, starting with the highly anticipated Neue Klasse iX3. The German automaker is betting on this next-generation EV technology to reverse a 4% drop in global sales […]
March 17, 2025
Engie, the French energy giant that owns several nuclear power plants in Belgium, announced that it is “open to talks on Belgium’s nuclear energy policy.” Engie repeatedly emphasized earlier it was a cool lover of the idea and indicated that it wanted to end its nuclear activities. While Belgian Luminus CEO Grégoire Dallemagnes hinted in […]
March 17, 2025
Local police teams from the Belgian Borinage region in Henegouwen have caught a motorist who was repeatedly flashed with fake license plates. By analyzing the plates, the police were able to trace the real license plate. They discovered three different license plates at the driver’s home, two of which were fake. It later turned out that […]
March 17, 2025
Releasing its 2024 financial results, BMW’s net profit plummeted by over a third last year. The German automaker warns of continued headwinds from trade tariffs and sluggish demand in China. The Bavarian company reported a 36.9% drop in net profit to €7.68 billion ($8.32 billion), in line with market expectations and German competitors. However, geopolitical […]
March 14, 2025
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a dramatic rollback of vehicle emissions regulations. The changes, led by EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin under the Trump administration, will relax emissions targets for cars, trucks, and power plants. Critics say it marks a fundamental shift away from the agency’s historic mission of environmental protection. Trump’s oil […]
March 14, 2025
At its yearly Kenshiki event in Brussels, Toyota also unveiled the FT-Me. This microcar concept represents Toyota’s vision for all-electric micro-mobility that “combines premium design with affordability.” Inspired by the success of Toyota’s mobility solutions developed for the Tokyo 2021 and Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the FT-Me aims to address the evolving needs […]
March 14, 2025
The works for the first phase of the streetcar connection between Brussels Airport and the NATO headquarters in Haren will start at the end of this year. So reports De Werkvennootschap, which is coordinating the project. It involves the construction of the streetcar and bicycle viaduct over the Brussels Ring in Machelen. The works should […]
March 14, 2025
Since the Covid-19 crisis, there has been a “permanent change in household mobility behavior.” In particular, expenditures on car use have fallen significantly. That is the conclusion of a recent report by the Federal Planning Bureau and the Federal Public Service Mobility. However, there is a big difference between the regions. Households living in Wallonia […]
March 14, 2025
Bad luck to those who would like to book city trips on the Nightjet trains: The Nightjet will stop running between Brussels and Berlin. From March 27th, the offer will disappear, according to the NMBS/SNCB international train travel website. The reason for the discontinuation of the services is not given, but the competition has probably […]
March 14, 2025
After a series of runner-up events and info leaks, Mercedes has officially revealed the all-new CLA, a mold for the brand’s new entry-level lineup and a landmark step in battery efficiency. However, the new CLA introduces substantial advancements in electric and combustion-powered variants. Think of cutting-edge technology, enhanced aerodynamics, and impressive efficiency figures leading up […]
March 14, 2025
The BMW Supervisory Board has made several new appointments to the Board of Management. Joachim Post, the current Chief Purchasing Officer, will take over as CTO from Frank Weber, who has to leave the company. Nicolai Martin will succeed Post as Chief Purchasing Officer. The change within the Management Board could be an essential test […]
March 13, 2025
According to communications from Wanfeng to investors, Chinese concern Wanfeng wants to acquire Volocopter, the German maker of flying cabs that take off vertically. Volocopter initiated bankruptcy proceedings late last year and hoped for a relaunch with new investors. Wanfeng wants to acquire the start-up for 10 million euros. Pioneer Volocopter makes vertically rising electric […]
March 13, 2025
Porsche is embarking on a significant restructuring effort, cutting 3,900 jobs as it faces declining sales in China, rising trade tensions, and a potential tariff battle with the United States. The German sports carmaker is adjusting its financial outlook and product strategy to maintain profitability. The company announced the job reductions to boost efficiency and […]
March 13, 2025
Five years after the coronavirus pandemic, more than eight out of ten companies still allow teleworking. However, more than a third of young employees (33.8%) prefer to work from home more often. In Belgium, half of employers require a physical presence only twice a week or less. The conclusions come from a study by HR […]
March 13, 2025
Europe’s pride in battery manufacturing, Northvolt, has filed for bankruptcy in Sweden, marking a major setback for the EU’s efforts to compete with Chinese dominance in the electric vehicle battery market. Despite years of substantial investment from automakers, financial institutions, and government subsidies, the company failed to secure the $1 billion needed to sustain operations […]
March 12, 2025
Thanks to some information shared by Volkswagen Group boss Oliver Blume, we have a better idea of the performance level that Lamborghini’s first electric car will achieve. This all-new model is set to arrive by 2029 and promises power levels of well over one megawatt (1,360 hp), possibly up to 2,000 hp. Initially, Lamborghini promised […]
March 12, 2025
The Air France-KLM Group and Lufthansa aim for a stake in Spanish airline Air Europa. According to Spanish online media El Confidential, they have each submitted separate bids to enter Air Europa’s capital for 300 million and 240 million euros, respectively. Air Europa is Spain’s third-largest airline after Iberia and Vueling. The airline also operates […]
March 12, 2025
Volkswagen’s profit dwindled by one-third last year due to slow demand and a cooldown in the Chinese market. But the salary of its CEO, Oliver Blume, rose. Will the near future relieve the ongoing problems at the German car giant? Volkswagen’s net profit plummeted 30.6% in 2024 to €12.39 billion. Europe’s largest automaker grapples with […]
March 12, 2025
Tesla shares tumbled more than 15% on Monday, suffering their worst single-day drop since 2020. The electric vehicle maker is grappling with plunging sales, and its valuation has been halved since December to roughly $700 billion (€640 billion). The trend marks a dramatic reversal from the optimism that followed Donald Trump’s election victory. To help […]
March 12, 2025
Nissan, the Japanese car manufacturer, has decided to change its leadership. The current CEO, Makoto Ushida, will leave at the end of the month. Ivan Espinosa, previously head of planning, will take over as CEO from the 1st of April. Ushida is said to have taken responsibility for the company’s economic crisis and the failed […]
March 12, 2025
Another car-sharing company is pulling out of Belgium. German provider Miles Mobility will leave the country entirely just two years after entering the market, citing rampant vandalism, misuse, and theft – issues particularly severe in Brussels. Margins aren’t strong enough to compensate for the rotten apples. The company announced on Tuesday that it will gradually […]
March 12, 2025
Three Toyota EVs will be on the market soon, and three more will be available by 2026. Luxury brand Lexus also promises three new EVs within twelve months. Nevertheless, the world’s number one car manufacturer won’t change its ‘multi-pathway’ approach. For Toyota, Europe is significant. It may sell ‘only’ 1.2 million cars on the old […]
March 11, 2025
The Brussels public transport company MIVB/STIB has already made more than 440 bus and streetcar stops wheelchair accessible. Many metro stations have also been adapted for persons with reduced mobility. In 2025, about half of the 2,223 above-ground pre-metro stations and bus stops have been made more accessible to persons with reduced mobility, subject to […]
March 11, 2025
Mercedes has begun the final winter testing of its new generation of luxury MPVs on the all-new VAN.EA (electric) and VAN.CA (combustion) platforms. This new model will be the successor to the current V-Class and EQV minivans, with a focus on more comfort on board and a more advanced electric drivetrain. Winter testing is one […]
March 11, 2025
In 2025, Flanders plans construction works at 43 locations on the highway. Just like last year, much attention will again be paid to renovating bridges, viaducts, and tunnels. Twenty of the 43 construction sites are essential for renewing or replacing bridges or tunnels. The sites with the most significant impact on traffic are in Antwerp, […]
March 11, 2025
Zeekr, a Chinese conglomerate Geely’s sub-brand, has revealed some winter testing photos of its upcoming flagship SUV. The Zeekr 9X will be the brand’s first ‘Super Hybrid’ after initially offering only BEVs. It will be available in two variants: the 9X and the even more luxurious 9X Grand. Zeekr first announced the arrival of its […]
March 11, 2025
Volkswagen has announced that its upcoming entry-level electric vehicle, the ID.Every1, will be produced in Portugal, as part of affordability push. Expected to hit the market in 2027 with a price tag of around €20,000, the compact city car will be built at the company’s Palmela factory, located 40 kilometers south of Lisbon. The announcement […]
March 11, 2025
Brussels-based holding company D’Ieteren enjoyed a record year with over a billion euros in pre-tax profits. The importer of VW vehicles and parent company to auto glass repairer Belron/Carglass, among others, came in at 1,065 billion euros in 2024. That’s 9.6% better than in 2023. Total sales also rose 3.5% to 12.07 billion euros. More […]
March 11, 2025
It mimics its predecessor, one of the first bikes with an auxiliary motor from 120 years ago, but it’s brand-new: the Belgian iconic motorcycle brand Saroléa’s first speed pedelec. It is fast, although legally limited to 45 km/hour, with two motors with 1,200 Watt peak output combined and a range of up to 130 kilometers. […]
March 11, 2025
The BMW Group is launching a newly developed digital nervous system for all drivetrain variants and vehicle segments. It is more intelligent, powerful, and efficient and will be rolled out in the Neue Klasse models for the first time. Four high-performance computers, called ‘Superbrains,’ consolidate the computing power for the most crucial customer functions: infotainment, […]
March 11, 2025
American car manufacturer Ford is supporting the transformation of its European business with fresh capital for its German subsidiary. The US manufacturer announced a capital injection of up to 4.4 billion euros, which is intended to ensure the “financial stability of Ford-Werke GmbH.” At the same time, it cancels an important guarantee, which worries the […]
