July 01, 2022
Volvo Cars announced today it will establish a third manufacturing plant in Europe. The new state-of-the-art plant in Kosice, Slovakia, will be climate neutral and build only electric cars, underpinning the company’s ambition to become fully electric by 2030 and climate-neutral by 2040. By picking Slovakia as the location for its new plant, Volvo Cars […]
July 01, 2022
Tesla’s share of the EV market is projected to collapse from 70% today to 11% in 2025. Bank of America analyst John Murphy announced the number one EV maker’s shrinking market share in his annual Car Wars forecast. Does losing dominance in its home country mean Tesla is going to march backwards? According to Murphy, […]
July 01, 2022
Mercedes-Benz is injecting an extra two billion euros to prepare its network of European production plants for the brand to go all-electric by the end of the decade – ‘wherever market conditions allow.’ The German carmaker reshuffles production of the future product portfolio focusing on three categories: Top End Luxury, Core Luxury, and Entry Luxury. […]
July 01, 2022
The Brussels Government has finalized the ‘Low-Emission Mobility Brussels’ roadmap with accompanying measures for gradually phasing out diesel and gasoline engines. In addition, the social support measures were also strengthened. The measures taken are also designed to respect the climate objectives of the Paris Agreement of the EU. 2030 is a turning point As previously […]
July 01, 2022
The die is cast: Dutch riders of mopeds (and their passengers) will have to wear a mandatory helmet as of January 1st, 2023. Plans for the compulsory helmet were already imminent, but now the situation is finally clear. Those who hit the road without a helmet risk a fine of 100 euros. The measure applies […]
July 01, 2022
The tumultuous take-over saga at SsangYong has resulted in chemical-to-steel group KG becoming the new owner. The company outbid underclothing giant Ssangbangwool (SSB) and paid 950 billion won ($740 million) for the financially troubled Korean SUV specialist. The deal was conducted by biddings that needed the approval of the Seoul Bankruptcy court. Based on pricing, […]
July 01, 2022
Not everyone is suffering from the supply shortage and the effects of the war in Ukraine. Big energy companies like TotalEnergies or maritime transport companies like CMA CGM register astronomic benefits. To avoid surtaxes, they propose ‘gifts’ to the average consumers. Total Energies will lower its gas prices along motorways by 12 euro cents per […]
July 01, 2022
The ‘i’conic BMW i3 ends its production with just over 250 000 units produced in the eight and a half years of its existence. It has never been as popular as now, but BMW has other plans with its Leipzig factory, and, more importantly, the model didn’t make money. The small i3, BMW’s first fully […]
June 30, 2022
The Dutch car-sharing company MyWheels merges with Amber, specialized in car-sharing for the business market. The merger should lead to a sharp increase in the number of kilometers driven per shared car. Both companies state this in a press release. The aim is to reduce drastically the impact of mobility, and in particular the problems […]
June 30, 2022
The Belgian gas net manager Fluxys and the Norwegian energy company Equinox are analyzing the feasibility of an undersea pipeline for the transport and storage of CO2 in the Norwegian gas fields. The pipeline would connect Zeebrugge and Norway and cover a distance of 1 000 km. Industrial CO2, captured in Zeebrugge, could then be […]
June 30, 2022
Audi has started building its first plant dedicated to EVs in the Chinese metropolis Changchun, one of the largest automotive regions in the country. The site partners with state-owned carmaker FAW and will manufacture models based on the Premium Platform Electric (PPE) for the local market. The new factory is built on 150 hectares and […]
June 30, 2022
Citroën is developing an additional model to be positioned between the existing C4 and the C5 X. The new model will be baptised C4 X and will feature a 100% electric drive. Depending on the market, versions with combustion engines will also be offered for sale. In practice, the C4 X is an evolution based […]
June 30, 2022
Norwegian battery-maker Freyr has received approval from its board to expand its plans for a Gigafactory in the country’s north. Called Arctic Giga, the plant is projected to raise its annual capacity to 29 GWh. The clearance for the larger-than-planned scale was announced simultaneously with Norway’s first official battery strategy. Giga Arctic is Freyr’s – […]
June 30, 2022
Citroën has recently communicated that their My Ami Beach Buggy, a limited edition of 50 units, sold out in just 17 minutes and 28 seconds. A minimal, limited edition, so it was obvious from the beginning that the offer couldn’t match the nearly 1 800 signs of interest the French brand received. Still, such instant […]
June 30, 2022
Carlos Tavares, CEO of Stellantis, says being worried about the soaring energy tariffs. Add to that the steeply rising prices for raw materials, and you have a perfect storm that the car boss wants to counter with a 360° vision of mastering its total energy consumption and production. We have had the coronavirus, we still […]
June 29, 2022
Early in the morning on Wednesday, the 27 member states of the European Council approved the ‘Fit for 55’ climate plan of the Commission, reducing CO2 emissions for cars by 55% by 2030 and 100% by 2035. Despite the last-minute maneuvers of car-producing countries like Italy to postpone the date, the 27 stick to 2035 […]
June 29, 2022
After car sharing, mobility player Cambio now also offers cargo bikes for rent in Brussels. The initiative is part of the regional Cairgo Bike project, which aims to make cargo bikes a fully-fledged alternative to cars and vans and which was financed with 4,7 million euros in European funds. The electric cargo bikes are now […]
June 29, 2022
This summer, the Belgian energy platform Bolt will provide three festivals – Rock Werchter, Sfinks Mixed (Boechout), and Boomtown (Ghent) – with green electricity. After a first experiment last summer with Werchter Parklife, the company decided to extend the idea to three other festivals. “The organizers of festivals put great efforts into making their projects […]
June 29, 2022
Rail freight company Lineas will fit more than 5 000 wagons with silent brake blocks with the support of the Belgian federal government. The investment of 2,18 million euros is part of the ‘Retrofit Project’ and should give rail freight a much-needed boost. The government’s ambition is to double the freight transported by rail by […]
June 29, 2022
Ahead of the final launch in July, Hyundai has lifted the veils on the design of the new Ioniq 6 sedan, which it calls an ‘Electrified Streamliner’. With a drag coefficient of 0.21, a mix of classic and modern car designs, and a curvature like a banana, it looks pretty different from the boxy Ioniq […]
June 29, 2022
The organizer of the Brussels Motor Show, Febiac, has announced that the anniversary edition (100) will be memorable. From 13 to 22 January 2023, the 100th edition will take place at the Brussels expo premises, and Febiac promises some ‘specific experiences’ next to the ‘normal’ show to put the anniversary into perspective. “Many brands already […]
June 28, 2022
Further details have emerged on the EV cars jointly developed by electronics giant Huawei, battery-maker CATL, and car manufacturer Avatr. Based on a new platform using cell-to-pack (CTP) batteries, four EV models are on the agenda by 2025. In addition, the architecture enables different body types and drivelines. The collaboration between these big Chinese industrial […]
June 28, 2022
After showing the Chinese Mulan earlier this month, SAIC has unveiled more details of its next MG model, the MG 4 Electric, for Europe and the rest of the world. The compact four-door sedan features a very slim battery – only 110 mm high – allowing 51 kWh to 64 kWh packs and even swapping […]
June 28, 2022
Only a week after Audi proudly announced that it is the market leader in Belgium in terms of pure electric vehicles, the e-tron assembled in Vorst (Brussels) appears to be completely sold out on the Belgian market. Audi is experiencing an excellent year in terms of electrically powered models. During the first months of 2022, […]
June 28, 2022
A new study on the cost of decarbonizing European shipping shows that running ships on green hydrogen-based fuels would hardly make consumer goods more expensive. On the contrary, green shipping would add just a few cents to most consumer goods. “Green shipping would add less than 10 cents to a pair of Nikes,” says Faig […]
June 28, 2022
The extension of the P3 ‘Holiday’ car park at Brussels Airport has been completed, providing 2 000 extra spaces, Interparking and the airport announced on Monday. The extension brings the total number of parking spaces available at Brussels Airport to 13 000. The extension is spread over ten floors, with two underground levels, and will […]
June 28, 2022
On Monday, Volkswagen unwrapped its next electric vehicle in the line-up in China, the ID. Aero. A four-doors sedan with a 77 kWh battery that will offer an estimated WLTP range of 620 km. After the ID.4, this model will be the carmaker’s next global car for Europe, China, and the US, Ralf Brandstätter, CEO […]
June 28, 2022
The Walloon government has reached an agreement on the new car taxation scheme that was already due for a certain time. Normally, the whole scheme should come into effect from 1 September 2023 onward and totally implemented by 2026. As well road tax and registration tax will be revised, the global ‘tax pressure’ should stay […]
June 27, 2022
Stellantis has invested €50 million in Vulcan Energy Resources. As such, it becomes the second-largest shareholder of the German-Australian lithium producer with an 8% stake. Vulcan and Stellantis have also extended their binding offtake agreement for lithium hydroxide by five to ten years, up to 2035. It has been known that Stellantis is betting on […]
June 27, 2022
The city of Antwerp introduced new regulations for shared e-scooters. From July 18th onward, ‘no go zones’, ‘no park zones’, and ‘slow-speed zones’ will be marked. Technology makes cheating impossible. For example, in a ‘no go zone’, the e-scooters will automatically reduce speed and come to a halt if you enter the area. The city […]
June 27, 2022
Last year, the federal police fined more than 4,6 million drivers for speeding in Belgium. That is more than ever, or an increase of 14,75% compared to 2020. According to the police, “people experience a kind of urge for compensation after corona.” And, of course, this leads to more traffic fines. “People seem to give […]
June 27, 2022
All eyes are set on the European council, where the member states search to agree on a joint position after the European Parliament has voted in favor of a ban on the sales of combustion-engined cars as of 2035. However, the deadline could still be jeopardized. Major countries like Italy, France, and Germany support more […]
June 27, 2022
The European Commission calls on all partners in the aviation sector to join forces in an alliance on zero-emission aviation. Over the next two decades, the Commission says, more than 44,000 new aircraft are expected to be on the market. It estimates the potential market volume for zero-emission aircraft at 26 000 by 2050, with […]
June 27, 2022
More than 5 000 units of Toyota’s first fully electric model, the bZ4X, and Subaru’s sister model Solterra are being recalled because of a serious safety problem. In sharp turns with sudden braking, the wheel hub bolts can loosen to the point where the wheel can detach from the vehicle. Some 2 700 Toyota bZ4X […]
June 24, 2022
More and more Belgians are convinced that the (night) train is the ideal mode of transport for trips abroad. According to the Federal Mobility and Transport Agency’s survey, most travelers consider the train the perfect solution for a trip to Paris, London, or other popular European destinations like Amsterdam, Berlin, and Vienna. In the proper […]
June 24, 2022
One in two Walloon motorists is driving too fast to go on holiday. This is shown in a survey by the Walloon Road Safety Agency (AWSR) published on Friday. The survey also shows that more than half of Walloon men and women will leave for other countries this summer, mainly by car. According to the […]
June 24, 2022
Following a sneak preview in March, CATL presented the production version of its third-generation cell-to-pack battery (CTP), now called Qilin instead of Kirin. The pack should be capable of delivering a mileage of more than 1 000 kilometers and features a “disruptive” cooling technique. No modules. No additional wiring. More battery for the same space. […]
June 24, 2022
Tesla’s most recent Gigafactories in Austin and Berlin are heavy cash burners because they don’t manufacture enough models. CEO of the electric carmaker, Elon Musk, said that the losses piled up to billions in a video interview with the Tesla Owners of Silicon Valley fan club. “Money furnaces”, was the exact phrasing from Musk. Cost […]
June 24, 2022
The Belgian investment company Alcopa (owned by the Moorkens family) sells the remaining 40% of its shares in Astara Western Europe (formerly Alcomotive). Alcopa was active in the car importing and distributing business since its founding by Albert Moorkens and his wife Constance in 1937 but sold already 60% of its automotive division to Spanish […]
June 24, 2022
The Esso fuel station at the Antwerp Noorderlaan, run by Belgian family-owned G&V Energy Group, is the first in the country where the fuel pumps have been replaced by High Power Chargers (HPC) with 300kW capacity. A sign of the times coming, as G&V and Dutch Allego plan to do the same on 12 other […]
June 24, 2022
On a trip from Stuttgart to Silverstone, the ‘most efficient Mercedes-Benz ever’ breaks its own efficiency record and drives 1 202 km on a single battery charge. Thanks to its innovative thermal management system, the Vision EQXX prototype car achieved an amazing average electricity consumption of 8,3 kWh/100 km. Following its record-breaking maiden trip from […]
June 24, 2022
BMW has inaugurated its state-of-the-art new EV plant in Shenyang, China. Plant Lydia, as it is called, produces for BMW Brilliance Automotive Ltd an extended, fully electric version of the classic 3-Series we know, but exclusively for China. Plant Lydia is the first BMW Group plant fully planned and simulated in the virtual world from […]
June 23, 2022
More than eight out of ten Dutch drivers (86%) prefer their own car above a shared car. What’s more, almost half of all drivers in the Netherlands (46%) will never use a shared car. Not for all the tea in China. These are only some of the surprising conclusions of a survey of MisterGreen Electric […]
June 23, 2022
Micro-mobility platform Bolt is launching 900 e-bikes in Brussels. The Estonian company, launching e-bikes to celebrate its first anniversary on the Brussels market, states this in a press release. In time, Bolt wants to deploy 16 000 e-bikes across Europe to expand the range of micro-mobility available in cities. The company, the largest mobility platform […]
June 23, 2022
The launch is still two years from now, but Polestar is gradually unveiling details of its top liner, the Polestar 5. As a manifesto car, it will introduce a new electric driveline for the brand. A considerable step up, because this combines very high power with a very high charging voltage of 800 V DC. […]
June 23, 2022
After a few striking teaser images, Peugeot has drawn the veil on the new 408, which is considerably larger than the 308 with which it shares its platform. Remarkably, Peugeot is planning two plug-in hybrid motorizations, with which the manufacturer is aiming at the business driver. The 408 is expected on the Belgian market in […]
June 23, 2022
Belgian Umicore will invest half a billion euros in a new EV battery recycling plant in Europe, the biggest in the world. The location is yet to be decided, defined by good logistics and the availability of schooled personnel. It should be operational by 2026 and recycle 150 000 tons per year. The investment is […]
June 23, 2022
In a second vote on the climate ambitions of the European Commission, assembled under the ‘Fit for 55‘ umbrella, the European Parliament has agreed with the remaining issues and measures to reduce greenhouse gases by 55% in 2030. A central issue is the reform and the enlargement of the Emission Trade System. The European car […]
June 23, 2022
Ford Europe has chosen its Valencia plant in Spain as the preferred location for vehicle assembly, based on a next-generation electric vehicle architecture. Valencia has been preferred over the Saarlouis plant in Germany. “Pending product approval, the Valencia plant could produce breakthrough electric and connected vehicles beginning later this decade, says a Ford press release. […]
June 22, 2022
Sibelga, the manager of the Brussels gas and electricity distribution network, plans to use hydrogen by 2050 to heat old, poorly insulated buildings. According to the newspapers De Tijd, L’Echo, and La Libre Belgique, the company has had a study carried out for this purpose. As the availability of biogas is limited, green hydrogen could […]
June 22, 2022
The Russian car manufacturer, Avtovaz, entirely in Russian hands since Renault has left, has started production again and launched a (very) basic version of its Granta, the cheapest car on the Russian market, also due to its lack of essential safety devices. Although the Granta Classic has been spent a little facelift and is equipped […]
June 22, 2022
Some 50% of all charging points in the European Union are concentrated in only two countries: The Netherlands and Germany. These findings were published in a study by the European Automobile Manufacturer’s Association ACEA, unveiling a substantial disparity among the member states. At the same time, signals are appearing that the further rollout of the […]
June 22, 2022
Mobia, the joint umbrella organization by car federation Febiac, rental car federation Renta, and mobility federation Traxio, will launch a new education program in September to help future automotive and mobility managers. Together, they establish the Automotive Management School to prepare future managers for the challenges of the sector. The car sector is changing rapidly, […]
June 22, 2022
Volkswagen is going to unveil its first fully-electric sedan, the ID. Aero on June 27th, but teases further with a new glimpse and new design sketches of the reproduction model. The ID.Aero – called an answer to Tesla’s Model 3 by some – will be released first in its Chinese livery, where it goes on […]
June 22, 2022
An earlier EU phase-out date for cars and vans with internal combustion engines would net significant savings for European drivers and hugely reduce greenhouse gas emissions, according to new calculations by Greenpeace Germany. “An end to sales of new gasoline, diesel, and hybrid cars in 2028 would reduce oil use enough to save drivers €635 […]
June 22, 2022
The Mobility Commission of the Brussels Parliament voted and approved – majority against the opposition – on Tuesday the new parking reform. The aim is to review the draft car parking ordinance – the last one goes back to 2009. Next, the text will move to the plenary. Finally, after a second lecture by the […]
June 21, 2022
Sevic? Never heard of it? Well, that might change as the German EV engineering start-up has its first V500e vehicles delivered by Bulgarian contract EV manufacturer Milara International to Bochum for internal testing and client approval. And it’s ready to take the European cities. The compact light utility EV with a unique cargo swap system […]
June 21, 2022
Last year, there were 42 566 traffic victims in Belgium. Most of them were lightly injured. However, 3 908 people were seriously injured and 516 people died within thirty days of the accident. This is a decrease compared to previous years. These figures come from the Belgian statistics office Statbel. In addition, 34 640 road […]
June 21, 2022
Owners of zero-emission cars will likely pay lower parking fees in The Netherlands beginning next year. A legal framework has been created so that cities and towns can adjust their parking policies in favor of electric cars. But Norway, with the highest rate of EVs per capita in the whole world a leading exemplar, is […]
June 21, 2022
After decades of postponing, the Mobility Committee of the Belgian Parliament is finally going into the details this week of a driver’s with points, as inscribed into the coalition agreement of the Vivaldi government. The Belgian road safety institute Vias was asked to study the consequences and modalities and presented the results to the MPs. […]
