Belgians prefer mobility by foot and car, cycling rises

May 26, 2023

Belgians most often travelled on foot (95%) and by car (94%) in 2022, according to a survey by the FPS Mobility questioning 4 600 Belgians aged between 18 and 79. The two most popular alternatives are public transport and cycling, with 65% and 56%, respectively. Sustainable mobility is gaining ground, partly because of environmental and […]

Lufthansa steps into Italian airline ITA

May 26, 2023

The die is cast. After months of negotiations, German airline group Lufthansa will take a minority stake in Italian airline ITA Airways. The Germans are injecting 325 million euros into ITA in exchange for a 41% stake. Eventually, they may acquire the airline outright. Additional government funding In addition to the capital increase by Lufthansa, […]

Brussels government ask federal government more money for Metro 3 project

May 26, 2023

The Brussels government will ask the federal government for a budget increase for the planned works on the Metro 3 project in the capital. The costs of constructing a tunnel and stations are piling up much higher than initially projected. According to a report in the business newspaper L’Echo, Beliris, the federal fund that finances […]

NMBS/SNCB: People with reduced mobility can request assistance more easily

May 26, 2023

Train passengers with reduced mobility can now also request assistance to take the train more easily via the NMBS/SNCB website. To this end, the website adopts the functions and benefits of NMBS/SNCB Assist, the pay launched in January. Among other things, a personal login, an adapted journey planner, online follow-up of requests, or requesting several […]

Belgian students say flax is the new carbon-fibre for racing cars

May 26, 2023

Zero-emission racing is not a novelty, but a group of students from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) have managed to make sportscars circular. At Fablab, in Brussels, they presented yesterday an electric racing car made of biodegradable flax fibres. More than a concept, the car will be raced at Formula Student, an engineering competition for […]

AWSR: ‘10% of Walloon drive under influence of medication’

May 26, 2023

One out of ten (10%) Walloon car drivers admit having taken the wheel after taking medication that could have consequences on driving behavior. That is what a new study by the Walloon Agency for Road Safety (L’Agence Wallonne pour la Sécurité Routière, AWSR) revealed on Thursday. Each year, about 25 fatal road accidents are medicine […]

New look VW Touareg retains PHEV options

May 26, 2023

Volkswagen has given its flagship SUV a minor facelift, which brings it stylistically up-to-date with the newer models of the range. The technical improvements remain quite modest, but the model is still available with two plug-in hybrid drivetrains, including the powerful Touareg R. While the big SUV is no longer as popular as it once […]

BMW launches all-electric 5 Series: the i5

May 25, 2023

BMW has unveiled the all-new G60 generation of the 5 Series, which gets a radical new look and, for the first time, a fully-electric version in the shape of the i5. Gasoline, diesel, and plug-in hybrid versions are still on the table, however. While its main rival, the Mercedes E-Class, went for a traditional look […]

Brussels Airport back to profit and plans to slash 1.500 night flights

May 25, 2023

Brussels Airport Company, the operator of Zaventem airport, posted a net profit of 16 million euros last year. It is the first time in three years that it’s back in the black. “The profit in 2022 was still limited, but it does shed light at the end of the tunnel,” said airport chief Arnaud Feist. […]

Electric sports car from Alpine and Lotus is dead end

May 25, 2023

Alpine and Lotus will not be co-developing an all-electric sportscar. The sports car brands have axed their collaboration under “mutual agreement” and will go through the development process alone. The project was scheduled to spawn a successor to the Alpine A110 and the new Lotus Type 135. Developing electric cars is costly, particularly when the […]

Uber to deploy robotaxis together with Waymo

May 25, 2023

Ridesharing company Uber is going to offer robotaxis in the US. Uber’s partner is Waymo, a subdivision of the Alphabet group, Google’s parent company. An initial collaboration is scheduled for later this year in Phoenix City. The exact number of self-driving taxis remains undisclosed. The association surprises as the two companies were entangled in a […]

More than 400 km range for facelifted Opel Corsa Electric

May 25, 2023

Now called Electric instead of Corsa-e, Opel’s compact city car gets an upgraded battery pack and electric motor. Subsequently, the range has been increased from 357 to 402 kilometres. The boost also comes from an added heat pump. As the Corsa is technically mated to the Peugeot 208 and DS 3 E-Tense, it shouldn’t come […]

Swedish Cary Group buys Belgian Autoglass Clinic and Touring Glass

May 25, 2023

The Swedish car glass specialist Cary group has announced the acquisition of both Autoglass Clinic and Touring Glass, which are the second and third most important glass repair players in Belgium after the undisputed market leader Car Glass. ‘We want to grow into a strong number two”, says Charline Leroi from AutoGlass Clinic, who remains […]

Sporty bikes are gaining ground again

May 25, 2023

According to sector federation Traxio, 198 095 sporty bikes were delivered in 2022, 28,5% of the total bikes delivered for 2022. That’s a rise of 23 623 units compared to 2021. There was also a sharp rise in electric bikes in some subsegments of these sporty bikes, while the so-called ‘last-mile’ segments are also growing […]

Caterham shows electric Seven but won’t build it yet

May 24, 2023

Caterham has unveiled an electric version of the Seven, which shows the direction the neo-classic model might take in an electrified future. It boasts quick charging speeds, good on-track performance, and barely any weight penalty compared to its gas-powered counterparts. But don’t count on being able to order one just yet. With small-scale sports car […]

Road signs in Flanders cause row over language legislation

May 24, 2023

Flemish Minister of Mobility and Public Works Lydia Peeters (Open Vld) blows the whistle on her administration over the use of road signs that state ‘Liège’ instead of ‘Luik’, preferring the language of the destination instead of the location language of the signs. According to Peeters, the practice violates language laws. She wants the road […]

New top-spec Skoda Enyaq adds more range

May 24, 2023

The Skoda Enyaq is the next EV on VW’s MEB platform to receive the new-gen APP550 electric motor, which delivers more power while consuming less. Its battery pack is also slightly bigger, but until further notice, Skoda offers it exclusively on the new top-spec Laurin & Klement version That’ the Enyaq in its most luxurious […]

Brussels residents abandon car to cycle and walk more

May 24, 2023

People living in Brussels take their cars less often than ten years ago and more often go by bike or on foot. These are the results of a new study by Brussels Mobility. Every day, the capital’s inhabitants make 3,3 million journeys, accounting for 25 million kilometers traveled. Most of these are done on foot […]

Lucid Air Pure variants reaching European shores

May 24, 2023

American EV manufacturer Lucid has taken another step in exporting variants of its electric car to Europe by announcing prices for the Air Pure, the basic Air model, becoming available in Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Norway. In Germany, the Lucid Air Pure AWD will retail for €109 000, and the Lucid Air Touring for […]

Europe and United States stumble over incentive agreement for EVs

May 24, 2023

According to news site Politico negotiations between Brussels and Washington on the protectionist Inflation Reduction Act, blocking EU-made EVs from incentives in the United States, are stuck in a rut. Both parties disagree on the legal framework of the deal. Ever since Joe Biden passed the Inflation Reduction Act, favouring only American-made BEVs with batteries […]

ACEA: Euro 7 ruling to cost up to 2 600 euros per car

May 24, 2023

The lobby organisation for car manufacturers ACEA is flashing the lights again on the proposed Euro 7 rules, which are considered unnecessary and a waste of money by many car brands. A new survey has calculated that the price increase could be four to seven times higher than initially accounted for. “The effects on the […]

Uber Commission: no illegal practices by Brussels government members

May 23, 2023

The Brussels Parliament’s special Uber Commission has not found any “illegal or illicit practices” on the part of government members or illegal lobbying practices by both Uber and actors in the traditional taxi sector. Those findings, 20 in general, were approved on Monday by all political groups except PVDA, and 14 recommendations were also formulated. […]

E-bike manufacturer Cowboy goes also offline

May 23, 2023

Cowboy, the Belgian manufacturer of city e-bikes, drops its online-only strategy. By the end of the year, the company wants a retail network of at least 300 independent bike shops in 60 Belgian and foreign cities. In Belgium, contracts will be closed with “some ten retail partners”. Names will follow later when their personnel has […]

Brussels Pentagon gets 250 drop zones for e-scooters

May 23, 2023

By early autumn, the City of Brussels will have set up 250 drop zones for e-scooters from sharing platforms in the Pentagon. So says Brussels Alderman for Mobility Bart Dhondt (Groen). The Brussels government is working on a decree to regulate the operation of shared bikes and e-scooters in the Brussels region. Among other things, […]

Geely doubles its stake to electrify Aston Martin

May 23, 2023

Chinese car giant Geely is increasing its interest in iconic British sports car brands. The owner of Lotus has raised its share in Aston Martin to 17 percent, a little more than a half year after it stepped in, buying 7,6 percent in September last year. Geely is now the third-biggest shareholder of Aston Martin. […]

Gotion adds manganese to LFP and achieves 1 000 km range

May 23, 2023

Chinese battery maker Gotion High-Tech, a company heavily backed by Volkswagen, has unveiled its L600 battery. Its cells use lithium manganese ferro phosphate chemistry capable of providing a range of 1 000 kilometers. Under the optimistic Chinese driving cycle, that is. Battery packs promising 1 000 kilometers of range aren’t new, but until today, these […]

One fifth of Flemish car users continue to manipulate mobile phone while driving

May 23, 2023

Using your mobile phone behind the wheel is prohibited by law, yet 17% of Flemish car drivers say they continue to use the device while driving. This is according to a survey of 454 motorists aged between 18 and 54 conducted on behalf of the Flemish Foundation for Transport Studies (VSV). To alert these thick-headed […]

ALD Automotive completes LeasePlan acquisition

May 23, 2023

Vehicle lease company ALD Automotive announced that it has successfully acquired 100% of LeasePlan, one of the world’s leading fleet management and mobility companies, from a consortium led by TDR Capital. This transformative acquisition represents a step-change that positions the combined group as the leading global sustainable mobility player with a total fleet of 3,3 […]

VW on saving course to secure future investments

May 23, 2023

The Volkswagen Group is planning a billion-euro savings program for its core brand VW to bolster profitability and generate money for investments in the energy transition. The group will present its overhaul plans to investors at a conference on 21 June. According to the German newspaper Handelsblatt, the program could increase annual results by at […]

Fisker not averse to collaboration with others

May 22, 2023

Last week, Fisker Inc. CEO Henrik Fisker declared he is exploring collaboration with other companies to scale up market share faster, speaking at the Reuters Automotive Conference in Munich. During interviews at the conference, senior executives of other EV makers, Polestar and Smart, said they are open to partnerships to address supply chain and technology […]

Stellantis threatens to leave UK and urges for more battery production sites

May 22, 2023

British car plants will close with the loss of thousands of jobs unless the Brexit deal is swiftly renegotiated, Stellantis warned. Ford also added its voice to the latest warning from the auto industry since Britain left the European Union. Stellantis told lawmakers that under the current deal, it would face increased tariffs when exporting […]

Popularity Brupass transport ticket is growing

May 22, 2023

The Brupass formulas, the joint tickets and season tickets for public transport in and around Brussels created by the transport companies MIVB/STIB, De Lijn, TEC, and NMBS/SNCB to make journeys in and around the capital easier, are attracting increasing numbers of users. That is according to recent figures from Brussels Minister for Mobility Elke Van […]

Belgium’s legal framework to retrofit ICE cars to electric is ready

May 22, 2023

After France created a legal framework for retrofitting vehicles with an internal combustion engine (ICE) into an electrical (or hydrogen) EV, Belgium is also ready from June 1st, 2023. Federal Mobility Minister Georges Gilkinet (Ecolo) drafted a new Royal decree by mutual agreement with the Regions, which now have their homologation services to publish updated […]

Volvo receives record order for up to 1.000 e-trucks

May 22, 2023

Volvo Trucks has signed a letter of intent to sell 1 000 electric trucks between now and 2030 to Holcim, one of the world’s largest building solution providers. The deal is the largest commercial order to date for the company’s electric rate. The first 130 electric Volvo FH and FM trucks will be delivered to […]

Kilometer charge in Brussels continues to stir emotions

May 22, 2023

Last week, the various Belgian transport federations expressed dissatisfaction with the Flemish government’s renewed Flemish Energy and Climate Plan, which once again provides for road pricing only for trucks. Now Walloon MP François Desquesnes (Les Engagés) is also stirring in the debate on possibly introducing a kilometer charge for passenger cars. He does not want […]

Subaru to sell 400 BEVs annually in 5 years

May 22, 2023

Subaru plans to sell 200 000 battery-electric cars per year by 2026 and to create production capacity for 400 000 BEVs annually by 2028. The increase in production is to be supported by an EV-only factory in the company’s home country. Atsushi Osaki, who will replace the current CEO Tomomi Nakamura at Subaru in June, […]

Zeekr starts delivery of 001 with +1.000-km range Qilin battery (update)

May 22, 2023

In January, Zeekr, part of the Geely Group, has given its shooting brake 001 an update for 2023. Now it starts delivering the single-motor WE version with a 140-kWh battery pack as an option for around €13 000 extra. This new Qilin battery from CATL, promises a range of over 1 000 km, according to […]

App for faster green light planned in Belgium

May 19, 2023

Belgium’s Agency for Roads and Traffic (AWV) is working on an app that would soon allow you to get green faster at a traffic light. Public Dutch-language broadcaster VRT reports that. The new system should already work at some intersections in a few months. Linking the app to intelligent traffic lights will make traffic safer […]

Electric hypercar Rimac Nevera sets 23 new world records

May 19, 2023

Croatian brand Rimac has set an impressive 23 speed and performance world records in one day with its electric hypercar Nevera. The 1 914-hp machine now holds the infamous 0-400-0 kph speed and braking record, which it did in only 29,93 seconds. When the Croatian brand Rimac created the Nevera, it set out to build […]

Renault brings R5 concept to Roland-Garros 2023

May 19, 2023

Renault has been a partner of the French Roland-Garros tennis Open since 2022, bringing a specially kitted-out R5 concept in a satin-white finish at this year’s tournament. Furthermore, Renault will provide 185 hybrid and electric vehicles as official transport. For the 2023 Roland-Garros tennis Open, French carmaker Renault is embracing its role as a partner. […]

Shell and Nio open first joint swapping station

May 19, 2023

In Harmelen, the Netherlands, Shell and Nio have inaugurated their first jointly deployed swapping station. This means the Chinese EV maker network now grows to 17 stations, spread over Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands. As the roll-out plan lags, the companies hope to scale up fast. Nio follows its path with swapping stations, […]

Stricter rules drunk driving in Belgium: at 1,2% driving license lost

May 19, 2023

From 1 June, Belgium is lowering the threshold for immediate revocation of the driving license of those drunk behind the wheel. The standard then lowers from 1,5% to 1,2%. This was announced by Mobility Minister Georges Gilkinet (Ecolo). The measure will come into force on 1 June. To tackle alcohol behind the wheel even more […]

BMW to build ‘New Class’ in China and goes boating in Cannes

May 19, 2023

As already mentioned earlier, BMW will launch its dedicated electric ‘new class’ of cars in 2025, with initial production in Europe and also in the United States. Today, the Munich car manufacturer announced that the ‘Neue Klasse’ will also be built in China. Meanwhile, the Group showed off on another level in Cannes (where the […]

e.Volution Space: the car that lasts for half a century

May 19, 2023

The University of Aachen has spawned a sustainable car meant to stick around for fifty years. The boxy SUV propagates flexibility and features not only swappable materials but also swappable drivelines. It’s survival of the fittest but on wheels – an answer to the uncertainties of today and the challenges of tomorrow. The Space, a […]

EU car registrations up again in April

May 19, 2023

In April 2023, the EU car market saw a significant increase in passenger car registrations, with 803 188 units sold, marking a 17,2% growth from the previous year. All the EU’s major markets grew solidly last month, with Italy (+29,2%) and France (+21,9%) leading the way. From January to April 2023, the EU car market […]

Brussel hands out 180 000 hours of free parking tickets

May 19, 2023

A charm offensive by the city of Brussels toward merchants and shopping motorists. Indeed, the city of Brussels is going to distribute thousands of free parking tickets. This was announced by Alderman for Economic Affairs, Fabian Maingain (DEFI). By doing so, he wants to support downtown merchants while encouraging “efficient mobility solutions”. Guide motorists’ behavioral […]

Mercedes VAN.EA to increase e-van sales to 50%

May 19, 2023

Mercedes has unveiled its new VAN.EA architecture. The modular underpinnings can house a variety of van models, from medium to large, and must significantly boost electrifying its utility department. The first models on the new platform are expected in 2026. The VAN.EA platform, which will be produced in sites all over the world from Mercedes, […]

Meet the all-electric Nissan Navara: Ebro

May 19, 2023

It’s been two years since Nissan ceased production of the Nissan Navara and closed its factory near Barcelona. But a Spanish group of investors is reanimating the model and preparing to launch an all-electric Navara called Ebro. As pickup trucks are challenging to comply with stern emission rulings in the EU, Nissan decided to withdraw […]

Brussels MR wants ban on bikes and e-scooters in busy pedestrian areas

May 17, 2023

The Brussels MR has proposed a bill to ban bicycles and e-scooters in busy pedestrian zones in the capital. Currently, the maximum speed allowed there is officially 8 km/hour. Cyclists and e-scooter users who ride too fast through the pedestrian zones risk a fine of 174 euros. The MR justifies the ban by “the explosion […]

ArcelorMittal to build new e-steel unit for EV motors in France

May 17, 2023

Steel giant ArcelorMittal announced it will build a new unit at its existing site in Mardyck (North of France) to produce 220 000 tons of steel for EV motors starting in 2024. With this 300 million euros investment, ArcelorMittal will triple the production of this type of electrical steel with specific magnetic properties due to […]

GM confirms return to Europe

May 17, 2023

The number one American car manufacturer General Motors is gearing up for its return to Europe with an EV line-up. The Cadillac Lyriq could be among the first to hit the road here, as the carmaker is preparing to kick off EV sales in Europe this autumn, but only in some countries. GM European President […]

Belgian bicycle market sprints to top result: +19%

May 17, 2023

After a slight decrease in 2021, mainly due to delivery problems, the Belgian bicycle market has grown by a substantial 19% to almost 700 000 units (695 871 to be precise), or 110 958 more than in 2021. The corona problems are clearly behind us, and plenty of bicycles and spare parts are available. According […]

Ford to introduce E-Tourneo Courier

May 17, 2023

A few weeks after the compact electric delivery van E-Transit Courier, Ford also presented its passenger car version, E-Tourneo Courier. The battery-electric five-seater with a length of just under 4,40 meters and an “SUV-inspired design” is intended to score with a generous amount of space for passengers and luggage. With an output of 100 kW, […]

Ostend airport gets 66 000 solar panels

May 16, 2023

There will be 66 200 solar panels on the grounds around Ostend airport. Energy company EnergyVision will start installing them there in autumn. Ostend-Bruges airport will so become one of the largest solar parks in Belgium. The project involves an investment of 35 million euros. The electricity generated should power the airport, while part also […]

Dieselgate: finally Belgian class action against VW on trial

May 16, 2023

Nine years after the Dieselgate scandal ‘exploded’, Volkswagen and its Belgian importer D’Ieteren Auto are facing trial in Brussels in a class action initiated by consumer organization Test Aankoop/Test Achat (TA). According to TA, several trials abroad have proved enough that Volkswagen has used cheating software in its cars. D’Ieteren itself admitted 300 000 vehicles […]

EU backs Spanish subsidy program for EV batteries

May 16, 2023

The EU Commission has approved an 837 million euros program by the Spanish government to support the production of batteries for EVs. This reports the news site elective.com. The program is open to battery manufacturers and suppliers of essential components or related materials. The Spanish government plans to launch two new electric vehicle and battery […]

TotalEnergies to build large battery farm in Antwerp

May 16, 2023

The French petroleum giant, TotalEneries, is planning to build a large battery park next to its Antwerp refinery. On Monday, the company announced its plans for constructing a 25 MW battery farm at its Antwerp oil refinery. With a storage capacity of 75 MWh, the battery can store enough energy to provide 10 000 families […]

Is Renault brooding on a €20 000 BEV?

May 16, 2023

French car manufacturer Renault is working on a €20 000 EV to make electric car ownership more mainstream and affordable in Europe. The carmaker is thus taking up the challenge with the Volkswagen Group (and probably a bunch of Chinese manufacturers to come) to serve the lowest segments of the car industry. The proposed EV, […]

Is Macron wooing Musk to bring Tesla production to France?

May 16, 2023

French President Macron is accelerating his plans to put France at the forefront of the zero-emission transition in the automotive industry. After his CO2 tax favoring local-built EVs and announcing a battery plant in Northern France, Macron met with Elon Musk at the Choose France Summit to discuss an investment. After the summit, which took […]

Maserati officializes death of V8 and commits to electric

May 16, 2023

At the fifth Motor Valley Fest, an open-air event in Modena during last weekend, Maserati reinforced its push toward electric drive. The House of the Trident announced special Zéda editions of its Levante, Ghibli, and Quattroporte to mark the end of production of its V8 engine, set for late 2023. After having already announced and […]