November 10, 2025
After weeks of rising concerns across Europe’s car industry, shipments of Nexperia semiconductors are moving again. It’s a relief for automakers but also a stark reminder of how fragile Europe’s industrial supplier network has become. Volkswagen, Continental spinoff Aumovio, and Bosch have all confirmed receiving new deliveries from the Chinese-owned chipmaker. The disruption began when […]
November 10, 2025
Toyota’s indestructible Hilux, long defined by diesel torque and unshakeable dependability, is stepping into uncharted territory. The ninth-generation, on order as of December, marks the most significant shift in the model’s 55-year history with the arrival of a battery-electric version. Also, a hydrogen-powered model will follow. The fully electric Hilux BEV leads the launch, hitting […]
November 10, 2025
When Chinese electric carmaker XPeng Motors unveiled its new humanoid robot Iron last week, the audience at a Guangzhou tech fair couldn’t believe their eyes. The tall, silver-skinned figure glided across the stage with slow, deliberate female movements — so human that murmurs rippled through the crowd. “It’s just a woman in a suit.” But […]
November 10, 2025
The latest ‘Electromobility Report’ from the Center of Automotive Management (CAM) in Bergisch Gladbach, Germany, shows that e-mobility worldwide has been experiencing a significant upswing so far this year. In the world regions most important to the automotive industry – China, Europe, and the USA – approximately 12.8 million highly electrified vehicles were sold from the […]
November 07, 2025
Upway, which claims to be the global market leader in refurbished e-bikes, has just raised $60 million in funding to give new life to 1 million e-bikes by 2030. This brings the total funding raised since its founding in 2021 to more than $125 million. The company’s business model is simple: Upway buys used e-bikes, refurbishes them […]
November 07, 2025
The European Commission wants to accelerate the rollout of the high-speed rail network by 2040. By significantly reducing travel times between European capitals, rail is set to become a more attractive alternative to short-haul flights. The ambitious plan also includes a new high-speed connection between Lisbon and Paris via Madrid. This would allow train passengers […]
November 07, 2025
It does resound in a Trumpian style. Too big and brash to be countered, Elon Musk raked in the approval from Tesla’s shareholders for his incredible record pay package of $1 trillion (€920 billion). But will the Tesla CEO be free from the court, after it blocked his previous wages? Tesla shareholders have voted to […]
November 07, 2025
More than half of all electric cars on Belgian roads are leased or rented. According to new figures from the vehicle rental federation Renta, its members alone operate 195,990 fully electric cars, representing 51% of Belgium’s total EV fleet. The data highlight the crucial role of corporate leasing in driving the country’s vehicle electrification. Renta […]
November 06, 2025
Launched in 1992, Renault Twingo radically transformed the A segment with its bold new vision of the city car. Today, Renault wants to reinvent the electric A segment, with a bold ‘reinvention’ of its former success story. “Contrary to popular belief, the current size of the A segment is not a reflection of low demand: […]
November 06, 2025
German luxury carmaker BMW Group more than tripled its earnings in the third quarter, the company announced on Wednesday, in a rare beacon of hope for the country’s ailing automotive industry. Net profit came in at about €1.7 billion between July and September, compared to €476 million in the same quarter last year, when BMW […]
November 06, 2025
On the eve of the UN climate summit in Brazil, the EU climate ministers reached an agreement on a 2040 climate target on Wednesday morning. The EU member states have agreed to the European Commission’s proposal to reduce CO2 emissions by 90 percent by 2040 compared to 1990. However, the agreement has been weakened in several areas. […]
November 06, 2025
Beijing Mercedes-Benz has launched the Chinese variant of the Mercedes CLA EQ, the all-electric version of the third-gen CLA. It features a longer wheelbase and some localized technology, but is built on the same platform and uses the same electric drivetrain. And yet, it’s almost half the price of the European version. The all-new Mercedes […]
November 06, 2025
The first Brussels ANPR cameras, initially intended for the low-emission zone (LEZ) and average speed checks, have been connected to the national police network. This involves 450 cameras. The integration allows all six Brussels police zones to access live data and footage in real time. Connecting the cameras to the brand-new national police platform ANPR@GPI […]
November 06, 2025
BMW CEO Oliver Zipse confirmed the i3 name for the next Neue Klasse model during the company’s quarterly results call. Production is scheduled to begin in Munich in the second half of 2026, followed by rollouts at additional plants. “With the eighth generation of the 3 Series, we will bring the Neue Klasse and its […]
November 06, 2025
Four companies are joining forces to realize a world first in green hydrogen. On a site in Namur, Belgium, they will build in 2026 the world’s first ‘commercial’ solar hydrogen park based on Belgian Solhyd technology, catching ‘green hydrogen’ directly from the air with sunlight. By choosing Namur, not a sunnier spot like the desert, […]
November 05, 2025
In March, the Mobility Committee of the Brussels Parliament already reached a consensus: Villo!, the public bike-sharing system, is underperforming and urgently needs to be replaced. A new report by the Brussels Institute for Statistics and Analysis (IBSA) now confirms this negative trend. Between 2018 and 2024, Villo! rented out no less than 40,2% fewer […]
November 05, 2025
The electricity company Ontario Power Generation (OPG), one of Canada’s leading energy producers, is exploring the possibility of deploying new small modular reactors (SMRs) in Belgium. To this end, it has signed a letter of intent with the Belgian Nuclear Forum. Various newspapers, including De Tijd and La Libre Belgique, have reported this. The De […]
November 05, 2025
Cléa Martinet, Renault’s Director of Sustainability, says that “by 2028, manufacturing costs are expected to fall by around 40% compared with the first generation of the electric Megane.” In an interview with the German magazine Autoflotte.de, she explained that the most significant levers are the switch to LFP battery cells, more efficient electric drives, and […]
November 05, 2025
After nearly two years of delay, ICO in Zeebrugge has broken ground on what will become Europe’s first fully automated multilevel parking system for finished vehicles. This €50-million-plus project marks a new chapter for the continent’s automotive logistics, ICO’s Japanese parent company NYK announced. The installation, a collaboration between ICO and Belgian partners Stow Group and […]
November 05, 2025
The second-hand car market was quieter in October than last year, with a 2.8% decline to 65,351 units. In October 2024, 67,201 used cars were registered, 4,203 more than in October 2023. The used car market continues to perform well, with 621,316 used cars registered over the past 10 months, an increase of 0.5% compared […]
November 05, 2025
The EU has been revising its CO2 regulations for companies for some time now, and many companies fear an early combustion engine ban through the back door. The Commission is expected to present its plans in mid-December. According to the German specialized magazine Automobilwoche, citing industrial sources, the EU Commission intends to present its plans […]
November 05, 2025
Geely’s Swedish-Chinese subbrand Zeekr has just rolled out a refreshed version with more power, more range, and a surprisingly long list of luxury features of its compact electric SUV, the Zeekr X, a sibling to the Volvo EX30 (Belgium-built )and the Smart #1. It packs a 61.47 kWh LFP battery, offering up to 530 km […]
November 04, 2025
Renault’s electric Ampere division and Stratus Materials have closed a Joint Development Agreement (JDA). The aim is to use cobalt-free battery technology in the next generation of electric vehicles. This so-called LXMO technology offers an energy density comparable to that of NMC (Nickel-Manganese-Cobalt) batteries at a lower price, similar to that of LFP (Lithium-Iron-Phosphate) batteries. […]
November 04, 2025
SBRS, Shell’s heavy-duty charging solutions subsidiary, and Belgian transport firm Remitrans have partnered to open the first semi-public truck charging station in Europe. The two 400 kW fast-chargers are open for the public during the day, but only available for Remitrans’ vehicles during the night. Semi-public chargers are nothing new. For electric cars, these solutions […]
November 04, 2025
Ryanair posted a net profit of 1.72 billion euros in the second quarter of this fiscal year, an increase of 20% compared to the same period last year. The higher profit was due to more expensive ticket prices. The Irish low-cost airline also expects passenger numbers to grow faster than expected this year. Ryanair, Europe’s […]
November 04, 2025
A large-scale analysis by German automobile club ADAC has provided new real-world insight into the ageing of plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) batteries, confirming a pattern already observed in international studies: smaller batteries, such as those in plug-in hybrids, tend to degrade faster than the larger packs used in fully electric vehicles (BEVs). The ADAC study, […]
November 04, 2025
The Spanish carmaker Ebro has unveiled the S900, a large, seven-seat plug-in hybrid SUV designed to push it into the same league as Europe’s established players. Once known for its sturdy commercial vehicles, Ebro has re-emerged as an SUV brand, with a bit of help from China. Ebro’s name doesn’t resound widely across Europe (yet?), […]
November 04, 2025
According to data from the federal government service Mobility & Transport and the sector federation Febiac, 33,955 cars were registered in Belgium and Luxembourg in October 2025, 6.8% fewer than in the same month last year. Once again, the decrease is due to the professional market (-10.3%, 20,726 registrations compared to 23,112 last year in […]
November 04, 2025
Renault Group, Geely Holding Group, and Geely Automobile Holdings (together, ‘Geely’) have signed agreements under which Geely will acquire a 26.4% stake in Renault do Brasil. This transaction continues the strategic cooperation between Renault Group and Geely. The aim is to enhance the development of the Renault and Geely brands in Brazil while paving the […]
November 03, 2025
Thanks to the Paris Climate Agreement, our planet is no longer heading toward a catastrophic 4 degrees of warming, but is still facing an additional 2.6 degrees Celsius. That is what climate specialists from the World Weather Attribution and Climate Central have calculated. Ten years ago, the Paris Climate Agreement was signed. World leaders pledged […]
November 03, 2025
Chinese EV giant Xpeng has begun mass production of a ‘real flying car’ with the first flying body rolling of the assembly line. It’s the first time a major automaker, not a start-up, has crossed that line. Xpeng’s flying-car division, recently rebranded Aridge, announced this week that the first model rolled off the line at […]
November 03, 2025
The financial problems of the trendy, stylish Brussels bicycle brand Cowboy may have been mainly resolved by its takeover by the French bicycle group Rebirth. Still, for owners of its e-bikes, these remain uncertain times that often lead to despair in the event of a breakdown. As it happens, you sometimes have to wait months […]
November 03, 2025
Audi’s third-quarter earnings have risen sharply, mainly because last year, the burden of shutting down its Brussels plant weighed heavily on the results. However, the positive figures mask deeper financial strain from tariffs, falling volumes in China, and rising costs associated with its transition to electric vehicles. Audi reported an operating profit of €468 million […]
November 03, 2025
The Nexperia crisis is entering an easing phase. China has said it will grant case-by-case exemptions from its ban on Nexperia chip exports. This could offer a lifeline to automakers scrambling to secure supplies. In the meantime, industry leaders warn that recovery from the disruption could take months. The Ministry of Commerce said eligible firms […]
November 03, 2025
BMW is one of the first European car manufacturers to receive approval for its driver assistance system (DCAS). The German carmaker can now offer its ‘Motorway Assistant’ for the new iX3 in 60 countries without having to apply for approval in each country. The DCAS regulation was adopted by the United Nations Economic Commission for […]
November 03, 2025
Solid Power, the U.S.-based battery developer, has made a new step to accelerate the commercialization of its all-solid-state battery technology, joining forces with Samsung SDI and BMW Group in a move that could signal a new phase in the industry’s long quest to move beyond conventional lithium-ion cells. The partnership, announced in late October, brings […]
October 31, 2025
“The United Nations’ Green Climate Fund (GCF) has had a record year in terms of approving projects in countries vulnerable to climate change, thanks in part to reforms that have reduced bureaucratic hurdles,” said its Executive Director, Mafalda Duarte, in an interview with AFP. GCF, founded in 2015 and based in Songdo (South Korea), is the […]
October 31, 2025
Subaru has presented a vision of how its performance arm can be made future-proof. At the Japan Mobility Show, the automaker introduced the Performance-E STI Concept, a quite attractive electric hatchback that reimagines the brand’s storied STI badge. Don’t look for turbocharged boxer engines underneath this one. It’s been three years since Subaru dropped the […]
October 31, 2025
Virgin Trains, the railway company owned by British businessman Richard Branson, has received permission from the British regulator, the Office of Rail and Road (ORR), to share a central rail depot in east London, where trains are maintained and parked, with Eurostar. With the application approved, Virgin Trains is removing a significant barrier to the […]
October 31, 2025
Kei cars are Japanese car culture at heart. So it’s symbolic and sensitive at the same time that Chinese automaker BYD has pulled the wraps off its first kei car, the Racco, at the 2025 Japan Mobility Show. Though the car is small, it is a bold step into Japan’s compact-car market. The Racco writes […]
October 31, 2025
Four years after the Japanese carmaker virtually disappeared from the Belgian market, Mitsubishi is back, as we wrote earlier. Test-driving on Spanish roads, the two latest additions to the lineup—the hybrid Grandis and the fully electric Eclipse Cross—there’s one thing that’s immediately apparent. Driving electric is so much more fun. And it makes sense for […]
October 30, 2025
German carmaker Mercedes-Benz on Wednesday said its third-quarter profit fell nearly 31% year on year, as Germany’s crucial automotive sector struggles amid rising costs, competition, and trade barriers. Profit fell to €1.19 billion from €1.71 billion in the third quarter of 2024. Adjusted group earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) slipped to about €2 billion […]
October 30, 2025
After more than ten years of research and fine-tuning of its pilot plant in Istanbul, Turkish SynPet Technologies has chosen the Port of Antwerp to build its first large-scale plastic recycling plant. The project will represent a 300-million-euro investment. If all goes according to plan, the plant will be operational in 2028 and will process […]
October 30, 2025
The Flemish public transport company De Lijn continues to rack up fines for violations of the low-emission zone (LEZ). In the first six months of this year, it has already paid almost 150,000 euros in fines, more than double the total spent in 2024. De Lijn will also have to pay LEZ fines next year. After […]
October 30, 2025
According to the American billionaire and philanthropist Bill Gates, global warming “is not going to lead to the disappearance of humanity”. While climate change will have “serious consequences, particularly for people in the poorest countries, […] people will be able to live and prosper on most of the planet in the near future,” writes Bill […]
October 30, 2025
From June 3, Brussels Airlines will fly twice a week to Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, as a stopover on flights to Nairobi, Kenya. Brussels Airlines specializes in flights to Africa. Next year, the airline will offer 18 destinations there. Parent company Lufthansa, on the other hand, will cut several European connections and domestic flights from its 2026 […]
October 30, 2025
Honda has revealed two new electric prototypes at the Japan Mobility Show 2025 in Tokyo: the Honda 0 α SUV and the compact Super-ONE Prototype. Both models represent the next step in the company’s electrification strategy. The Honda 0 α joins the Honda 0 Series lineup, following the Honda 0 Saloon and Honda 0 SUV […]
October 30, 2025
During the press conference at the Japan Mobility Show 2025 on Wednesday, Mazda Motor Corporation unveiled two concepts, the Mazda Vision X-Coupé and the Mazda Vision X-Compact (‘X’ pronounced as ‘cross’). Both are embodying the Company’s theme for this year’s exhibition: ‘The Joy of Driving Fuels a Sustainable Tomorrow’ for 2035. “This phrase expresses not […]
October 30, 2025
The mandatory technical inspection for second-hand motorcycles in Flanders will be abolished in mid-2026, barely three years after its introduction. Pretty unpopular among bike riders, it resulted in 21,000 fewer second-hand motorcycles sold in 2024. Motorcycles will no longer have to be inspected when sold or after an accident, and no periodic inspection will replace […]
October 29, 2025
Among the many concept and production vehicles from traditional car manufacturers present at the Japan Mobility Show 2025, there’s also a booth from… TV and household appliance maker Sharp. The Japanese company has unveiled its second interpretation of an electric car that serves as an addition to the household, rather than just a means of […]
October 29, 2025
French train manufacturer Alstom is consolidating its activities in Belgium and Luxembourg into its French entity, according to business newspaper L’Echo. At the same time, it is also parting ways with its Benelux CEO, Bernard Belvaux. “The new organizational structure will take effect on December 1 and reflects the close ties that exist between the […]
October 29, 2025
The lack of action on climate change claims millions of lives every year and puts health care systems under strain. “The climate crisis has become a health crisis,” states the latest Lancet Countdown report, published today in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO). The Lancet researchers have found that 12 of 20 key indicators tracking […]
October 29, 2025
The Kia PV5 is proving its chops as a professional vehicle. It not only offers a comfortable range according to the WLTP test cycle, but also a fully loaded range, as this new Guinness World Record proves: 693.38 km in an electric van with maximum payload on a single charge! The Kia PV5 is the […]
October 29, 2025
Anyone wishing to visit the Citadel and the rock above the Walloon city of Dinant will no longer be able to do so by cable car. A technical report has identified wear and tear and aging, which means the cable car will have to be temporarily shut down, possibly for 1.5 to 2 years, to […]
October 29, 2025
Renault’s sports car brand Alpine has confirmed an all-electric successor to its combustion-engined A110. Production of the current model will end in mid-2026, paving the way for the third-generation, fully electric A110, based on the new Alpine Performance Platform (APP). Alpine has officially confirmed that the next generation of its iconic A110 will be fully […]
October 29, 2025
Around 300 employees at Opel’s vehicle testing facilities near Frankfurt are set to lose their jobs as French engineering firm Segula Technologies, which operates the sites, winds down its activities following insolvency. The two affected facilities, in Rodgau-Dudenhofen and Rüsselsheim, which have long been central to Opel’s engineering heritage, are among the most significant test […]
October 29, 2025
Thirty years after the first Sprinter came to market, the fourth generation of Mercedes’ popular van is almost ready to hit the stage. As a small preview of its design, Mercedes has unveiled The BOuLDER, a sculpture that shows the fourth-generation van breaking out of its rocky shell. Exactly when Mercedes will unveil its newest […]
October 29, 2025
Chery, China’s 4th-largest auto manufacturer, might not yet be a familiar name to most Western European consumers. And yet, it has been China’s largest auto exporter for over 20 years. We travelled to Chery HQ in Wuhu, China, to attend the 2025 Chery International User Summit and learn how the company plans to become China’s […]
October 28, 2025
The Council of State is very critical of the Flemish plans to abolish the tightening of low-emission zones from 2026. According to the Council’s advice, which Belga was able to view, the intervention entails a “significant deterioration” in health and the environment. The original plan was to further tighten the rules from 2026 onward, meaning that owners […]
October 28, 2025
According to the data provided by the Association of European Car Manufacturers (ACEA), new EU car registrations increased by 0.9% compared to the same nine months last year, marking the third consecutive month of growth. This recent momentum has been driven in part by the launch of new models, with September alone posting a strong […]
