Fifth facelift for the world’s best-selling micro EV

February 27, 2026

SAIC-GM-Wuling has unveiled the fifth generation of its iconic Hongguang Mini EV, the lilliputian electric car that has sold more than 1.8 million units since its 2020 debut. The update brings retro-inspired styling cues and a clear signal that the tiny EV’s remarkable run is far from over. The numbers are staggering. The Hongguang Mini […]

The world’s first Porsche Club exclusively for electric drivers

February 27, 2026

Among the 700-plus Porsche Clubs worldwide, not a single one was dedicated to battery-electric models. Until now. A group of Italian Taycan and Macan owners decided to change that. The Registro Italiano E-motion is now officially the first Porsche Club on the planet to welcome only drivers of fully electric sports cars. The club grew […]

From hay to hydrogen: Kawasaki’s robotic horse gets serious

February 27, 2026

At Expo 2025 Osaka-Kansai, Kawasaki Heavy Industries first rolled out a life-size robotic horse, a hydrogen-powered mechanical stallion with four articulated legs, a saddle, stirrups, and a head-up display. At that time, most observers filed it somewhere between anime fantasy and corporate fever dream. But it’s actually becoming a reality: Kawasaki is going to build […]

Engie offers free electricity during ‘Happy Hours’ in Belgium

February 26, 2026

Electricity provider Engie offers free electricity during ‘happy hours’ when there is an oversupply of renewable energy. The offer applies to all Engie electricity customers, regardless of their contract. They only have to have a digital meter. Customers can register starting today by activating the Happy Hours service, and the offer is valid until June 1st. The […]

Stuck in eternal turnaround: Aston Martin cuts fifth of its workforce

February 26, 2026

Aston Martin is living up to its reputation of ‘The English Patient’, and remains stuck in what seems an eternal struggle to crawl from loss to profit despite several capital injections of the past few years. Its latest financial results prompt the British luxury carmaker to cut up to 20 percent of its roughly 3,000-strong […]

Flemish driving test centers tighten rules to combat fraud

February 26, 2026

The Flemish government and driving test centers are taking measures to combat exam fraud and abuse, according to the Mediahuis newspapers. From now on, it will be mandatory to register via the Itsme app or another digital key, such as an eID, to make an appointment for a driving exam, and there will be many […]

70.000 Flemish risk fine for not registering home charging station

February 26, 2026

Tens of thousands of Flemish people risk a fine for failing to register a home charging station. Anyone installing a private charging point for an electric car, for example, in the driveway or garage, has been required to report this to Fluvius since June 2021, just as this is mandatory when installing solar panels or a home […]

Income gap slows Belgium’s EV transition, Deloitte study finds

February 26, 2026

According to Deloitte’s latest Global Automotive Consumer Study, just 12 percent of Belgian consumers say a battery electric vehicle (BEV) would be their next car, up only marginally from 11 percent a year earlier. Behind that modest figure lies a stark income divide. Among households earning less than €27,000 per year, 59 percent prefer a […]

Volvo adds a cheaper base model to fix sliding sales of EX30 

February 26, 2026

Volvo announced a new entry-level variant of its smallest EV, the EX30. It is expected to start in the low 30,000 euro range in select European markets, well below the current Belgian starting price of 38,990 euros for the 200 kW Single Motor variant. It will be positioned as the cheapest Volvo in the lineup, […]

Stellantis posts dramatic €22.3bn loss in historic 2025 reset

February 26, 2026

Franco-Italian-American carmaker Stellantis Group has delivered one of the most dramatic earnings collapses in modern European automotive history. It reported a net loss of €22.3 billion for 2025 on revenues of €153.5 billion, confirming analyst expectations and placing the group among the largest annual loss-makers ever associated with a French corporate champion. The scale of […]

Low sun causes 160 accidents per year on Walloon roads

February 25, 2026

We haven’t seen much sun in Belgium this year, but now that the first signs of spring are appearing, the Walloon Road Safety Agency (AWSR) is warning about glare from the sun in traffic at this time of the year. During these months, the sun is low on the horizon at exactly the times when […]

T&E: ‘EU fleets law could boost EV sales’

February 25, 2026

According to new T&E research, a new EU law to electrify the vehicle fleets of large companies could deliver 57% of the electric vehicle (EV) sales that carmakers need in 2030. While carmakers claim there is insufficient EV demand to meet their 2030 EU CO2 targets, T&E’s analysis shows that an ambitious company cars law […]

Drone Cargo Port, where drones can (un)load parcels independently

February 25, 2026

At Droneport in Sint-Truiden, the Antwerp-based medical drone company Helicus is showcasing an automated ‘Drone Cargo Port’. The system is comparable to a parcel-locker-like terminal, where drones can independently load and unload parcels. It was designed to automate the air-to-ground cargo handoff – loading/unloading workflows, standardized handling, and repeatable operations. The technology has been specifically developed […]

Flemish plans for revising car inspection meet criticism

February 25, 2026

Flemish Mobility Minister Annick De Ridder  (N-VA) wants to reorganize and simplify the mandatory car inspection in the region. She wants it to be more consumer-friendly and offer higher-quality service. According to the Minister, the current organisational model of the vehicle inspection system in Flanders no longer meets contemporary citizens’ expectations regarding public authorities and […]

Opel teases Corsa GSE: electric hot hatch coming in 2026

February 25, 2026

Opel has decided to bless the current Corsa, which is nearing the end of its lifespan, with a flagship GSE version. The electric hot hatch is coming later in 2026 and will likely share its internals with its French and Italian siblings, the Peugeot E-208 GTi and the Lancia Ypsilon HF. Back in 2022, Opel […]

A10/B03X: Leapmotor’s first serious bid for Europe’s EV mass market

February 25, 2026

China’s Leapmotor has revealed the first official interior images of its new compact electric SUV, the A10, offering a clearer picture of the model that will spearhead the brand’s push into Europe’s affordable EV segment. The A10, to be marketed in Europe as the B03X in the second half of 2026, is positioned as a […]

Renault partners with Basquevolt on lithium-metal cells

February 25, 2026

Renault’s Ampere division has signed a development agreement with Basquevolt to accelerate the development and validation of lithium-metal batteries for future electric vehicles. Lithium-metal batteries represent a major technological leap in energy density compared to current lithium-ion batteries with liquid electrolytes. The Renault Group claims that Basquevolt has already demonstrated its technology’s ability to achieve […]

Renault buys out Volvo Trucks & CMA CGM, takes full control over Flexis

February 24, 2026

Flexis, the joint venture between Renault Group, Volvo Group, and CMA CGM, was founded in 2024 to develop an advanced, software-driven electric LCV architecture to accelerate the development of electric vans. Now, Renault has announced it will acquire full ownership of Flexis and carry the project through to completion in France. Flexis was founded with […]

BMW drops Level-3: reality check for EU autonomous-driving goals

February 24, 2026

According to the German leading car magazine, Automobilwoche, BMW is abandoning its Level-3 automated-driving ambitions for the 7 Series. The headline sounded like a retreat. In reality, it may be a recalibration and a revealing one. BMW will discontinue its ‘Personal Pilot L3’ system in the 7 Series as part of the upcoming model update […]

Flemish kilometer charge for trucks becomes ‘greener’

February 24, 2026

From July 1, CO2 emissions from vehicles will be taken into account when calculating the kilometer charge for trucks in Flanders. The more environmentally friendly the truck, the lower the rate. This has been announced by Viapass, the body that coordinates the kilometer charge in Belgium. This rate change aligns with European requirements and aims […]

Hydrogen sales rebound in Asia but FCEV passenger cars dream fades

February 24, 2026

It has become fashionable in European automotive circles to speak of hydrogen in the past tense. The mood darkened further last week as Cummins confirmed it is halting electrolyser production at its Belgian plant, cutting 100 jobs. Coming after Stellantis paused its light-fuel-cell commercial vehicle plans, it feels like another nail in a very expensive […]

EU car registrations fell 3.9% in January, BEV market share rose to 19.3%

February 24, 2026

According to data from the European Car Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA), new EU car registrations fell by 3.9% year on year in January, marking a second consecutive challenging start to the year for the market. “The battery-electric car market share reached 19.3%, highlighting the continued potential for further growth,” states ACEA’s press release. “Hybrid-electric vehicles lead […]

With over 10.3 tons per capita, Belgians rank 6th in EU climate footprint

February 24, 2026

Despite a sharp decline, Belgium’s climate footprint remains one of the largest in the European Union. According to the latest Eurostat report, Belgians emitted an average of over 10.3 tons of greenhouse gases in 2023, about 15% above the EU average, and roughly 60% above the world average. In 2023, the greenhouse gas footprint in the […]

Lamborghini kills its Lanzador EV: can the roar survive the electric age?

February 24, 2026

Lamborghini unveiled the Lanzador concept in August 2023, billed as the brand’s gateway to an all-electric era. That step has now been shelved, in what appears to be a calculated bet that regulatory flexibility in Europe after 2035 may allow combustion engines to survive in hybrid form. The company has scrapped plans for a pure […]

Emmanuel Al Nawakil is the new CEO of Renault Belux

February 24, 2026

On the 1st of March, Emmanuel Al Nawakil starts as the new CEO of Renault Belgium and Luxembourg. He will succeed Martin Domise, who becomes Vice President, Renault Sales & Operations Europe-Maghreb. Emmanuel Al Nawakil was born in 1979 and studied at the E.M. Lyon Business School to become master of Science in Management. He […]

De Lijn faces new strikes and municipal revolt over service cuts

February 24, 2026

To say that things are currently very turbulent at the Flemish public transport company De Lijn would be an understatement. For example, the unions at De Lijn have just submitted a strike notice for nine days of action in March and April. The reason for this is the additional cuts announced by the Flemish government […]

Airbus aims for take-off: 870 aircraft and record profits ahead

February 23, 2026

Airbus expects to deliver a record number of aircraft this year. In the title, the European aircraft manufacturer expects to deliver 870 commercial aircraft, significantly more than the 793 it delivered to customers in 2025. This would be a record – the current record dates from 2019, before the Covid-19 pandemic, with 863. Net profit […]

Not dead yet: Renault–Geely’s Horse H12 gives ICE a second wind

February 23, 2026

Horse Powertrain, the Renault–Geely joint venture, has just given the internal combustion engine one of its strongest “not-dead-yet” headlines in years. Together with Spanish energy company Repsol, it unveiled the HORSE H12 Concept: a 1.2-litre hybrid-oriented gasoline engine and powertrain concept designed to run on 100% renewable gasoline and to cut fuel consumption by around […]

Tesla facing a legal flood on accident cases with automated driving?

February 23, 2026

It has been a bruising month for the world’s most scrutinized carmaker, Tesla. As 2026 unfolds, the gap between Elon Musk’s expansive promises and the rigid realities of American courtrooms and dealership lots is widening. From a confirmed million-dollar verdict in Florida to a chaotic pricing strategy for the Cybertruck, the electric vehicle giant is […]

Norway of the Nile: how Ethiopia’s 2024 ICE ban is paying off

February 23, 2026

Two years ago, when Ethiopia announced an immediate ban on the import of internal combustion engines, everybody reacted with a mixture of skepticism and indifference. It was viewed as a bold, perhaps desperate, fiscal maneuver by a nation grappling with fuel shortages and a hard-currency deficit. But the gamble on electric driving seems to pay […]

Renault to build BEVs in Spain?

February 23, 2026

The Renault Group is still evaluating plans to manufacture the next generation of compact electric vehicles at its Palencia, Spain, plant. The company has so far produced all its EVs in factories in France, but that will change in the future. This was confirmed by Renault CEO François Provost on Thursday, following the announcement of […]

Zipse’s China bet: why BMW’s future rides on Merz’s mission

February 23, 2026

As German Chancellor Friedrich Merz prepares this week for his first official visit to Beijing since taking office, the presence of leading industrial executives underscores the trip’s strategic significance. Among them is Oliver Zipse, chief executive of BMW Group, who has made clear in remarks reported by Reuters that engagement with China is indispensable for […]

Seat launches pilot production of Cupra Raval

February 23, 2026

The Spanish Volkswagen daughter Seat says it is in the final stages of preparing for series production of the Cupra Raval at its Martorell plant. The project has now entered the pre-series phase of industrialisation, during which processes and quality standards are validated under near-series conditions ahead of the start of full-scale production. In its announcement, […]

Historic net profit of €1.75 billion for Air France-KLM

February 20, 2026

Air France-KLM can close the 2025 financial year with a bang: last year, the group posted a historic net profit of 1,75 billion euros, a remarkable achievement after the horror years of the Covid-19 pandemic. The group’s recovery is mainly due to a strategic shift towards higher-end customers and an unexpected windfall, such as lower […]

Audi RS 5 gains plug-in power but faces heavyweight wrestling in corners

February 20, 2026

Audi has officially ended the era of pure internal combustion for its mid-sized performance cars. The new RS 5 arrives as a plug-in hybrid that attempts to find a middle ground between the downsized Mercedes-AMG C 63 and the combustion-only BMW M3. It’s horses that matter most in this segment. The decision to pair the […]

MG shows how to win as a Chinese brand: one million sales in Europe

February 20, 2026

MG Motor has delivered its one-millionth vehicle to a European customer, a symbolic milestone that underlines one of the most remarkable comeback stories in the continent’s recent automotive history. Fourteen years after returning to the UK market, the former British sports car brand — now owned by China’s SAIC Motor — has become the most […]

Brussels remains leader: 1 in 6 employees opt for ‘mobility budget’

February 20, 2026

The share of employees who prefer the mobility budget over a company car continues to increase. According to HR service provider SD Worx, in the private sector, 7% of employees with a company car currently opt for the mobility budget. In Brussels, 16.2% (13.5% in 2024) of employees with a company car opt for a mobility budget; […]

Tiguan’s creator elevated to lead design for entire Volkswagen Group

February 20, 2026

The Volkswagen Group has initiated a changing of the guard in its most visible department. Andreas Mindt, currently the design chief for the Volkswagen passenger car brand, has been appointed Head of Group Design. He succeeds Michael Mauer, who is leaving the company as part of a planned generational transition. In his new role, Mindt […]

Back on track: Brussels and The Hague revive rail cooperation

February 20, 2026

The express tram between Hasselt and Maastricht was a complete failure, but Belgium and the Netherlands are once again stepping up their cooperation to tackle cross-border rail connections. Only this time, it is not a collaboration between Flanders and its northern neighbors, but one at the national level. Minister of Mobility Jean-Luc Crucke (Les Engagés) […]

Largest-ever-study confirms PHEVs burn up to five times more fuel than claimed

February 20, 2026

There is a systemic gap at the core of Europe’s plug-in hybrid policy, and it has now been measured at scale. Using real-world fuel consumption data from approximately 980,000 plug-in hybrid passenger cars collected under the EU’s official on-board fuel consumption monitoring (OBFCM) system, the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research (Fraunhofer ISI) has […]

Antwerp-Linkeroever station will be temporarily reopened

February 19, 2026

In Antwerp, national rail company NMBS and rail manager Infrabel have begun work to enable a temporary reopening of the Antwerp-Linkeroever station. Due to major renovation work on the premetro between Linkeroever and Antwerp Central Station, thousands of tram passengers will soon have to find an alternative. De Lijn provides shuttle buses, but they have […]

80% of De Lijn passengers satisfied with their journey

February 19, 2026

It seems like a PR stunt, because although newspapers are full of stories about canceled journeys, empty flex buses, outdated buses, or buses that leave too early, 8 out of 10 passengers are satisfied with their journeys on the Flemish public transport company De Lijn. The positive satisfaction survey score from last year, conducted on […]

Polestar readies largest model offensive, but hybrids remain taboo

February 19, 2026

While competitors backtrack on electrification goals, Polestar CEO Michael Lohscheller draws a hard line in the sand: the future remains electric, and there is no Plan B. Furthermore, the existing plan receives a big boost: an impressive expansion, with four new models over the next three years. Currently, the auto industry is defined by U-turns, […]

Renault’s good results overshadowed by recalculation of participation in Nissan

February 19, 2026

Today, Renault has published its yearly results. As expected, there’s a big difference between the Group’s results with or without ‘other operating income and expenses’. The former resulted in a positive figure of €715 million; the latter in a deficit of €10,931 million (or -€40.0 per share). Renault had to recalculate its 35% stake in […]

BYD’s tiny Racco for Japan, a kei car with European consequences?

February 19, 2026

Chinese BYD has revealed the interior and key specifications of the Racco, a compact urban runabout tailored to Japan’s uniquely popular kei segment. But in a European context, it could become something much more significant: a test case for whether the EU is serious about enabling a new generation of genuinely affordable small EVs. Japan’s […]

Audi will have a production version of the Concept C

February 19, 2026

When it presented its new coupé concept last year, Audi said it planned to bring the production version of the Concept C to the electric sports car platform of the Porsche Boxster and Cayman. However, after several delays and a change of CEO, these models remain uncertain at Zuffenhausen. Now, Audi clarifies: its own model […]

Ford reveals more details about its $30,000 electric pick-up truck

February 18, 2026

Ford is working on its ‘Universal EV platform’ that will underpin the next generation of electric vehicles, starting with a $30,000 pick-up truck in 2027. Now, the Blue Oval has shared more details about the upcoming model, which could become the electric alternative to the popular Maverick. Ford wants to create a new ‘Model T […]

More than half of De Lijn’s flexible buses run without passengers

February 18, 2026

More efficient, customized transport. Although the idea sounds appealing, the flex buses introduced by Flemish public transport company De Lijn in early 2024 to replace the old dial-a-bus service are anything but a resounding success. More than half, or 52%, of the nearly 18 million km traveled by flex buses last year were without passengers, […]

Mercedes-Benz sees net benefit halved in 2025 and recalls EQA/EQB (update)

February 18, 2026

Although not as precarious as for other car manufacturers, 2025 has been a complicated year for Mercedes-Benz. The German premium car manufacturer has een its net benefit almost halve while turnover decreased by 9%. Meanwhile, battery issues affecting the EQA and EQB have prompted global recalls. Mercedes-Benz has already begun replacing battery packs in North […]

Renault’s circular shift: new CEO signals industrial ambition

February 18, 2026

Renault Group’s circular-economy arm, The Future is NEUTRAL, is entering a new chapter just as the carmaker strengthens its industrial footprint in end-of-life vehicle recycling. With Grégoire de Franqueville set to take over as CEO on 1 March 2026, Renault is signalling that circularity is no longer a side strategy but a core industrial priority […]

Is VW planning a major additional cost-cutting program? (update)

February 18, 2026

According to several internal sources, the German specialized magazine Manager Magazin concludes that the Volkswagen Group is working on a new cost-cutting program targeting additional savings of up to €60 billion. Of course, economies at such a scale would involve reducing the workforce beyond the already announced 35,000 and, eventually, closing additional plants, following the […]

How the Renault 5 became France’s EV champion in 2025

February 18, 2026

According to the US-based online media outlet on electric vehicles and renewable energy, CleanTechnica, the Renault 5 was France’s best-selling battery-electric vehicle both in December and across the full year, with 37,997 registrations in 2025.  That’s nearly double the 19,207 units of the Tesla Model Y, making it the clear market leader in France’s EV […]

EU prepares ‘Europe first’ rules for EV subsidies

February 18, 2026

The European Commission is preparing legislation that would require electric vehicles to be assembled in the EU and source at least 70% of their components locally to qualify for state subsidies. The move could pave the way for a formal ‘Buy European’ industrial policy, recently called for by Volkswagen, Stellantis, and other European car manufacturers. […]

MAN proves that megawatt charging also works in the cold

February 17, 2026

MAN has demonstrated the Megawatt Charging System (MCS) ‘s capability in sub-zero temperatures during the Kempower MCS Live Winter Days 2026 in Norrköping, Sweden. The MAN eTGX charged reliably at around 750 kW, enabling fast charging of long-range e-trucks during mandatory driver breaks. The Megawatt Charging System (MCS) is the next step toward making long-range […]

Electrify the trailer, not the truck: Australia’s road train revolution

February 17, 2026

With its hot climate and long driving distances, electrification remains a challenge for the Australian trucking market. But recent innovations aim to at least increase truck efficiency without compromising on usability. The solution? Electrifying the trailers, not the trucks. With 135-tonne road trains that need to cover thousands of kilometers in sweltering 40-degree Celsius heat, […]

From eel farmer to bicycle Giant: King Liu’s 91-year ride

February 17, 2026

King Liu, founder of Taiwanese bicycle brand Giant, passed away yesterday at the age of 91. Liu founded Giant in 1972 and built his small business into the world’s largest bicycle manufacturer, producing more than 6 million bicycles per year at its peak. Liu was also passionate about bicycle culture, even though he himself had […]

Project Arrow reloaded: Canada unveils two homegrown EV visions

February 17, 2026

APMA, Canada’s only carmaker, has unveiled two ambitious electric vehicle concepts in Toronto. They present further proof that the country can design and build next-generation cars on its own. The new models are called Vector and Borealis, and could see the light of day around the end of the decade. At the 2026 Canadian International […]

Antwerp pre-metro tunnel closed for almost a year

February 16, 2026

The pre-metro tunnel in Antwerp between the Right and Left Banks of the river Scheldt will close for renovation on May 4. The work, which is urgently needed after years of underinvestment, is expected to last until the end of March 2027, which is 11 months. Some sections of the pre-metro tunnel are now more […]

Audi’s China-only E7X SUV shows it colors in winter tests

February 16, 2026

Audi’s plan to reinvent itself in China is further unfolding. Its new 670-horsepower E7X electric SUV has been spotted during winter testing, months after regulatory filings first revealed the model’s core specifications. When Audi chose to create a China-only brand written in capital letters rather than crowned by its familiar four rings, it was a […]

From rails to EV-chargers: the new wave of copper theft

February 16, 2026

High copper prices are giving copper thieves new ideas. For example, several charging cables at fast chargers in Limburg were cut last weekend, leaving them unusable. Similar damage cases were recorded in Houthalen-Helchteren, Heusden-Zolder, and Peer. The police and the public prosecutor’s office have started an investigation. Record price levels The copper price has risen sharply in […]

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