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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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; […]
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 […]
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) […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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. […]
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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
February 16, 2026
Drunk drivers will now be punished in the same way throughout Belgium. Anyone caught driving with a blood alcohol level of more than 0.8% will have their driver’s license suspended for 15 days on the spot. Minister of Justice Annelies Verlinden (CD&V) has signed a circular letter to this effect, which takes effect immediately and […]
February 16, 2026
China’s car industry is facing a regulatory reset. After the fire-prone battery standards and the ban on retractable door handles, a new draft for safety rules published by the country’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) signals two remarkable backsteps: no more yoke-style steering wheels and no more screen-dominated dashboards. Could this ripple through […]
February 16, 2026
In early 2026, China’s luxury passenger car market reached a critical inflexion point as traditional European premium brands collectively adjusted pricing strategies amid continued sales erosion in the world’s largest auto market, according to the influential local website 36kr. Data from the 2025 calendar year showed that cumulative China sales for BMW, Mercedes‑Benz, and Audi […]
February 16, 2026
Stellantis has announced the return of diesel to several European compact cars, including the Peugeot 308, Opel Astra, and DS 4. The technology will also remain central to the group’s light commercial vehicle portfolio. The move is presented as a matter of market realism. After years of forceful electrification messaging, the signal is unmistakable: consumer […]
February 16, 2026
Following its brand activation in early January 2026, BMW Alpina is presenting itself as an exclusive new brand under the BMW Group’s custodianship. “The brand embodies an exceptional balance of supreme ride comfort and high performance,” says the press release. “The new badge design complements the recently revealed wordmark, collectively defining the brand’s contemporary iconography.” […]
February 13, 2026
As of today, Brussels Airlines has two Tintin aircraft in service, though this will be temporary. The airline is introducing a new themed aircraft based entirely on the characters from the famous comic series by artist Hergé. The first Tintin aircraft, which was also Brussels Airlines’ very first themed aircraft in 2015, will be removed […]
February 13, 2026
The climate is no longer the US government’s problem. On Thursday, the Trump administration rolled back the mechanism allowing the government to regulate planet-heating pollution. Trump says he believes climate change is a hoax, and has withdrawn the United States from global efforts to combat it. President Trump officially disavowed scientific research that labels CO2 […]
February 13, 2026
Waymo has begun operating its latest autonomous driving system on public roads without safety drivers. In the long contest to commercialise robotaxis, the company moves one step ahead of its rivals. With a cheaper hardware stack, a planned 50,000-vehicle supply deal with Hyundai, and ambitions to exceed one million paid rides per week, this subsidiary […]
February 13, 2026
Toyota has unveiled the 2027 Toyota Highlander EV, aimed first at the US market and marking a significant moment for the Japanese automaker: one of its core global nameplates is transitioning from hybrid and combustion power to full battery electric. The move signals not a sudden ideological conversion to electric mobility, but a carefully calculated […]
February 13, 2026
Fresh registration data from Benchmark Mineral Intelligence (BMI), the UK-based market intelligence firm tracking the global EV, battery, and critical minerals supply chains, show worldwide EV registrations (battery-electric and plug-in hybrid combined) fell 3% year-on-year in January to just under 1.2 million units. The decline was driven by a sharp reversal in China and a […]
February 13, 2026
Toyota has overtaken Volkswagen in battery-electric car sales in China. A symbolic passing of the crown in the world’s largest car market that underlines the growing pressure on Europe’s biggest automaker. The reversal comes as Volkswagen has slipped to third place overall in China, ceding ground to domestic rivals and exposing the limits of its […]
February 13, 2026
The European Commission has exempted Volkswagen’s Cupra brand from additional tariffs on its China-built Tavascan. Cupra is the first automaker to secure approval under the EU’s price floor mechanism for Chinese-made battery electric vehicles. In detail, the decision removes a 20.7 percent anti-subsidy duty that had been applied on top of the bloc’s standard 10 […]
February 12, 2026
German premium car manufacturer BMW is recalling some 575,000 cars worldwide to replace the starter motor, which can fail to function or, in rare cases, overheat and catch fire. Models of concern are found throughout the BMW portfolio: the 2-Series coupe, 3-, 4-, and 5-Series, the 6-Series Gran Turismo and the 7-Series, the X4, X5, […]
