European Parliament votes for heavier trucks across borders

March 18, 2024

The European Parliament voted last week for the revision of the European Weights and Dimensions Directive, which would allow 44-ton combinations to cross the borders of member states more easily. This would increase efficiency and lower emissions per cargo unit, but it might also give diesel trucks a more significant advantage. The door has also […]

Acerta: ‘One out of three companies wants to reduce teleworking’

March 18, 2024

According to a recent survey by HR service provider Acerta Consult, more companies – one out of three business leaders – would like to reduce working from home. On the other hand, employees have a different opinion: four out of ten want to go to the office less often. The survey is based on data […]

BMW’s Vision Neue Klasse X concept leaked

March 18, 2024

In a few days, BMW will show the concept of its first SUV variant of the ‘Neue Klasse’, called Vision Neue Klasse X. Rumors have it that this iX3 successor will be the first car of BMW’s new EV class range to appear on the market by the end of next year, before the sedan […]

Porsche 911 Hybrid: with a little help from Rimac

March 18, 2024

According to Frank Moser, product manager at Porsche for both the 718 and 911 models, the Stuttgart-based sports carmaker will add electrified versions to the 911 when the current generation is facelifted in 2025. This is a pivotal moment, as the most iconic Porsche has stuck to the thrill of true combustion engines so far. […]

80% of Walloons say cohabiting among road users is ‘problematic’

March 18, 2024

Eight in ten Walloons think cohabiting among road users is problematic, and four in ten say it has deteriorated recently. This is according to a survey conducted by the Walloon Road Safety Agency (AWSR) on aggressiveness and irritating behavior in traffic. One consequence is that traffic aggression is also on the rise, and consequently, the […]

Tesla to increase price of Model Y in Europe next month

March 18, 2024

When it rains in the US, it dripfeeds to Europe. The previously announced price hike for the world’s best-selling EV, the Tesla Model Y, reaches the continent’s shore. As of April, the price will rise by around €2,000. Tesla’s pricing increase for the Model Y electric SUV in several European countries was announced via a […]

Dumarey to face MAN in struggle for Van Hool take-over?

March 18, 2024

The clock is ticking for Belgian bus maker Van Hool, which will go bankrupt if no private investor is found before the end of March. Belgian entrepreneur Guido Dumarey confirmed in an interview with Radio 1 that he’s convinced he can ‘rebuild’ Van Hool to a profitable, streamlined production company with 1,800 of the current […]

Nissan and Honda confirm cooperation, including on electric cars

March 18, 2024

Japanese car manufacturers Nissan and Honda have officially confirmed plans for a strategic partnership in electric cars and other areas. The manufacturers’ intention to work together was already leaked last week. Honda announces that both companies have signed a letter of intent “to strengthen environmental and electrification technologies as well as software development.” The competitors […]

Škoda to enter €25,000 EV race with sub-compact SUV ‘Epiq’

March 15, 2024

It looks like the automotive industry is sounding the ‘all hands on deck alarm’ to win private buyers over to switching to an EV with a price tag of €25,000 or lower. Škoda joins the race with the all-electric Epiq, the second of six new electric vehicles scheduled for launch in the coming years. For […]

French train builder Alstom starts its own rail service in UK

March 15, 2024

French rail group Alstom will operate its own train service in the UK from May 2025 between Wales and London. An application has been submitted to the UK rail regulator Office of Rail and Road (ORR) to operate five daily trains in each direction. “We have been part of the UK rail fabric for two […]

Key to VW’s affordable ID.1 is ‘where to build it’

March 15, 2024

At the annual media call 2024, Volkswagen brand CEO Thomas Schäfer unveiled more details on the upcoming €20,000 ID.1. The most affordable EV in the lineup will arrive in 2027. However, the biggest challenge will be deciding on the location of production. All mainstream automakers focus on affordable EVs, which is critical to realizing the […]

NIO’s ‘family EV’ sub-brand coming to Europe as ‘Onvo’

March 15, 2024

Chinese premium EV maker NIO has chosen ‘Onvo’ as the English name for the line of affordable ‘family electric cars’ it will sell in Europe. In China, it’s called Ledao (乐道), which means as much as ‘happy road’, according to founder and CEO William Li. Under the ‘Alps’ codename, it has been developing a mass-market […]

‘Cheaper produced EVs will be much costlier to repair than ICEs’

March 15, 2024

Automakers are racing to transform their supply chain and hereditary production plants from the ICE age into lean factories for EV production. They will need to hold their breath for some time before expecting a profitable production arm. Elevated repair costs are looming as a new challenge. Slumping sales of battery-powered cars, caused by waning […]

Belgian organic farmer sues TotalEnergies over climate change

March 14, 2024

Belgian organic farmer Hugues Falys is taking TotalEnergies to court over the French oil company’s role in climate change. This is the first climate case against a multinational in Belgium. Several human rights and environmental organizations support the case, including Greenpeace and the International Federation for Human Rights. “The climate crisis has a huge impact […]

Lightning strikes at VW with blistering GTX versions of ID.3 and ID.7

March 14, 2024

Lightning never strikes twice in the same spot, except in Wolfsburg. Simultaneously, Volkswagen has announced sharp and sporty GTX versions of the ID.3, the ID.7 Tourer, and the ID.Buzz. Basically, this is the zero-emission revival of the well-known GTI badge. Volkswagen has yet to release the final specs and data on the ID.buzz, but expectations […]

Nissan and Honda join forces to battle Chinese competition

March 14, 2024

Nissan and Honda are preparing to reduce their production capacities in China significantly. The two  Japanese car manufacturers are finding it difficult to keep up with Chinese competitors in the race for electric cars. A solution could be to join forces and slash EV prices consequently. As Nikkei Asia reported, both manufacturers plan to reduce […]

Wallonia axes Low Emission Zone plans due in 2025

March 14, 2024

Walloon Environment Minister, Céline Tellier (Ecolo), has declared that the plan for Wallonia to become a Low Emission Zone (LEZ) was “disproportionate, difficult to apply and not very effective.” The Walloon LEZ is now axed, but major cities will be able to introduce restrictions to enhance air quality, not only on vehicles. Introduced in 2019, […]

Danish car-sharing GreenMobility leaves Belgium

March 14, 2024

Car-sharing company GreenMobility is leaving Belgium and returning to its Danish home market. After previously exiting the Netherlands, Germany, Finland, and Sweden, the Belgian branch will also be sold or closed down. “A pity,” according to Steve Van Avermaet, responsible for GreenMobility’s Belgian activities. “We were the company’s first foreign market and the last one […]

Among candidate investors ‘lining up’, Dumarey awaits bankruptcy Van Hool

March 14, 2024

According to Flemish Minister-President Jan Jambon and Minister for Work Jo Brouns, several possible candidates are ‘lining up’ and showing interest in investing in a restart of bus manufacturer Van Hool in Koningshooikt (Lier). But that doesn’t mean avoiding bankruptcy, as some – like Belgian entrepreneur Guido Dumarey, a specialist in blowing new life into […]

VW Group to cut costs and launch 30 models in 2024

March 14, 2024

Volkswagen Group is launching a major product push this year to help offset a gloomy economic outlook and growing competition. At the same time, a major efficiency improvement has to cut costs impressively. On Wednesday, finance chief Arno Antlitz presented the automaker’s 2023 results, saying the “general economic situation remains challenging”. VW Group expects a […]

Northern Netherlands gets 35,000 extra charging points

March 13, 2024

Up to 35,000 public charging points for EVs will be added in the Dutch provinces of Flevoland, North Holland, and Utrecht by 2027. The first charging points could already be on the streets from the middle of this year, according to project agency MRA-Elektrisch, which tendered for 74 municipalities for this purpose. The Netherlands passed […]

Four Dutch manufacturers to tackle illegally boosted fat bikes

March 13, 2024

A group of four fat bike manufacturers wants to prevent illegally boosted bicycles. Together, Brekr, Phatfour, Doppio, and Knaap will present a package of measures on next Tuesday – the Safe Fatbikes partnership. One of those measures is that all four will boycott a dealer selling illegally tuned bicycles. Fat bikes, electric bicycles with fat […]

Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi brings first EV SU7 to market

March 13, 2024

China’s fifth-largest smartphone maker, Xiaomi, unveiled its first electric car in late December. The company confirms that it will bring its first EV SU7 to market on March 28th, when prices should be known. The Xiaoni SU7 is the brand’s first foray into the automotive industry. It’s a mid-size electric sedan powered by two electric […]

Sixth bike fair Bike Brussels is coming up

March 13, 2024

From Friday 22 to Sunday 24 March, Tour & Taxis will host the sixth edition of the bike fair Bike Brussels. In the event location’s ‘Gare Maritime, ‘ more than 150 exhibitors will guide cycling enthusiasts through the latest innovations in the sector, recent accessories that can come in handy for a trip on two […]

Vias: ‘7% fewer road deaths in Belgium in 2023’

March 13, 2024

According to Vias’ latest traffic safety barometer, based on figures from the federal police, there were 7% fewer road deaths last year than in 2022. Last year, 483 people died in traffic, compared to 520 in 2022. The Vias Institute is a Belgian knowledge center that aims to improve road safety, mobility, and social safety. […]

Hyundai’s electric 7-seater SUV Ioniq 9 nears production

March 13, 2024

The future electric SUV from Hyundai has been spotted testing in various states of cover. Previously announced as Ioniq 7, it could be renamed Ioniq 9 after the success of its brother from Kia, the EV9. What is certain is that both SUVs will share the same 800-volt E-GMP platform. This should give the seven-seater […]

D’Ieteren kicks off its own ‘Mobility Solutions’ motor show

March 13, 2024

On Tuesday, Belgium’s most significant car importer, D’Ieteren Automotive, kicked off its own B2B ‘motor show’ in the industrial settings of Silo Brussels, a former brewery and malthouse located along the canal at Neder-Over-Heembeek. Called ‘Mobility Solutions’ by D’Ieteren, it demonstrates it’s no longer about selling cars only but rather focusing on a far broader […]

Mercedes-boss urges EU to lower not raise tariffs on Chinese EVs

March 13, 2024

In an interview with the Financial Times on Tuesday, Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Källenius made a remarkable statement, rubbing up his French competitors by urging the European Commission to lower tariffs on Chinese EV imports instead of raising them. This would force European carmakers to make better cars, he added. “I’m a contrarian,” he said in […]

Porsche Taycan Turbo GT: your move, Tesla

March 12, 2024

Porsche has unveiled the nec plus ultra of its facelifted Taycan range: the Turbo GT. It is the fastest four-door EV on the Nürburgring and Laguna Seca and the most powerful series production model from Porsche ever. It is enough to comfortably beat the Tesla Model S Plaid, but it also comes at a price. […]

This is how your next electric Volvo will charge 30% faster

March 12, 2024

Volvo has announced a significant charging improvement for cars built on its next-gen EV platform. Their batteries will charge up to 30% faster than the current line-up, and it has nothing to do with revolutionary chemistries or a different manufacturing approach. The secret weapon is an algorithm. Volvo Cars is investing in Breathe Battery Technologies, […]

Stellantis CEO: ‘We must make our own, lighter batteries’

March 12, 2024

In an interview with the American car magazine Car and Driver, Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares says his group has to produce its own batteries. Meanwhile, he also stresses that EVs have to become lighter and batteries more efficient to maintain the expected range of an EV. The most expensive part of an EV is the […]

Van Hool: wrong horse or simply Murphy’s Law?

March 12, 2024

Belgian bus manufacturer Van Hool decided to cut almost half of its jobs at its headquarters in Koningshooikt after a series of cascading troubles eviscerated its competitiveness. Some point to Van Hool’s hydrogen strategy, others to the lack of support from public transport company De Lijn, but neither explanation offers a complete picture. It has […]

Tesla’s Grünheide factory back after sabotage by activist group (update)

March 12, 2024

After the sabotage attack, which led to a power outage and discontinuation of assembly, Tesla’s Grünheide factory is back online. Engineers from energy supplier Edis worked in three-shift mode to restore the connection and succeeded on Monday evening. “The measures to restart the plant are now running at full speed under all safety precautions,” wrote […]

Belgian railways spent more than €600 million on consultancy in two years

March 12, 2024

Belgian public railway company NMBS/SNCB and infrastructure manager Infrabel spent 612 million euros on consultancy between 2022 and 2022. Based on internal documents from both companies, research media Apache and Médor have exposed this. Mobility Minister Georges Gilkinet (Ecolo) had previously said the cost for that period was 44,6 million euros, but the actual amount […]

Amsterdam considers remote-controlled speed-reducing system for e-bikes

March 12, 2024

Amsterdam is considering introducing an innovative adaptive speed governance solution for e-bikes. The system is intended to remotely slow down the speed of electric bicycles as they approach the city center. Amsterdam’s Alderwoman, Melanie Van der Horst (D66), recently inaugurated a system demonstration. The initiative specifically tackles the challenges of congested bike lanes, aiming to […]

Audi reshuffles top management and accelerates F1 engagement

March 12, 2024

Audi has confirmed the expected reorganization of the Board of Management: CEO Gernot Döllner is also taking over Technical Development at the German carmaker with immediate effect. Audi’s Formula 1 Team accelerates its racing commitment and takes over the F1 Sauber team. Audi’s previous Board Member for Technical Development, Oliver Hoffmann, will now be responsible […]

Fiat cuts production over weakening demand for 500e

March 11, 2024

Until the end of April, Fiat will switch to one shift at its Mirafiori plant due to falling demand for the all-electric 500e and the Maserati models produced on-site. The factory near Turin adapted its output in February, but the supposed plan to resume two-shift operations at the beginning of this month has been further […]

Cycling has become 40% safer in recent years

March 11, 2024

Cycling has become much safer over the last few years. The risk of dying on a bicycle has fallen by 40 percent in the last seven years. In 2015, 24.9 fatalities occurred per billion kilometers cycled; in 2022, this dropped to 14.9. These figures were published on Friday on the study day celebrating the tenth […]

Airbus presents its next-generation fully electric CityAirbus eVTOL

March 11, 2024

Together with the official opening of its new test center in Donauwörth, Germany, Airbus Helicopters presented last week the prototype of its fully electric CityAirbus NextGen eVTOL, a four-seater with eight propellors that takes off and lands vertically. Once airborne, the two-ton so-called ‘multicopter’ tilts its rotors to fly like an airplane for some 80 […]

Nissan wants to deploy autonomous Level 4 driving by 2027

March 11, 2024

Within three years from now, Japanese customers will enjoy the benefits of autonomously driving Nissan taxis in Japan. The automaker has been investigating self-driving cars in traffic since 2017 and has released a road map to make it happen. Nissan is taking a cautious approach to Robotaxi rides and wants to gather experience and customer […]

Stellantis wants to take over Punch Powertrain

March 11, 2024

Car manufacturing group Stellantis wants to take over the Belgian, Sint-Truiden-based transmission specialist Punch Powertrain. Although both companies are already working together via joint ventures, the Belgian company wants to defend itself against this hostile takeover in court. Punch Powertrain plays an important role in Stellantis’s electrification process because it develops and produces the transmissions […]

Worst scenario for Van Hool: 1,116 jobs will disappear (update)

March 11, 2024

In stormy weather since the Covid-19 pandemic and the following crisis, Belgian bus and coach builder Van Hool production workers face the ultimate doom scenario. On Monday’s ultimate works council, the unions got the grim message that 1,116 of currently 2,494 jobs at the company’s main factory in Koningshooikt (Lier) will disappear by 2028, 834 […]

41 large construction sites to ‘jam’ Flemish highways this year

March 11, 2024

In 2024, there will be 41 major road construction works on the Flemish highways for an investment of 902 million euros, not including Oosterweel. “The interventions are very diverse,” says Flemish Minister of Mobility and Public Works Lydia Peeters (Open Vld). “They range from renewing the road surface to the installation of noise barriers, the […]

Smallest Audi EV will be built in Ingolstadt, VW ID.3 not in Wolfsburg

March 11, 2024

Audi will produce its new entry-level electric model, announced around a year ago, at its headquarters in Ingolstadt. Gernot Döllner, Audi’s CEO, said as much at a staff meeting at the main plant. The new EV sits below the Q4 e-tron. Its much bigger brother, the Q6 e-tron, is already rolling off the production line […]

Record profit for Brussels Airlines but social conflict causes downer

March 08, 2024

After five years of loss-making, Brussels Airlines posted record results last year, with an operating profit of 53 million euros. The airline carried 8,3 million passengers for the entire year, 21% more than in 2022. But even though turnover climbed back to pre-corona levels, Brussels Airlines has been plagued by social unrest for some time, […]

Euro NCAP to punish manufacturers for excessive touchscreen controls

March 08, 2024

European vehicle safety non-profit Euro NCAP has unveiled plans for a new safety score 2026 that will include an assessment of the ease of use of essential controls. Cars that force drivers to use touch controls for features like wipers and indicators will be punished and risk the all-important five-star safety rating. The auto industry […]

Vias: ‘Statistically proven: men drive less safely than women’

March 08, 2024

People often say that women are lousy drivers, but statistics show just the opposite: almost eight in ten road deaths are men. Women are less likely to be involved in serious accidents than men and are generally also less likely to be severely injured in accidents (40% compared to 60% of men). However, it is […]

Rivian presents new mid-size platform for R2 and R3 models

March 08, 2024

US electric car manufacturer Rivian has unveiled a new mid-size platform for the new R2, its first next-generation model after the R1S and R1T. On the platform, an even smaller model will be available, the R3. Both models are thus based on a new platform and come with a choice of one, two, or three […]

BMW and Mercedes to join forces for HPC network in China

March 08, 2024

German premium car manufacturers BMW and Mercedes-Benz have formed a joint venture to construct EV fast chargers in China. The joint venture, Beijing Ion Qi New Energy Technology Co., Ltd., is based in Beijing’s Chaoyang district. The joint venture, in which Mercedes-Benz Group China and BMW Brilliance Automotive each hold a 50% stake, aims to […]

Blow for hydrogen growth: cost of electrolyzers soars

March 08, 2024

Hydrogen, regarded as one of the critical energies for decarbonizing heavy road transport and the steel industry, faces a new hurdle. The cost of its quintessential production tool, the electrolyzer, is rising steeply instead of reaching affordability. That’s not according to plan. A recent report by Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF), the 2024 Electrolyser Price […]

Copernicus: ‘this winter was globally warmest on record’

March 07, 2024

According to Copernicus, the Earth Observation component of the European Union’s space program, the last three months have been the hottest worldwide. February was part of a series of nine consecutive monthly records, driven by continued greenhouse gas emissions and the El Niño weather phenomenon. In its latest monthly report, published on Thursday, the European […]

‘Resuscitated’ Volta Trucks set to resume production at Magna Steyr

March 07, 2024

E-truck start-up Volta Trucks has signed a preliminary agreement with Austrian production specialist Steyr Automotive to continue producing its trucks. The Swedish start-up filed for bankruptcy in October last year but was bought out by Luxor Capital Group, one of its creditors, in December. It seems that the Volta Trucks story will continue after all. […]

Infrabel to remove seven dangerous train level crossings in Bilzen

March 07, 2024

Infrabel has started work in Bilzen to remove all railway crossings in the city’s territory. Seven train crossings will be eliminated and made safer this way. They will be replaced by mobility alternatives, such as bridges (2), tunnels (4), a parallel road, and two sections of bicycle highway. The level crossings will only be closed […]

Stellantis to invest €5,6 billion in EVs and bio-hybrids in Brazil

March 07, 2024

Stellantis, including brands such as Citroën, DS, Peugeot, Jeep, Fiat, and Alfa Romeo, will invest 5,6 billion euros in South America between 2025 and 2030, the largest investment ever in the South American automotive sector. The group aims to develop its EV offerings on the continent and promote its ‘bio-hybrid’ technologies, which combine electrification and […]

VW sued over Porsche EV igniting Felicity Ace car carrier

March 07, 2024

The fire on the cargo ship Felicity Ace, which caused the loss of several thousand vehicles, is finding its way to court. A probe points to a Porsche EV aboard with a defective battery having ignited the fire. That kept the ship burning for two weeks before it sank. The Volkswagen Group is facing lawsuits […]

Ford E-Transit gets up to 32% more range

March 07, 2024

Ford has updated the full-size E-Transit in the US, boosting the range by 26 to 32 percent thanks to a new 89 kWh battery. The electric van also gets 49 percent faster charging while the price only increases slightly for the American market. A European launch has not yet been announced. The 2022 E-Transit was […]

Colruyt puts first electric 44-ton truck for city deliveries into use

March 06, 2024

Colruyt Group has started using a 44-ton electric truck to supply city stores as sustainably as possible. The truck is quieter and generates fewer emissions, making deliveries less inconvenient for residents. Flemish Mobility Minister Lydia Peeters (Open Vld) officially inaugurated the refrigerated e-truck. “Using electric trucks for city deliveries is no longer a thing of […]

Dodge delivers ‘muscle’ with all-new 670-hp Charger Daytona EV

March 06, 2024

Dodge has unveiled its new electric car. And it is to deliver on the promise of being the ultimate ‘muscle car’, the new Charger Daytona, a massive 5.2-meter long two-door coupé with all-wheel-drive, a 100.5-kWh battery, and up to 317 miles (510 km) of EPA range. The range-topping Charger Daytona Scat Pack gets 670 hp […]

D’Ieteren sells 40% more cars and makes almost €1 billion operating profit

March 06, 2024

Brussels-based holding company D’Ieteren, best known for car glass repairer Carglass and as an importer of VW vehicles, posted sharply higher profits in 2023. Last year, that adjusted consolidated profit before tax came to 970.8 million euros or a 28.1% increase compared to 2022. Things look rosy for D’Ieteren for this year, too: It expects […]

‘Larger offer and stable prices boost second-hand car market by 13,5%’

March 06, 2024

According to Mobility Federation Traxio, the new and second-hand car market continues to perform well in February 2024. Last month, 60,355 second-hand cars were registered, that is 7,160 units or 13,5% more than last year. The success is due to the more significant offer and stable prices. Private individuals ‘ registrations of second-hand electric vehicles […]