Traxio: used EVs rise as private buyers tighten car budgets

October 06, 2026

Geopolitical uncertainty, high interest rates, and equally high gasoline prices are making consumers hesitate when buying a car. Private customers, in particular, are looking for good deals more than ever; they gather thorough information and want maximum certainty. Yet they keep buying cars, mostly used ones, including electric vehicles. Private individuals consistently focus on a car’s […]

Renault doubles down on ‘Made in France’ EVs with another €13 billion

October 06, 2026

Renault is doubling down on its French industrial base. In an interview with France Inter, CEO François Provost said the group intends to invest more than €10 billion in France over the next five years, mainly in electric mobility and more affordable cars. Renault had already put a more precise figure on that commitment in […]

BMW wants more standardized parts for higher efficiency

October 06, 2026

BMW will significantly increase its use of generic components and reduce reliance on bespoke parts as it seeks to lower costs and improve profitability, reflecting a strategy that has helped Chinese automakers gain a competitive edge. The strategy will be a ‘key lever’ in improving BMW’s earnings, the company told investors at its capital markets […]

Skoda Octavia pioneers brand’s full hybrid tech

October 06, 2026

After mild hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains, Skoda now adds two ‘full hybrid’ variants to its Octavia offering. It’s a first for Skoda and still a rarity within the Volkswagen Group, although that is likely to change. Since its launch in 1996, exactly 30 years ago, the Skoda Octavia has been offered with an extensive […]

EU pushes UK into adopting punitive tariffs on Chinese cars

October 06, 2026

Britain is weighing tariffs of up to 45 percent on Chinese electric cars, mirroring the EU duties. The trigger isn’t a sudden shift to protectionism. Brussels is threatening London with the loss of access to the EU market if nothing changes. Chinese brands are soaring in the UK, benefiting from tariff-free access. With the Jaecoo […]

Arval poaches Ayvens executive to lead post-Athlon challenge

October 06, 2026

Arval has recruited one of the top executives of its biggest European rival, Ayvens, to lead the company through its next phase. Annie Pin, currently Chief Commercial Officer at Ayvens, will become CEO of Arval on 1 April 2027, shortly after the BNP Paribas leasing subsidiary completed its major acquisition of Athlon. Pin will join […]

EV road trip to Albania: plenty of chargers, too many apps (part 2)

October 06, 2026

After 4,157 kilometers through nine countries, we rarely struggled to find electricity and rarely had to queue. But Europe’s collection of charging cards, apps, tariffs, and payment systems can still turn a simple charging stop into an unnecessary puzzle. A waiter in a bar in Gjirokastër probably provided the best summary of European EV charging […]

MAN takes self-driving electric bus into city traffic

October 05, 2026

MAN and the Munich public transport company, Münchner Verkehrsgesellschaft (MVG), have started real-world testing with an autonomous electric bus. While there are smaller commercial projects, such as an autonomous shuttle from De Lijn, this is one of the first full-size electric buses operating autonomously on a regular city route. The autonomous bus service is part […]

Volvo Cars drops 2026 forecast; Stefan Fesser returns to Volvo Ghent

October 05, 2026

Volvo Cars reported global sales of 141,609 cars in the third quarter of 2026, down 10.7% from the same period last year. Sales during the quarter were impacted by a further deterioration in market conditions in China, where industry volumes remained under significant pressure, as well as a slower-than-expected recovery in the U.S. As a […]

Copernicus: Western Europe had its hottest summer on record

October 05, 2026

The European climate agency Copernicus concludes that last summer was the hottest Western European summer on record. The average temperature was 21.7 degrees, 2.5 degrees warmer than the 1991-2020 summer average, according to the latest Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) European Summer Review 2026, published on 2 October. Copernicus highlights the far-reaching consequences of these climate […]

BMW Group: ‘Strengthen resilience, enhance competitiveness’

October 05, 2026

The BMW Group provided a first glimpse of its plans at its Capital Market Day 2026. The aim is to strengthen the company’s resilience and enhance the competitiveness of its structures. In this way, the BMW Group is preparing to face increasingly challenging market conditions in the years ahead. To achieve this, the company is […]

Brussels adopts more lenient approach to boost electric taxis

October 05, 2026

A taxi with an internal combustion engine may remain in service in Brussels for up to 9 years, instead of 7. With this extension, the Brussels government aims to give the taxi sector more time to make the transition to zero-emission vehicles. However, the requirement that, starting January 1, 2027, only zero-emission new taxis may […]

4,157-km EV road trip to Albania: so much for range anxiety (part 1)

October 05, 2026

Can you take an electric car from Belgium to Albania without spending half your holiday looking for chargers? We put it to the test with a Kia EV6 on a three-week, 4,157-kilometer road trip through nine countries. Surprisingly, range was the least of our worries. One persistent argument against electric cars in Belgium – and […]

Minister requires airplanes flying over Brussels to change their flight paths

October 02, 2026

Federal Minister of Mobility Jean-Luc Crucke (Les Engagés) has proposed a series of operational and structural measures to reduce noise pollution around Brussels Airport. The minister was backed into a corner: he had to submit a proposal to the court by October 1, or risk a penalty of 10,000 euros for each new noise violation. Crucke […]

Ghent offers 11,000 families their own mobility budget

October 02, 2026

The city of Ghent wants to help 11,000 families with a social mobility budget. From 1 May 2027, they can get financial support for car sharing, bike sharing, purchasing or renting a bicycle, bicycle repairs, cycling lessons, and collective transport to work. The city is allocating 4.46 million euros for this purpose.  Mobility Alderman Joris Vandenbroucke […]

T&E: Europe can build the batteries, but who owns the tech?

October 02, 2026

Transport & Environment says Europe is on track to produce enough battery cells to meet its own demand by 2030. On paper, that sounds like a major step toward independence from Asia. But recent failures, delays, and new Chinese investments in Europe show that the reality is more complicated. According to the environmental lobby group […]

Young people bear the brunt of LETEC fare hikes

October 02, 2026

The Walloon public transportation company LETEC will implement a significant fare hike starting in February of next year. The price increase will be particularly noticeable for the very inexpensive fare options and passes. Meaning that young people, those 65 and older, and passengers receiving increased reimbursement will bear the brunt of the hike. For example, […]

MG: a Chinese challenger in fast-growing European electric bus market

October 02, 2026

After entering the European market with cars under the MG brand, the Chinese SAIC group is now bringing electric buses to the old continent under the same brand name. And the specifications could give the competition reason to worry. MG Commercial has announced it will start selling electric buses in Europe. There is a growing […]

Could Hyundai’s Chinese-built €17,000 IONIQ V come to Europe?

October 02, 2026

Five months after Hyundai unveiled the China-developed IONIQ V, the electric fastback has now reached Chinese showrooms. Its most striking feature is no longer its futuristic styling or 800-volt architecture, but its price: even the version offering up to 650 kilometers of range costs less than €17,000 in China. Beijing Hyundai officially launched the IONIQ […]

BMW has plans for an entry-level BEV i1 and is preparing the iX4

October 02, 2026

At its Capital Market Day 2026, the BMW Group provided deep insights into its corporate strategy. Among other announcements, the Munich-based automaker said it will unveil the all-electric iX4 later this year and plans to launch an electric compact car based on the Neue Klasse platform the year after next. The model will likely be […]

Belux new car registrations up 1.9% in September, more than half are BEVs

October 02, 2026

According to data from the sector federation Febiac and the federal public service Mobility & Transport, new car registrations in belgium and Luxembourg were 1.9% higher than in September last year. The result for the first three quarters of 2026 cumulated is -1% compared to 2025. More importantly, for the first time in the Belux, […]

NMBS/SNCB details December train boost for Limburg and Antwerp

October 01, 2026

Starting December 13, additional early and late trains will run to and from Hasselt in the province of Limburg. Service will also be expanded in the province of Antwerp. This is evident from the presentation of the new schedule that the Belgian railway company is implementing. The broad outlines of this new train service have […]

Yet another Chinese EV brand is knocking on Europe’s door: AIVA

October 01, 2026

Yet another Chinese EV brand is knocking on Europe’s door, but this very young AIVA comes with unusually heavyweight parents. The brand, backed by Seres and battery giant CATL, has chosen Paris for the global debut of its first production model, the ME7. European sales, however, have not yet been confirmed. AIVA was created in […]

Belgium and Engie buy another month for nuclear takeover talks

October 01, 2026

No decision will be made on October 1 regarding the possible nationalization of the nuclear reactors in Belgium operated by energy giant Engie. The Belgian government and Engie have agreed to postpone the deadline for negotiations on a possible takeover until November 4. According to the joint statement from the Prime Minister, the Ministry of […]

Range Rover Sport EV: big-brother tech, ‘more affordable’ price

October 01, 2026

A month after the electric Range Rover was revealed, the brand now launches the electric variant of its more dynamic ‘Sport’ model. The Range Rover Sport Electric gets the same technical specifications as its bigger brother, but at a price that brings it closer to its main competitors. The EV model retains the dimensions and […]

Flanders’ new budget shields infrastructure, but slows down De Lijn’s growth

October 01, 2026

Mobility infrastructure is largely escaping the axe in the Flemish government’s biggest savings operation yet. While Flanders must find nearly €2 billion in savings next year and more than €3 billion by 2029, roads, waterways, and other major public works remain relatively protected compared with many other policy areas. Of the total effort, €1.2 billion […]

‘Made in Germany’ remains BMW’s belief, with €2 billion in new investments

October 01, 2026

The BMW Group is investing around €2 billion in vehicle production and battery manufacturing to underscore Germany’s importance as a production hub. The company is ensuring that its plants are ready for the next generation of the BMW 3 Series. The 3 Series has been the heart of the BMW brand for over 50 years. […]

BYD’s cheapest EV grows up to take on Renault 5 and VW ID. Polo

October 01, 2026

BYD is radically overhauling its cheapest electric car. The second-generation Seagull, sold in Europe as the Dolphin Surf, grows by more than 40 centimeters, gains considerably more power, and moves upmarket with features including a massage seat, a sizeable frunk, and optional LiDAR. In European terms, the little Chinese city EV is emerging as a […]

T&E study questions how leasing industry calculates EV depreciation

October 01, 2026

Electric cars may retain considerably more of their value than conventional leasing calculations suggest. A new analysis by Transport & Environment (T&E) claims that the residual-value gap between battery-electric and combustion cars could be around 80% smaller once taxation, subsidies, inflation and falling new-EV prices are taken into account. Based on 2025 used-car transaction data […]

Stellantis pauses production due to battery shortage

October 01, 2026

Stellantis is halting production at its French plants in Sochaux, Rennes, and Mulhouse for at least one week. In two cases, this is due to EV battery shortages, as supplier ACC struggles to meet demand for its nickel-based long-range batteries. According to Reuters, the plants in Sochaux and Rennes are temporarily halting production due to […]

T&E: ‘E-trucks are already cheaper to operate today

September 30, 2026

Electric trucks deliver a lower total cost of ownership (TCO) in six out of nine major EU markets, which together account for 46% of all new heavy trucks sold in the EU, a new T&E report shows. In the Netherlands and Germany, savings can reach €100,000 and €85,000 respectively over five years, with electric trucks […]

Volkswagen to build LFP batteries in Europe together with Chinese Gotion

September 30, 2026

Volkswagen has agreed on new joint ventures with its Chinese battery partner Gotion to bring LFP production to Europe. The move must speed up the switch from NMC to cheaper LFP chemistries while complying with the European Commission’s new Made in Europe draft. The deal between VW and Gotion reorganizes three projects already under construction […]

Study: high-mileage electric cars refuse to wear out, obliterating used car fears

September 30, 2026

A study of millions of British vehicles has found that electric cars become more reliable than petrol cars exactly where used-car folklore says they become riskiest: at high mileage. New AutoMotive, an independent UK transport research organization, carried out the report. The company analyzed a large set of MOT tests – British for technical check-up […]

BMW launches new 3 Series: i3 shines with 900 km+ range

September 30, 2026

BMW has unveiled its new 3 Series, which for the first time includes an electric sedan, the i3. Based on the Neue Klasse platform, the i3 shares its technical toolkit with the iX3 SUV but pulls ahead on range. The Munich-based automaker is calling for a starting price of €59,900 in Germany (€58,450 in Belgium), […]

Very slight increase in company cars in Belgium, debate on the issue remains polarizing

September 29, 2026

Recently, yet another stir arose over the status of company cars in Belgium. As part of federal budget negotiations, the Planning Bureau listed more than 250 cost-saving options, including one that sparked considerable debate: eliminating or reducing tax benefits for company cars and fuel cards. Once implemented, that could generate 4,5 to 5,5 billion, nearly […]

Touring: ‘issues remain for EV transition of Belgian private buyers’

September 29, 2026

The Belgian car market seems to have finally turned toward electrification. But mobility organization Touring says the transition is largely due to company cars, and warns that issues remain for private buyers. For example, the ease and cost of public charging. For the first time ever, there are more hybrid and electric cars on the […]

VW ID. Tiguan: LFP batteries to boost sales?

September 29, 2026

Volkswagen has confirmed what unions already leaked at the beginning of the year: its facelifted ID. 4 will return as the ID. Tiguan. The German carmaker has released camouflaged photos ahead of the world premiere in October, around the Paris Motor Show. Change in strategy As we reported back in January, IG Metall first let […]

Geely buys into Nio’s battery-swap division: a solution for your next Volvo?

September 29, 2026

Geely Auto, the mother company of Volvo and Polestar, has taken a 30% stake in Nio Power, the battery-swapping and charging unit of its Chinese rival. The interest seems bizarre. Barely a week earlier, Geely unveiled a fast-charging technology that makes swapping redundant. Only a few days ago, Geely unveiled a 2.2 Megawatt charger, topping […]

Trump administration weakens federal fuel economy standards in the U.S.

September 29, 2026

The Trump administration finalized a significant weakening of federal fuel economy standards for automobiles, rolling back a key policy that had pushed the industry to improve the efficiency of cars and trucks and sell more battery-electric vehicles. Automakers are expected to achieve a fleet average of 34.9 miles per gallon (mpg) for cars and light […]

Alpine unveils a sculpture previewing its third generation, electric A110

September 28, 2026

Alpine presents an artistic vision that hints, in sculptural form, at the bodywork design elements that will define the third, electric generation of the Alpine A110. An original artistic gesture based on the technical foundations of the all-new APP (Alpine Performance Platform), seen in action this summer at the Goodwood Festival of Speed through a […]

Audi A6 e-tron reaches 1,338 km without recharging

September 28, 2026

European Rally Champion Miko Marczyk has set a Guinness World Record with an Audi A6 Sportback e-tron Performance. On a single battery charge, he covered 1,338 kilometers with an average consumption of 7.09 kWh/100 km. Normally, Miko Marczyk’s focus is on losing as little time as possible on the road. But for his latest outing […]

Stadler launches world-first narrow-gauge hydrogen train

September 28, 2026

At InnoTrans 2026 in Berlin, the Swiss train manufacturer Stadler unveiled the world’s first hydrogen-powered train developed specifically for narrow-gauge railways. In collaboration with 3 Italian rail operators, Stadler is building 21 trains for Sardinia, Calabria, and Sicily. 10 of these hydrogen-powered trains will save more than 2,100 tonnes of CO2 per year compared to […]

Bigger battery for Kia PV5 Chassis Cab boosts range

September 28, 2026

Kia is fitting its PV5 Chassis Cab with an optional 71.2 kWh battery, nearly 40 percent larger than the 51.5 kWh pack the conversion-friendly van launched with late last year. The long-range version of the PV5 keeps the 120 kW motor and adds 10-80 percent DC fast charging in about 30 minutes, with a full […]

BMW receives a prestigious award for its Gen6 battery

September 28, 2026

BMW’s Gen6 high-voltage battery, a key technology of the Neue Klasse, has been recognized as a “Global New Energy Vehicle Innovative Technology” at the 2026 World New Energy Vehicle Congress (WNEVC) in China. The judges recognized the key technologies of the BMW Gen6 high-voltage battery based on the new BMW round cells with a high-nickel […]

Tesla’s FSD ignores speed limit in Brussels test and lies to the driver 

September 28, 2026

The Belgian road safety group Johanna has put Tesla’s self-driving system, FSD, to the test and found that it continuously breaks the speed limit. Worse: it lies to the driver about the ruling speed limit even though it reads it correctly. A Tesla running Full Self-Driving broke the speed limit in 55% of the 30 […]

VW recalls over 2.8 million vehicles due to possible corrosion in steering mechanism

September 28, 2026

Germany’s largest car manufacturer, Volkswagen, is recalling nearly 3 million vehicles because of possible corrosion in the steering mechanism. The German Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt (KBA) announced this, explaining that a bolt in the system can corrode and impair proper steering function. 2.16 million Volkswagens of the models Golf, Golf Variant, Tiguan, Touran, and Caddy, produced between 2013 […]

Belgian personalized license plates: offensive combinations can now be revoked

September 28, 2026

Belgians can get a license plate with a personal message by simply paying for it. The DIV, the Belgian vehicle registry office, can now officially revoke offensive combinations that were inadvertently accepted. For the Belgian government, personalized license plates are quite lucrative. A license plate containing any combination of up to 8 letters and numbers […]

Geely joins charging arms race and makes 4 minute top-ups reality

September 25, 2026

Geely Auto has unveiled a 2.25-megawatt smart-charging system that charges its electric cars from 10 to 70% in four minutes and 30 seconds. That is roughly thirty seconds quicker than BYD’s latest Flash Charging 2.0 platform, the previous benchmark.  The company officially announced the record-breaking charging system at its Safety Center in Ningbo. It’s not […]

Infrabel and Siemens sign €215 million contract for Belgian digital rail

September 25, 2026

The Belgian rail network operator Infrabel has signed a new contract with Siemens Mobility to maintain, further develop, and modernize the Operational Control System (OCS), a digital system that ensures trains run safely and smoothly across the Belgian railway network. The framework agreement, worth 215 million euros, will run for 11 years and is also […]

Renault invests € 600 million in Spanish production plants

September 25, 2026

Renault has announced it will invest 600 million in two of its Spanish plants by 2030. This will allow the brand to produce new models and secure 6.000 jobs in the region. The goal is to prepare the group’s plants in Valladolid and Palencia to produce five new vehicles, including two electric cars. The investment […]

Plasman closes and exposes the slow death of Volvo Ghent’s supply chain

September 25, 2026

Canadian bumper manufacturer Plasman is closing its Ghent factory, costing more than 300 jobs. The announcement follows an earlier decision by axle-parts supplier Benteler to shut its nearby site next spring. The local supply network that once sustained Volvo’s assembly line is now effectively gone. But how come? Remaining production evaporated Plasman throwing in the […]

Dutch traffic fines set to rise again

September 25, 2026

Anyone who runs a red light in the Netherlands or fails to wear a seatbelt whilst driving will face higher fines from 1 January 2027. Despite criticism from the House of Representatives, the government is pressing ahead with the annual inflation adjustment, which means traffic fines in the Netherlands will rise next year. On average, […]

EU registrations up 4.5% in August, BEVs same market share as petrol

September 25, 2026

According to the data of the European Car Manufacturers Association (ACEA), EU car registrations increased by 4.5% in August and by 5.3% for the first 8 months (year-to-date), against a backdrop of rising energy prices and persistent geopolitical uncertainty. Demand for a range of electrified vehicles remained strong (68.3% of the total market for new […]

Bentley Torcal uncovered a little too early (update)

September 24, 2026

A few days before the official introduction of the first fully electric Bentley, the Torcal, a set of near-official pictures has leaked, thanks to the unstoppable hunger for exclusive news from sites like Cochespias. Bentley reacted by officially unveiling the car three days later, so in this update we replace the ‘spy photos’ with the […]

Renault reimagines its 8 Gordini as a coupé for the electric age

September 24, 2026

Renault has been on a roll with retro-inspired models. From production cars like the 5, 4, and Twingo to pure show cars like the R17 electric restomod and the Renault 5 Diamant art car. And now the electric 8 Gordini. Will this one make it into production? Renault unveiled its 8 Gordini Concept ahead of […]

European first: Brussels Airport tests mobile blending facility for SAF

September 24, 2026

Brussels Airport is the first European airport to test a mobile blending facility to produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The project is the final phase of the Stargate project, established with the support of the European Commission, through which the airport has explored more than 30 sustainability measures in recent years. “We remain committed to […]

Volkswagen cuts ICE production while demand for affordable EVs takes off

September 24, 2026

Volkswagen is adjusting production at several German plants as demand shifts faster than expected from combustion cars toward electric vehicles. Wolfsburg will build fewer ICE cars than initially planned, while EV production in Emden and Zwickau is increasing.  “Turning point” The reversal is striking. Not so long ago, Volkswagen struggled with underutilized EV factories and […]

One in eight cars sold in the EU is now Chinese thanks to PHEVs

September 24, 2026

Chinese carmakers grabbed a record share of the European car market last month. But their advance is increasingly driven by plug-in hybrid sales. As many as one in three PHEVs now carry a Chinese badge. Chinese brands accounted for almost 12% of European new-car sales in August, according to figures from German market researcher Dataforce. […]

Nissan’s Twingo brother is called Pixo and starts in 2027

September 24, 2026

Nissan presents its electric microcar as the Pixo. It is closely related to the Renault Twingo Electric and the new Dacia Spring. All three electric vehicles will roll off the production line at the Renault plant in Novo Mesto, Slovenia. Nissan is scheduled to start deliveries of the Pixo in early 2027. Pricing remains a […]

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