August 11, 2025
Summer is only halfway over, but last Sunday, last year’s Belgian record of 408 hours of negative electricity prices was broken. This means that once again, we generated more electricity than we consumed, causing the price to drop so much that it fell below zero euros. A significant factor contributing to these frequent negative prices […]
August 11, 2025
BYD’s luxury performance brand Yangwang is preparing to unleash one of the most powerful electric cars ever built. New regulatory filings in China reveal a Track Edition of its U9 supercar boasting more than 3,000 hp. Lotus Evija and Rimac Nevera: beware! China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) regularly discloses models ahead of […]
August 11, 2025
Energy company Engie has successfully fired up its new combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power plant in Flémalle, near Liège, for the first time, completing extensive tests of all essential systems. The first ignition marks the transition from the construction phase to the operational testing phase. By November, the plant is expected to add approximately 875 […]
August 11, 2025
As part of its 2024 joint venture with BAIC, Beijing Hyundai will launch the EO in September, its first EV developed specifically for China. The production model of the electric SUV, formerly known as the Elexio, will be called the EO and is scheduled to hit the Chinese market in September 2025. Beijing Hyundai reportedly […]
August 11, 2025
Tesla will be a no-show at next month’s IAA Mobility trade fair in Munich, a striking absence from one of Europe’s most high-profile automotive events. The German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA), which organizes the biennial show, confirmed the U.S. electric vehicle maker’s decision but did not explain. Tesla hasn’t commented officially yet on […]
August 11, 2025
Zeekr’s 9X SUV, the Swedish-Chinese brand’s first plug-in after a series of fully electric cars, breaks cover as China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has published a new list of approved vehicles that will enter the Chinese market. And everything about this SUV is one size up: not only the dimensions, 5,239 mm […]
August 11, 2025
The Chinese technology group and recent electric car manufacturer Xiaomi has hired Kai Langer, former head of design at BMW i. Kai Langer worked for BMW for over 20 years and joined Xiaomi on August 1st. Langer will remain based in Munich, where Xiaomi operates a research and development center. Langer’s exact role at Xiaomi […]
August 08, 2025
The trains of the Belgian public railway company NMBS/SNCB ran more punctually in July compared to a year ago. In July, 93,4% of trains arrived on time or with a maximum delay of 6 minutes in Brussels or at their destination. This means that punctuality was higher than in July last year, when it was […]
August 08, 2025
The deepening ties between General Motors and Hyundai for the American market are materializing. Their new vehicle collaboration will kick off with a jointly developed electric van launching by 2028 in the US, followed by four additional zero-emission models. The van—intended to sit beneath GM’s existing BrightDrop lineup—will be based on a Hyundai platform, likely […]
August 08, 2025
Anyone who thinks lithium is, first and foremost, the key component in an electric car’s battery, watch this. Scientists have discovered that a lithium supplement also appears to help combat memory loss, which offers new hope for Alzheimer’s patients. According to a recent publication by Nature, the world’s leading multidisciplinary science journal, low levels of […]
August 08, 2025
Lyten, a US-based battery start-up backed by Stellantis, has agreed to acquire the remaining assets of the collapsed Swedish battery maker Northvolt. The company stated that it aims to continue the plans already in place by previous management. The buy-in restores Europe’s faltering ambitions of building a homegrown battery industry, although under American wings. The […]
August 08, 2025
The Belgian public railway company NMBS/SNCB has dismissed a train driver for posting a live video on TikTok while driving a train. This was reported by the newspaper Le Soir, among others. Or how a well-intentioned “proportional initiative”, according to the train driver, turned into a personal nightmare. According to the newspapers, the incident dates to […]
August 08, 2025
American carmaker Ford is building up suspense in anticipation of what its CEO, Jim Farley, called the company’s upcoming “Model T moment”, referring to August 11th when a new platform for affordable EVs is to be presented. Ahead of that event, Ford just opened a new EV design campus in the historic buildings of Douglas […]
August 08, 2025
Nissan has announced prices for the electric Micra, which was presented in May. After the UK, where it starts at £22,995, the same price as the R5 Electric, with which it shares its technology, the price is set in Belgium at 29,250. That’s 5,000 euros more than the R5 e-tech base version here, but this […]
August 07, 2025
According to the Copernicus Climate Change Service, July 2025 was the third‑hottest July on record globally, trailing only behind July 2023 and July 2024. Regional anomalies included a record high of 50.5°C in Turkey, historic heatwaves in Sweden and Finland, and numerous wildfires across Southeast Europe. The average global surface air temperature for the month […]
August 07, 2025
According to specialized media like Autocar, quoting inside sources at Volkswagen, the German carmaker plans to kill off the Touareg in 2026 after 24 years heading its 4×4 model line with no direct replacement. Volkswagen is said to focus instead on high-volume models shortly. The ID.5, a sleeker, coupe‑style derivative of the popular ID.4, officially […]
August 07, 2025
The Italian government has approved the project to build a 3.3-kilometer suspension bridge across the Strait of Messina. It will be the longest suspension bridge in the world, connecting Sicily to the Italian mainland. The project, scheduled for completion by 2032, has a price tag of € 13.5 billion. The arrival of the bridge, already […]
August 07, 2025
Belgian road transport companies are losing ground in the European long-distance freight sector. The findings are based on new data released by Eurostat and highlighted by the Belgian transport federation Febetra. The trend is worrying as the country’s strategic central location makes it a natural logistics hub for the continent. The picture painted by the […]
August 07, 2025
Chinese electric vehicle maker Xpeng has set a new internal sales record with the launch of its new-generation P7 saloon, drawing more than 10,000 pre-orders just 6 minutes and 37 seconds after bookings opened. The response marks the fastest uptake for any Xpeng model to date. It highlights Xpeng as a new force to be […]
August 07, 2025
Looking for a motorboat that no longer spews clouds of diesel fumes? If you have some $6,450 million (€552 million) to spare, ‘presumed owner’ Bill Gates is putting the ‘Breaktrough’, his 118-meter-long superyacht, up for sale. It’s brand-new and the world’s first ‘zero-emission’ one, utilizing green hydrogen. And apparently, Gates himself never stepped aboard, but […]
August 06, 2025
American President Donald Trump is reportedly planning to end two key climate-monitoring satellites, including one that would be destroyed in orbit. This would severely compromise global carbon monitoring at minimal budgetary savings, and provoke both legal challenges and widespread scientific concern. Trump plans to terminate both of NASA’s Orbiting Carbon Observatories—OCO‑2, a free-flying satellite, and […]
August 06, 2025
Until 17 August, Belgian rail network operator Infrabel will be renewing 24 km of sleepers on the section between Hoegaarden and Pousset. The company is using a 700-meter-long mega work train for this to replace around 40,000 sleepers. This Austrian work train, weighing 1,600 tons, travels across Europe to undertake massive construction projects. This is […]
August 06, 2025
Its size and bulky design speak against it, but General Motors managed to set a record with a range for the Chevrolet Silverado EV. The pickup clocked up an astonishing 1,059.2 miles, or 1,705 kilometers, on a single charge. That’s the longest distance ever driven by an electric road car without plugging in. That figure, […]
August 06, 2025
Polestar’s presence in China, once considered a crucial pillar of its global electric vehicle ambitions, is rapidly eroding. The Swedish-Chinese brand has seen its retail footprint in the country shrink to a single store in Shanghai, while online sales have been suspended and test drives are only available by phone appointment. For many observers, this […]
August 06, 2025
SAIC Motor is launching the newest version of the popular MG4 hatchback in China, starting at a stunt price of ¥73,800 or some €10,266. That’s nearly half the price – 47.21% lower – than that of the outgoing model, which cost ¥ 139,800 or €19,308. It fuels expectations for a more affordable European successor for […]
August 05, 2025
Adrian Mardell, CEO of Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), wants to retire after around three years in the top job. Under his leadership, the British manufacturer achieved its highest profit in ten years, significantly reduced its debts, and recently undertook a controversial rebranding of the Jaguar brand. JLR is changing CEOs at a perilous time. Mardell […]
August 05, 2025
Many cities and policymakers dream of it, but few can achieve what Helsinki accomplished last year: zero traffic fatalities. The formula behind these exceptional figures is the introduction of a 30 km/hour speed limit in the city. But speed limits were certainly not the only important factor contributing to this success. The zero traffic fatalities […]
August 05, 2025
Harley-Davidson, the storied American motorcycle maker known as much for its rumbling engines as its rebel image, has appointed Artie Starrs (48) as its next boss. But the move comes not from a position of strength, but under pressure. The unrest in the company’s boardroom and among its loyal, yet disillusioned, followers runs deep. Starrs […]
August 05, 2025
Illegal drug use is a growing problem in traffic. Of all drivers who were checked for drugs after the reggae festival in Geel (province of Antwerp), half (52 of 103) were found to be under the influence. A 2018 international survey showed that 4.8% of Belgian respondents drove an hour after using drugs. By the […]
August 05, 2025
Baidu, the Chinese internet giant and pioneer in autonomous driving, is set to bring its robotaxi service to European streets in 2026. The announcement marks one of China’s most ambitious international moves in the field of self-driving transport to date. In a deal announced on Monday, Baidu said it will partner with US ride-hailing firm […]
August 05, 2025
A joint study by public research university RWTH Aachen and The Mobility House Energy, a German technology company specializing in smart charging solutions and energy management for electric vehicles (EVs), confirms there is only a negligible impact of Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) bidirectional charging on batteries. The researchers emphasize that there is still much discussion about the […]
August 05, 2025
Volvo has been producing the European version of the EX30 in Belgium since April. Now it is gearing up the production of the model in its Ghent factory. Meanwhile, Volvo’s July sales were down again, 14% less than in the same period last year. The production acceleration of the EX30 in Ghent is not only […]
August 05, 2025
Renault will stay resolute in its commitment to full-hybrid (HEVs) and electric cars (BEVs), essentially dismissing the usefulness of plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) as it transitions to a fully electrified range. Renault has just been crowned the number two car manufacturer in Europe, behind Volkswagen, but now ahead of Toyota, in the first half of 2025. […]
August 04, 2025
From 8 to 12 October, BMW is showing ten of the most iconic M Art Cars from the BMW Art Car World Tour in Belgium, at the Zoute Grand Prix in Knokke-Heist. One of the most well-known of the collection is the M1 Andy Warhol painted in 1979 in only 28 minutes, splashing six kilograms […]
August 04, 2025
Negotiations between 175 countries will begin tomorrow in Geneva, Switzerland, on an international and historic treaty aimed at drastically reducing plastic pollution. A legally binding treaty is expected to be ready within two weeks, marking a breakthrough comparable to the Paris Climate Agreement. Plastic pollution is a massive environmental problem. From plastic bags in the stomachs of sea […]
August 04, 2025
A federal jury in Miami has found Tesla partially liable in a fatal 2019 crash involving its Autopilot system. The court awarded $243 million (€221 million) in damages to the victims’ families. The verdict reverses earlier court cases where the EV maker escaped responsibility for accidents involving its self-driving mode. Tesla rejected the verdict and […]
August 04, 2025
Last Friday, BMW Group officially started the series production of its sixth-generation (Gen6) electric motors at the Steyr plant in Austria. These will power the upcoming Neue Klasse models, including the next-generation iX3. Built on the new architecture, the iX3 50 xDrive is the inaugural model to utilize this platform, which is designed exclusively for electric […]
August 04, 2025
According to the Federal government service Mobility & Transport and the sector federation Febiac, 31,613 new cars have been registered in July 2025, 1.7% less than in the same month last year. Once again, the individual buyers bought more cars (+7.3%), while the professional market decreased again (-7.4%). Looking at the first seven months of […]
August 04, 2025
Mitsubishi Motors is resuming sales of new cars in Belgium through its Dutch subsidiary, starting in Q4 2025 after four years of inactivity in Europe. The latest offensive will begin with the world premiere in Brussels on September 17 of the fully electric Eclipse Cross, alongside a new Grandis SUV in Mild and Full Hybrid […]
August 04, 2025
On the last day of July, Renault Group communicated its financial results for the first half of 2025. They weren’t exactly rosy, but the manufacturer still performed better than a lot of its competitors. On his first day as new CEO, François Provost promised ‘continuity and perseverance’. Renault Group announced on Thursday an adjusted benefit […]
August 01, 2025
Heathrow Airport in London wants to expand for 49 billion pounds, or more than 56 billion euros. The plan includes the construction of a controversial third runway of 3,5 kilometers, which is expected to cost at least 24 billion euros. A new terminal will also have to be built, current facilities will have to be […]
August 01, 2025
Lufthansa more than doubled its profits in the second quarter of this year despite recent trade tensions. “The Lufthansa Group remains on track,” says CEO Carsten Spohr, referring to the net profit of 1.2 billion euros. Air France-KLM also reported significantly higher profits in the past quarter compared to the same period a year earlier. […]
August 01, 2025
Anyone who wants to hand in a license plate in Belgium can do so by depositing it – free of charge – with the Vehicle Registration Service (Dienst voor Inschrijving van Voertuigen, DIV) in Brussels. You can also send it – wrapped – via bpost, the Belgian postal service, and this will cost you 5.15 […]
August 01, 2025
BMW reported a sharp drop in first-half profits on Thursday, weighed down by US tariffs, currency headwinds from the dollar, and challenging business conditions in China. The Munich-based automaker reported a post-tax profit of €4 billion, down 29% from the same period last year, marking the third consecutive decline in the first half for the […]
August 01, 2025
Peter Kronschnabl, a senior figure from the BMW Group, has been appointed as the MD of Genesis Motor Europe. He takes over from Xavier Martinet, President & CEO of Hyundai Motor Europe, who previously served as interim Managing Director for Genesis MotorEurope. According to Genesis, Kronschnabl will head up the premium South Korean EV brand’s […]
July 31, 2025
Starting October 12, the European Union will begin the gradual rollout of a new electronic border control system, known as the entry and exit system (EES). Under this automated control system, third-country nationals wishing to enter or exit the EU (or Switzerland and Liechtenstein) will be required to provide their biometric data, fingerprints, and a […]
July 31, 2025
The number of hit-and-run accidents in Belgium has decreased for the first time since 2018, from 4,820 in 2023 to 4,596 in 2024, a 5% decline. Another positive point is that last year, 86% of perpetrators could be identified thanks to the increasing number of cameras, both on the street and on private property. By comparison, […]
July 31, 2025
The Leapmotor B10 is a compact C-segment electric SUV designed for global markets. Still, especially with the European market in mind, it is intended to offer a blend of performance, technology, and affordability. On Wednesday, ordering opened in most European countries where the Chinese brand is imported by Stellantis, at a starting price of just […]
July 31, 2025
The 15% US import tariff agreed by Donald Trump and Ursula von der Leyen will significantly impact the financial performance and strategic decisions of Mercedes-Benz, Audi, and Porsche among German premium carmakers. These brands are operating with tighter margins and have begun raising prices in the US, typically by 2-3%, to pass on some of […]
July 31, 2025
New Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa promised “tough decisions” to turn around the money-losing automaker, a raft of new and returning models, and a fresh executive team eager to “roll up our sleeves” and build on encouraging signs in the first half of 2025. But he and CFO Doug Ostermann, speaking to analysts on July 29 from Stellantis […]
July 30, 2025
Our assumptions earlier today that François Provost would be nominated as the new CEO of the Renault Group have been confirmed. The official announcement came late in the afternoon. “The Renault Group Board of Directors, meeting today (Wednesday, July 30) under the chairmanship of Jean-Dominique Senard, decided, following recommendation from the Governance and Remuneration Committee, […]
July 30, 2025
Mercedes is gearing up for the launch of its next generation of electric vehicles. The all-new electric GLC will make its world debut at the IAA Mobility 2025 in Munich, alongside the prototype of the VLE minivan. And by next year, at least three other models should follow. Mercedes has given a sneak preview of […]
July 30, 2025
Attorney, politician, and former Army Intelligence Officer Lee Zeldin, the new US EPA director (Environmental Protection Agency) under Trump, plans to revoke the legal basis for tackling climate change, which would effectively halt current standards on vehicle emissions and industrial pollution. He wants to cancel the scientific recognition of six harmful gases, including carbon dioxide […]
July 30, 2025
An analysis by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) of CO2 fleet emissions for new cars in H1 of 2025 shows that the car industry currently exceeds the EU limit by nine percent. This breach should actually trigger fines payable to the European Union. Due to the recent flexibilisation, that will not happen. The […]
July 30, 2025
Every category of commercial vehicles has faced negative results in the first half of 2025 in Europe. Vans and trucks suffered the most, but buses have remained relatively stable, thanks to their large share of electrification. However, the sector warns that the conditions are still not suitable for the mass adoption of electrified heavy commercial […]
July 30, 2025
Belgian postal services, Bpost, has ordered 500 new electric vehicles, which are expected to arrive in the fall. As a result, the postal company’s fleet of EVs will soon exceed 3,000 units. According to the company, this makes Bpost’s fleet not only the most significant operational fleet in Belgium, but also the greenest. As a […]
July 30, 2025
BYD’s premium luxury brand Denza is prepping its European launch with Z9 GT sales starting in Q4 2025, followed by the hybrid version and D9 MPV in early 2026. It appears that the brand is preparing a four-seater convertible Z9 variant, as Chinese media have spotted it in Suzhou, a city with over 10 million […]
July 30, 2025
According to Bloomberg and Le Figaro, the Renault board will announce today that François Provost, Chief Purchasing Officer at Renault, will be appointed to a new position as CEO of the Renault Group, in succession to Luca de Meo, who left the group suddenly to lead the Kering luxury group. One could say that Provost […]
July 29, 2025
Global sales of electric cars are picking up speed again, driven by strong growth in China and renewed momentum in Europe, according to a new analysis by consulting firm PwC. In the first half of the year, more than 5.9 million battery electric vehicles (BEVs) were registered worldwide, a 37% increase compared to the same […]
July 29, 2025
Samsung is positioning itself as a full-spectrum AI chip supplier, securing a €16.6 billion deal to manufacture Tesla’s next-generation AI6 chip at Samsung’s new Taylor, Texas, factory. Production is expected to begin in 2026, while the deal runs through the end of 2033. The AI6 chip is designed for use in Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) […]
