SAIC’s all new MG4 shows its ‘Morandi-inspired’ interior

July 25, 2025

SAIC Motor, the parent company of the MG brand, has officially posted the first pictures of the all-new MG4’s interior on Weibo, China’s microblogging platform, often described as a combined alternative to Twitter, Facebook, and Reddit. Gone are most physical buttons below the screen for key controls from the outgoing generation, with just five core […]

BMW and MINI App show drivers’ carbon footprint

July 25, 2025

BMW has announced a new update for the My BMW App and MINI App, introducing a feature that allows drivers to view their carbon footprint. It’s designed for use with traditional ICE vehicles as well as BEVs and plug-in hybrids. “Our usage research shows: The information in My Trips is one of the most popular […]

German chancellor criticizes EU plan on EV boosting

July 25, 2025

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz criticized plans, according to the German newspaper Bild, that the European Union is working on prohibiting car-rental firms and large corporations from buying non-electric vehicles for their fleets starting in 2030. The European plan is still a proposal and draws inspiration from Belgian regulations that stipulate that by 2026, all new […]

Kia details the PV5’s 16 modular variants

July 24, 2025

Kia held the PV5 Tech Day in Gwangmyeong, South Korea, where it detailed the specific technology and modular assembly behind its first commercial vehicle, the PV5. Thanks to a customer-led approach, up to 16 variants of the mid-sized van are available, ranging from basic cargo versions to wheelchair-accessible vehicles. The Kia PV5 was launched earlier […]

Do EVs make more people carsick than combustion cars?

July 24, 2025

An increasing number of people are experiencing motion sickness in electric cars, but why is this happening? Scientists are trying to find an acceptable explanation as to why people feel more motion sick riding in an EV than in a traditional petrol or diesel car. For your information, in 2024, 22% of new car sales […]

Tesla facing ‘few rough quarters ahead’ bets on ‘affordable’ model Y

July 24, 2025

More bad news for Tesla, as expected. The Californian carmaker posted net earnings of $1.17 billion in the latest quarter, a 16% decrease compared with the same period last year. Revenue fell 12% to $22.5 billion, slightly below analysts’ expectations of about $22.7 billion. On top of sputtering sales comes a significant drop in regulatory […]

NMBS/SNCB holds firm in choosing Spanish CAF’s 600 new trains

July 24, 2025

The Board of directors of the Belgian public railroad company NMBS/SNCB has finally chosen Spanish train builder CAF (Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles) as the preferred bidder for the supply of new train carriages. It concerns a contract for up to 600 new train sets by 2034, for an estimated sum of between €1.7 billion […]

Opel Mokka GSE has been unleashed for the street

July 24, 2025

After launching the Rally version, Opel has now unveiled the production Mokka GSE. It features the same 280-hp electric drivetrain from its Peugeot, Lancia, Alfa Romeo, and Abarth cousins, with a sporty appearance and the bright yellow flashes that are typical for the brand. Stellantis initially offered its punchy 280-hp electric motor only on the […]

Electra raises another €433 million to expand European charging network

July 24, 2025

Electra, operator of charging stations for electric vehicles, is taking out a green loan of up to €433 million to finance its future growth. The funding will be used to accelerate the rollout of high-quality infrastructure further. This transaction brings the total financing raised by Electra since its inception to over €1 billion. Electra’s network currently includes […]

EU car registrations down 1.9% in H1 2025, BEVs continue growth

July 24, 2025

In the first half of 2025 (H1 2025), new EU car registrations dropped by 1.9% compared to the same period last year, according to the data of ACEA. With a strong 7.3% year-on-year (YOY) decline for June, this is indicative of the challenging global economic environment for automakers. The battery-electric car market share for H1 […]

Belgian unique solar-to-hydrogen module ready for the big bang

July 24, 2025

Green hydrogen ‘distilled’ directly from the air without any emissions, using free solar energy, anywhere in the world, even at the most remote places: it looks genius. And it’s there. Belgian startup Solhyd has outgrown the lab and presented its SM500 module, which can help ramp up to megawatt-scale production. It’s ready for the big […]

Shell withdraws from climate group after new gas field ban proposal

July 23, 2025

Energy and petrochemical company Shell has left the Science-Based Targets Initiative. This non-profit organization assists companies worldwide in developing strategies to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 and combat the dangers of global warming. “Science-based targets show businesses how much and how quickly they need to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions to prevent the worst effects […]

New 20-year permit for Charleroi and Liège airports

July 23, 2025

Charleroi Airport has received a new environmental permit from the Walloon government. The permit for Brussels South Charleroi Airport is valid for 20 years. The cargo-specialized Liège Airport has also received a new environmental permit. The new permit comes with several conditions related to noise pollution and the environment. Adjusted noise rules and quota to […]

GM suffers from Trump’s tariffs but confirms May 2025 forecast

July 23, 2025

Following a second quarter that met analysts’ expectations, General Motors has confirmed its 2025 forecast, including the impact of the Trump administration’s import tariffs. In the second quarter of this year, turnover was $47.1 billion (-1.8%), while the net profit decreased by 35.4% to $1.89 billion. The manufacturer has estimated the impact of the import […]

BYD confirms Yangwang luxury brand heading for Europe (update)

July 23, 2025

BYD’s Senior Vice President, Stella Li, who leads the European business for the Chinese automaker, has confirmed to British magazine Autocar that the luxury sub-brand Yangwang is set to launch in Europe. The official launch is planned for 2026, following the introduction of Denza, and will be supported by European production facilities and expanded dealership […]

Kia puts €38,890 base price on its new EV4 hatch

July 23, 2025

Kia has announced a price for its EV4, its mainstream C-segment EV sedan/hatchback, bridging the gap between mass-market value models (like the upcoming EV2) and higher-tier EVs, such as the EV6 and EV9. Ordering opens today, with the first deliveries scheduled for October. The EV4 hatchback, specifically designed for the European market, is available in […]

Renault holds ground in first year-half despite difficult market

July 23, 2025

Renault Group’s global sales increased by 1.3% in the first half of 2025, with passenger car sales in Europe up 5.4% in a flat market, the automaker announced on Tuesday. In Europe, Renault’s sales increased by 8.4% to 394,278 units, Dacia’s sales rose by 1.1% to 308,957, and Alpine’s sales jumped 89% to 4,871 units. […]

Houthi attacks in Red Sea cause container ship emissions to spike

July 22, 2025

According to a new study by the Copenhagen-based analytics company Sea-Intelligence, carbon emissions from container ships operating in the European Union rose significantly in 2024. Last year, the ships listed in the EU emissions database emitted 52.8 million tons of CO2, representing a 46% increase from the previous year.” The ongoing crisis in the Red […]

New MG4 debuts semi-solid state batteries but don’t expect miracles

July 22, 2025

The all-new MG4, the Chinese brand’s new budget electric hatchback, will debut a new type of battery technology that bridges the gap between current technology and the highly anticipated solid-state batteries. However, the numbers of the MG4’s ‘semi-solid’ state batteries aren’t as impressive as you might think. MG promised last year that it would debut […]

Renewed Belgian fly tax makes plane ticket up to 3€ more expensive

July 22, 2025

As part of the summer agreement, the Belgian government, under the leadership of Bart De Wever (N-VA), has approved the renewal of the boarding tax on flights. This is what the newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws reports. The agreement also confirms that the tax applies retroactively: even those who have already purchased their ticket may be […]

Hyundai boosts focus on Europe and US with flagship Ioniq 9

July 22, 2025

With domestic sales already declining after the initial surge, Hyundai is targeting Europe and North America as the primary markets for its new flagship three-row electric SUV, the Ioniq 9. The first models have now arrived on European shores. Hyundai first unveiled its Ioniq 9 in November 2024, while the full-size electric SUV made its […]

Positive breath test will immediately lead to 12-hour driving ban

July 22, 2025

Anyone who drives drunk and tests positive in Belgium for a breath test will now get a 12-hour driving ban. Until recently, an ordinary driver would only be banned for three to six hours.  But that rule is now becoming stricter “to tackle alcohol in traffic much more strictly and consistently,” says Minister of Mobility […]

JLR postpones market launch of electric models

July 22, 2025

Jaguar Land Rover is postponing the launch of its upcoming all-electric models, including the Range Rover Electric. According to The Guardian, an English newspaper, deliveries originally planned for the end of 2025 will now not commence until 2026, with Jaguar also experiencing delays. JLR will launch its first fully electric models from its own production […]

Stellantis €2.3 billion in the red in first-half of 2025

July 22, 2025

Stellantis reported a preliminary net loss of €2.3 billion for the first six months. The company expects a greater impact from the US tariffs on vehicle and auto parts imports in the second half of the year. Stellantis also explained that President Donald Trump’s tariffs had cost it €300 million so far, as the company […]

The Netherlands has EU lawsuit on its hands over NS monopoly

July 22, 2025

Because the Netherlands has awarded domestic train traffic to Dutch Railways NS, the European Commission is going to the European Court of Justice. Such a direct allocation is contrary to the European rule that requires several transport companies to be able to apply for the main domestic train traffic. The court may decide to fine […]

Bolt’s 2024 safety report shows 82% drop in e-scooter incidents

July 21, 2025

Mobility provider Bolt has published its latest Micromobility Incident Overview. The report reveals new data showing a significant drop in the number of incidents involving electric scooters in Belgium. According to the bulletin, the number of incidents in Belgium has decreased by 82% compared to the same period last year. This equates to just 0.13 incidents per […]

Uber wants to deploy 20,000 robotaxis and invests $300 million in Lucid

July 18, 2025

US ride-hailing company Uber announced on Thursday that it plans to deploy at least 20,000 robotaxis over the next six years. The robotaxis are based on the Lucid Gravity model. The company said the fleet would be comprised of SUVs manufactured by U.S. electric vehicle manufacturer Lucid and equipped with self-driving technology developed by start-up […]

Battle over Brussels Airport’s annulled permit continues

July 18, 2025

The new environmental permit for Brussels Airport has been annulled by the Council for Permit Disputes, an independent Flemish administrative court. The Council thereby agrees with Brussels Airlines. The airline found that the stricter environmental conditions, including an annual ceiling on the number of flight movements and the tightening of night flights, restricted its operations […]

Volvo in red in difficult market will build popular XC60 also in US

July 18, 2025

Yesterday, Volvo Cars reported a group operating profit (EBIT) of SEK -10.0 billion for the second quarter of 2025. This is due to the challenging automotive market and the Trump administration’s import tariffs. That’s why Volvo will also build its XC60 best-seller in the U.S. “The result reflects a continued challenging environment for the automotive […]

Smart’s first plugin-hybrid #5 EHD goes 250 km pure electric

July 18, 2025

In China, the first official pictures have emerged of Smart’s first plug-in hybrid (PHEV), a version of its latest and largest model, the #5 SUV—a significant shift for a brand that was initially committed to being BEV-only. The Smart #5 EHD (Electric Hybrid Drive) was confirmed by Smart on Thursday, for the Chinese market only, […]

Hydrogen sinks further: Stellantis next to drop FCEV development

July 17, 2025

The dream of driving a vehicle on clean and ‘affordable’ hydrogen is further sputtering as Stellantis Group announced it will stop development of its light commercial hydrogen vehicles. The series production of a new range of hydrogen–powered vans, which was due to start this summer in Hordain (France) and Gliwice (Poland), has been cancelled. The […]

ADAC test proves VW ID.3 battery health still 91% after 160,000 km

July 17, 2025

A recent long-term test by Germany’s largest automobile club, ADAC, provides a reassuring answer on the long-term health of a popular fully electric car, the Volkswagen ID.3. After putting the electric hatchback through a four-year, 160,000 km endurance test, the results look very promising. The key finding was remarkable: the high-voltage battery still had a […]

Train tickets up to 9% more expensive in 2026 in the Netherlands

July 17, 2025

The price of train tickets will increase by 6 to 9% in the Netherlands next year. This was announced to the Lower House by resigning State Secretary for Public Transport Thierry Aartsen. Earlier, a 12% increase was still assumed. However, the Dutch Railways NS is now taking measures such as reducing costs by organizing train […]

Walloons have problems with rules on traffic circles

July 17, 2025

Walloon drivers are generally unfamiliar with the specific rules governing priority at roundabouts, also known as traffic circles. This is what the Walloon Road Safety Agency (AWSR) warns about. In Wallonia, about 140 accidents involving deaths and injuries occur each year at traffic circles. Cyclists and motorcyclists are particularly vulnerable in this situation because they […]

Dieselgate in France, episode four: Fiat-Chrysler’s turn

July 17, 2025

France is heading towards a fourth lawsuit in the Dieselgate saga. After Volkswagen, Peugeot-Citroën, and Renault, it’s Fiat-Chrysler’s turn to be investigated for fraudulent software in some of their diesel cars. The manufacturer contests “the entire jurisdictional argumentation”. Fiat-Chrysler is suspected of having commercialised between 2014 and 2017 diesel vehicles of the brands Fiat, Alfa […]

ACEA launches Central and East European automotive hub

July 17, 2025

The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association, ACEA, in collaboration with the national automotive associations in Czechia, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia, has launched the ACEA Central and Eastern European Automotive Hub. The ACEA Hub was formalized by a joint Memorandum of Understanding signed by ACEA, AutoSAP (Czechia), PZPM (Poland), ACAROM (Romania), and ZAP SR (Slovakia). ‘The Hub’, […]

Renault names CFO Duncan Minto as interim CEO (Update)

July 17, 2025

Renault Group has named its recently appointed CFO, Duncan Minto, as interim CEO to replace Luca de Meo, who is leaving the automaker to run the luxury group Kering. Minto will run the company alongside Renault Group Chairman Jean-Dominique Senard, Renault said in a news release on July 15. It said the search for a […]

Toyota claims record first half year sales of 635,328 cars in Europe

July 16, 2025

Toyota Motor Europe (TME) says it saw record first-half-year sales in Europe of 635,328 vehicles, of which 491,197 were ‘electrified’. According to TME, “A key factor was continued solid demand for Toyota and Lexus electrified vehicles, which expanded by +6% year-on-year and now represent 77% of TME’s total sales mix.” However, ‘electrified’ in Toyota’s words […]

PostNL supplies larger Amsterdam and 27 city centers electrically

July 16, 2025

PostNL has announced that starting Tuesday, it will deliver emission-free throughout Amsterdam’s city center by using electric vehicles. More specifically, it concerns the entire area within the A10 beltway, an area that is 3.5 times larger than the official zero-emission zone of the municipality of Amsterdam.  Since the beginning of this year, PostNL has been delivering […]

Mercedes-Benz CLA Shooting Brake comes back for the electric generation

July 16, 2025

The all-new electric Mercedes CLA also gets a Shooting Brake variant, just like its predecessors. Thanks to its higher roof line, it’s more practical than the CLA Coupé, without compromising too much on the model’s impressive range and charging specs. But not all of its figures are as impressive… Earlier this year, Mercedes-Benz finally took […]

Flanders announces major infrastructure investment plans

July 16, 2025

The Flemish government has reached an agreement on infrastructure investments related to mobility for the coming years. During the remaining years of the legislature, Flemish Minister of Mobility Annick De Ridder (N-VA) plans to allocate 2.2 billion euros per year for infrastructure to boost mobility. Among the most important projects are the Limburg North-South Connection, […]

Ford Belgium offers fully electric cargo conversion for Explorer SUV

July 16, 2025

Looking for a comfortable electric van with lots of range, but no need for a high payload? Ford has you covered with the new Explorer Cargo, a van conversion of the electric SUV. It’s available for both new and existing models, and is performed by a Belgian specialist. The Ford Explorer is the Blue Oval’s […]

France extends its social leasing scheme for EVs

July 16, 2025

The French government has announced a second season of its social leasing scheme for EVs. An envelope of €370 million is destined for subsidising the rental of at least 50,000 EVs for three years or more. Social leasing of (smaller) EVs has been a significant success in France last year. Even overwhelmingly so, because 50,000 […]

T&E: ‘Europe’s ports fail to tackle docking ships air pollution’

July 15, 2025

A new study carried out by DNV, on behalf of Transport &Environment, has shown that Europe’s ports are failing to tackle toxic air pollution. The study reveals that only 20% of the EU’s required electric shore power infrastructure has been installed in major ports, meaning most container ships, cruise ships, and ferries continue to run […]

Sabena Engineering inaugurates new hangar at Brussels Airport

July 15, 2025

The aircraft maintenance company Sabena Engineering has inaugurated a new hangar at Brussels Airport. Among other things, it will take care of the Belgian army’s A400M military transport aircraft. The hangar has a surface area of 6,000 m². The first aircraft will be able to be serviced there by the end of the summer. Sabena […]

Brabo III to provide Port of Antwerp much-needed extra power

July 15, 2025

System operator Elia has put the finishing touches to the high-voltage BRABO III grid. The new grid is almost complete with the completion of mast number 58. It should be effectively powered by early 2026, which will support industry in the Port of Antwerp. “This reinforcement is necessary because demand for electricity in the port […]

EV Belgium: ‘Europe will have 1 million charging points this summer’

July 15, 2025

Good news, EV Belgium, the sector federation for electromobility, heralds: Europe will officially have more than one million public charging points this summer. This also means that traveling with an electric car has never been easier.  According to the European Alternative Fuels Observatory, every EV driver can enjoy a carefree holiday this summer with their […]

BMW’s Neue Klasse gets Momenta’s China-specific smart driving tech

July 15, 2025

According to Chinese media, BMW has signed a deal with leading Chinese autonomous-driving technology company Momenta for its Neue Klasse smart driving systems (ADAS). Momenta will provide localized L2/L3 smart driving software, including city and highway navigation systems trained on Chinese roads with specific infrastructure. It’s not uncommon for a Western carmaker to work with a […]

Belux market electrifies further in first half of 2025

July 15, 2025

According to the analysis of sector federations Febiac and Traxio, the Belgian car market saw 608,426 cars sold in the first half of 2025. 234,616 of them were new ones (-10.9%), 373,810 were second-hand (+0.9%). In both markets, electrification evolves further. BMW and Dacia are the winners when looking at the specific models. With the […]

Traton reports steady Q2 sales, but uncertainties remain

July 14, 2025

The Traton Group, Volkswagen Group’s heavy commercial vehicle subsidiary, has reported a slightly positive sales result for Q2 2025. A total of 80,000 vehicles were sold, compared to 79,000 units in Q2 2024, but the first half of 2025 stays in the red, and the market remains uncertain, not just in the US. Traton Group […]

£10 billion plan to improve London Heathrow

July 14, 2025

Heathrow Airport wants to invest 10 billion pounds, or 11,6 billion euros, to redesign terminals and improve punctuality using artificial intelligence. The London airport has submitted an investment plan for this purpose to the British Aviation Authority. 10 million passengers extra The project should eventually increase capacity by 12%, up to more than 70,000 m² […]

Volkswagen closes Nanjing factory in China

July 14, 2025

Volkswagen and SAIC close their joint plant in Nanjing, China. Production has already come to a standstill. In Nanjing, the partners had mainly built combustion models such as the VW Passat and Skoda Superb. Production is now moving to a nearby plant. There had already been rumors last year about the closure of the plant […]

All-new MG4 has entered production

July 14, 2025

MG has started producing the second-generation MG4 electric hatchback in SAIC’s Nanjing factory. The new MG4 falls in line with the design of the Cyberster and is a collaboration with tech expert Oppo, which supplies the in-car infotainment system. The MG4 will launch in China in August and will likely come to European shores as […]

Xpeng opens orders for newly refreshed G6 and G9 in Europe

July 14, 2025

Xpeng, distributed in most EU countries by Hedin Mobility Group, is opening the order books of the new G6 and G9 in Europe from this week on. The G6 Long Range is available from €46,990 in Belgium and €45,990 in Luxembourg, the G9 Long Range retails from €63,990 and €61,990. The G6 and G9 Standard […]

International train travel booms at NMBS/SNCB

July 14, 2025

The number of international train travelers at the Belgian public railroad company NMBS/SNCB is increasing year after year. Since 2019, the number of bookings through NMBS/SNCB International has risen by over 50%. The most popular countries are France, the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. NMBS/SNCB sells tickets to more […]

Leuven to experiment with self-driving shuttle buses

July 14, 2025

Self-driving shuttle buses will be operating in Leuven before the end of this year. The vehicles will be able to seat eight passengers and will drive around the city center. With this pilot project, Leuven is following the example of other European cities, such as Zurich, Barcelona, and Paris. The project is part of the […]

Dieselgate in France: also a lawsuit against Renault?

July 14, 2025

The Paris prosecutor’s office has asked for a third lawsuit in the so-called dieselgate scandal. After Volkswagen and Peugeot-Citroën (part of Stellantis now), it’s Renault’s turn. The French manufacturer denies any infringement. Renault has supposedly “specially calibrated” Euro 5 and Euro 6 vehicles sold between 2009 and 2017 to pass the legal tests, but they […]

Justice Minister Verlinden makes ‘traffic manslaughter’ a criminal offence

July 11, 2025

Today, Minister of Justice Annelies Verlinden (CD&V) will present a bill to introduce ‘traffic manslaughter’ as a criminal offense. The term ‘traffic manslaughter’ is introduced as a new criminal law concept. This is a terminological change, but it also entails heavier penalties in certain circumstances. Anyone who causes a fatal traffic accident in Belgium faces a […]

KIA Belux puts prices on PV5 passenger mini-van versions

July 11, 2025

Kia Belux has released specs and put a price on the electric Passenger version of its new PV5, part of the Purpose‑Built Vehicle (PBV) lineup built on the E-GMP.S platform. The PV5 Passenger is offered in a single L2/H1 configuration, with a choice of two Kia’s first electric van, and its first commercial vehicle in any […]

EV climate advantage grows faster than expected

July 11, 2025

There’s a scientific consensus that electric vehicles are the cleanest form of propulsion. A new study by the International Council on Clean Transportation now shows that their climate advantage is growing faster than previously assumed. Today’s EVs sold in Europe emit 73% fewer greenhouse gases over their lifetime compared to petrol cars. The reason is […]

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