BYD Yangwang U8 driver performs flood stunt during Super Typhoon

September 25, 2025

The Yangwang U8 has been lavishly heralded for its outstanding off-roading capabilities, with its wading potential almost comparable to that of a sailing vessel. One customer thought the flooded streets during Super Typhoon Ragasa would prove an appropriate demonstration. However, he has now been accused of damaging stores and houses in the process. An adventurous […]

Belgian Council of State also rejects Alstom’s objection in CAF tender

September 25, 2025

There is no longer any legal obstacle preventing the Belgian public railway company NMBS/SNCB from awarding the contract for the definitive allocation of hundreds of new AM30 trainsets to the Spanish company CAF (Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles). After the Council of State rejected Siemens Mobility’s appeal against the order by German train manufacturer last […]

Spying while parked? Belgian minister slams Tesla

September 25, 2025

Tesla’s signature ‘Sentry Mode’, an anti-vandalism feature that activates exterior cameras when the car is parked, has come under scrutiny. Belgian lawmakers and regulators question whether the technology violates national privacy laws. Vanessa Matz, Belgium’s minister of digital affairs, told parliament this week that the system, which is designed to monitor the surroundings of a […]

Van Mossel trying to outshine Cardoen with ‘largest’ used car showroom?

September 25, 2025

Van Mossel, a major player in the automotive sector and acting as a dealer for 32 car brands, is proud to announce the official opening of its brand-new Used Cars Center in Lokeren. “This impressive branch is immediately the largest indoor used car center in Belgium, with a range of more than 300 carefully selected […]

ACEA’s Outlook sees Belgium co-leading EV-adoption in Europe

September 24, 2025

ACEA, the European car manufacturers’ federation, remains cautiously optimistic about its economic outlook, with the European economy expected to grow by 1.1% in 2025, followed by a rise to 1.5% in 2026 amid trade tensions and the United States’ tariff changes. Inflation is forecast to ease from 2.3% in 2025 to an average of 1.9% […]

French EDF examins takeover Belgian Doel 4 and Tihange 3 nuclear plants

September 24, 2025

EDF, Europe’s largest electricity company, is negotiating with Engie and the Belgian government about a potential takeover of the Doel 4 and Tihange 3 nuclear reactors, aimed at keeping both plants operational longer, specifically until 2045. This is according to La Lettre, a French online newspaper that mainly reports on politics, business, and the media […]

Pakistan province launches free pink EV scooters for young women

September 24, 2025

It’s a different way of promoting the green transition,  in this case, in pink. The Sindh province in Pakistan, in the southeastern region of the country, has recently launched a bold new initiative aimed at transforming mobility for women. Female students and employees can now utilize a fleet of pink electric scooters at no cost. […]

€400,000+ bonus for Belgian rail operator despite mixed results

September 24, 2025

Getting a 4/10 on your report card and still receiving a financial bonus of more than 400,000 euros? That is the outcome of the annual performance report by the Federal Public Service Mobility for the Belgian public railway company NMBS/SNCB. In 2024, NMBS/SNCB achieved its targets for five of the 12 performance indicators, while scoring […]

Stellantis halts production at six European plants over weak demand

September 24, 2025

Stellantis is preparing to suspend operations across multiple European plants. Slow demand forces the automotive giant to curb output and recalibrate inventories. The company confirmed temporary shutdowns in France and Italy, while reports in the French business daily Les Échos indicate similar pauses in Spain, Germany, and Poland. At the Poissy plant, west of Paris, […]

De Lijn tests AI driver assistance system on Antwerp trams

September 24, 2025

A pilot project has been launched in Antwerp, in which public transport company De Lijn will use AI driver assistance systems on trams to help prevent accidents in the future. The system, developed by the Ghent technology company Otiv, was presented on Tuesday, September 23rd, in Antwerp, in the presence of Minister of Mobility Annick […]

Can this upgraded Volvo EX90 fix its damaged reputation?

September 24, 2025

Volvo Cars is pressing reset on its digital platform after a rocky start for its flagship battery-powered SUV EX90. The Swedish automaker has unveiled sweeping upgrades to the 2026 model year, including a jump to 800 V architecture. It also outlined plans to build extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs) in the US, as it seeks to rebuild […]

Souped-up +900 hp Zeekr 001 plays in a different league in China

September 24, 2025

The Zeekr 001, which we first drove in 2023, was never a weakling to begin with, but now it’s had another dose of steroids. In China, the updated version for 2026 is presented with a power boost from 400 kW (544 hp EU specs) to 680 kW (912 hp) for the two-motor version. This makes […]

ING: ‘Ports and logistics struggle with decarbonization and digitalization’

September 23, 2025

The Belgian port, transport, and logistics sector is in complete transition toward decarbonization, sustainability, and digitalization. According to the new ING Port Study, the sector is embracing change but also faces several challenges. The study examines the factors that accelerate the implementation of greening and digitalization, as well as the barriers that exist. The aim was to gather […]

Flanders to dress up the budget with speed cameras and truck km tax

September 23, 2025

The Flemish government wants to collect an additional 50 million euros annually from speed trap fines. This is one of the mobility consequences of the September Declaration, the moment when the Flemish government proposes the 2026 budget. In addition, the Diependaele government is increasing the CO2 tax for trucks. The kilometer charge is expected to […]

Evelyn Pall becomes the first female CEO of Deutsche Bahn

September 23, 2025

For the first time in the history of Deutsche Bahn, a woman will become chair of the board of the German national railway company. That honor goes to Evelyn Palla, who previously headed Deutsche Bahn’s regional train division. In the German business world, it remains relatively rare for women to hold the top position in […]

Car-free Sunday: air quality up, noise levels dropping almost completely

September 23, 2025

The recent car-free Sunday, on September 21st, once again proved that air quality is improving and noise pollution is decreasing, especially along Brussels’ busiest roads. The sound pressure dropped by 99 percent compared to a regular Sunday. The measuring stations on the E40 in Sint-Lambrechts-Woluwe and the E411 in Oudergem recorded sound pressure levels of 50 […]

China ramps up EV exports as sales surge in Europe

September 23, 2025

China is intensifying its efforts in the electric car market. The country has unveiled a new strategy that pairs ambitious domestic sales targets with a sharper focus on exports. The new ambitions coincide with a significant increase in sales from Chinese brands in Europe, where their sales have more than doubled in the past year. […]

Porsche in reverse: EV dream stalls, petrol roars back

September 23, 2025

Porsche is dramatically scaling back its push into electric cars, shelving key models and extending the life of gasoline and hybrid vehicles. The sudden reversal comes after a profit warning and has unsettled investors. One of Germany’s most celebrated luxury brands is in turmoil and intends to fight back by looking to its roots. The […]

Omoda 9 SHS-P: electric every day, ICE backup for range anxiety

September 23, 2025

In June 2025, Chery, China’s largest vehicle exporter, announced a second model in Belgium, alongside the Omoda 5 (ICE and EV), the flagship SUV, the Omoda 9 SHS. Now it’s here to order, priced at €52.900 for those cautiously entering the world of electric driving to soothe their eco-consciousness, but secretly like to keep their […]

MG’s ‘cynical move’ to feed the anti-EV attitude: HS Hybrid+

September 22, 2025

Chinese MG, although a forerunner in Europe when it comes to EVs, is going for the path of least resistance to make a little money on the side, feeding on the current anti-EV attitude of a certain (general) buyer public. It’s called the HS Hybrid+. This one, offered in two trims, Comfort (from €34,285) and […]

Cyberattack on check-in and boarding systems hits European aviation

September 22, 2025

Several European airports, including Brussels Airport, Heathrow, Berlin Brandenburg Airport, Dublin, and Cork, have been disrupted on Friday and in the weekend by a cyberattack on external service provider Collins Aerospace. Even though it’s been a few days, the fallout is still being felt. The attack affected the American aviation company, which supplies software for […]

Plan Bureau: ‘In optimal scenario, Belgium needs 8 new nuclear power plants’

September 22, 2025

According to a new study by the Federal Planning Bureau, Belgium should build 8 new nuclear power plants by 2050 to make its electricity supply climate-neutral. In the most cost-optimal scenario, both offshore wind and nuclear energy will be fully expanded. Offshore wind capacity will then grow from 2.2 to 8 gigawatts, and new nuclear power […]

How BYD’s Yangwang U9 Xtreme prevents going airborne at 496.22 km/h

September 22, 2025

BYD’s latest version of its luxury sports car, the Yangwang U9 Xtreme, has set a new record as the world’s fastest production car, clocking a top speed of 496.22 km per hour (308.34 mph) at the ATP test facility, an independent automotive proving ground in Papenburg, Germany. Many passenger planes lift the nose for takeoff […]

Siemens appeal in CAF case rejected by Belgian Council of State

September 22, 2025

The Belgian public railway company NMBS/SNCB is in a stronger legal position regarding the tendering of new trains. As expected, the Council of State has rejected the appeal by German company Siemens Mobility against NMNS/SNCB’s plans to award an order for hundreds of new trainsets to the Spanish company CAF (Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles). […]

Droneport to generate its own energy to fly electrically

September 22, 2025

Droneport in Sint-Truiden, a 30-hectare industry park specifically for aviation, drone, advanced air mobility, and unmanned flight testing, wants to build its own solar park on the nearby site and company buildings. The business park aims to generate its own energy to fly electrically. An agreement in principle has been reached to launch the solar […]

Plans for four car-free Sundays in Brussels

September 22, 2025

If outgoing Brussels Minister of Mobility Elke Van den Brandt (Groen) has her way, the capital will become car-free not once but four times a year. Van den Brandt wants to discuss this with the mayors of the 19 municipalities. A poll also shows that most Brussels residents want several car-free days per year. In addition […]

BMW persists: X5 comes with five drivetrain options, including hydrogen

September 22, 2025

While other premium manufacturers who used to tout their commitment to zero-emission mobility are changing their tune to extend the life of their ICE models as long as possible, BMW persists. The company confirms again that the new BMW X5 will be the first model to offer customers a choice of battery electric, plug-in hybrid, […]

VUB: ‘Greening industry is impossible without CCS and cheaper electricity’

September 19, 2025

According to a new study by the VUB University in Brussels, it is technologically possible to reduce CO₂ emissions from Belgian industry by 90 percent by 2040-2050, but it won’t be easy. We face major challenges to green our industry and keep it here. Cheaper electricity and large-scale CO₂ capture and storage (CCS) will be essential. […]

Hasselt reimburses start-up costs for car sharing

September 19, 2025

The city of Hasselt (Limburg) wants to make car sharing more attractive by temporarily, until December 15, 2025, reimbursing the start-up costs. Anyone who registers as a new user with Cambio or Cozywheels will receive a refund of their connection fees for the time being. At Cambio, the registration fee is 35 euros; at Cozywheels, it […]

New tram in Liège scores with 100,000 users per week

September 19, 2025

The new tram in Liège has been in service since the end of April and is proving to be a resounding success. Although no reliable public sources are immediately available, the newspaper Le Soir reports 100,000 users per week, which would amount to more than 2 million passengers to date. The only downside is that […]

MotoE to shut down after 2025: lack of fan traction

September 19, 2025

After seven years of racing, MotoE bows out of the MotoGP paddock. The FIM and commercial rights holder Dorna Sports have confirmed that the electric motorcycle series will be suspended following the 2025 season. The reason? Weak fan engagement and a lack of momentum in the performance e-motorcycle market. Launched in 2019 as part of […]

Engie opens door to extending Doel 4 and Tihange 3 to 20 years

September 18, 2025

French energy giant Engie may be willing to extend the lifespan of the Doel 4 and Tihange 3 nuclear reactors by 20 years instead of the planned 10 years. According to the unions, CEO Cédric Osterrieth said this at a works council meeting this week. Furthermore, according to the newspaper Le Soir, Energy Minister Mathieu […]

VDL and Limburg invest 25 million euros in Nedcar

September 18, 2025

Industrial group VDL and the Dutch province of Limburg are reserving €25 million for the future use of the former VDL Nedcar car factory in Born, where BMWs and MINIs were once assembled until the company withdrew as a customer. VDL now wants to give the site a “broad purpose”, so the complex will be used, […]

Two Xpeng ‘flying cars’ collide at air show in China

September 18, 2025

Two Xpeng AeroHT eVTOLs collided at an air show in Changchun, China, according to various Chinese and American media reports. At least one passenger was taken to the hospital with injuries, but these are not believed to be life-threatening. The cause of the accident is still unclear. There have been relatively few incidents involving eVTOLs, […]

World premiere in Brussels: Mitsubishi’s rebirth with fully electric EV

September 18, 2025

Four years after the Japanese carmaker virtually disappeared from the European market, Mitsubishi is back. Thursday evening, it landed in Brussels for the world premiere of the Eclips Cross EV, a fully electric C-segment SUV fitting Europe’s current most-wanted car type, built in the Alliance Ampere (Renault) factory of Douai, France. A rebirth in two […]

Fastned’s Belgian flagship charging plaza Gentbrugge opens

September 17, 2025

Dutch fast-charging network Fastned has just opened its 47th charging station in Belgium. Fastned Gentbrugge, along the E17 highway between Ghent and Antwerp, is the largest to date and a ‘flagship’ location. It showcases the company’s aim to deliver a more seamless charging experience, featuring a coffee stop and sanitary facilities throughout its entire network […]

Port of Antwerp-Bruges tests first autonomous truck in Belgium

September 17, 2025

On Tuesday, Port of Antwerp-Bruges organized the first fully autonomous truck journey on public roads in Belgium. This milestone, operated under the Belgian regulatory framework, showcases how Belgium – and Europe — can take the lead in advancing autonomous freight technology. With this initiative, the port authority wants to emphasise its pioneering role in the field of […]

China prepares to outlaw retractable car door handles over safety fears

September 17, 2025

China is poised to ban retractable car door handles by 2027, following a series of fatal crashes that have exposed the dangers of a feature once hailed as a marker of futuristic design. Flush-mounted handles, popularized by Tesla and copied by numerous electric vehicle makers, are designed to sit flat against the car body until […]

Dutch-German-Belgian three-country train is late one in three times

September 17, 2025

The three-country train between Maastricht in the Netherlands, the German city of Aachen, and Liège in Belgium was canceled too often last year and ran late 34% of the time. According to agreements between the Dutch province of Limburg and transport company Arriva, this should be no more than 5%. The main reasons for cancellations […]

Oil and cement industry emissions directly linked to deadly heatwaves

September 17, 2025

According to a recent Swiss study published in early September in the scientific journal Nature, nearly one-quarter of heatwaves would have been ‘virtually impossible’ without global warming, and can be attributed to the emissions of individual energy producers. In other words, some recent heatwaves would never have occurred without the emissions of a few large […]

AUDI’s China-only E5 Sportback wins +10,000 orders in thirty minutes

September 17, 2025

Volkswagen Group’s premium Audi brand is fighting back in the world’s largest car market with a range of new, more extended versions of its models under the joint SAIC-AUDI (styled in all capitals) brand. And the first of the line-up for mass production, the E5 Sportback is hot: 10,153 orders within 30 minutes of launch […]

NMBS/SNCB keeps trains running on time by skipping stops

September 17, 2025

The Belgian public railway company NMBS/SNCB reportedly orders trains to skip stops an average of five times a day to make up for delays. In six months, more than 900 stops were skipped. It was already known that NMBS/SNCB was applying this practice. For example, the ombudsperson service already mentioned it in its annual report […]

Weak EV sales push Ford to slash 1,000 jobs in Cologne factory

September 17, 2025

Ford will cut up to 1,000 jobs at its electric vehicle plant in Cologne, Germany, as part of a restructuring effort aimed at adjusting production to sluggish demand for battery-powered cars in Europe. Operations will be reduced at the site from two daily shifts to a single one starting in January 2026. The Cologne facility, […]

Renault, Nissan and Mitsubishi-top meets in Ampere Douai facility

September 17, 2025

The Alliance isn’t dead. After a shaky post-Gosn period, it’s slimmer, rebalanced, and focused on joint EV projects in the Ampere Douai facility while letting each company keep its independence. The top meeting of Ivan Espinosa, CEO of Nissan, Takao Kato, CEO of Mitsubishi Motors, with Renault’s new boss, François Provost, and Alliance Chairman Jean-Dominique […]

Brussels Airport handled 3% more passengers during the summer holidays

September 16, 2025

During July and August, around 5 million passengers traveled through Brussels Airport. That is an increase of 3%. In August, the airport welcomed 2,5 million passengers, the same as in July. The number of arriving passengers was particularly high, 200,000 more than departing passengers. Due to the large number of local passengers, the share of […]

Toyota’s boxy e-Palette EV hits the road

September 16, 2025

Have you seen this face before? Yes, you did. During the Tokyo Olympics, Toyota shuttled athletes with the futuristic, autonomously driving e-Palette, a shipment box on wheels. But the e-Palette didn’t get stuck in its ambassador role. It has now entered the Japanese commercial market not only in its purpose for transport but also as […]

Eurostar opts for circularity and converts surplus sandwiches into beer

September 16, 2025

Eurostar, the European high-speed train operator, has just presented its 2024 sustainability report, with a clear focus on circularity. The company opts for sustainable materials and strategies when designing new terminals and lounges. And there’s another noteworthy initiative: surplus sandwiches will be processed and converted into craft beer. “Since May 2024, we have converted unused […]

VW pushes back production of electric Golf and T-Roc over budget strains

September 16, 2025

Volkswagen is delaying the rollout of two of its most critical future models, the all-electric Golf and T-Roc. The German carmaker is struggling with rising costs, plant disruptions, and strategic uncertainty regarding its long-term electrification plans. The battery-powered Golf, initially slated for 2028, won’t arrive before the decade’s end, according to sources familiar with Bloomberg. […]

TEC launches first electric Busway line in Liège

September 16, 2025

The Walloon public transport company TEC has inaugurated the B2 line in Sart-Tilman, Liège, the first fully electric bus line in Wallonia. The bus line has its own infrastructure and priority at traffic lights. From now on, 14 articulated e-buses will run on this strategic axis between Guillemins station and Sart-Tilman/Botanique, which is used by […]

First EU-assembled XPeng G6 and G9 roll off Magna Steyr line in Austria

September 16, 2025

In Graz, Austria, the first European-assembled models of the Chinese Xpeng G6 and G9 have rolled off the production line. The factory will initially assemble the two SUV models, but additional Xpeng vehicles are in the planning for the future. For Xpeng, which started selling in Norway in 2021 and has since expanded to over […]

VRT News dossier: ‘Flanders is Europe’s second cycling region’

September 15, 2025

By 2040, 30 percent of all journeys in Flanders should be by bicycle. This is the ambition of the Flemish government, which wants to invest 300 million euros annually in its cycling policy. These investments will definitely pay off in the future, experts say.  The Flemish government also wants an integrated cycling policy. Minister of Mobility Annick […]

Belgian rail offers €8 train return tickets on Car-Free Sunday

September 15, 2025

On September 21, Car-Free Sunday will be organized in various cities and municipalities in Belgium. To mark the occasion, NMBS/SNCB is offering a second-class return ticket for 8 euros. It is noteworthy that in Wallonia, only a few municipalities, such as Moranwelz, Le Bizet, and Ans, are participating in the initiative, while the entire Brussels-Capital […]

Cybertruck’s flop mirrors Tesla’s declining US market grip

September 15, 2025

Tesla’s Cybertruck was meant to redefine the electric pickup market. Instead, it has become a cautionary tale for the EV maker, exposing the cracks in its once-dominant position. Just months after launching a cheaper rear-wheel-drive version (in April 2025), Tesla has quietly scrapped the model from the configurator, acknowledging what the market already knew: buyers […]

Most Belgian companies fail to meet sustainable mobility targets

September 15, 2025

Only one in eight Belgian companies meets the regional targets for sustainable commuting by its staff. This is according to the first mobility index published by Securex, an HR service provider, and Vias, the knowledge institute for mobility and road safety. In general, Brussels companies score the best, Flemish companies average, and Walloon companies lag. Securex […]

Hyundai to build first European Ioniq model in Türkiye

September 15, 2025

Türkiye is rapidly becoming a growing force in Europe’s fast-expanding EV market. Reportedly, Hyundai has also chosen the country to start assembling the Ioniq 3 as of 2026 in a bid to make the model more affordable due to lower wages and a beneficial trade deal between Türkiye and the EU.  The decision was revealed […]

Von der Leyen stands firm on 2035 ICE ban but moves up formal review

September 15, 2025

At last Friday’s highly anticipated meeting of European carmakers with the EU Commission, President Ursula von der Leyen didn’t give in to the pressure to question the 2035 phase-out date of CO2-emitting cars and vans. Still, it was agreed to forward the formal review of the 2035 rules from 2026 to the end of 2025. […]

Amazon’s Zoox launches first robotaxi service in Las Vegas

September 12, 2025

Amazon-backed Zoox officially launched its autonomous robotaxi service on the Las Vegas Strip this week, marking a new milestone in the ride-hailing industry. What makes this rollout different is that Zoox is the first company to provide fully driverless rides to the public in a purpose-built autonomous vehicle. For now, all rides are free and […]

Febelfin: ‘Belgians are borrowing more than ever for a car’

September 12, 2025

According to data from the banking federation, Febelfin, analyzed by newspaper De Tijd, anyone borrowing money for a new car today takes out an average loan of €23,750. That’s €8,250 or 53% more than ten years ago. A similar trend is evident in the purchase of used cars. While ten years ago the average borrowing for […]

Constitutional Court blocks postponement of stricter Brussels LEZ

September 12, 2025

What was feared has come true: the Constitutional Court has suspended the ordinance postponing the tightening of the Brussels low-emission zone (LEZ). Among other things, the Court ruled that the ordinance could cause irreparable harm to one of the petitioners, a child with chronic asthma and allergies. The Court also referred to the ‘standstill’ principle […]

Von der Leyen backs EU kei-car idea to fence off Chinese competition

September 12, 2025

Europe is warming up for the arrival of kei-cars, a symbol of affordable mobility in Asia. The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has thrown her weight behind calls from Renault and Stellantis for a new generation of cheap, lightweight cars, pledging to work with manufacturers to make them a reality. But […]

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