July 30, 2026
On Wednesday, we reported that the Belgian Innoptus Solar Team grabbed first place on the fourth day of the American Solar Challenge. Today, the team announced that its position in the race remained unchanged, despite a significant change in weather conditions. Calculated risk The grey sky and thick fog – far from ideal for charging […]
July 30, 2026
Stellantis returned to profit in the first half of 2026 as higher volumes and an improvement in North America lifted revenue, but its margins and cash generation still lag behind most European rivals. Second-quarter revenue increased by 13% to €43.5 billion, while shipments rose by 10%. Stellantis posted a net profit of €293 million, compared […]
July 30, 2026
In mid-July, the new Brussels Council of Ministers formally gave the green light to the redevelopment of General Meiser Square in Schaerbeek, popularly known as Misery Square. The original plan was to begin the redevelopment in the spring of 2025, but the current goal is to start construction by the summer of 2027. For a long […]
July 30, 2026
Hyundai Motor Group is bringing its smart and bidirectional charging activities together under the new global AllDayEnergy brand. In the future, the platform could allow Hyundai and Kia owners to charge when electricity is cheapest, store surplus solar power in their cars, supply part of that energy back to their homes, and potentially earn money […]
July 30, 2026
Mercedes-Benz presented the all-new GLA in Warsaw. The compact SUV has a range of up to 657 kilometers and charges at up to 320 kW (not all versions). The electric car can be ordered immediately at prices starting from €48,599. In Belgium, orders are taken as of tomorrow; pricing starts at €49,005. The manufacturer will […]
July 30, 2026
BMW Group is stepping up cost reductions and organizational reforms after a sharp deterioration in profitability during the first half of 2026. The German premium carmaker insists that demand remains healthy in Europe and that its Neue Klasse electric offensive is gaining momentum. Still, weaker sales and pricing in China, tariffs, and rising depreciation are […]
July 30, 2026
Mobility federation TRAXIO, which also represents carwashes in Belgium, is calling for responsible water use and for cars to be washed in a ‘water-conscious’ manner. The federation advocates using a professional carwash instead of setting to work with a bucket and garden hose. “Professional car wash systems use up to 95% recycled water that is […]
July 29, 2026
The French railway company SNCF posted a net profit of 1.18 billion euros in the first half of 2026, compared with 950 million euros in the same period last year. Revenue totaled 21.94 billion euros, compared with 21.52 billion a year earlier. CEO Jean Castex described the performance as “satisfactory” in a climate and macroeconomic […]
July 29, 2026
The Jewish organization Nico Gunzburg Foundation has filed a lawsuit against the NMBS/SNCB railway company and the Belgian state in Brussels, according to the newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws. The organization is seeking compensation and an acknowledgment of guilt for the deportations that took place during World War II. Research by historian Nico Wouters shows that […]
July 29, 2026
Europe’s commercial vehicle market returned to growth in the first half of 2026, but the recovery was uneven. According to ACEA, new van registrations in the EU rose by only 1.9% to 742,759 units, while truck registrations increased by 9.8% to 171,933 and buses and coaches by 22.7% to 22,590. The stronger figures in trucks […]
July 29, 2026
On the fourth day of the American Solar Challenge, the Belgian Innoptus Solar Team took first place. What began as a major setback turned into a surprising turnaround. Once the team was on the road, it faced several challenges. The route was full of hills, which really put both the vehicle – Infinite Apollo – […]
July 29, 2026
Twenty years after Audi introduced its first SUV, the German luxury brand is launching its largest utility vehicle ever, the Q9. The official launch took place on Tuesday in New York, indicating that the model is also key to helping reverse its U.S. fortunes. The Q9 is significantly larger than the redesigned Q7 and also […]
July 29, 2026
Climate change has long since ceased to be an abstract threat, and yet politicians hardly ever mention it. More than thirty years after the first alarm bells were raised, the political establishment still shrugs off the extreme temperatures. “Two thousand people are dead, yet not even a minute of silence was observed,” said Jean-Pascal van Ypersele […]
July 29, 2026
Zeekr has confirmed the European and Belgian launch of the 9X, a 5.24-meter luxury SUV that marks a major change of direction for the Geely-owned brand. Until now, Zeekr has presented itself in Europe as an electric-only premium brand. Its new flagship is a plug-in hybrid combining a 55.1 kWh battery, two electric motors, and […]
July 29, 2026
Stellantis is divesting its carsharing business and selling the Free2move division to Munich-based investment company Mutares, which plans to deploy more EVs. The transaction is part of the automotive group’s strategic realignment and is expected to be completed by the end of 2026. Stellantis and Mutares have signed an agreement for the complete acquisition of […]
July 28, 2026
The French car manufacturer Renault will be judged in court for ‘aggravated deception’ as a result of the ‘Dieselgate’ scandal that also has repercussions in France. Renault responded, “that it would defend its innocence, the professionalism, and the ethics of its 100,000 employees.” The Renault brand is the second automaker to be sent to trial […]
July 28, 2026
Electric cars are no longer welcome in the rooftop parking lot of the Carrefour supermarket in Kraainem, a municipality in the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant. The ban is in place because EVs are heavier and therefore have a greater impact on the building, according to the newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws. According to Carrefour, there […]
July 28, 2026
BMW is planning an all-electric i4 Convertible for 2028, according to a new report from BMWBLOG citing sources close to the automaker. It would make sense for BMW to bring the also rumored i4 Coupe to fruition as well. Doing so would improve economies of scale given how much of the costs would be split […]
July 28, 2026
BYD has released the first official production images of the Da Han, a huge electric flagship saloon that moves the Chinese manufacturer into territory occupied in Europe by the Mercedes EQS, BMW i7, and Lucid Air. The model will make its public debut at the Chengdu Motor Show in August and sits above the existing […]
July 27, 2026
Toyota has signed a binding agreement to acquire a 33% stake in Cellcentric, the fuel-cell joint venture formed by Daimler Truck and Volvo Group. The deal turns the non-binding memorandum announced in March into a firm transaction and underlines that three of the world’s largest vehicle manufacturers still see a future for hydrogen in heavy […]
July 27, 2026
Climate change is no longer an abstract threat but a harsh reality. Forest fires are raging so fiercely in Spain, France, and other European countries that some have declared a state of emergency. Meanwhile, roughly 300,000 to 360,000 people have been evacuated across France and Spain due to wildfires. In Belgium, the June 27 heatwave […]
July 27, 2026
Volkswagen’s second-quarter net profit fell 32.9% from a year earlier to €1.54 billion, it said on Friday, as Europe’s largest carmaker continued to grapple with weak demand in China. The company’s net profit was down from €2.29 billion in the second quarter of 2025, when earnings had already fallen 36% from a year earlier. Group-wide […]
July 27, 2026
Lynk & Co has launched the 07 GT in China, a high-performance plug-in hybrid wagon with up to 523 hp and a claimed electric range of 200 km. More importantly for European buyers, the Geely-owned brand has confirmed that the model is planned for Europe in 2027. The 07 GT measures 4.85 meters in length, […]
July 27, 2026
Volvo Cars has applied to register the EX50 name in Europe, fuelling speculation that the Swedish manufacturer is preparing a new electric SUV to replace the current EX40. Such a model would be particularly important for Belgium, as the EX40 is built at Volvo’s Ghent factory, while the company’s new plant in Košice, Slovakia, has […]
July 27, 2026
Starting December 14, Eurostar trains from London will also stop in Antwerp. Eurostar trains traveling in the opposite direction – from the mainland to London – will not stop in Antwerp because border and security checks cannot be conducted there. British passport control takes place at Brussels-South. The direct connection is especially convenient for those […]
July 27, 2026
Spain has finally approved the regulatory framework for its new Auto+ incentive program, which we already commented on, to support electric vehicle purchases through 2030. As mentioned, the scheme replaces MOVES III with centrally managed grants, while excluding vehicles without the country’s ZERO-emissions label. Two pillars The program is divided into two funding pillars. Pillar […]
July 27, 2026
France has publicly opposed the approval of Tesla’s Full Self-Driving Supervised system in its current form, complicating the company’s attempt to secure EU-wide recognition for its most advanced driver-assistance software. French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot said the technology offers progress, but the remaining safety risks remain too significant. His comments mark the first open rejection […]
July 24, 2026
Last week, the Flemish government reached an agreement on subsidies for regional airports – a long-standing “headache” because these airports have been operating at a loss for years despite receiving operating subsidies. Pursuant on this agreement, the Flemish Parliament was provided with documents for debate in the Finance Committee. However, the document also inadvertently included […]
July 24, 2026
Figures from the European statistical office Eurostat show that renewable energy accounted for more than a quarter (26.2%) of final energy consumption in the European Union in 2025. A year earlier, that figure was 25.2%, and the EU binding target for 2030 is 42.5%, with an ambition to reach 45%. Eurostat calculated that the EU share […]
July 24, 2026
BMW is developing its own software platform for future humanoid factory workers. At its Landshut component plant, the carmaker is developing a modular software stack that connects production data, artificial intelligence, and robots from different suppliers. Rather than building a BMW-branded rival to Tesla’s Optimus or XPeng’s IRON, it wants to control how humanoid robots […]
July 23, 2026
Today marks exactly 100 years since the Belgian Parliament passed the law establishing the National Society of Belgian Railways, or NMBS/SNCB. It is therefore time to look back on a century of railway history, but also to look ahead to the next chapters in the history of Belgian railways. For while some 3,800 trains run […]
July 23, 2026
Ford and Geely Auto plan to form a manufacturing joint venture at Ford’s Valencia, Spain, plant, combining scale and factory utilization, to build Ford and Geely’s next-generation multi-energy vehicles. Under the proposed ownership structure, Ford will own 66% of the new entity and Geely Auto 34%. The partnership secures the future of the Valencia plant, […]
July 23, 2026
A study by the Swedish used-EV retailer Carla confirms other studies and says that modern electric cars retain most of their battery capacity even after high mileage. Based on almost 10,000 battery tests, the analysis also highlights differences between models, battery chemistries, and suppliers. The ranking forms part of Carla’s Electric Vehicle Battery Study 2026. […]
July 23, 2026
Last week, the Flemish government reached an agreement on a new Air Policy Plan, intended to prepare Flanders for the stricter European air-quality standards that take effect in 2030. The new plan is an update of the text drafted by the previous Flemish government, and will be re-evaluated in 2027. The most important change is […]
July 23, 2026
More than half (51%) of Belgian SMEs are feeling the impact of rising energy and mobility costs and expect further increases. Companies in the secondary sector, construction, and logistics, in particular, are feeling the pressure mount. Yet, compensation for employees remains the exception rather than the rule. Research by HR service provider SD Worx shows that only […]
July 23, 2026
The Irish low-cost airline Ryanair will, after all, withdraw 5 airplanes from Charleroi and cut 2 million seats for the 2026 winter and 2027 summer seasons in Belgium due to the federal government’s increase in the boarding tax. By actually pulling planes out of service now, Ryanair is effectively sending the message that its threats […]
July 23, 2026
BYD’s premium Denza brand has revealed the cabin of the new Z9S, a 1,194 hp electric sports saloon positioned against the Porsche Taycan, Lucid Air, and Audi e-tron GT. Closely related to the Denza Z9GT, now available to order in Belgium from €101,000 as a plug-in hybrid and €115,000 as an EV, the Z9S is […]
July 23, 2026
Renault Group entered the second half of 2026 with revenue still growing, even as worldwide vehicle sales came under pressure. Its latest financial update showed first-quarter revenue rising by 7.3% to €12.53 billion, while newly published figures reveal that global sales slipped by 0.4% in the first half. Against that mixed backdrop, Belgium and Luxembourg […]
July 23, 2026
According to data from the European Car Manufacturers Association (ACEA), new EU car registrations rose 5.7% year-to-date, with a strong June performance (+13.6%) contributing to a positive first half of 2026. This came against a backdrop of persistent geopolitical headwinds weighing on the outlook. The market continued to benefit from robust consumer demand for a […]
July 23, 2026
Range Rover is adding an all-electric grand tourer to its line-up, creating a fifth model alongside the Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, Velar, and Evoque. The new Range Rover GT is being positioned as the most road-focused and car-like model in the brand’s history and is expected to reach European markets during 2027. More streamlined […]
July 23, 2026
A Bengaluru, India, start-up called Vimag Labs just secured its fifth Indian patent for an electric motor that runs without any rare-earth magnets, using software and power electronics to generate its magnetic field instead. It’s a small, $5-million company taking a swing at a problem that has stumped Tesla, GM, and every major automaker for […]
July 22, 2026
Cumulative sales of Geely Auto’s popular small EV, the Xingyuan, have surpassed 800,000 units less than 2 years after the model was launched. Geely sub-brand Geely Galaxy announced the milestone on Thursday. The model is already available in multiple overseas markets, where it has been renamed the Geely EX2. The Xingyuan was the best-selling vehicle […]
July 22, 2026
Last June, Western Europe was hit by the most widespread heat wave on record, and several countries in Southern Europe are currently still grappling with persistent, intense heat and wildfires. UNECE, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, then called on countries in Europe, North America, and Central Asia to urgently make their transportation infrastructure […]
July 22, 2026
Renault will stop sourcing components and spare parts from Nissan’s plants in Ávila and Cantabria at the end of 2026, adding another chapter to the gradual unwinding of the once tightly integrated Franco-Japanese alliance. Nissan confirmed that Renault had decided not to renew the commercial arrangements with the two Spanish sites. The impact will be […]
July 22, 2026
Audi is preparing the A2 e-tron as its new entry-level electric model for the compact segment. All four powertrain variants will be available to order immediately following the world premiere this autumn. Prices will start at €38,200 in Germany. New spy shots now show the EV almost completely undisguised and reveal further details of its […]
July 22, 2026
Renault has unleashed the near-production version of its 5 Turbo 3E at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. The electric “mini-supercar” completed repeated runs up the famous hill climb between 9 and 12 July, marking its first public dynamic appearance in the United Kingdom. The 5 Turbo 3E is Renault’s most powerful road-going model to date. […]
July 22, 2026
The board of directors of parent company Lufthansa has appointed Lorenza Maggio as the new CEO of Brussels Airlines. Maggio will replace Dorothea von Boxberg, who is leaving the company on August 31 to join BMW. Maggio (48), an Italian national, has been a member of the ITA Airways board of directors since January 2025, […]
July 22, 2026
Geely has unveiled what it calls the world’s first 16-in-1 intelligent electric drive, promising lower weight, reduced energy losses, and tighter control of almost every major electric powertrain function. The updated Lynk & Co 02 will be the first production model to use the technology, although a European launch has not yet been confirmed. In […]
July 22, 2026
Brussels Airlines CEO Dorothea von Boxberg is swapping aviation for the automotive industry. From 1 September 2026, she will join the Board of Management of BMW AG, taking responsibility for Human Resources and Real Estate, and will become the group’s Labor Relations Director. The move is more than a conventional change of sector. At BMW, […]
July 22, 2026
Tesla has finally launched the bicycle that many fans have been asking for. There is only one small catch. You need to be between two and five years old, and you will have to provide all the power yourself. The new Tesla Balance Bike for Kids has no battery, no electric motor, and not even […]
July 21, 2026
The share of electrical energy has remained stuck at 23 percent over the past ten years, and that needs to increase. The European Commission aims to double the share of electricity in energy consumption to 46 percent by 2040, thereby reducing the European Union’s dependence on gas and oil imports. “The current heatwaves in Europe […]
July 21, 2026
Volvo Cars commits to the future of its Ghent factory, the Swedish car manufacturer’s headquarters announced on Wednesday. The company has reached an agreement with the Belgian federal and Flemish governments for support and financing measures totaling up to €119 million. The arrangements are documented in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The package aims to […]
July 20, 2026
The Belgian national railway company NMBS/SNCB is looking for a new operator for the former Plopsa space at Antwerp Central Station. Plopsa Station has been vacant since January of this year after operator Studio 100 shut it down due to a lack of visitors. NMBS/SNCB is now launching a market consultation for the site, which […]
July 20, 2026
Honda is finally ready to deliver a fully electric vehicle that can drive itself, avoid obstacles, and work for hours without human supervision. There is only one small catch: it is a lawnmower. The Japanese manufacturer has launched its new ProZision range of battery-powered commercial mowing machines in the United States. Alongside two conventional ride-on […]
July 20, 2026
The European Commission wants to give heavy industry more time to curb CO2 emissions. This became apparent on Friday during the presentation of the long-awaited reform of the European Emissions Trading System (ETS1). Companies in the most energy-intensive sectors – chemicals, cement, steel, glass, etc. – have for years been required to pay for the CO2 […]
July 20, 2026
The flight tax for flights longer than 500 km, which the Belgian government had planned to raise from 5€ to 10€ starting in 2027, has ultimately been set at 7€. The inner cabinet decided it. “This change better protects Wallonia’s economic interests while also meeting the federal government’s budgetary targets”, says the office of Walloon […]
July 20, 2026
Toyota and Uber are expanding their long-standing partnership with a new European program intended to make electrified vehicles more accessible to ride-hailing drivers. The initiative will launch in ten countries in July before being rolled out more widely across Europe. Uber drivers and fleet operators will be offered preferential conditions on new Toyota and Lexus […]
July 20, 2026
Ferrari will be auctioning off the first example of its first production battery-electric car to whoever has the deepest pockets. Ferrari will be putting the first production example of its full-electric Luce, Chassis 0, on the auction block at Monterey Car Week in August. Since its official premiere, the Ferrari Luce has been quite controversial. […]
July 20, 2026
Volkswagen’s manufacturing plant in Poland uses a photovoltaic (solar) farm to supply much of its electricity. Those solar panels sit on a large grassy field, and grassy fields require lawn maintenance. Rather than use electric lawn mowers and string trimmers, Volkswagen’s solar farm partner figured it could take things one step further. Now it uses sheep. […]
July 16, 2026
The BMW Group, in collaboration with Toyota Motor Europe (TME), Bosch and Repsol, announced the launch of a pioneering six-month pilot project in Spain. The pilot, which started in early July, wants to demonstrate the real-world potential of Vehicles running Exclusively on Eligible Fuels (VEEF). The initiative will deploy a fleet of around 20 Toyota […]
