February 21, 2025
Lizy, the Brussels-based second-hand car lease platform, is expanding its activities to the Netherlands. The company aims to make car leasing more accessible, sustainable, and cheaper. And the formula is working. In five years, Lizy has convinced more than 4,000 customers to opt for a young second-hand car instead of a new car. Lizy previously […]
February 21, 2025
Fastned, the European fast-charging company, has completed its most successful bond issue. With over €36.5 million raised in the company’s first tranche of 2025, Fastned raised the most significant amount ever in a single bond issue. More than €20 million of this latest issue resulted from new investments, and over €16 million came from existing […]
February 21, 2025
European aerospace group Airbus made a net profit of 4.2 billion euros last year, or a 12% increase. The profit came mainly from the strong demand for Airbus aircraft. Sales rose 6% to 69.2 billion euros. Airbus delivered 766 commercial aircraft last year, including 602 from the A320 family. Airbus plans to increase the number […]
February 21, 2025
Yesterday, Mercedes-Benz revealed plans to cut costs by several billion euros or 10% by 2027. Car production will be reduced from 2.5 million units to ±2.2 million in 2027. At the same time, the company wants to become “leaner, faster, and stronger”. Group earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) reached €13.6 billion (2023: €19.7 billion), […]
February 20, 2025
Over 4,600 shared cars were driving around in Flanders in 2024, 11% more than in 2023. The number of car sharers also increased by 22% last year to 46,600 drivers, according to the annual report of Way To Go, the former Autodelen.net. The same annual report also shows shared bicycles and e-scooters accounted for 24 […]
February 20, 2025
Publishing its 2024 financial results, Renault Group showed solid growth and record operating profit in challenging market conditions. The Group revenue was €56.2 billion (+7.4%), and the operating profit was € 4.26 billion (7.6%). The net cash financial position almost doubled from €3.7 billion at the end of 2023 to €7.1 billion on December 31st, […]
February 20, 2025
The Zeeland Bridge will close for eight weeks next year. The part of the bridge that opens to ships, the so-called ‘bascule bridge,’ will be renovated, and the road surface will be renewed simultaneously. The Zeeland Bridge is an impressive structure that spans more than five kilometers. It was officially inaugurated in December 1965 and […]
February 20, 2025
Some 77% of passengers who took a bus trip with De Lijn in 2024 are satisfied with their journey. This is according to a survey conducted by the Flemish Department of Mobility among 13,097 passengers between March and December last year. Only 6% of them gave the public transport company a score lower than five […]
February 20, 2025
Following the compact EV4, Kia has also unveiled the design of its first commercial vehicle, the PV5, ahead of the Korean manufacturer’s EV Day 2025 at the end of February. The Kia PV5 will be available in a Passenger and Cargo version, built on the new Platform Beyond Vehicle architecture. The Kia PV5 was first […]
February 20, 2025
Flanders has distributed 18,543 premiums for electric cars, totaling 72.8 million euros. Most premiums were paid to private individuals—14,637 for new vehicles (under €40,000) and 3,141 for second-hand ones. In addition, 523 premiums went to non-profit organizations and foundations and 242 to car-sharing providers. The previous Flemish Mobility Minister, Lydia Peeters (Open Vld), introduced the […]
February 20, 2025
Hydrogen Vehicle Systems (HVS), a Scottish start-up founded in 2017 to develop a hydrogen-electric heavy truck, is changing course to avoid bankruptcy. The company faces over €10 million in debt and will now focus on retrofit conversions and selling its technology to cut costs. HVS was founded in Glasgow in 2017 by Abdul Waheed with […]
February 20, 2025
It‘s a bit like the butcher who asks, can it be a little more? The Black Badge Specter might be tempting if you’re in for a fully electric Rolls Royce: a four-figure torque output (1075 Nm), with a record 485 kW (659 hp) of power, makes it the most powerful Rolls-Royce in history. Unlike the […]
February 20, 2025
Volvo Cars will officially launch the ES90, the sedan counterpart to the EX90 SUV, on March 5th. The new sedan is software-defined and based on the so-called Superset tech stack, a single set of hardware and software modules underpinning all future electric Volvo cars. The ES90 is designed to evolve and improve continuously through core […]
February 19, 2025
The number of cyclists in Brussels during the morning rush hour – between 8 and 9 a.m. – increased by 4 percent last year compared to 2023. Women represent 40% of Brussels cyclists. The number of cyclists has increased by an average of 12 percent annually since 2010, almost five times as much in 14 […]
February 19, 2025
Belgian legislation on ultralight motorized aircraft (ULMs) had been renewed after 26 years. This also makes it possible to fly ultralight helicopters and autogiros in Belgium, the Federal Public Service Mobility and Transport reports. The maximum allowable mass of a ULM will also be increased. The new regulations better reflect today’s reality. ULM is an […]
February 19, 2025
Bolt and Dott, the only two operators selected by Brussels Mobility for shared bike and e-scooter services in the Brussels Capital Region, are joining forces to improve vehicle parking in the capital and reduce nuisance. The joint initiative, to be implemented five days a week in the most sensitive or affected areas, should ensure more […]
February 19, 2025
German automotive supplier Continental announced plans to cut 3,000 jobs more worldwide by the end of 2026. The move, which follows a previous round of 7,150 job cuts announced last year, comes as the industry grapples with weakening demand and structural shifts toward electrification. According to the company’s statement, nearly half of the affected positions […]
February 19, 2025
Mitsubishi is set to return the Grandis nameplate, though not as the spacious MPV it once was. Instead, the new Grandis will be a rebadged version of the Renault Symbioz, aligning with the company’s strategy of leveraging Renault platforms under their alliance agreement. The Grandis will slot above the ASX in Mitsubishi’s lineup and be […]
February 19, 2025
The Renault Group and Geely Holding are joining forces to produce and sell zero- and low-emission vehicles in Brazil. Geely intends to acquire a stake in Renault do Brasil and, in return, will benefit from Renault’s local production, sales, and service resources. Both parties have agreed in a framework agreement that Geely Holding will become […]
February 18, 2025
Yesterday, Citroën asked 236,900 owners of a C3 or DS3 in the north of France to stop using their car until the airbags are replaced. The Takata-made airbags can cause serious injuries by exploding uncontrolled and dangerously. Other manufacturers, such as VW, Nissan, BMW, Toyota, and several others, have already recalled millions of vehicles equipped […]
February 18, 2025
The International Energy Agency expects global power consumption to rise to almost four percent annually until 2027. The demand for electricity is growing faster than in recent years because industries in many countries need more electricity. The increase is primarily due to the growing use of electricity for industrial production, the rising demand for air […]
February 18, 2025
Peugeot is taking the next step in its electrification strategy by introducing more powerful, all-wheel drive versions of its electric SUVs, the e-3008 and e-5008. A new five-seat variant of the e-5008 is set to debut, catering to customers who prioritize cargo space over passenger capacity. Until now, Peugeot’s fully electric e-3008 and e-5008 have […]
February 18, 2025
Flemish Minister of Mobility Annick De Ridder (N-VA) is asking the mayors to act against aggression on De Lijn buses, with a bus ban as the big stick. This measure already exists, but in a letter to the mayors, the Minister brings this possibility more widely to their attention. In 2023, De Lijn received 2,039 […]
February 18, 2025
In China, new car specs tend to go public before the official release, as all have to be approved by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), which publishes the regulatory filing in advance. So it’s clear now that NIO’s Firefly subbrand will get a 42.1 kWh (swappable) battery pack and offer a CLTC […]
February 18, 2025
Last week, the Mercedes EQB for the 2021 to 2024 model years was recalled in the US after several vehicle fires. Now, the German Federal Motor Transport Authority’s recall database shows that the sister model EQA is also affected. Mercedes, authorities, and suppliers’ investigations revealed that the cause was probably a problem with the high-voltage […]
February 18, 2025
Chinese tech giant Huawei and automotive leader SAIC Motor are set to debut their first co-developed electric vehicle under the newly established brand Shangjie. According to reports from local media, the inaugural Shangjie model will be derived from SAIC’s sub-brand Roewe, specifically the ES39 project. Like Sony in Japan (with Afeela), Huawei in China is […]
February 18, 2025
French carmaker Renault has decided to make its ‘Fireman Access’ patents, developed with professional rescue services to extinguish an EV’s battery on fire in a few minutes, freely available to the entire automotive industry. A process that otherwise can take hours by immersion of the whole vehicle in a container with water. Renault says car […]
February 17, 2025
Toyota has unveiled its third-generation fuel cell system, which is intended for passenger cars, commercial vehicles, trains, ships, and stationary applications. The market launch is planned for 2026. According to Toyota, the new generation is characterized by improved durability, efficiency, and cost reductions through innovations in cell design and manufacturing processes. However, the Japanese company […]
February 17, 2025
Hyvia, the French hydrogen specialist joint venture between Renault and Plug Power, entered administration on December 10, 2024. The courts have now decided to extend the administration period to find an investor or an acquirer. But with no interested parties on the horizon and no real interest from Renault CEO Luca de Meo, the company’s […]
February 17, 2025
Belgian public railroad company NMBS/SNCB is going to thoroughly reform its fare range before the end of this year, possibly sometime in October. One of the new things it is launching, is a paying benefit card that offers 40% discount during off-peak hours. In general, season tickets will not change, but 10-ride passes will be […]
February 17, 2025
After fifty years of power production, the Doel 1 nuclear reactor was shut down on Friday evening. After Doel 3 in 2022 and Tihange 2 in 2023, the third Belgian nuclear reactor has also been switched off. Doel 2 will follow on November 30th. Operator Engie reported the final shutdown. The reactor had been running longer […]
February 17, 2025
Kia has unveiled the design of its compact electric saloon and hatchback EV4 ahead of the brand’s EV Day 2025, which is set for February 27th. We get a good look at every angle of both body styles, but the EV4’s technical details and interior design remain a mystery. Kia promised us the production version […]
February 17, 2025
The BMW Vision Driving Experience (VDX) serves as a rolling test rig for the drivetrain and driving dynamics management technology developed especially for the Neue Klasse, the next generation of BMW vehicles. BMW refers to it as the ‘Heart of Joy.’ The prototype car put the Heart of Joy’s capabilities to the ultimate endurance test […]
February 17, 2025
BYD is joining the group of Chinese car makers unveiling their road map towards the commercialization of solid-state batteries. The company will start the demonstration phase of the technology around 2027, in line with the objectives of Toyota and MG, for instance. As for large-scale commercialization, we won’t see BYD models with revolutionary packs until […]
February 14, 2025
Aircraft taking off move an enormous amount of air. The American company JetWind Power Corporation now wants to use the jet wind that is released to generate energy. In this way, airplanes, which are polluting because they usually run on kerosene and emit CO2, can still contribute to sustainability. The idea is not revolutionary. In […]
February 14, 2025
Fifteen years after the train disaster in the Flemish-Brabant village of Buizingen, the rollout of the rail safety system ETCS, a train cruise control, is almost complete. The rollout was accelerated after the disaster, which killed 19 people. As of the end of this year, no trains not equipped with this cruise control will be […]
February 14, 2025
Chinese state-owned auto giants Dongfeng Motor and Changan Automobile have announced restructuring plans, fueling speculation that the two automakers may merge to form one of the world’s largest automotive groups. If realized, the newborn group would surpass BYD as China’s biggest carmaker and rank as the world’s fifth-largest auto manufacturer. While the automotive world had […]
February 14, 2025
The Walloon government has ratified an adaptation to its road tax reform that will take effect in July this year. The adaptation will ease the burden on households and promote green mobility. Installed under the previous government, the new taxation scheme primarily targets larger and heavier cars. This move impairs families and individual buyers who […]
February 14, 2025
The sustainability of the European electricity market is going well. Last year, solar panels supplied more power than coal-fired power stations in the European Union for the first time, and gas declined for the fifth year in a row. Solar power grew strongly, by 21.7 percent to 304 TWh. On the other hand, the share of […]
February 14, 2025
Porsche plans to cut 1,900 jobs in Germany as part of cost-cutting measures to reverse sliding profitability amid weak electric vehicle demand and “challenging geopolitical and economic conditions.” The job losses will affect workers at Porsche’s main plant in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen and its R&D site in Weissach. A year ago, Porsche CEO Oliver Blume lauded his […]
February 14, 2025
Ahead of its official world premiere on March 5th, Volkswagen already teased further with two sketches on LinkedIn of how the €20.000 budget EV of the brand, the ID.1, will look like. And it inherits some of the straight lines of that other budget VW, the Up! This successor to the VW Lupo and Up!, […]
February 13, 2025
Flemish public transport company De Lijn will pass on the index of recent years in the fare framework. Minister of Mobility Annick De Ridder (N-VA) confirmed this in the Flemish Parliament. Usually, an average ticket becomes 18% more expensive in April, so a ride will no longer cost 2.5 euros but 3 euros. With the […]
February 13, 2025
A University of Cambridge scientists team, led by professor Erwin Reisner, has created a solar-powered flow reactor that can capture C02 from the air at night and convert it into fuels like diesel, methanol, or ammonia during the day with the help of the sun. If scaled up, it would theoretically allow people to generate […]
February 13, 2025
Honda Motor Co. and Nissan Motor Co. are set to scrap their plan to merge into what would have become the world’s third-biggest auto group by volume as negotiations collapsed less than two months after its announcement. Meanwhile, Chinese Foxconn is lurking around the corner, not to take over Nissan but to cooperate with them. […]
February 13, 2025
The mobility budget has become more popular over the last few years. Designed as an alternative to a company car, it can be spent on public transport, shared cars, bicycles, or possibly a small, environmentally friendly company car. Although only a minority of employers (3.2%) offer it, one in 20 employees exchanged their company car […]
February 13, 2025
As automakers continue to push the boundaries of the electric vehicle range, two industry namesakes – Lucid Motors and BMW – are advocating for a different approach. Both companies argue that more miniature battery packs, increased efficiency, and improved charging infrastructure are the future of sustainable EV adoption. Can less really be more? Lucid Motors, […]
February 13, 2025
Kia is holding its second EV Day on February 27, 2025, where it will showcase its newest electric models and its electric strategy for the coming years. Already announced to be present are the production-ready EV4, the PV5 electric light commercial vehicle, and the EV2 Concept, a preview of a more compact electric model within […]
February 12, 2025
Tesla has officially commenced production at its newly constructed Megafactory in Shanghai, a new milestone in its rapidly expanding energy storage division. This facility is Tesla’s second dedicated energy storage production plant and has already rolled out its first Megapack unit, with initial orders ready for shipment. While Tesla’s core automotive business has recently encountered […]
February 12, 2025
Last year, travelers offset their air travel emissions by purchasing approximately 28,000 tons of CO2 equivalents (CO2e) through the Brussels-based climate consultancy agency Greentripper. The organization uses ‘CO2 equivalent’ because this takes into account all greenhouse gases, not just CO2. According to Greentripper’s data, last year’s result is a status quo compared to 2023. The precise […]
February 12, 2025
To boost the sales volume of its most accessible electric model, Audi is reintroducing the 40 designations to its Q4 e-tron and Q4 Sportback e-Tron lineup. However, it receives a revamped powertrain to improve efficiency while lowering the price threshold. In late 2023, Audi made a series of technical upgrades to the Q4 e-tron range, […]
February 12, 2025
Ush and Poppy Mobility, two daughter companies of D’Ieteren Automotive, introduce a new mobility solution in collaboration with the Port of Antwerp-Bruges: remote-controlled rental cars that navigate through the harbor premises. Boluda, a maritime service provider in the Antwerp port, uses the two cars currently available. Specialist Vay provides advanced technology. Boluda employees often work […]
February 12, 2025
Whether the action can count on much sympathy remains to be seen, but the trade unions VSOA Spoor and OVS have submitted notices for a railway strike of no less than nine days, from 21 February at 10 pm to 2 March at 10 pm. The strike is mainly directed against a number of measures […]
February 12, 2025
China and, by extension, the world’s largest battery maker, CATL, is lodging its filings with regulators to go public on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, Reuters says. The company aims to raise some 5 billion dollars (€4.82 billion). It will be CATL’s secondary listing, as it has been on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange since June […]
February 12, 2025
According to Deloitte’s Global Automotive Consumer Study 2025, four key trends will impact the Belgian automotive market most in the coming year. The most important is the hesitation to switch to electric cars. The study surveyed more than 31,000 consumers in 30 countries, including 999 Belgians, from October through December 2024 to explore opinions regarding […]
February 11, 2025
Nowhere is train traffic less punctual than in Genk (Flanders) and Rixensart (Wallonia). In 2024, NMBS/SNCB scored an overall punctuality score of 90%. That is, nine out of ten trains arrived at their destination “with less than six minutes delay”. However, Genk’s punctuality rate is only 75.7%. One in four trains arrives in Genk with […]
February 11, 2025
Five people were killed, and nine were seriously injured: that is a painful record of accidents last year at level crossings in Belgium. In total, there were 30 accidents, one less than in 2023. According to rail infrastructure manager Infrabel, the balance is clearly in decline. During the 2008-2021 period, for example, there were an […]
February 11, 2025
According to Korean media ET News, Hyundai plans to introduce a pilot production line for solid-state batteries inside the brand-new Uiwang Battery Research Center in the Gyeonggi Province in South Korea. The opening ceremony should be held in March, with a prototype expected by the end of the year. To be clear, Hyundai has not […]
February 11, 2025
During the last Bob campaign—between November 29th, 2024, and February 3rd, 2025—only 1.22% of drivers took a positive breath test, the lowest figure in the past thirty years. Last year, it was 1.57%; ten years ago, it was still 2.8%. During the nine weeks, more than 600,000 people (605,759) were checked—200,000 more than in 2024. […]
February 11, 2025
According to a report in the newspaper De Tijd, the number of public EV charging points in Flanders nearly doubled in 2024, significantly surpassing government targets. This further cements Belgium’s position as a frontrunner in the adoption of electric mobility, as new registrations of EVs last year surged to the highest rate of any European […]
February 11, 2025
Volvo Cars has added a ‘Cross Country’ version to its EX30 electric model portfolio. The new version uses the same all-wheel drive as the top model but comes with unique accessories and more ground clearance. The Volvo EX30 Cross Country is based on the top-of-the-range Ultra equipment line and features the familiar all-wheel drive with […]
