Lamborghini kicks its ‘not mature’ EV further down the road

July 16, 2026

Lamborghini has again defended its decision to turn the electric Lanzador into a plug-in hybrid. This time, the argument is no longer only about weak demand or poor returns. Product director Stefano Cossalter says EV technology is not mature enough to deliver the emotion Lamborghini owners expect. Cossalter, responsible for the Urus and Lanzador, told […]

EV drivers face new Brussels three-tier electricity tariff regime

July 16, 2026

Brugel, the Brussels energy regulator, has outlined the framework and timeline for a comprehensive reform of distribution network tariffs. Notably, Brussels has opted for a model of its own that differs from those in Flanders and Wallonia. While Flanders bases its billing exclusively on your peak power (kW), regardless of when you consume it, Wallonia […]

New Belgian road vignette causes turmoil in and outside Belgium (update)

July 16, 2026

From 1 May next year, drivers, Belgian and international alike, will need a digital road tax sticker (‘road vignette’) to drive on motorways and regional roads in Belgium. Last Friday, the country’s three regional governments announced that foreign motorists should contribute to the maintenance of the country’s roads, agreeing to introduce a new road vignette. […]

VW launches ID. Cross with 427 km range and €27,990 price

July 16, 2026

Volkswagen officially unveiled the production ID. Cross on 15 July, turning the compact electric SUV previewed earlier this year into a showroom model. The European market launch is scheduled for autumn 2026, while Belgian customers can already order the 52 kWh Life and Style versions. The entry-level Trend is expected to become orderable in early […]

From Siemens Energy to Omterra: a new global identity

July 15, 2026

The German company Siemens Energy, which specializes in energy technology and has grown into one of the most valuable companies on the Frankfurt stock exchange, is changing its name.  In the future, the current entities Siemens Energy and Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy will be united under a single name and brand umbrella: Omterra. The rebranding process […]

Renault confirms ‘structural shift’ as EVs go mainstream

July 15, 2026

Renault is seeing what its UK boss Adam Wood calls a “structural shift” toward electric cars, as higher fuel prices combine with a new generation of more attractive and affordable models to move EVs beyond their early-adopter niche. And the trend appears to be more than a British blip, with Renault reporting stronger EV orders […]

Colruyt sells 70% of its autonomous forklift division to KION

July 15, 2026

The Belgian retail group Colruyt is selling a majority stake in its in-house developed autonomous pallet trucks. The buyer of 70% of Colruyt’s research and development activities related to autonomous pallet trucks is KION, a German forklift specialist that was already partially involved in the project. In fact, this is a strategic partnership in which […]

BYD redraws global brand map as Europe moves centre stage

July 15, 2026

BYD is simplifying its overseas brand structure as international markets become a central source of growth rather than an export sideline. The Chinese group will combine its Dynasty and Ocean ranges under the BYD name abroad, merge Denza’s and Fang Cheng Bao’s overseas operations, and keep ultra-luxury brand Yangwang independent. The reshuffle creates a clearer […]

VW Group boss aims at overhead cost, and the brands will have a different future

July 15, 2026

VW Group CEO Oliver Blume persists in its aim to cut costs dramatically inside the Group. Meanwhile, five of the most important brands inside the group’s portfolio face different levels of change and cost-cutting. The German company’s overhead is higher than competitors’ by roughly one-fifth, Blume said in an interview published on VW’s intranet. Reaching […]

Porsche to build the last ICE Macan at the end of July

July 15, 2026

Porsche will end production of the combustion-engine Macan at the end of July. Although the petrol-powered variant of the SUV sold better than the electric version, the manufacturer will focus exclusively on the electric Macan going forward. A new combustion-engine successor is not expected until 2028. By the beginning of 2025, Porsche had already discontinued […]

Renault Group has produced 1 million EVs in France

July 15, 2026

More than one million electric vehicles have been designed and produced in France since 2010, including 600,000 in ‘Electricity’, Renault Group’s electric industrial pole of northern France. Electric vehicles are accelerating in France, with vehicles coming off the production lines of bodywork and assembly plants in Douai, Maubeuge, Dieppe, Batilly, and Sandouville, driven by the […]

Belgian John Cockerill unveils first French-built electrolyzer stack

July 14, 2026

The Belgian company John Cockerill Hydrogen has unveiled its first hydrogen electrolyzer designed and manufactured entirely in France. The unveiling took place in Belfort at McPhy’s industrial site, which John Cockerill Hydrogen acquired last year, along with some of its staff and patents. The 30-metric-ton unit enables the production of decarbonized hydrogen from water. Push […]

VW Group faces internal struggle over future group structure

July 14, 2026

At Volkswagen, the Supervisory Board and the Works Council are taking a stance on Group CEO Oliver Blume’s initiative to stabilize the automaker’s balance sheet through an even stricter cost-cutting program. Resistance from both bodies had been expected. According to media reports, Volkswagen now faces “a months-long battle over jobs and costs.” Volkswagen CEO Oliver […]

De Lijn still has €8 million in uncollected fines outstanding

July 14, 2026

Of the 16 million euros in fines issued in 2025 for fare evasion on the Flemish public transportation company De Lijn, half have already been collected. Due in part to increased inspections, the total amount of fines issued has nearly tenfold since 2020, rising from approximately 1.13 million to more than 16 million euros. Actual […]

Dutch Vantrack turns Kia PV5 into €65,000 electric camper

July 14, 2026

Dutch camper specialist Vantrack will open reservations in September for a modular camping conversion of the electric Kia PV5 Passenger. Priced from €65,000 including the vehicle, the LightCamp promises to undercut most complete electric campervans currently offered in Europe. Its public debut is scheduled for the Kampeer & Caravan Jaarbeurs in Utrecht from 30 September […]

Traxio: ‘New motorcycles on the rise, used ones down slightly’

July 14, 2026

The market for new motorcycles grew by 13.2% in the first half of the year compared to the same period last year – with 16,368 new vehicles, this is the highest growth level in fifteen years. Thanks in part to the Brussels Motor Show, 2026 got off to a strong start. According to the mobility federation Traxio, increases […]

Mercedes’ two-sided EV push: from core C-Class to extreme AMG CLA

July 14, 2026

Mercedes-Benz has begun production of its new electric C-Class at its heavily expanded factory in Kecskemét, Hungary. At the same time, AMG is showcasing the 500 kW electric CLA 45, a far more extreme interpretation of the same transition. Together, the two models reveal the breadth of Mercedes’ EV strategy: one is a core-volume saloon […]

Dutch air conditioners help save 742 million kilos of CO₂

July 14, 2026

Air conditioners are generally considered ‘environmentally unfriendly’ due to their high electricity consumption. However, using them in winter can reduce CO2 emissions. Air conditioners, which function as heat pumps, owe this positive contribution to their efficient operation. A portion of the heating provided by a heat pump, therefore, counts as renewable energy, allowing users with […]

Touring launches EU vignette guide for drivers

July 13, 2026

Starting May 1 of next year, Belgium plans to require a road vignette for all drivers on Belgian highways and regional roads. “Yet another one,” the exasperated drivers must be thinking as they prepare to set off on vacation by car, because the myriad systems for road and environmental vignettes and low-emission zones (LEZ) across […]

BYD officially launches Denza Z, its first sports car for Europe, at Goodwood

July 13, 2026

BYD has officially unveiled the European version of the Denza Z at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. CEO of BYD, Stella Li, and former F1 champion Jenson Button took the wraps off the sports car that intends to go head-to-head with the Porsche 911. Or rather, the Maserati GranTurismo Folgore. Because the driveline is fully […]

VW Group sells more BEVs in Europe but loses ground in the rest of the world

July 13, 2026

The Volkswagen Group reports 438,500 all-electric vehicle deliveries for its brands in the first half of the year. This represents a 5.8% decrease compared to the same period last year. BEV sales have declined significantly, particularly in the US and China. However, in the important European market, Volkswagen recorded 8% growth. Alarm bells are ringing […]

Mixed sales picture for BMW Group in first year-half

July 13, 2026

The first half of the year presented a mixed picture for BMW Group: while markets in China and the Asia-Pacific region saw significant declines in the first six months (more than 20% in China), the BMW Group increased its sales in Europe and the U.S. In Europe, sales rose by around +5.4%. In the US, […]

Dutch Giga Storage to invest 700 million in Belgium’s largest battery park

July 10, 2026

The Dutch company Giga Storage has secured almost €700 million in financing to construct Europe’s largest battery park in Dilsen-Stokkem (Belgium) – 3.5 times the size of the current record-holder, the battery park Engie commissioned in Vilvoorde late last year. The ‘Green Turtle’, as the gigantic project will be called, is intended to store enormous quantities of electricity […]

Why heat hits vulnerable neighborhoods harder in Brussels and Wallonia

July 10, 2026

The June heat wave led to a notably higher excess mortality rate in Wallonia and Brussels than in Flanders. Experts point to a combination of factors: geographic conditions, the urban heat island effect, socioeconomic vulnerability, housing quality, and possibly air pollution. Because no matter how you look at it, poverty has long been linked to […]

Alpine reveals electric ‘A110 Future’ in Goodwood (Update)

July 10, 2026

Alpine has revealed the eye-catching mule (development car) of the third-generation Alpine A110, which debuted at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed: ‘Alpine A110 Future’. Named to reflect its role in shaping the third generation of the iconic Alpine A110 sports car, Alpine A110 Future was the centerpiece of the brand’s strongest-ever presence at the […]

Is Volkswagen considering closing 4 plants in Germany? (update)

July 10, 2026

According to a report by the usually well-informed Manager Magazin, Volkswagen is considering a far more extensive restructuring program than previously reported. The German business magazine claims the company is planning to close its plants in Hanover, Zwickau, and Emden, as well as Audi’s factory in Neckarsulm. The report also states that Volkswagen could cut […]

Airbus expects passenger number to double by 2045, to 10 billion

July 10, 2026

The number of airline passengers is projected to more than double by 2045, following an average annual growth rate of 3.9%, reaching approximately 10 billion per year. This is according to Airbus’s new Global Market Forecast 2026-2045, the European aerospace corporation. Although the aviation industry has set a net-zero goal for 2050, the forecast also […]

Don’t charge to 100% and Ionity will reimburse you

July 10, 2026

As the charging sector shifts its focus from infrastructure rollout to rethinking payment schedules, the latest pricing innovation comes from Ionity. Europe’s largest ultra-fast charging network will literally pay drivers to disconnect before their battery is full. The reason? Free up charging space. The new scheme, called ‘Fast Lane Reward’, gives you 5 kWh of […]

Could satellite speed control become EU’s next road-safety battle?

July 10, 2026

“EU’s drive to let satellite technology force your car to slow down to 20 mph?” The British tabloid headline sounds like the perfect culture-war story. Yet behind the Daily Mail’s framing lies a serious question for Europe’s car industry and regulators. Now that vehicles can read speed limits, know where they are, and control their […]

June 2026 was hottest June on record for Western Europe

July 09, 2026

According to the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), June 2026 was the hottest June on record for Western Europe and the second-warmest globally. The heatwave that hit much of Europe during the second half of June came only a few weeks after a particularly intense heatwave in May, followed by another in early July. The […]

More speed pedelecs on Belgian roads thanks to military personnel

July 09, 2026

The number of speed pedelecs registrations in Belgium rose sharply in the first six months of the year, by more than 8,000 units. This is according to figures from the mobility federation Traxio. This sharp increase is mainly attributable to military personnel. Recently, they have also been able to lease a bicycle following an expansion […]

Airbus and MTU to jointly develop hydrogen propulsion for aviation

July 09, 2026

The European aerospace corporation Airbus plans to establish a joint venture with aircraft engine manufacturer MTU Aero Engines to produce hydrogen-powered engines. These engines are intended to eventually serve as an alternative to fossil-fuel-powered internal combustion engines, thereby reducing CO2 emissions from aviation. Fuel cells Through the joint venture, which is expected to become operational […]

BYD reaches 17 million NEVs and eyes a bigger role in Europe

July 09, 2026

BYD has reached another symbolic milestone in its rapid rise as the world’s largest new energy vehicle manufacturer. On July 8, the Chinese carmaker announced that its 17 millionth NEV had rolled off the production line. The milestone car was the new Seal 08, the flagship sedan of BYD’s Ocean range, launched only days earlier […]

Renault refreshes Master: better charging performance, more comfort

July 09, 2026

Renault has updated its Master van, and thus also the Master E-Tech Electric. The electric van now features a chemically redesigned 87 kWh battery, new comfort and safety features, and a range of additional variants for different applications. A new chassis-cab version with a 40 kWh battery is also available for urban use. The Master […]

Level 4 autonomous driving Maserati gets Belgian highway permit

July 09, 2026

A fully autonomous driving Maserati Granturismo from AIdoptation has been granted permission to legally cruise the E313 and E314 at 120 km/h. At the same time, the person in the driver’s seat does something else entirely. This is the first time that Level 4 driving has been permitted on public roads anywhere in Europe.   […]

Monroe manufacturer Tenneco is cutting 120 jobs in Sint-Truiden

July 09, 2026

Shock absorber manufacturer Tenneco, better known by the brand name Monroe, is set to lay off 120 employees at its Sint-Truiden plant – 101 manual workers and 19 white-collar staff. The dismissals would reportedly be phased from September 2026 until the end of 2027.  The announcement had been anticipated for some time, but the company confirmed its […]

PET bottles to become battery graphite for EVs?

July 08, 2026

Researchers at Penn State University, Pennsylvania, U.S., claim to have developed a process that converts PET plastic from beverage bottles into high-quality synthetic graphite. According to the researchers, the material could serve as an anode material for lithium-ion batteries in the future, simultaneously recycling plastic waste and meeting the demand for battery graphite. A research […]

Ford recalls 42,000 Mach-E in the US but its trail starts in Europe

July 08, 2026

Ford has issued a recall of 42,784 Mustang Mach-E vehicles in the United States, but the story behind the defect began on our side of the Atlantic. The failure mode is not subtle, as the car can suddenly lose power. According to the filing, the problem is the pinion shaft, which can suffer bending fatigue […]

From shrimp to sting: climate change reshuffles North Sea coast

July 08, 2026

Biodiversity in Belgian coastal waters has changed fundamentally over the past few decades due to global warming. Typical cold-water species, such as brown shrimp, gobies, and herring/sprat, are now far less abundant, whereas warm-water species (like the venomous lesser weever) and comb jellies are thriving. This is shown by research conducted by biologist Ward Stellamans […]

Brussels’ second Car-Free Sunday gets bumpy

July 08, 2026

The Brussels government is looking for a date for a second car-free Sunday, and the process isn’t going smoothly. Social media, in particular, where Mobility Minister Elke Van den Brandt (Groen) is coming under fire, especially from mainly anti-Good Move civic groups, is fanning the flames. The reason for the commotion? The coalition agreement stipulates […]

Dacia launches the Striker and electrifies the Sandero

July 08, 2026

As announced in March at the presentation of its 2030 strategic plan, Dacia is expanding its C-segment range with the Striker. Meanwhile, Dacia’s best-seller, the Sandero, can finally be ordered with the 155 hp hybrid engine known from other, more expensive Dacias. Designed to complement Bigster, Striker is a crossover with the same Dacia DNA, […]

Polestar brings back the rear window on its 4 SUV

July 08, 2026

Polestar has released more details about the upcoming new version of the 4. Rumored to be a shooting brake, the model will be called SUV and will go on sale on September 2. In any case, it brings back the rear window, which was replaced by a camera on the original 4.  A rear window […]

Renault boss turns small EV profits into a warning for EU

July 08, 2026

Renault CEO François Provost has put one of the European car industry’s most sensitive questions on the table: can small electric cars be profitable, or will Europe’s volume manufacturers be pushed out of their home market by Chinese competition? In an interview with Les Echos, the LVMH-owned French business daily widely read in political and […]

Subaru’s new EV trio turns Toyota hardware into an outdoor proposition

July 08, 2026

At Château-Ferme de Moriensart in Céroux-Mousty, Subaru Benelux made its point quite clearly. The brand’s new electric models may share their core engineering with Toyota, but they are intended to be more than badge-engineered cousins; a ‘go-anywhere family car’. On the short off-road course prepared for the press drive, the Solterra, Uncharted, and E-Outback showed […]

Renault expands Palencia plant to produce three new electric SUVs

July 08, 2026

Renault apparently plans to expand its Palencia plant in Spain into a production site for three electric SUVs starting in 2028. In addition to the new Renault Rafale and the Scenic, the next-generation electric Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross is expected to roll off the production line there. The news was issued by the Spanish trade publication […]

Van Hool’s site resold to Dutch construction group Mourik

July 07, 2026

Barely three weeks after entrepreneur Gerrit den Otter purchased the 30-hectare site of the bankrupt bus manufacturer Van Hool, he has already resold the land.  The new owner is the Antwerp-based construction group Mourik. The purchase price was not disclosed, although, according to some sources, the land was reportedly sold “at a profit.” Biddit The Van Hool […]

Charging station manufacturer Enovates makes a restart

July 07, 2026

Enovates, the Belgian manufacturer of electric-vehicle charging stations established in Lokeren, East-Flanders, had to close its books after several years of financial losses. After several weeks of intense negotiations, former founder Bart Vereecke managed to realize a restart with four of his key managers, who will be co-investing, and with the support of Dutch investor […]

Flanders updates signage on highways

July 07, 2026

Signage on Flemish highways is getting a facelift. The Roads and Traffic Agency (Agentschap Wegen en Verkeer, AWV), the road authority responsible for Flemish highways and regional roads, wants signage to be consistent across the entire Flemish highway network, guided by the principle of providing less but more relevant information per sign and improving traffic […]

Audi A4 e-tron comes in 2028 on new SSP platform

July 07, 2026

Audi has firmed up its plans for the A4 e-tron. The mid-size electric car is set to launch in 2028 and will be one of the Volkswagen Group’s first high-volume models to fully utilize the new SSP platform. Audi’s Board Member for Technical Development, Rouven Mohr, reportedly told GoAuto that there is “no need to […]

Mercedes moves electric ‘Baby G’ production from Germany to Hungary

July 07, 2026

Mercedes-Benz builds its compact cars in Germany. But for the upcoming electric ‘Baby-G’, the brand has changed its plans and is looking eastward. According to Automobilwoche, the German Rastatt plant will not be awarded the contract. The smallest G ever will most likely be stamped by the Hungarian division and roll off the line at […]

Belgian H.Essers crosses the Atlantic with Palmer acquisition

July 06, 2026

The Genk-based transport and logistics company H.Essers is acquiring the American company Palmer, a leading provider of chemical warehousing and value-added logistics services. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. With this acquisition, H.Essers strengthens its transatlantic service offering and further expands its own operational presence in the chemical sector. The combination establishes H.Essers’ […]

Californian school buses saved the grid during heatwave 

July 06, 2026

A blistering heat dome in the eastern US has pushed the power system to the brink of a widespread emergency, raising the risk of a major blackout. But the vehicles that critics love to blame for grid strain managed to feed their stored power back into the grid via their V2G capability. A record number […]

LETEC cancels 2 bus routes to Charleroi Airport

July 06, 2026

The Walloon transportation company LETEC has canceled two of its three bus routes to Charleroi Airport. Especially the cancellation of the bus service from Fleurus Station raises questions. Both the railway company NMBS/SNCB and the railway infrastructure manager Infrabel invested heavily in the station to turn it into an intermodal hub for travel to the […]

China to end tax exemptions for non fully-electric vehicles from 2027

July 06, 2026

From January 1, 2027, China will abolish the annual vehicle tax exemption for plug-in hybrids, range-extender vehicles, and several classes of electrified commercial vehicles. BEV passenger cars, however, will remain tax-exempt as they are not subject to China’s displacement-based vehicle tax. As reported by CnEVPost, China’s Ministry of Finance, the State Taxation Administration, and the […]

Brussels Region targets EV charging hogging with rotation fee

July 06, 2026

The Brussels government is introducing a new fee structure for the use of public charging stations for EV’s. Starting October 1, a 6-euro cents-per-minute rate will apply to vehicles that remain connected to a charging station for more than 6 hours between 9 a.m. and 10 p.m. The fee is being introduced to address the […]

Traxio: ‘Used vehicle registrations dip slightly in first six months’

July 06, 2026

The number of used car registrations fell slightly in the first six months of the year compared with last year (-3.6%) and the year before (-2.8%). “What stands out in this regard is the yo-yo effect, month after month,” explains Filip Rylant, spokesperson for mobility federation Traxio. Geopolitical tensions, in particular, appear to be affecting […]

Brussels Airlines cuts noise pollution in half over 12 years

July 04, 2026

Brussels Airlines has taken delivery of its 8th Airbus A320neo aircraft. Thanks to its investment in this quieter aircraft model, the Belgian airline has halved its fleet’s noise pollution since 2014. Although Brussels Airlines’ approach to reducing noise pollution is sincere, its legal strategy is moving in the opposite direction. Indeed, it recently vehemently opposed […]

VW and Bosch end Automated Driving Alliance (ADA)

July 03, 2026

VW, Cariad, and Bosch have ended their assisted and automated driving partnership – the Automated Driving Alliance. However, the partners intend to use the AI-based SAE Level 2 system they developed in their own products – including VW, which will include it in the upcoming ID.Every1. VW subsidiary Cariad has confirmed the end of its […]

Dutch EV drivers are driving more frequently and over longer distances

July 03, 2026

Dutch EV riders are increasingly driving electric outside the Netherlands – and covering greater distances – during the summer holidays. That is the conclusion of Travelcard, a B2B mobility provider in the Netherlands. For instance, the number of charging sessions abroad by Dutch EV drivers rose by 55% across 31 countries over a three-year period. […]

Belgians are taking the train more often for their summer vacations

July 03, 2026

Last summer, 1.6 million train tickets to international destinations were purchased from the Belgian public railway company NMBS/SNCB, a 6% increase over the previous year. Current ticket sales also confirm this upward trend. One reason Belgians are increasingly choosing to travel by train is the growing range of destinations available. Currently, you can travel from […]

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