December 11, 2023
In November, almost 20% of Belgian trains were not punctual. This is one of the worst results in the past seven years, according to figures from railway infrastructure manager Infrabel. Nevertheless, from February, all NMBS/SNCB products will be 5,9% more expensive, including the prices of tickets and subscriptions. One in five trains (19,2%) of the […]
December 11, 2023
The market of the new speed pedelecs experienced a further delay in November, with -20,9% to 1 018 units, which is 269 less than in November last year. The persistently negative figures reduce the cumulative annual total over the first nine months to -9,9% below the previous year’s figure. Private individuals (-33,2%) and companies (-15,8%) […]
December 11, 2023
Milence, the joint venture between Daimler Truck (Mercedes-Benz Trucks), the Traton Group (MAN, Scania), and Volvo Group (Volvo Trucks, Renault Trucks) created to tackle the charging infrastructure for long-haul electric transport, has started operations with its first charging hub in Venlo, the Netherlands. Another will follow soon in Antwerp. Milence can be described as the […]
December 11, 2023
The Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, has imposed an excess tariff for heavy cars parking within the city’s boundaries. If her proposition, the so-called ‘SUV fee’, is adopted by public vote, these vehicles will have to pay triple the price. There’s no exemption for zero-emission drivelines. The people will vote on the 4th of February. Paris […]
December 11, 2023
Belgian industrial entrepreneur Guido Dumarey has finished his third acquisition this year, with the take-over of the British Woodall Nicholson group. That group comprises six specialist vehicle brands, from accessible transport and electric buses, over police cars and ambulances to ceremonial limos and hearses. Dumarey will continue the business with 367 employees. The six companies, […]
December 11, 2023
According to the often well-informed German newspaper Handelsblatt, Volkswagen is considering collaborating with Renault to develop and produce the sub-20 000-euro car. Both companies declined to comment on these rumors from sources familiar with the matter. According to Handelsblatt, VW is talking to potential partners, but Renault is definitely one of them. At the moment, […]
December 08, 2023
Luxembourg’s newest car classified site, mycar.lu, announces ‘Picture Search’, an innovative feature to the online car marketplace. It’s an advanced AI-powered tool that enables users to take pictures of any car they encounter on the street and instantly find the brand and model on mycar.lu’s platform. “This cutting-edge development is set to revolutionize the way […]
December 08, 2023
The temperature on Earth is rising more rapidly than previously thought due to increased carbon dioxide (CO2) in the air. Current levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere have not been reached in 14 million years on Earth. This is what a group of scientists published on Thursday in the Science journal. The study results […]
December 08, 2023
Since the Brussels Capital Region introduced a low-emission zone (LEZ) in 2018, there has been a 30% reduction in nitrogen dioxide along Brussels’ main roads. Brussels Environment has also observed similar and more significant reductions for other pollutants. Air quality in Antwerp has also improved significantly over the past decade. However, traffic remains the primary […]
December 08, 2023
The four-year-old German LaneCharge project on inductive charging, has presented the results of its practical tests of this ‘pioneering inductive charging system. The proved to be successful. Launched back in 2019, together with industry partners, researchers at Hanover University of Applied Sciences and Arts wanted to develop a fully functional inductive charging system, which was […]
December 08, 2023
Italo-French-US carmaker Stellantis embraces battery-swapping technology from Californian start-up Ample to equip a Free2Move car-sharing fleet of a hundred Fiat 500e cars in Madrid next year. The Fiat 500e is Stellantis’ highest-selling electric vehicle sold globally. Ample’s fully automated battery swapping stations allow EV drivers with a compatible Ample battery pack to replace the OEM […]
December 08, 2023
BMW Group Belux, the BMW, Mini, and BMW Motorrad importer in Belgium and Luxembourg, is investing almost €30 million in the complete renovation and rethinking of its headquarters in Bornem (Antwerp province), known as the BMW campus. When everything has been refurbished, the 400 BMW Belux employees will be joined by 180 colleagues of BMW’s […]
December 08, 2023
Airlines expect to carry 4,7 billion passengers next year, a historic record dixit the International Air Transport Association (IATA). According to the umbrella organization, the airline industry will also post a net profit of 25,7 billion dollars in 2024, a slight improvement on the 23,3 billion dollars the industry is most likely to post this […]
December 07, 2023
Belgian start-up Solhyd, a spin-off of KU Leuven University, announced securing six million euros of seed capital from ‘a group of experienced entrepreneurs’ to optimize further the basic technology of ‘distilling’ pure hydrogen directly from the air using a particular solar-H2 panel and deploy it in pilot applications. After assembling earlier prototypes of their Gen1 […]
December 07, 2023
General Motors CEO Mary Barra has officially declared that the next-generation Chevrolet Bolt EV will hit the streets in 2025, following the model’s temporary cancellation and a successor question. Building upon its reputation of affordability, the new generation will be equipped with cheaper LFP batteries. While Barra did not delve into the nitty gritty about […]
December 07, 2023
In a meeting on Wednesday at the Renault headquarters, the four Alliance leaders tried to reassure the outside world of their determination to create a future for the Alliance between Mitsubishi, Nissan, and Renault. “The future of the Alliance is ‘exciting’, ‘resilient’, and ‘innovative’,” the four stressed. “This Alliance is more flexible, open, eager, and […]
December 07, 2023
Fiat’s low-cost electric model has been named: not Panda but Pandina. This cousin to the Citroën ë-C3 is set to be produced in Kragujevac, Serbia, for a starting price of around 20 000 euros. A mild hybrid version is also coming for around 15 000 euros. Meanwhile, Stellantis promises to maintain a production target of […]
December 07, 2023
The Belgian gas system operator Fluxys has decided to partner with two German companies to develop cross-border CO2 pipelines to transport and store CO2 in the North Sea. The companies announced the deal on Wednesday, during the Belgian state visit to Germany. Fluxys previously concluded an agreement with the German oil and gas company Wintershall […]
December 07, 2023
Before Christmas, Volkswagen wants to be in the clear about its restructuring plans, seeking savings of 10 billion euros. The company aims to cut one-fifth of its administrative staff, save 20% on payroll, and has abandoned plans for a new R&D site. The cost-cutting measures apply exclusively to the brand Volkswagen, which is suffering the […]
December 07, 2023
Renault Group is launching a plan to transform its industrial base fundamentally. Between now and 2027, it is seeking to cut production costs per vehicle by 30% for internal combustion vehicles (ICE) and 50% for electric vehicles (BEV). Renault Group’s Industrial Metaverse will play a vital role in the transformation, enabling the Group to accelerate […]
December 06, 2023
The coming Mini Cooper SE electric 3-door model will also be available in the John Cooper Works trim to emphasize the brand’s racing history. With 160 kW and 330 Newton meters of maximum torque, the more powerful Mini Cooper SE version can sprint from 0 to 100 kph in 6,7 seconds and offers a range […]
December 06, 2023
The Mechelen court finds Flemish public transport company De Lijn guilty of structural discrimination against people with disabilities. Four wheelchair users had gone to court after their complaints to De Lijn itself were unsuccessful. They will now each receive compensation of 650 euros. De Lijn is studying the verdict and is considering possible next steps. […]
December 06, 2023
After the successful giant strike against the Detroit Big Three, the United Auto Workers (UAW) initiated a high-stakes campaign to unionize Tesla and a dozen non-unionized car companies. The move for the American EV maker comes on top of a spreading union fight in the Scandinavian countries, where Denmark’s largest trade union has joined with […]
December 06, 2023
Pilots of Belgian air carrier Brussels Airlines won’t strike this month, as planned initially. On Tuesday, unions and the management agreed on three of the main demands of the pilots to release work pressure: 12 instead of 5 ‘joker days’, more compensation for weekend work, and extra rest time when staying on location abroad. After […]
December 06, 2023
Growth in the second-hand car market got another boost in November. Last month, 57 519 used cars were registered, 6,5% more than in 2022. The increase is 7,8% over the first eleven months of the year (46 231 units more than in 2022), but there is a deficit of 18 030 units compared to 2021. […]
December 06, 2023
US-based battery start-up Our Next Energy (ONE) announces that a BMW iX prototype with its proprietary Gemini dual-chemistry battery managed an impressive 608,1 miles (978,6 km) range. Despite the higher range, ONE’s battery pack occupies the same space as the iX original battery pack. Furthermore, the company’s innovative technology reduces lithium use by up to […]
December 06, 2023
The current (and re-elected) president of the European Car Manufacturers Association (ACEA), Luca de Meo, has called for European ‘Kei Cars’ as one of the solutions to boost electric car sales and solve acute urban mobility problems. De Meo did so in his speech at the ACEA headquarters in Brussels while presenting the lobbying group’s […]
December 06, 2023
Symbio, the equally owned joint venture between French automotive supplier Forvia Group (Faurecia and Hella), French tire giant Michelin, and car manufacturing group Stellantis, has inaugurated its SymphonHy gigafactory on Tuesday in Saint-Fons, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in France. It’s Europe’s largest factory, with 700 employees to produce 16 000 hydrogen fuel cells initially, to […]
December 06, 2023
The electric vehicle manufacturer EV Electra has bought the rights to the Emily GT project, also called ‘the new Saab’, from NEVS (New Electric Vehicle Sweden) and could produce the sporty electric saloon in the former Saab factory in Trollhättan, Sweden. Last August, we reported about the Emily GT, citing that an ‘unknown investor’ had […]
December 05, 2023
Most rides on a Blue-bike, a bike-sharing project of which the Flemish public transport company De Lijn is the main shareholder, will become one euro more expensive from next year. This is because the concession from the Flemish government will disappear. Indeed, for each 24-hour ride, the Flemish government has reimbursed one euro. From 1 […]
December 05, 2023
The CEOs of five of the world’s biggest shipping companies called at the COP28 for an end date for fossil-only powered newly built ships in an ‘unprecedented’ joint declaration. They urge the global regulator, the International Maritime Organization (IMO), to create regulatory conditions to accelerate the transition to green fuels. The five are Danish A.P. […]
December 05, 2023
The initial goal for Norway was to achieve a 50 percent market share for zero-emission trucks by 2030. Still, the Norwegian parliament (Storting) has asked the government to go for the full 100 percent in the 2024 budget agreement. This makes Norway the first country to set a concrete deadline for combustion-powered trucks. Whereas the […]
December 05, 2023
There will be no specific validity restriction on driving licenses for the over-70s in Europe. They will also not undergo mandatory medical checks to renew their driving licenses. European mobility ministers in Brussels agreed on this. Europe thus leaves each member state free to decide on any shorter period of validity of driving licenses for […]
December 05, 2023
The electric car manufacturer Fisker is lowering its production forecast for 2023 once again. After last lowering its forecast to between 13 000 and 17 000 vehicles produced in 2023 as a whole, Fisker now only expects to produce just over 10 000 units. The reason given for this is the decision to produce fewer […]
December 05, 2023
Toyota wants to expand its range of electric cars in Europe to six models by 2026. That’s what we wrote on Monday, talking about the brand’s two concepts unveiled at its annual Kenshiki event in Brussels. But the Japanese company is also providing more details on its battery roadmap and hydrogen plans. With the presentation […]
December 04, 2023
At last week’s Toyota Motor Europe (TME) 2023 Kenshiki event, a team of global and European executives presented the company’s latest electrified products and technologies. Today, we’re paying attention to two new BEV concepts arriving in Europe reasonably soon. Toyota provided a preview of its future battery electric vehicle (BEV) strategy for Europe by unveiling […]
December 04, 2023
The deal between the French multinational and the Belgian government on the lifetime extension of Belgium’s two youngest nuclear power plants, Doel 4 and Tihange 3, has been fully finalized. According to federal Energy Minister Tinne Van der Straeten (Groen), the 1 500-page contract will be discussed at the various federal vice cabinets this week, […]
December 04, 2023
The world’s biggest battery maker today, Chinese CATL, just announced it has finished testing its own EV skateboard platform to be used by third-party carmakers, achieving an amazingly low 10.5 kWh/100 km energy consumption. That’s good for a range of 1 000 km for EVs built on it. The first car to use CIIC, a […]
December 04, 2023
In a surprising move, the German government has given the green light to subsidize Sweden’s Northvolt battery plant Drei in northwest Germany with over €560 million. This announcement comes just weeks after the German government froze spending in the sector after a court ruling. The subsidies, totaling around €700 million, will be distributed over several […]
December 04, 2023
The stalling pickup market in the EU doesn’t refrain Toyota from introducing new powertrains in its famous workhorse. Slated for launch in 2024 is an electrified version of the 2.8-diesel engine. Though Toyota is a pioneer in hybrid drivetrains, the proposed solution in the Hilux remains modest. The Hilux Hybrid brings a 48-volt system to […]
December 04, 2023
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called for a global carbon tax during an event on carbon markets at the UN Climate Summit COP28 in Dubai on Friday. “Putting a price on carbon is a way to reduce emissions while encouraging innovation and growth,” von der Leyen said. Today, only 23 percent of all […]
December 04, 2023
Volkswagen plans to take back the reins for the electrification of its commercial vehicle fleet. Whereas the ID. Buzz and shared models with Ford are the main focus for now; from 2028, a new and entirely VW-developed electric van platform will electrify the entire range, from Caddy to Crafter. VW is falling behind slightly in […]
December 04, 2023
With 37 552 new cars registered in Belgium and Luxembourg, November was the best since 2017 and scored 26,1% higher than in 2022. For the first eleven months of the year, this means a total of 450 960 new cars registered, 32% more than last year for the same period. More than 47% of them […]
December 04, 2023
Belgium, Flanders, and Brussels must reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030 (compared to 1990). According to the Brussels Court of Appeal, these three governments have so far not done enough to protect citizens’ human rights. The Belgian climate policy violates two articles of the European Convention on Human Rights, which guarantee the ‘right […]
December 01, 2023
Hyundai and Kia have presented a new wheel drive system called the Universal Wheel Drive System (‘Uni Wheel’ for short), designed for taxis, shuttle buses, and other special purpose vehicles of all sizes. The Uni Wheel creates extra space in electric vehicles by moving the reduction gear to the wheel hub. The Uni Wheel relocates […]
December 01, 2023
Research by the Flemish Foundation for Traffic Knowledge (Vlaamse Stichting Verkeerskunde, VSV) shows that half of the truck drivers place objects on their dashboards, including illuminated miniature Christmas trees in the end-of-the-year season. These items can obstruct visibility, increasing the risk of (blind spot) accidents. VSV is, therefore, launching a campaign with the transport sector […]
December 01, 2023
Geely, one of China’s top four-passenger car manufacturers and parent company to Volvo, is joining forces with Chinese NIO to co-develop swappable battery standards. That was unveiled by the two partners just a week after NIO signed a similar deal with another giant, Changan Automobile. In China, battery swapping is quite hot compared to the […]
December 01, 2023
After two years of delays and anticipation, Tesla’s digital showroom offers the highly controversial Cybertruck. CEO Elon Musk handed over the first customers’ vehicles during a special event on Thursday at the company’s headquarters in Austin, Texas. Though the looks and specs are spectacular, the Cybertruck also puts dark accolades around its promised range and […]
December 01, 2023
In Machelen, the new 710-meter-long bicycle and pedestrian bridge, the longest in Flanders, has been in place since Thursday. The new bridge over Leopold III Avenue between Machelen and Zaventem not only ensures a safe crossing but also forms a hitherto missing link in the route of the future Ring Cycle Path and connects to […]
December 01, 2023
Renault will present the R5 E-tech electric, its B-segment EV, Zoe successor, and Renault 5 reminiscer at the Geneva Motor Show on the 26th of February. In anticipation, the manufacturer has already shown some details of the production version and launched a teaser campaign with an R 5 R Pass for early potential buyers. “Renault […]
November 30, 2023
With Skye, Callum Designs, the company of former Jaguar design boss Ian Callum, presents the concept of an all-terrain electric vehicle with all-wheel drive in the style of an electric buggy with a roof. Technical details are not yet available. “Callum Skye is a high-performance multi-terrain electric vehicle created for discerning owners seeking extraordinary on- […]
November 30, 2023
Febelauto, the Belgian management organization for waste vehicles and industrial batteries, will organize a circular truck and bus event in December. The event will take place in Beringen on December 11th. Importers and OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) will be invited to sign a manifesto that day. Flemish Minister of Mobility and Public Works Lydia Peeters […]
November 30, 2023
Starting on January 1st, 2024, truck drivers who want to take the ADR exam to transport dangerous goods can finally do so digitally in Flanders. Until now, they had to convene once a month at a single location, but with this digital method, exam moments can be scheduled freely at 16 exam centers. The Flemish […]
November 30, 2023
Orders for the Honda e have stalled in Europe. Due to slow sales and a strong customer preference for all-electric SUVs, the Japanese carmaker is readdressing its strategy for battery-powered mobility. In the lower categories, it is prioritizing zero-emission scooters and motorbikes. In 2020, Honda boldly entered the electric vehicle market with a small but […]
November 30, 2023
From December 1st, 2023, the Flemish government won’t allow a tolerance period of one year anymore for replacing defective diesel particle filters but will shorten that period to three months. The two other Belgian Regions – Brussels and Wallonia – that agreed to the same one-year tolerance will return to a limited 15-day tolerance period […]
November 30, 2023
Brussels public transport operator MIVB/STIB has ordered 36 electric buses from German manufacturer Daimler Buses. The order is part of a framework agreement for up to 80 standard low-floor buses. The first eCitaro-bus from that order should enter the fleet in early 2026. A new order for 14 additional articulated e-buses is also planned soon. […]
November 30, 2023
Introducing the next generation Duster, Dacia is venturing into new territory with the third generation of its popular SUV that has dominated European sales since 2010. For the first time in its lineage, the driveline features assistance from a battery pack in the form of a hybrid version (HEV). The cladding on the bodywork is […]
November 30, 2023
On the eve of the COP 28 climate conference, and in the run-up to EU elections next year, the President of the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA), Luca de Meo, unveiled a manifesto and roadmap for a competitive mobility ecosystem, co-signed by the CEOs of Europe’s major vehicle manufacturers. “Our sector is in the midst […]
November 30, 2023
On Thursday, BMW Brilliance Automotive Ltd. and Mercedes-Benz Group China Ltd. announced that they had agreed to establish a 50/50 joint venture in China to operate a high-power charging network. The aim is to provide Chinese customers with premium charging services. The joint venture aims to establish a network of at least 1 000 high-power […]
November 29, 2023
The first metro of the Grand Paris Express, a massive 15-year project that is set to revolutionize transport in the region around the French capital, rolled out in Paris on Tuesday. The new rapid transit lines should connect the periphery, or the Île-de-France region, to the capital and are expected to serve 2 million passengers […]
