Historic net profit of €1.75 billion for Air France-KLM

February 20, 2026

Air France-KLM can close the 2025 financial year with a bang: last year, the group posted a historic net profit of 1,75 billion euros, a remarkable achievement after the horror years of the Covid-19 pandemic. The group’s recovery is mainly due to a strategic shift towards higher-end customers and an unexpected windfall, such as lower […]

Audi RS 5 gains plug-in power but faces heavyweight wrestling in corners

February 20, 2026

Audi has officially ended the era of pure internal combustion for its mid-sized performance cars. The new RS 5 arrives as a plug-in hybrid that attempts to find a middle ground between the downsized Mercedes-AMG C 63 and the combustion-only BMW M3. It’s horses that matter most in this segment. The decision to pair the […]

MG shows how to win as a Chinese brand: one million sales in Europe

February 20, 2026

MG Motor has delivered its one-millionth vehicle to a European customer, a symbolic milestone that underlines one of the most remarkable comeback stories in the continent’s recent automotive history. Fourteen years after returning to the UK market, the former British sports car brand — now owned by China’s SAIC Motor — has become the most […]

Brussels remains leader: 1 in 6 employees opt for ‘mobility budget’

February 20, 2026

The share of employees who prefer the mobility budget over a company car continues to increase. According to HR service provider SD Worx, in the private sector, 7% of employees with a company car currently opt for the mobility budget. In Brussels, 16.2% (13.5% in 2024) of employees with a company car opt for a mobility budget; […]

Tiguan’s creator elevated to lead design for entire Volkswagen Group

February 20, 2026

The Volkswagen Group has initiated a changing of the guard in its most visible department. Andreas Mindt, currently the design chief for the Volkswagen passenger car brand, has been appointed Head of Group Design. He succeeds Michael Mauer, who is leaving the company as part of a planned generational transition. In his new role, Mindt […]

Back on track: Brussels and The Hague revive rail cooperation

February 20, 2026

The express tram between Hasselt and Maastricht was a complete failure, but Belgium and the Netherlands are once again stepping up their cooperation to tackle cross-border rail connections. Only this time, it is not a collaboration between Flanders and its northern neighbors, but one at the national level. Minister of Mobility Jean-Luc Crucke (Les Engagés) […]

Largest-ever-study confirms PHEVs burn up to five times more fuel than claimed

February 20, 2026

There is a systemic gap at the core of Europe’s plug-in hybrid policy, and it has now been measured at scale. Using real-world fuel consumption data from approximately 980,000 plug-in hybrid passenger cars collected under the EU’s official on-board fuel consumption monitoring (OBFCM) system, the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research (Fraunhofer ISI) has […]

Antwerp-Linkeroever station will be temporarily reopened

February 19, 2026

In Antwerp, national rail company NMBS and rail manager Infrabel have begun work to enable a temporary reopening of the Antwerp-Linkeroever station. Due to major renovation work on the premetro between Linkeroever and Antwerp Central Station, thousands of tram passengers will soon have to find an alternative. De Lijn provides shuttle buses, but they have […]

80% of De Lijn passengers satisfied with their journey

February 19, 2026

It seems like a PR stunt, because although newspapers are full of stories about canceled journeys, empty flex buses, outdated buses, or buses that leave too early, 8 out of 10 passengers are satisfied with their journeys on the Flemish public transport company De Lijn. The positive satisfaction survey score from last year, conducted on […]

Polestar readies largest model offensive, but hybrids remain taboo

February 19, 2026

While competitors backtrack on electrification goals, Polestar CEO Michael Lohscheller draws a hard line in the sand: the future remains electric, and there is no Plan B. Furthermore, the existing plan receives a big boost: an impressive expansion, with four new models over the next three years. Currently, the auto industry is defined by U-turns, […]

Renault’s good results overshadowed by recalculation of participation in Nissan

February 19, 2026

Today, Renault has published its yearly results. As expected, there’s a big difference between the Group’s results with or without ‘other operating income and expenses’. The former resulted in a positive figure of €715 million; the latter in a deficit of €10,931 million (or -€40.0 per share). Renault had to recalculate its 35% stake in […]

BYD’s tiny Racco for Japan, a kei car with European consequences?

February 19, 2026

Chinese BYD has revealed the interior and key specifications of the Racco, a compact urban runabout tailored to Japan’s uniquely popular kei segment. But in a European context, it could become something much more significant: a test case for whether the EU is serious about enabling a new generation of genuinely affordable small EVs. Japan’s […]

Audi will have a production version of the Concept C

February 19, 2026

When it presented its new coupé concept last year, Audi said it planned to bring the production version of the Concept C to the electric sports car platform of the Porsche Boxster and Cayman. However, after several delays and a change of CEO, these models remain uncertain at Zuffenhausen. Now, Audi clarifies: its own model […]

Ford reveals more details about its $30,000 electric pick-up truck

February 18, 2026

Ford is working on its ‘Universal EV platform’ that will underpin the next generation of electric vehicles, starting with a $30,000 pick-up truck in 2027. Now, the Blue Oval has shared more details about the upcoming model, which could become the electric alternative to the popular Maverick. Ford wants to create a new ‘Model T […]

More than half of De Lijn’s flexible buses run without passengers

February 18, 2026

More efficient, customized transport. Although the idea sounds appealing, the flex buses introduced by Flemish public transport company De Lijn in early 2024 to replace the old dial-a-bus service are anything but a resounding success. More than half, or 52%, of the nearly 18 million km traveled by flex buses last year were without passengers, […]

Mercedes-Benz sees net benefit halved in 2025 and recalls EQA/EQB (update)

February 18, 2026

Although not as precarious as for other car manufacturers, 2025 has been a complicated year for Mercedes-Benz. The German premium car manufacturer has een its net benefit almost halve while turnover decreased by 9%. Meanwhile, battery issues affecting the EQA and EQB have prompted global recalls. Mercedes-Benz has already begun replacing battery packs in North […]

Renault’s circular shift: new CEO signals industrial ambition

February 18, 2026

Renault Group’s circular-economy arm, The Future is NEUTRAL, is entering a new chapter just as the carmaker strengthens its industrial footprint in end-of-life vehicle recycling. With Grégoire de Franqueville set to take over as CEO on 1 March 2026, Renault is signalling that circularity is no longer a side strategy but a core industrial priority […]

Is VW planning a major additional cost-cutting program? (update)

February 18, 2026

According to several internal sources, the German specialized magazine Manager Magazin concludes that the Volkswagen Group is working on a new cost-cutting program targeting additional savings of up to €60 billion. Of course, economies at such a scale would involve reducing the workforce beyond the already announced 35,000 and, eventually, closing additional plants, following the […]

How the Renault 5 became France’s EV champion in 2025

February 18, 2026

According to the US-based online media outlet on electric vehicles and renewable energy, CleanTechnica, the Renault 5 was France’s best-selling battery-electric vehicle both in December and across the full year, with 37,997 registrations in 2025.  That’s nearly double the 19,207 units of the Tesla Model Y, making it the clear market leader in France’s EV […]

EU prepares ‘Europe first’ rules for EV subsidies

February 18, 2026

The European Commission is preparing legislation that would require electric vehicles to be assembled in the EU and source at least 70% of their components locally to qualify for state subsidies. The move could pave the way for a formal ‘Buy European’ industrial policy, recently called for by Volkswagen, Stellantis, and other European car manufacturers. […]

MAN proves that megawatt charging also works in the cold

February 17, 2026

MAN has demonstrated the Megawatt Charging System (MCS) ‘s capability in sub-zero temperatures during the Kempower MCS Live Winter Days 2026 in Norrköping, Sweden. The MAN eTGX charged reliably at around 750 kW, enabling fast charging of long-range e-trucks during mandatory driver breaks. The Megawatt Charging System (MCS) is the next step toward making long-range […]

Electrify the trailer, not the truck: Australia’s road train revolution

February 17, 2026

With its hot climate and long driving distances, electrification remains a challenge for the Australian trucking market. But recent innovations aim to at least increase truck efficiency without compromising on usability. The solution? Electrifying the trailers, not the trucks. With 135-tonne road trains that need to cover thousands of kilometers in sweltering 40-degree Celsius heat, […]

From eel farmer to bicycle Giant: King Liu’s 91-year ride

February 17, 2026

King Liu, founder of Taiwanese bicycle brand Giant, passed away yesterday at the age of 91. Liu founded Giant in 1972 and built his small business into the world’s largest bicycle manufacturer, producing more than 6 million bicycles per year at its peak. Liu was also passionate about bicycle culture, even though he himself had […]

Project Arrow reloaded: Canada unveils two homegrown EV visions

February 17, 2026

APMA, Canada’s only carmaker, has unveiled two ambitious electric vehicle concepts in Toronto. They present further proof that the country can design and build next-generation cars on its own. The new models are called Vector and Borealis, and could see the light of day around the end of the decade. At the 2026 Canadian International […]

Antwerp pre-metro tunnel closed for almost a year

February 16, 2026

The pre-metro tunnel in Antwerp between the Right and Left Banks of the river Scheldt will close for renovation on May 4. The work, which is urgently needed after years of underinvestment, is expected to last until the end of March 2027, which is 11 months. Some sections of the pre-metro tunnel are now more […]

Audi’s China-only E7X SUV shows it colors in winter tests

February 16, 2026

Audi’s plan to reinvent itself in China is further unfolding. Its new 670-horsepower E7X electric SUV has been spotted during winter testing, months after regulatory filings first revealed the model’s core specifications. When Audi chose to create a China-only brand written in capital letters rather than crowned by its familiar four rings, it was a […]

From rails to EV-chargers: the new wave of copper theft

February 16, 2026

High copper prices are giving copper thieves new ideas. For example, several charging cables at fast chargers in Limburg were cut last weekend, leaving them unusable. Similar damage cases were recorded in Houthalen-Helchteren, Heusden-Zolder, and Peer. The police and the public prosecutor’s office have started an investigation. Record price levels The copper price has risen sharply in […]

Belgium draws the line at 0.8% alcohol: two-week driving ban

February 16, 2026

Drunk drivers will now be punished in the same way throughout Belgium. Anyone caught driving with a blood alcohol level of more than 0.8% will have their driver’s license suspended for 15 days on the spot. Minister of Justice Annelies Verlinden (CD&V) has signed a circular letter to this effect, which takes effect immediately and […]

China redifines rules: no more button-free interiors or yoke steering

February 16, 2026

China’s car industry is facing a regulatory reset. After the fire-prone battery standards and the ban on retractable door handles, a new draft for safety rules published by the country’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) signals two remarkable backsteps: no more yoke-style steering wheels and no more screen-dominated dashboards. Could this ripple through […]

German premium brands adjust pricing strategies in China

February 16, 2026

In early 2026, China’s luxury passenger car market reached a critical inflexion point as traditional European premium brands collectively adjusted pricing strategies amid continued sales erosion in the world’s largest auto market, according to the influential local website 36kr. Data from the 2025 calendar year showed that cumulative China sales for BMW, Mercedes‑Benz, and Audi […]

Stellantis reintroduces diesel, choosing the path of least resistance?

February 16, 2026

Stellantis has announced the return of diesel to several European compact cars, including the Peugeot 308, Opel Astra, and DS 4. The technology will also remain central to the group’s light commercial vehicle portfolio. The move is presented as a matter of market realism. After years of forceful electrification messaging, the signal is unmistakable: consumer […]

BMW Alpina has a new logo

February 16, 2026

Following its brand activation in early January 2026, BMW Alpina is presenting itself as an exclusive new brand under the BMW Group’s custodianship. “The brand embodies an exceptional balance of supreme ride comfort and high performance,” says the press release. “The new badge design complements the recently revealed wordmark, collectively defining the brand’s contemporary iconography.” […]

Second Tintin aircraft for Brussels Airlines

February 13, 2026

As of today, Brussels Airlines has two Tintin aircraft in service, though this will be temporary. The airline is introducing a new themed aircraft based entirely on the characters from the famous comic series by artist Hergé. The first Tintin aircraft, which was also Brussels Airlines’ very first themed aircraft in 2015, will be removed […]

Trump strips EPA regulating powers, continues to question climate science

February 13, 2026

The climate is no longer the US government’s problem. On Thursday, the Trump administration rolled back the mechanism allowing the government to regulate planet-heating pollution. Trump says he believes climate change is a hoax, and has withdrawn the United States from global efforts to combat it. President Trump officially disavowed scientific research that labels CO2 […]

Waymo scales up its driverless cars with cheaper hardware

February 13, 2026

Waymo has begun operating its latest autonomous driving system on public roads without safety drivers. In the long contest to commercialise robotaxis, the company moves one step ahead of its rivals. With a cheaper hardware stack, a planned 50,000-vehicle supply deal with Hyundai, and ambitions to exceed one million paid rides per week, this subsidiary […]

NMBS/SNCB backtracks: access gates in stations to be re-examined

February 13, 2026

The Belgian public railway company NMBS/SNCB will continue to investigate whether access gates can be installed in stations to increase safety. A pilot project may be launched in several stations. This is a striking reversal for NMBS/SNCB, as the idea had previously been rejected. The possibility of installing access gates in the country’s major train […]

Late but calculated: Toyota’s Highlander EV enters the electric arena

February 13, 2026

Toyota has unveiled the 2027 Toyota Highlander EV, aimed first at the US market and marking a significant moment for the Japanese automaker: one of its core global nameplates is transitioning from hybrid and combustion power to full battery electric. The move signals not a sudden ideological conversion to electric mobility, but a carefully calculated […]

Europe enters 2026 as stabilizer of a wobbling global EV market

February 13, 2026

Fresh registration data from Benchmark Mineral Intelligence (BMI), the UK-based market intelligence firm tracking the global EV, battery, and critical minerals supply chains, show worldwide EV registrations (battery-electric and plug-in hybrid combined) fell 3% year-on-year in January to just under 1.2 million units. The decline was driven by a sharp reversal in China and a […]

Toyota beats Volkswagen for the first time in Chinese BEV sales

February 13, 2026

Toyota has overtaken Volkswagen in battery-electric car sales in China. A symbolic passing of the crown in the world’s largest car market that underlines the growing pressure on Europe’s biggest automaker. The reversal comes as Volkswagen has slipped to third place overall in China, ceding ground to domestic rivals and exposing the limits of its […]

Cupra Tavascan is first EV under EU-China minimum price deal

February 13, 2026

The European Commission has exempted Volkswagen’s Cupra brand from additional tariffs on its China-built Tavascan. Cupra is the first automaker to secure approval under the EU’s price floor mechanism for Chinese-made battery electric vehicles. In detail, the decision removes a 20.7 percent anti-subsidy duty that had been applied on top of the bloc’s standard 10 […]

BMW recalls more than half a million cars

February 12, 2026

German premium car manufacturer BMW is recalling some 575,000 cars worldwide to replace the starter motor, which can fail to function or, in rare cases, overheat and catch fire. Models of concern are found throughout the BMW portfolio: the 2-Series coupe, 3-, 4-, and 5-Series, the 6-Series Gran Turismo and the 7-Series, the X4, X5, […]

Medical fitness to drive: the Belgian law many drivers ‘forget’

February 12, 2026

One in five Walloons is unaware of the minimum medical standards required to drive a vehicle. This is according to a survey by the Walloon Road Safety Agency (AWSR). The agency is using the results to launch a campaign on fitness to drive based on health, an essential but often overlooked aspect of road safety. […]

Europe-built or no deal: Vooruit party targets Belgian company car

February 12, 2026

The company car is becoming the new bull’s eye in left-wing circles. After Groen’s train-for-car proposal, Belgium’s governing socialist party, Vooruit, wants to restrict tax breaks for company cars to vehicles largely produced in Europe. Protection or posturing? Interesting twist: including their batteries. But above all, these parties would rather abolish the system that has […]

Ford’s Q4 loss worst since 2008; 2026 must be better

February 12, 2026

Failed investments in money-losing electric vehicles and a late-year disruption of aluminum supplies for F-Series pickups drove Ford Motor Co. to an $11.1 billion (€9.3 billion) net loss in the fourth quarter, resulting in the automaker’s worst financial performance since 2008. Fourth-quarter revenue declined 5 % to $45 billion, and adjusted earnings before interest and […]

BYD Atto 3 Evo to raise stakes in Europe’s €40k EV battlefield

February 12, 2026

After presenting it in China, BYD is planning to launch the Atto 3 Evo in Europe in spring 2026. It won’t be a routine facelift as the ‘Evo’ badge – short for evolution – signals a deeper technical reset for one of the brand’s most important European models. The compact SUV moves to an 800-volt […]

From Port of Antwerp to ‘transportable AI’: Windrose’s next big bet

February 11, 2026

Windrose, the Chinese electric truck start-up with production plans in the Port of Antwerp, is looking to innovate in the AI sector with containerized data centers and battery backup systems. Founder & CEO Wen Han took to LinkedIn to float the idea… using AI artwork and very little concrete data. Windrose has faced many hurdles […]

Tihange demolition suspended as government eyes nuclear comeback

February 11, 2026

The demolition permit for two cooling towers at the nuclear power plant in Tihange, near Huy in the province of Liège, has been suspended following an appeal. Operator Engie wants to proceed quickly with the dismantling. Still, the federal government and Energy Minister Mathieu Bihet (MR) are reluctant to allow it because they want to […]

Tesla Semi finally ready for series production?

February 11, 2026

Tesla has updated its official Semi website with the final specifications of the electric heavy-duty truck. Over three years after the first customer deliveries of pre-series trucks, it seems that the Semi is finally nearly ready for series production in Nevada in H1 2026. As is often the case with Tesla, the Semi is entering […]

EU Parliament locks in 90% emissions cut by 2040

February 11, 2026

On Tuesday, the European Parliament approved, by a large majority, the European Union’s new climate target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 90% compared with 1990 levels by 2040 – 413 Members of Parliament voted in favour, 226 against.  The new target still needs to be endorsed by EU countries, which is expected for March […]

Lufthansa grounded: pilots and cabin crew strike across Germany

February 11, 2026

Lufthansa pilots and cabin crew will walk out tomorrow due to a wage dispute and working conditions. The strike will affect all Lufthansa flights and those operated by its cargo division, Lufthansa Cargo, departing from Germany. The exact extent of the cancellations is still unclear, but passengers should expect flight cancellations and delays in any […]

Mercedes changes strategy and will offer a new A-Class

February 11, 2026

The smallest Mercedes model, the A-Class, was actually supposed to be discontinued under Mercedes’ new entry-segment model strategy, with the electric CLA serving as the gateway to the Mercedes world. Now, Mercedes development board member Jörg Burzer has confirmed a new A-Class, which is planned for 2028. In 2023, Mercedes CEO Ola Källenius announced four […]

Solid-state moves out of shadows as QuantumScape starts production

February 11, 2026

Solid-state batteries are becoming less of a hype and more of a reality. One of the main actors in the pioneering technology, QuantumScape, launched its battery pilot line. A milestone in setting up and scaling production is widely regarded as the biggest hurdle for this heralded technology. The promise is finally becoming a product. And […]

T&E: ‘Backtracking on 2035 puts Europe at risk’

February 10, 2026

In an extensive reaction to the EU Commission’s watering down of the 2035 environmental targets for mobility and transport, the NGO Transport & Environment (T&E) urgently warns that Europe risks falling even further behind on EVs compared to global competition. “If the EU automotive industry doesn’t transform fast, it will lose its international competition, with […]

Electra stakes its leadership claim in Belgium’s fast-charging market

February 10, 2026

Belgium’s network of fast chargers for electric cars is expanding rapidly, and one brand is increasingly common on supermarket car parks and along busy roads: Electra. After a year of strong growth in 2025, the European charging operator, which originated in France in 2021, says it has strengthened its position as Belgium’s leading ultra-fast charging […]

Belgian CO2 emissions are rising again after 20 years of decline

February 10, 2026

Belgium’s greenhouse gas emissions, especially CO2, have been falling for over twenty years, but in 2024, they stopped declining and even increased slightly again (about +0.2%) compared with 2023. Although long-term emissions are declining, projections indicate that current plans are not on track to meet EU or national targets for 2030. The rebound is mainly […]

Hungarian-built BYD Atto 2 aims to start a price fight

February 10, 2026

BYD intends to localize production of its compact electric SUV, the Atto 2, in Hungary. This should reduce its retail price by several thousand euros compared to the lots built in China, avoiding import fines. However, the Hungarian site itself is facing regulatory scrutiny from Brussels over alleged state subsidies. BYD is betting that European […]

A temporary route that wasn’t: how RNP-07 came to roar over Brussels

February 10, 2026

The frequent use of a new flight path has meant that 450,000 Brussels residents in the municipalities of Koekelberg, Schaerbeek, and Molenbeek-Saint-Jean have been subjected to intensive overflights since the summer. The Mayors concerned had an initial, disappointing meeting on the issue with Minister of Mobility Jean-Luc Crucke (Les Engagés). However, the latter has since […]

The electric Skoda Epiq will come in three variants

February 10, 2026

Skoda has released the first technical details of its fully electric Epiq, which the brand will unveil in the first half of 2026. The compact electric vehicle will be offered by Skoda in three variants, with power outputs ranging from 85 to 155 kW. The new Skoda Epiq will be available with two versions of […]

Ferrari sees the light, calling its first-born EV Luce

February 10, 2026

Ferrari’s decision to call its first fully electric production car Luce is more than a naming exercise. It is a statement of intent. Luce, Italian for ‘light’, deliberately evokes clarity, precision, and optimism rather than brute force or technological spectacle. For a brand whose mythology has long been built around sound, combustion, and mechanical drama, […]

Touring considers LEZ fines in Brussels disproportionate

February 09, 2026

Mobility organization Touring has never been a fervent supporter of low-emission zones (LEZ). While in Flanders, for example, a coalition of environmental associations has gone to the Council of State to challenge the freezing of LEZ in Antwerp and Ghent, Touring says that the freezing of LEZ is a good thing in the long run. […]

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