December 27, 2023
Belgian public railway company NMBS/SNCB wants to outsource the management of its 60 payable car parks to a commercial company. So writes the business newspaper L’Echo. Sophie Dutordoir, CEO of NMBS/SNCB, is reported to have said so in the federal parliament a few weeks ago when she came to the Parliamentary Committee on Mobility for […]
December 27, 2023
Toyota Motor Corp. said on Wednesday that its global output from January to November reached 9,23 million vehicles. That’s a new single-year record with still one month left in 2023. The result is also achieved thanks to robust demand in North America and Europe. The all-time high came as the automaker’s worldwide production for November […]
December 27, 2023
Japanese motorbike and marine engine manufacturer Yamaha will present at the next Miami Boat show in February 2024 a prototype of a 5.6 liter V8 outboard motor running on hydrogen. Specs are scarce, but Yamaha already developed a 5.0 liter V8 car engine on hydrogen for Toyota in 2021. Yamaha is also working on fuel […]
December 27, 2023
Royal HaskoningDHV, a global consulting engineering company, has reported that the lithium levels in the river Rhine near Lobith, in the Dutch province of Gelderland, are already higher than the risk limit. Users of Rhine and Meuse water may now or in the future suffer from higher lithium levels. The lithium concentrations in river water […]
December 27, 2023
Last Friday, DATS 24, Colruyt Group’s fuel and energy provider, opened up two additional hydrogen filling stations in Belgium, one in Erpe-Mere and the other in Herve. The latter is also the first hydrogen station in Wallonia for passenger cars. In addition to the ones in Halle, Haasrode, Wilrijk, and Ollignies, DATS 24 now counts […]
December 27, 2023
The Chinese car manufacturer BYD, the world’s number one in building and selling electrified cars, will build a car plant in Hungary as part of its plan to conquer Europe. “BYD is preparing to build its first car manufacturing plant in Szeged, Hungary, and is hereby making an important step towards green mobility in Europe,” […]
December 26, 2023
Limburg will soon have a new cycling attraction called ‘Cycling Underground’. As the final plan was drafted, things suddenly seemed to be moving forward for the new tourist cycling project in Kanne/Riemst. Limburg is particularly popular among cyclists. In recent years, the province spared no trouble or expenses to offer tourists special bicycle routes. After […]
December 26, 2023
The Belgian oil tanker company Euronav, specializing in the transportation and storage of crude oil, is gearing up for a ‘greener’ future with the take-over of CMB.Tech. That Belgian cleantech maritime group builds, owns, operates, and designs large marine and industrial applications running on hydrogen, ammonia, or dual fuels. It’s a significant step to gradually […]
December 26, 2023
The Brussels government and the board of directors of the Brussels public transport company MIVB/STIB have signed the new 2024-2028 management agreement. The agreement provides for an 11,9% increase in supply so that MIVB/STIB can count 457 million passengers by 2028, or over a third more than 2022. Indexation of fares is provided, but for […]
December 26, 2023
The day before Christmas, at Nio Day 2023, the Chinese premium EV maker took off the wraps of its new ‘executive flagship sedan’, the ET9, which has to play in the highest luxury car segment like the Mercedes-Maybach or EQS, or the BMW i7. It is something no Chinese brand has successfully done in their […]
December 26, 2023
Toyota is not experiencing its best week ever, on the contrary. At its daughter Daihatsu, part of the Toyota Group, serious fraud has been discovered running already for decades. Toyota has recalled more than one million vehicles in the US with a possible airbag safety issue. On Thursday, the Japanese Ministry of Transport started an […]
December 26, 2023
The British multinational Shell has introduced a new charging structure. The company will charge blocking fees for drivers who leave their EV at a public charging station for more than four hours, even if the battery is not yet fully charged. The measure only applies to Bluecorner, EV Box, and Road charging points for now, […]
December 22, 2023
From January 1st, car buyers in Belgium will pay an additional 10 euros environmental contribution when buying a new car or van. This contribution will pay for the future recycling of the vehicle, reports Febelauto, the Belgian management body for both end-of-life vehicles and batteries from hybrids and EVs. Febelauto has been managing the recycling […]
December 22, 2023
The Russian car manufacturer Avtotor has released the first pictures of a new electric prototype called Amber. It’s 100% made in Russia and has been developed in partnership with the Russian Polytechnic University of Moscow (MAMI). Since the start of the Ukrainian war, the Russian industry has been almost entirely on its own since all […]
December 21, 2023
South Korean carmaker Kia has announced that Marc Hedrich, the current CEO of the brand in France, will join the European regional headquarters in Frankfurt as President and CEO of Kia Europe, starting on 1 January 2024. He succeeds Won-Jeong Jeong, who held the position for the last four years. His primary assignment will be […]
December 21, 2023
The General Court of the European Union has annulled the billions in aid approved by the European Commission to French airline Air France-KLM during the coronavirus health crisis. According to the court, the EC “erred” at the time. France, the major shareholder of Air France, helped the airline in 2020 with a 4-billion-euro state guarantee […]
December 21, 2023
Shared mobility platforms Poppy and GreenMobility are withdrawing from several regional capitals. As of January 1st, 2024, the typical red Poppy cars will no longer be seen in Ghent, Leuven, and Mechelen. The GreenMobility vehicles, on the other hand, will disappear from the streets in Brussels and Ghent. D’Ieteren’s subsidiary Poppy was launched in Mechelen […]
December 21, 2023
Since Thursday, public transport in the southern French city of Montpellier has been free of charge. In France, there are already around 40 cities where buses and trams are free for residents. Still, with more than 500 000 inhabitants, Montpellier is the largest European metropolis offering such a free service. “This is a measure that […]
December 21, 2023
BMW Belux will be celebrating its 50th anniversary of presence in Belgium and Luxembourg with the third consecutive number-one place in the market in 2023. At a press meeting, Belux CEO Alexander Wehr and his colleagues looked forward to consolidating this success. The fact that three premium brands are in the top five of car […]
December 21, 2023
Belgian Alain Visser, founder and driving force behind Swedish-Chinese Lynk & Co, is unexpectedly leaving the company “to pursue other opportunities outside the company”, according to a press release surfacing on Thursday. He will leave his European CEO chair to Nicolas Lopez Appelgren, a Volvo veteran for 28 years and current Head of Retail Operations […]
December 21, 2023
Swedish-Swiss multinational ABB will supply Volvo’s factories in Torslanda (Sweden) and Daqing (China) next year with 1 300 robots to build the carmaker’s next generation of electric cars. These robots will cover various production tasks, from spot-welding, riveting, and dispensing to flow drilling and ultrasonic weld inspection. ABB, a historic partner for its compatriot, claims […]
December 21, 2023
After intense negotiations, Volkswagen managers and employee representatives have agreed on key points in a paper for the ‘Accelerate Forward/Road to 6.5’ plan announced in June. The 6.5 describes the key target, a return on sales of 6,5% for the core brand of the VW Group by 2026. It was first announced in June when […]
December 21, 2023
The harmonization organization SAE International (created by the Society of Automotive Engineers) published a corresponding document that turns Tesla’s de facto North American Charging Standard (NACS) into a harmonized connector standard. The development prompted the Department of Transportation (DoT) to look into infrastructure funding. Volkswagen is also joining the band for good. The ‘SAE J3400 […]
December 20, 2023
Owning an ultra-rare wide-bodied competition 1993 Porsche 964 RSR 3.8, of which only 51 were built, might be a distant dream for a classic car lover. A ‘Strassenversion’ with only 10 km on the odometer was sold by Bonhams in Abu Dhabi in November 2023 for $2 127 500. But what about an even faster […]
December 20, 2023
Lufthansa has ordered 80 new short- and medium-haul aircraft with Boeing and Airbus. These include 40 Airbus A220-300 aircraft and 40 Boeing 737-8 Max. The German airline group is also taking an option on 120 additional aircraft. The group itself calls it the most extensive fleet modernization in its history. The aircraft will be delivered […]
December 20, 2023
Following the rest of the Stellantis vans, Fiat’s compact E-Doblò and mid-sized E-Ulysse passenger vans get a revamp that includes a fresh face and efficiency improvements. Both models will be available to order in early 2024. Stellantis recently unveiled a comprehensive facelift for its entire LCV range with more distinguished looks between the brands. Now, […]
December 20, 2023
The liberalization of the European railroad market is continuing, which will also be at the expense of the services of NMBS/SNCB. So says Belgians railroad company’s CEO, Sophie Dutordoir, who warns of congestion on the track if additional international operators track trains through Brussels. “If two operators are added, ten public service trains will disappear […]
December 20, 2023
The city of Antwerp will adjust its low-emission zone (LEZ) regulations and postpone the next tightening of the standards from 2025 to 2026. The city will also take additional social measures and increase the number of day passes per year (from 8 to 12). By relaxing the rules, diesel cars with Euro 5 standard (or […]
December 20, 2023
Giant Chinese automaker group Geely is launching its first Galaxy-branded EV in its home market. The E8 is a large electric sedan that claims to have the lowest drag coefficient of any production vehicle but also one of the lowest prices seen so far in the Chinese EV market at 180 000 yuan or under […]
December 20, 2023
If Ryanair’s share price continues to rise, top executive Michael O’Leary could land a bonus of as much as 100 million euros. That reports the British business newspaper Financial Times, based on a 2019 bonus plan for the Irishman. If Ryanair’s shares maintain a price of 21 euros for 28 consecutive days, then the super […]
December 20, 2023
According to the sales figures assembled by the European Car Manufacturers Association ACEA, the EU’s car market grew by a modest but reasonably robust 6,7% in November 2023. Despite a relatively low comparison base, solid growth persisted, marking the sixteenth consecutive month of expansion. Some markets had substantial double-digit gains, including two of the largest: […]
December 19, 2023
North Sea Port, the merger company behind the ports of Ghent, Terneuzen, and Vlissingen, is taking a minority stake (20%) in Pipelink, a subsidiary of Port of Antwerp-Bruges. This new partnership will develop and build local, national, and international pipeline projects – essential steps forward in the modal shift and energy transition. In 2026, the […]
December 19, 2023
Giant carmaker group BYD has launched its new Song L electric crossover in China. It can be equipped with a 71,8 kWh or 87 kWh battery offering up to 662 km of range and 517 hp. The Song L packs BYD’s specific technologies, such as the Disus-C suspension and cell-to-body battery integration. With a design […]
December 19, 2023
The 2024-2028 management agreement between the Brussels public transport company MIVB/STIB and the Brussels Region will not happen now. The French-speaking PS socialists are reversing their course and opposing the indexation of preferential fares. However, the Brussels government, of which the PS is also part, approved it last week. A new attempt will be made […]
December 19, 2023
D’Ieteren, the Belgian VW Group importer, will offer the ID.3 and the ID.4 for under €40 000 in 2024. This significant price cut means Flemish private customers are eligible for the €5 000 EV subsidy, bringing down the total cost to the consumer to under €35 000. A discount of over €10 000 compared to […]
December 19, 2023
William Li, founder, chairman, and CEO of Chinese premium EV brand NIO, has personally proven the capacities of the earlier announced semi-colid-state battery of 150 kWh in a real-life driving test. After some 12 hours of actual driving, the ET7 had 1 044 km on the odometer on a single charge, with 36 km left, […]
December 19, 2023
Negotiators from the EU Parliament and the EU member states agreed on the new emission limits for cars, buses, and other (heavy) vehicles, commonly known as the Euro 7 standards. As the original proposals of the European Commission have been weakened by both the member states and the EU Parliament, reactions to the final decision […]
December 19, 2023
The German government announced a direct halt of the environmental bonus in 2024 after it had to compromise its budget for the coming years. First, it sounded like Germany would phase out EV incentives earlier than planned; now, it has been scrapped entirely as of last Sunday. “We will phase out the environmental bonus, i.e., […]
December 18, 2023
GM daughter Cruise, a robotaxi company, is said to have fired one out of four employees. That’s approximately 900 people and 24% of all full-time equivalents (FTE). Most of these employees work in the non-technical part of the company. Last Thursday, an email explaining the decision was sent to all personnel members. Strange accident The […]
December 18, 2023
Denmark will impose a tax on air travel starting in 2025. By 2030, the flight tax should be at cruising speed and will amount to an average of 100 Danish kroner or 13,5 euros, the Danish government has announced. At the same time, it is calling for the adoption of a European tax on the […]
December 18, 2023
The Nissan Ariya e-4orce has become the first-ever land vehicle to travel from the magnetic North Pole to the South Pole, taking 9+ months and around 30 000 km to complete the journey. Scottish couple Chris and Julia Ramsey from Plug in Adventures took on the challenge of improving infrastructure in remote regions and showcasing […]
December 18, 2023
Getlink, the operator of the Channel Tunnel, wants to attract new rail operators. It has set aside a budget of 50 million euros for this purpose. With direct high-speed trains between London, Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam, Eurostar is currently the only operator for passenger transport through the Channel Tunnel. But that monopoly Eurostar has had […]
December 18, 2023
On Friday, the Belgian Federal Council of Ministers will consider the final details of a Royal Decree to ban nitrous oxide, the so-called ‘laughing gas’. The product’s sale, import, possession, transport, and purchase will be prohibited unless it concerns a medical, technical, or nutritional application. Nitrous oxide has become a popular drug among young people. […]
December 18, 2023
After creating a foiling glass lounge boat with BMW and presenting it in June at the Cannes Film Festival, German electric boat start-up Tyde is launching a second project with the premium carmaker’s design daughter Designworks. The ‘Tyde Open’ is a 49-foot foiling electric yacht, the world’s largest to be seen (in autumn 2024). BMW’s […]
December 18, 2023
Chinese car manufacturer Maxus, daughter of the SAIC group, presents its first SUV in Belgium, a fully electric one. The eUniq6 is a 5-seater with ample cargo space (754 liters of boot volume). The SUV is driven on the front wheels by a 130 kW/177 hp electromotor, providing also 310 Nm of torque. The car […]
December 15, 2023
Belgian Shell NV, Carrefour Belgium, and real estate company Redevco will install approximately 1 000 charging stations in the supermarket chain’s car parks by the end of 2024. On Thursday, November 14th, the 100th charging point was officially inaugurated on the parking grounds of the Carrefour hypermarket in Korbeek-Lo. Between now and 2025, almost 500 […]
December 15, 2023
Flemish and foreign truck transport has already generated 565 million euros in kilometer taxes this year – 21 million more than last year and 35 million more than in 2021. Together, all trucks covered 3,3 billion kilometers. In addition to the revenue from the levy itself, there were 12 million euros in fines, bringing the […]
December 15, 2023
The French government has unveiled its new plans for subsidizing the electric transition. Next to the details of the social lease at €100 per month for households with a fiscal income inferior to 15 400 euros, it also published the final list of cars eligible for the new Ecobonus. Windfall for the local manufacturers as […]
December 15, 2023
In April 2024 in Milan, Alfa Romeo will unveil its first ‘Sport Urban Vehicle’ in its history, which will also be available in a 100% electric version. It will be named Milano as a tribute to the city where it all began on June 24, 1910. With the Alfa Romeo Milano, the brand rejoins the […]
December 15, 2023
Swedish-Chinese Geely daughter Zeekr has presented a newly in-house developed 800 V lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery to be used in its new 007 sedan. This so-called ‘Golden Battery’ can be charged at up to 500 kW from 10-80% in merely 15 minutes. That provides the Zeekr 007 with an extra 500 km range. Zeekr claims it […]
December 15, 2023
French President Emmanuel Macron has launched his promised ‘social leasing’ system for electric cars at 100 euros monthly for those on the lowest incomes. In doing so, he is fulfilling an election campaign pledge that takes effect on January 1st. It would involve at least 20 000 to 25 000 deliveries in 2024, but after […]
December 15, 2023
Volkswagen is planning a second version of the upcoming, affordable ID.2 small EV. It will be a compact SUV version based on the same MEB platform and with the same drivetrain. Stepan Rehak, spokesperson for Design at VW Passenger Cars, posted the teaser image on social media. Rehak also confirmed it will arrive in 2026. […]
December 14, 2023
Federal Mobility Minister Georges Gilkinet (Ecolo) has presented the new code of public roads. The current Belgian road code was about half a century old and outdated in some areas, hence the need for an update in the now rapidly changing road traffic in which there is, for example, 80% more cycling, said the minister. […]
December 14, 2023
Following Stellantis’ Commercial Vehicles Ambition Day, showcasing its overhauled and regrouped LCV portfolio last October, the different brands have commenced releasing their new models. Next in line is Opel, which has unveiled some further details – but no price – on the face-lifts of the Combo Electric and Zafira Electric. These models, offering room for […]
December 14, 2023
The new tunnel under the river Scheldt – the masterpiece of the Oosterweel connection –is progressing well. Four of the eight tunnel parts will be ready within a few weeks. Meanwhile, construction workers are busy building the entrances and exits of the car and bicycle tunnels on both river banks. The eight tunnel elements are […]
December 14, 2023
Maxus’ new mid-size electric van, the eDeliver 7, has arrived in the Benelux. It features a WLTP range of up to 370 km thanks to battery packs of up to 88 kWh. It has a cargo space of up to 6,7 m³ thanks to a long-wheelbase version, with a payload of up to 1 125 […]
December 14, 2023
Tesla faces a setback in North America. The electric car manufacturer must initiate a recall of approximately two million vehicles in the US and Canada due to an increased risk of collision associated with its controversial ‘Autopilot’ driver assistance system. Following a two-year investigation, the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) revealed that, under […]
December 14, 2023
The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) warns the European authorities of a Chinese dominance of the EV supply chain and the US government incentives for domestic automakers. According to ACEA, the EU electric vehicle industry risks losing ground even more without a robust EU industrial strategy. It risks putting the EU on the back pedal […]
December 14, 2023
Jaguar Land Rover has opened the waiting list for people who want to have one of the first fully electric Range Rovers, due in 2024. Meanwhile, the extensive testing phase for the prototypes has started, and JLR gives a glimpse of what we can expect. “With more patents anticipated to be filed for New Range […]
December 13, 2023
By 2032, Brussels Airport’s noise impact would drop by 12% despite growth in passengers and cargo volumes. That’s according to the environmental impact report (MER) accompanying the new Brussels Airport environmental permit application. More modern aircraft making less noise and quieter landing techniques would decrease the nuisance. By the end of March, the Flemish government […]
