Two new smart energy tariffs play into EV owner’s hands

May 15, 2025

Smart energy tariffs are becoming increasingly popular for their flexibility and potential to save costs. Smappee, an award-winning tech company from Kortrijk, is also capitalizing on that market trend by launching a virtual battery. In this service, solar panel owners can stockpile their unused power as a credit that allows them to charge their EV […]

IEA: one in four new cars will be electric in 2025

May 15, 2025

According to the latest report by the International Energy Agency (IEA), electric vehicle sales are on course to top 20 million globally in 2025, marking a significant milestone for the automotive sector. This figure translates to one in every four new cars sold this year being electric—a remarkable rise considering the lingering economic uncertainty and […]

New CEO for Antwerp Airport and Ostend

May 14, 2025

The Belgian Nathan De Valck will be the new CEO of Deurne and Oostende airports. So reports the Gazet van Antwerpen. De Valck will start as the top executive there on June 16th. De Valck is currently with the air cargo company Worldwide Flight Services for the airports of Brussels and Liège. The French company […]

Nissan scraps another 10,000 jobs and planned battery plant (update)

May 14, 2025

All alarm bells are going off at Nissan. Japanese media reported that Nissan Motor Co. plans to cut about 20,000 jobs globally as part of a ramped-up restructuring campaign under the new CEO, Ivan Espinosa. Last week, in an effort to speed reforms and conserve cash, Nissan announced it was canceling plans to build a […]

Copenhagen to reward environmentally conscious tourists

May 13, 2025

The Danish capital, Copenhagen, wants to raise tourists’ awareness of the need to travel more sustainably. This summer, the city will again use generous incentives to encourage guests to travel and sightsee more sustainably. In response to the climate crisis and general world overtourism, last year’s CopenPay campaign will be extended with more discount offers and […]

China at turning point: electrified vehicles dominate car sales for first time

May 13, 2025

Electrified cars have overtaken gasoline and diesel models in China’s vast passenger car market for the first time. In March, so-called new energy vehicles (NEVs), which include battery-electric and plug-in hybrid models, accounted for 51.1% of all retail car sales in the country. The milestone signals not just the rapid maturation of China’s electric vehicle […]

NIO ET9 first car certified with steer-by-wire in Europe

May 13, 2025

Chinese premier EV maker NIO has its flagship sedan, the ET9, certified for steer-by-wire (SWB), a first for Europe, after the regulator in its homeland did the same in December 2024. There is no longer a mechanical connection between the steering wheel and the turning wheels. Still, NIO claims its system is fully redundant, making […]

Stellantis opens ‘Online Compensation Platform’ regarding its PureTech engines

May 12, 2025

Car manufacturing group Stellantis has launched an online compensation platform for European clients with unforeseen reparation costs related to their 1.0 and 1.2 PureTech engines. Several generations of these engines (also known as EB) confronted their owners with excessive oil consumption or a premature degradation of the timing belt. This additional compensation scheme is meant […]

Amsterdam pilots smart EV charging to cut grid pressure

May 12, 2025

Amsterdam has launched a six-month trial of a smart charging scheme that aims to relieve pressure on its electricity grid while helping electric vehicle (EV) drivers cut their charging costs. The programme began in March, as cities across Europe grapple with the twin challenges of electrification and ageing power infrastructure. The Dutch capital is working […]

British Airways and Iberia order new planes en masse

May 12, 2025

IAG, the group behind British Airways and Iberia, is expanding its fleet with 71 new aircraft. The orders are neatly divided between Boeing, an American manufacturer, and its European rival, Airbus. The order involves more than 20 billion dollars. The planes would be delivered between 2028 and 2033. IAD did not release how much specifically […]

EU Parliament gives the nod on softened EU CO2 targets

May 09, 2025

The EU Parliament has approved the Commission’s request to soften the 2025 CO2 fleet targets. The proposal received 458 votes in favour, 101 against, and 14 abstentions. All that remains is for the European Council to approve it, which is probably a mere formality. The more flexible CO2 targets are one measure the EU Commission […]

Hoppin plan causes tsunami of 87,000 complains about De Lijn

May 08, 2025

Media House newspapers report that Flemish public transport operator De Lijn received a whopping 87,000 complaints last year, 24,000 more than in 2023. This is the most significant number of complaints De Lijn has ever received in one year. The record number of complaints is mainly due to the new transport plan Hoppin, which the […]

China weighs on BMW Group’s Q1 results

May 08, 2025

German carmaker BMW Group reported a 26.4% drop in first-quarter net profit to €2.2 billion, as weak demand in China weighed on earnings. Revenues fell 7.8% to €33.8 billion as global vehicle deliveries dropped 1.4% to 586,117 units, driven by a decline in China amid intense market competition. “Given the sustained demand for its attractive […]

Foxconn scores first global EV manufacturing deal with Mitsubishi

May 08, 2025

Foxconn, best known as Apple’s iPhone assembler, is entering the global electric vehicle market with its first contract to supply an established automaker, Mitsubishi, with a full electric model. Mitsubishi announced it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Foxtron, the EV arm of Taiwan’s Hon Hai Precision Industry Corporation (or Foxconn), to develop […]

Volvo to launch new ‘extended range’ PHEV, the XC70, in China

May 08, 2025

The new Volvo XC70 mid-size SUV is Volvo Cars’ first extended-range plug-in hybrid. According to the Chinese CLTC standard, it provides a pure electric range of up to 200 kilometers, making it Volvo Cars’ longest-range plug-in hybrid. The new XC70 is designed to meet the demand for longer-range PHEVs in China, where it will be […]

Ford struggles to find the right EV course

May 07, 2025

Ford presented its business figures for the first quarter and reported a 200% increase in sales for its electric car division. As a result, turnover is also higher, and the loss is lower than a year ago. However, the loss still totals $850 million, and the manufacturer seems to be struggling with its EV future. […]

Plunging used EV prices force leasing sector to rethink business model

May 07, 2025

Retail prices for electric vehicles in Belgium dropped nearly 12 percent year-over-year in Q1 2025. The numbers affirm the ongoing trend of low interest in zero-emission cars on the secondhand market. As the mismatch between supply and demand grows, leasing companies seek to reassess their residual value strategies. Will corporate vehicles become increasingly more expensive? […]

Hyundai-Kia’s plan of attack amid global headwinds: a lot more affordable EVs

May 06, 2025

South Korean management reads Julius Caesar. As attack is the best defense, the Hyundai group plans to launch a major product push to combat the economic cooldown and Trump tariffs. Most particularly in the lower regions of the electric category. What’s coming, as the fifth largest carmaker retools its strategy to stay competitive in a […]

Uber plans 2026 rollout of robotaxis in Europe

May 05, 2025

Uber Technologies has announced a strategic partnership with Chinese autonomous driving start-up Momenta to launch self-driving taxi services in Europe. The project is planned to start in early 2026. The collaboration marks Uber’s first venture with a Chinese developer of robotaxis, and beyond its home markets in the US and China.  While Waymo already offers […]

800 km range, 800 V charging: the all-new electric Mercedes CLA (update)

May 05, 2025

Mercedes has officially opened the online configurator for its groundbreaking all-new CLA. As for now, only the 250+ and 350 4Matic can be ordered in Belgium, with a starting price of 56.870 euros. Entry-level versions –  set to lower the price considerably thanks to the integration of a cheaper LFP battery -, will be added by […]

Volkswagen and Uber to deploy thousands of ID. Buzz robotaxi’s in the U.S.

April 25, 2025

Volkswagen is stepping deeper into the autonomous driving race, announcing plans to bring a fleet of self-driving ID to market. Buzz electric vans through a new partnership with Uber. The German automaker aims to supply thousands of autonomous vehicles for Uber’s ride-hailing platform across the U.S. over the next decade, beginning with Los Angeles in […]

Study: ‘Making Belgium climate-neutral will cost 2% of GDP’

April 24, 2025

How can Belgium become climate-neutral by 2050 without driving industry out? Research institute VITO/EnergyVille formulated an answer: “The most expensive option is to do nothing.” Vito/EnergyVille launched a study and joined forces with several major players in the Belgian energy market: grid operators Elia and Fluxys, major consumers such as BASF and ArcelorMittal, and producer Luminus. With […]

EU car registrations -1.9% in Q1, BEV share 15.2%

April 24, 2025

According to data from the European car manufacturers’ association ACEA, new EU car registrations declined by 1.9% in the first quarter of 2025 compared to Q1 2024, with March 2025 figures showing a slight 0.2% year-on-year (YOY) decline as the global economic context remains particularly challenging and unpredictable for auto makers. In Q1 2025, the […]

Chery expands European footprint with two new brands: Lepar and Jetour

April 24, 2025

The Chery Group, one of China’s most important car exporters, didn’t fail to wow at the Shanghai Auto Show. As it stunned the local market with a flood of models, it also announced that it would bring two additional brands to Europe, aside from Jaecoo and Omoda. Lepas will compete with Dacia, while Jetour aims […]

NIO opens second offensive in EU including Belgium with Firefly (update)

April 24, 2025

Despite disappointing sales in the Old Continent, Chinese premium EV startup NIO stays committed to Europe. It now opens a second offensive with its Firefly sub-brand, a more affordable range of models. It will start with a compact full-electric city car launched in the Netherlands at €29,900. Belgium will be next. NIO’s founder and CEO […]

Belgian giant CMB.TECH and Norwegian Golden Ocean merge

April 23, 2025

Antwerp-based maritime group CMB.TECH, formerly Euronav, wants to merge with Norwegian dry bulk carrier Golden Ocean Group. The merger would create one of the world’s largest diversified listed maritime groups with a combined fleet of more than 250 vessels. A final agreement would be concluded this quarter, with the merger to be completed in the […]

Tesla struggling with plunging profits, Musk promises to refocus on business

April 23, 2025

Confirming expectations, Tesla’s finances have fared poorly at the start of 2025. The pioneering EV maker saw net income fall by 71% to just $409 million during the first quarter. If it weren’t for regulatory credits, the company would report losses, which means that its car-making business is currently in the red. Musk wants to […]

VW Group presents first AUDI and new ADAS system in Shanghai

April 23, 2025

Volkswagen Group’s premium Audi brand is fighting back with a range of new, more extended versions of its models designed for the Chinese market, where wealthier consumers with chauffeurs often sit in the back of their cars. It also showcased the first vehicle of a new model line with a different logo from its famous […]

Brussels Airport’s €500 million expansion overlooking environment?

April 22, 2025

Brussels Airport will invest half a billion euros in infrastructure to accommodate the passenger growth expected in the coming years. The project involves the construction of a new intermodal hub, an expansion of the departure and arrival hall, a new hotel, a new drop-off zone, and a green boulevard with a park. The investment is […]

CATL to propel the EV world into cheaper sodium-ion batteries

April 22, 2025

The world leader in EV batteries, Chinese CATL, which provides more than a third of the global needs, announced three innovations for the following months, with one that could change the industry drastically: it will be the first to start mass production of sodium-ion (Na+) batteries by the end of this year. Sodium is abundant […]

Trump admin halts $5 billion NY offshore wind farm project

April 18, 2025

The US government has stopped the construction of the Empire 1 wind farm on New York’s coast, even though the $5 billion project has the necessary permits. The Trump administration strongly opposes offshore wind farms. According to Donald Trump, “They are dangerous to birds and whales.” Norwegian Equinor’s project The Empire 1 wind farm is […]

Lyft buys taxi app from BMW and Mercedes to expand in EU

April 17, 2025

American ride-hailing platform Lyft is buying the taxi app FreeNow from German luxury car brands BMW and Mercedes-Benz. The Uber competitor is paying 175 million euros for this and wants to use it as a lever to enter Europe under its own name. Lyft is primarily a ride-hailing platform that connects passengers with drivers through […]

China drastically tightens screws on autonomous driving

April 17, 2025

China, a long time forerunner in autonomous driving features tested on public roads, is tightening the screws on that technology after an accident that shocked the nation. A dramatic accident in which three young female students were killed in a Xiaomi SU7 sedan that caught fire in March, apparently, was the last straw. Carmakers are […]

Analysis of Belgian new car market for Q1 2025

April 17, 2025

According to data from the sector federation, Febiac, and the government services, 120,940 new cars were registered during the first quarter of 2025, a decrease of 10.5% compared to 2024. We already showed these results earlier; now is the time to get into the details about who buys what. In 2023 and 2024, Belgium had […]

Xpeng X9 luxury electric minivan coming to Europe in 2025

April 16, 2025

Chinese electric car manufacturer Xpeng has unveiled its updated X9 for 2025, a luxury electric minivan with advanced comfort and driver assistance functions. The model has been on sale in China since 2024 but is now going international, with a European launch expected in the second half of 2025. Xpeng is already present in Europe, […]

Global electrified vehicle sales grew 29% in Q1 2025

April 16, 2025

Rho Motion, a leading EV research house, revealed that 1.7 million electric vehicles were sold globally in March 2025, with 4.1 million sold in Q1 2025. The EV market grew by 29% in March 2025 compared to March 2024 and increased by 40% compared to February 2025. For Q1 overall, the growth rate was also […]

Copernicus: ‘Eastern Europe is getting hotter, Western Europe wetter

April 15, 2025

Globally, 2024 was the warmest year on record and the first with an average temperature exceeding 1.5°C above the pre‑industrial level. The last ten years have been the warmest ten years on record. This is stated in the Copernicus European State of the Climate Summary 2024, compiled by the European climate service Copernicus and the […]

320,000 Belgians can claim compensations from VW for ‘dieselgate’

April 15, 2025

About 320,000 Belgians who bought a car with ‘fraud software’ from the VW Group can finally claim indemnification. Nine years after the court case started, an agreement exists between the Belgian consumer organization TestAankoop/TestAchats and Volkswagen. In those nine years, Volkswagen finally admitted that it had sold some 11 million diesel cars with engine type […]

Belgian federal government gives hybrids more breathing space (Update)

April 15, 2025

The Belgian federal government gave hybrid cars more breathing space in its Easter agreement. The authorities now think that a battery electric car is not yet the right solution for everyone and are providing more room to hybrids. Organisations that promote EVs or environmental associations see the new rules as a serious step back. The […]

International shipping agrees to emit 65% less CO2 by 2040

April 14, 2025

The member states of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the maritime branch of the United Nations, reached an agreement on Friday on greening shipping. The deal involves a standard to limit the use of fossil fuels and a price mechanism for companies that do not meet the imposed standards. Ships will have to emit 30 […]

EU and China explore price floor deal to replace EV tariffs

April 11, 2025

Will the EU’s punitive tariffs on Chinese EVs soon end? The European Union and China have opened formal talks on setting minimum prices for Chinese electric vehicles sold in Europe as a potential replacement. Both sides confirmed the development in negotiations, signaling a possible escape route from the escalating trade dispute that has shaken the […]

Stellantis production in Italy lowest in almost 70 years

April 10, 2025

Trade union FIM CISL said Tuesday that Stellantis Group’s production in Italy has worsened and is now at its lowest level since 1956. It said Stellantis production worsened significantly in the first three months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, which had already been “a black year.” Minus 36% Some 109,900 units […]

BYD’s megawatt-charging Han L and Tang L get huge price drop

April 10, 2025

BYD’s newest flagship models, the Han L and Tang L, have gone on sale in China for significantly cheaper than initially presumed. Both models are built on the Chinese manufacturer’s latest ‘Super e’ platform, which promises megawatt charging (1,000 kW) to recover up to 400 km of range in just 5 minutes. Even the fastest-charging […]

Survey: Belgian drivers cool on EVs, skepticism grows

April 10, 2025

Belgian private drivers are avoiding electric vehicles. They cite cost, lack of infrastructure, and doubts about sustainability, even as the country embraces broader changes in mobility trends. According to the 2025 Mobility Barometer by insurer Europ Assistance, 62 percent of respondents say their next car won’t be electric, a 10 percent increase from last year. […]

Chinese automakers, led by BYD, surge in Europe thanks to PHEVs

April 09, 2025

Chinese automakers posted a significant sales gain in Europe this February, shrugging off mounting trade pressure from the European Union. Leaning into plug-in hybrids has helped them offset the punitive EU tariffs. BYD, in particular, is leading the charge — topping domestic sales, previewing record-breaking profits, and deepening its presence in key European markets. The […]

VAB’s ‘drivetrain choice’ test shows high need for user education

April 09, 2025

What kind of drivetrain will we choose for our next car? Plain-old gasoline, hybrid, or electric? It’s often a question about actual needs, economics, and practicality, which most families wrestle with. In reality, 44% of family drivers have no idea of their mobility profile, and a third don’t even know how much their current car […]

UK softens EV mandate, extends hybrid sales to 2035

April 08, 2025

Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government has confirmed that hybrid vehicles will remain on sale in the UK until 2035 to mitigate the Trump tariffs and shield British automakers from their ripple effects. This is an extension of the previous 2030 ban, which Starmer reinforced as he took office. The ban on new gasoline and diesel […]

MobilityPlus: ‘26% of employees hardly charge at home’

April 07, 2025

According to charging station operator MobilityPlus, a quarter of all employees with an electric car hardly ever charge their company car at home. Nevertheless, employees with electric company cars usually have a charging station at home. But most fear that charging at home will drive up their energy bill. MobilityPlus discovered that 26 percent of […]

Trump’s tariffs are particularly destructive for German carmakers

March 28, 2025

President Donald Trump’s decision to impose a 25% tariff increase on all imported automobiles—set to take effect next week—has ignited sharp reactions across the global automotive industry, triggering concerns among European, Japanese, Korean, and even American manufacturers. Tesla seems to have gained the most from these measures, but Western and Asian countries are warning of […]

Mercedes eVito gets larger 90 kWh battery from the EQV

March 27, 2025

Mercedes’ mid-size electric panel van, the eVito Tourer, is getting a serious battery upgrade: the panel van is now available with a 90 kWh battery and the existing 60 kWh pack. The larger pack comes from the passenger models EQV and eVito Tourer and offers up to 480 km of range. The W447 generation of […]

Nissan’s new Micra is electric and built by Renault

March 27, 2025

Japanese car manufacturer Nissan has confirmed that it will release a fully electric version of its Micra this year, the car’s first all-electric generation. The EV will be built by Nissan’s long-time partner Renault in France and will share the same platform as the electric R5. Two other Nissan EVs have also been announced. Meanwhile, […]

MG ZS EV successor S5EV to wash ashore in April in UK first

March 27, 2025

SAIC, the mother company of the now Chinese MG brand, unwrapped last October in China the fully electric MG ES5, a compact SUV, to succeed in the currently still popular MG ZS EV in Europe. And it’s ready to wash ashore on the Old Continent in the UK first, in April, for a base price […]

Renault’s Mobilize to build fast-charging stations for all

March 27, 2025

Mobilize, Renault Group’s sustainable mobility arm has opened 25 fast-charging locations in France and plans to open as many as 100 by the end of 2025. The group also hopes to manage 650 EV charging hubs across Western Europe by the end of 2028. Belgium and Spain are a priority here. The Mobilize Fast Charge […]

Pre-sales starts for Lynk & Co’s 009 six-seater PHEV SUV (update)

March 26, 2025

Geely brand and former Volvo sibling Lynk & Co, known in Europe for its monthly subscription model, is launching a new global flagship PHEV model: the six-seater SUV ‘009’. It’s opening for pre-sales now in China, with four trim levels offered and prices ranging from 330,000 to 435,000 yuan (42,105 – 55,500 euros). It is […]

Belgium exempts heavy electric vans from tachograph obligation

March 25, 2025

As previously announced in 2023, the Belgian federal government has created an exemption for using a tachograph in electric vans of up to 4.25 tons. Professional drivers of these heavier vans will not have to adhere to mandatory rest times, but there are some conditions. In an attempt to boost the electrification of light commercial […]

Stellantis faces mounting complaints over faulty onboard chargers

March 25, 2025

Stellantis is under increasing pressure as thousands of customers report persistent issues with the onboard chargers in its electric vehicles across Europe. Since 2019, owners of Peugeot, Opel, DS, and Citroën models have been dealing with a recurring defect that renders their vehicles unable to charge via standard AC stations, forcing them to rely exclusively […]

BYD blasts past Tesla with record sales surge

March 25, 2025

BYD has surpassed Tesla in annual revenue for the first time, cementing its status as the new driving force in the global EV industry. The Chinese automaker reported a record revenue for 2024, up nearly 30 percent from the last year. Windfall was particularly advantageous in its home market. Where Tesla posted revenue of €90.5 […]

Changan kicks off its European ‘invasion’ with Deepal S07

March 25, 2025

China’s fourth-largest carmaker, state-owned Changan, has set foot ashore in Mainz, Germany, last Friday as the first step in its ‘European invasion’ in ten markets to start on the Old Continent in the following years. Its EU parts headquarters will be in the Netherlands. The group showed its electric SUV, Deepal S07, as its first […]

Brussels Parliament postpones tighter LEZ to 2027 after ‘legal error’

March 24, 2025

The Brussels Parliament has approved the proposal for an ordinance clarifying specific provisions postponing the tightening of the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) until January 1, 2027. The vote was 67 to 14, with the Greens and DéFI voting against and Benjamin Dalle (CD&V) abstaining. Whether this definitively eliminates the problems remains to be seen. Touring, […]