January 20, 2025
Yet another EV startup that has to throw in the towel: American ‘lifestyle’ EV-maker Canoo. Once hopefully mentioned as the potential savior of Dutch VDL Nedcar in Born, it announced last week it had filed a voluntary petition for relief under Chapter 7 of the US Bankruptcy Code and stopped all activities on the fly. […]
January 20, 2025
More than 300,000 people visited the Brussels Motor Show between 10 and 19 January this year. The organizers consider this a great success and are already speculating on a new edition in 2026. With these visitor numbers, the BMS is the largest indoor event in Belgium. Frank Van Gool, the CEO of the organizer federation […]
January 17, 2025
On Thursday, the car manufacturing group Stellantis announced that it delivered 12% fewer vehicles in 2024. This was mainly caused by a 25% decline in shipments in North America. In the last quarter of 2024, Stellantis shipped 9% fewer vehicles to its dealers, distributors, or directly to clients. In the third quarter, the figure was […]
January 17, 2025
The Polestar 3 surfaced victoriously in Norway’s latest El Prix winter range test. The Chinese-Swedish flagship SUV scored the second-best result in the test history. Despite Tesla’s reputation for range consistency, the Model 3 fell short of expectations. The world’s leading country for EV adoption isn’t the most benign region. Norway’s freezing winter temperatures and […]
January 17, 2025
Dutch fast-charging provider Fastned temporarily slows down in its expansion push as EV acceptance sputters in some parts of Europe. It forecasts “that development time lags will be longer than previously anticipated.” In its updated 2025 guidance, Fastned aims to have 400 to 425 stations operational by year-end, more than €325,000 in revenues per station, […]
January 17, 2025
In a letter to EU leaders, the newly appointed European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) President, Ola Källenius (also CEO of Mercedes-Benz), outlines the automotive sector priorities to ensure future competitiveness and drive decarbonization. The Mercedes boss came to the Brussels Motor Show to clarify his views on the matter and explain the challenges the European […]
January 16, 2025
Volvo has set a new sales record in Belgium, selling 24.221 cars, a growth of 13.6% compared with 2023, and lifting the brand to sixth position in the top ten most popular brands. That growth was ‘fueled’ primarily by its electric cars, with fully electric BEVs accounting for 69%. Adding the plug-in hybrids, the figure […]
January 15, 2025
E-commerce giant Amazon has placed an order of more than 200 Mercedes eActros 600 electric heavy trucks, the largest order of e-trucks to date by the American company and also a new record for manufacturer Daimler Truck. The e-trucks will be used in Germany and the UK to transport more than 350 million packages yearly […]
January 15, 2025
Even though electric cars are omnipresent at the popular Brussels Motor Show (BMS), one of the few remaining in Europe, Belgians are getting more cold feet about buying an EV. Deloitte’s Global Automotive Consumer Study, which is to be published on February 6th, shows that 45% prefer a car with a pure combustion engine (ICE), […]
January 15, 2025
Toyota, the world’s number one car manufacturer, has been revealed as the most prominent auto industry funder of climate deniers in the US Congress, according to a report released last week by Public Citizen. Meanwhile, it is spending a lot of money and influence lobbying against EV regulations. Public Citizen’s report, “Driving Denial: How Toyota’s […]
January 10, 2025
Traxio, the Belgian Federation of the automotive service sector and Mobility organization, has a new—old-hand—president: Henri de Hemptinne (66). He is former vice president of Traxio and president of GDA, the subdivision representing Belgian car dealers. Henri de Hemptine succeeds Didier Perwez, who held the chairmanship for the last six years. With Henri de Hemptine, […]
January 10, 2025
At the Brussels Motor Show, Japanese independent car manufacturer Mazda reintroduces its 6 Sedan on the European market with electric drive only. The car has a sedan look but offers a large tailgate. It is rear-wheel-driven and will initially be provided in a standard and a longer-range version. The car has been co-developed with Chinese […]
January 09, 2025
We recently gave you an overview of the December registrations in the Belux and the success of the EVs; today, we received the entire market overview for 2024. The most popular new car in 2024 was the BMW X1, and the best seller on the second-hand market is still the Volkswagen Golf. Here’s a quick […]
January 08, 2025
Honda took center stage at the 2025 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) with the debut of its groundbreaking 0 Series electric vehicles, the 0 SUV and 0 Saloon, set to hit production in 2026. Alongside these futuristic prototypes, Honda announced its first proprietary vehicle operating system, ASIMO OS, named after its legendary humanoid robot. The announcements […]
January 08, 2025
Sony’s first foray into the auto industry, the Afeela 1 electric saloon developed with Honda, will launch in mid-2026 for a steep price tag of $102,900. A slightly more affordable ‘Origin’ version will follow in 2027 for $89,900. Pre-orders have already been opened, but only in California. After a prototype in 2020 with the Vision-S […]
January 08, 2025
Total Volvo sales across all drive types rose by 8% in 2024, from 708,716 to 763,389 vehicles, an all-time record. This is primarily due to the positive development (+33%) in electrified vehicles – with BEVs growing more strongly than plug-in hybrids. By contrast, sales of mild hybrids/combustion engines fell by 7% to 410,602 vehicles. If […]
January 08, 2025
Czech Škoda Auto, Volkswagen’s daughter and one of the first to follow the group’s advanced EV strategy is introducing the new Enyaq family, what it calls “one of Europe’s most successful all-electric model series.” Both the Škoda Enyaq and the Škoda Enyaq Coupé now feature the brand’s new Modern Solid design language and offer enhanced […]
January 08, 2025
As the 2025 EU emissions targets draw closer, automakers hastily form alliances and pool carbon credits to evade potentially billions in fines. Electric vehicle pioneers like Tesla and Polestar are taking advantage of their zero-emission lineups by selling surplus credits to manufacturers. Hesitating carmakers are allowed to join until the beginning of February. Under the […]
January 07, 2025
In 2024, 127,922 new EVs were registered in Belgium and Luxembourg, which is 37.3% more than the year before and a new record. Individual buyers more than doubled their EV purchase: +104.7%. On the second-hand market, however, an oversupply of EVs results in residual values that are too low. Filip Rylant, spokesperson of sector federation […]
January 07, 2025
You’ll probably not have to use it very often unless you have the habit of being chased by a police car: jump over a 3.5 cm high spike strip at 120 km per hour. But we must admit, it’s a marketing stunt that stands out for BYD’s Yangwang U9 electric sportscar to demonstrate its DiSus […]
December 27, 2024
Leapmotor plans to make waves at the 101st Brussels Motor Show in January 2025 by unveiling its latest innovation: the C10 REEV (Range Extender Electric Vehicle). This marks the first introduction of Leapmotor’s REEV technology in Europe as the company seeks to expand its presence in the growing EV and hybrid markets. Leapmotor enlarges its […]
December 27, 2024
China is firmly on track to sell more ‘electric’ cars—that is, EVs and plug-in hybrids—than pure traditional gas cars with internal combustion engines (ICE) in 2025, reaching its 50% electric target a decade before the deadline the government had set by 2035. According to The Financial Times (FT) analysis, so-called New Energy Vehicle (NEV) sales […]
December 27, 2024
Chinese battery maker CATL (Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd) launched a new skateboard called ‘Bedrock’ the day before Christmas that should be as hard to crush as the name suggests, the safest EV chassis so far. What’s more, is that it promises a range of over 1,000 kilometers and supports Level 3 and 4 autonomous […]
December 26, 2024
The Government has invited the UK automotive and charging industries to shape the UK’s transition to zero-emission vehicles. On Tuesday, 24 December, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander launched a consultation to ask industry views on the 2030 phase-out date for new purely gasoline and diesel cars and make the transition to zero-emission vehicles a success. The […]
December 23, 2024
BMW M, the company’s dedicated sports motoring department, is widely known for its powerful gas-powered sports cars. Now, there are rumors about an upcoming all-electric model that could pack an even bigger punch. Since 2018, a team at BMW Motorsport GmbH has been testing a secret EV prototype, dubbed “the Beast. ” BMW’s high-performance unit […]
December 23, 2024
Chinese EV maker Nio has unveiled the Firefly at Nio Day 2024. It is the first model under its new budget-oriented brand, aiming to capture young buyers with its compact size, innovative features, and affordability. Priced from 148,800 yuan (approximately €19,750), the Firefly is set to compete with established players like BMW’s Mini, the BYD […]
December 23, 2024
On the eve of Christmas, Volkswagen and the labor union IG Metall reached a compromise, ending the ongoing wage dispute. By 2030, 35,000 jobs will be cut, and VW will reduce production capacity in Germany by more than 700,000 vehicles, including its electric cars. The compromise presented by Volkswagen and labor union IG Metall on […]
December 23, 2024
China’s top EV seller, BYD (Build Your Dreams), is on track to sell 4.25 million cars this year. It has never masked its high ambitions to become a top-ten carmaker worldwide. According to the Belgian importer Inchcape, BYD is preparing an essential European first for the Brussels Motor Show in January. Eventually, there were no […]
December 23, 2024
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. Exactly a year later, the ET9 launches in China for 788,000 […]
December 20, 2024
The European Commission announced on Thursday that the European Union will launch a strategic dialogue on the future of its automotive industry in January. The initiative aims to develop rapid support measures for the auto sector as it grapples with the accelerated shift toward electric cars and the regulatory standards on average fleet emissions. The […]
December 20, 2024
According to data from the Association of European Car Manufacturers ACEA, new EU car registrations fell by 1.9% in November 2024. France led the way with a sharp 12.7% decline, followed by Italy (-10.8%), while the German market stagnated slightly (-0.5%). Only Spain recorded positive growth among the four most significant EU markets (+6.4%). Eleven […]
December 19, 2024
With the self-confident slogan ‘Leadership in Motion’, BMW Group Belux has presented its vision of what happened last year for the BMW Group in Belgium and its plans for 2025. Apart from being number one in Belgium and Luxembourg for the fourth consecutive year, the most noticeable fact is that Mini distribution’s switch to the […]
December 19, 2024
Alfa Romeo is bringing a world premiere to the Brussels Motor Show next January. The Italian brand will unveil the four-wheel driven version of its small SUV Junior, based on the hybrid driveline. It seems Stellantis is keen on making a grand entrance in the capital of Europe. With the demise of motor shows worldwide, […]
December 19, 2024
According to Japan’s Nikkei business newspaper, Honda Motor Co. and Nissan Motor Co. are preparing to start negotiations on a possible merger, which could ultimately be expanded to include Mitsubishi Motors Co. The talks have been encouraged because the Taiwanese electronics giant Foxconn has also shown some interest in becoming Nissan’s main shareholder. Such a […]
December 18, 2024
More than one in four Brussels motorists (27%) could do without a car. This is the finding of a survey conducted by Brussels Mobility. Through the sample of 1,900 Brussels residents with a car, Brussels Mobility aims to better understand car use and which alternatives to the car could be made more attractive. On average, […]
December 18, 2024
The German Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) has given Mercedes the green light to launch an updated version of its conditionally automated driving system, Drive Pilot, in 2025. This system allows the driver to watch a movie or read the newspaper while driving on highways at up to 95 km/hour. Mercedes was the first to […]
December 18, 2024
The environmental NGO Transport & Environment (T&E) has responded to the increasing pressure of the car manufacturers’ lobby regarding the 2025 EU CO2 emission targets with an analysis proving that the industry can achieve the goals and avoid the fines pending for 2025. The European Commission seems to be on the same line. Last week, […]
December 17, 2024
Zeekr, part of the Chinese Geely group, has launched its flagship electric SUV in Europe. The Zeekr 7X offers a range of up to 615 km, with ultra-fast charging thanks to an 800V architecture and a roomy, premium interior for a starting price of €52,990 in the Netherlands. The Zeekr 7X is the third electric […]
December 16, 2024
Never in automobile history, and 125 years after the electric car had to surrender to the internal combustion engine car (ICE), has the yawning gap between believers and non-believers in electrification been so wide. Still, only 1% of today’s EV drivers want to return to a pure ICE car, and 4% would switch back to […]
December 13, 2024
The introduction of an annual road tax for new electric cars in Flanders, initially set to take effect on January 1st, 2025, has been postponed. This was confirmed by the cabinet of Flemish Finance Minister Ben Weyts (N-VA) to Het Laatste Nieuws. The delay is attributed to the ongoing development of a taxation formula and […]
December 13, 2024
Stellantis brand DS Automobiles has finally unveiled its new flagship DS N°8. The SUV/crossover coupé will be the carmaker’s latest flagship and the first DS model to launch exclusively with an electric drive. The Stellantis daughter had already teased with partial press releases and pictures of the car, with big numbers on the side panels […]
December 12, 2024
According to a new study by Nature Communications, tourism turnover almost doubled between 2009 and 2019, representing an annual growth of 5.5 percent. However, this strong growth is accompanied by a carbon footprint of 5.2 gigatons of CO2 equivalent or 8.8 percent of global emissions. The primary drivers of emissions growth are slow technology efficiency […]
December 12, 2024
Today, Toyota released information on its brand new EV, the Urban Cruiser. Its public world premiere will be at the Brussels Motor Show in January. The car is likely to be the sister model of the upcoming Suzuki eVX, but Toyota doesn’t hint at this collaboration in any way. With the Urban Cruiser, developed from […]
December 12, 2024
The facelifted version of the popular BYD Dolphin hatchback has leaked. According to registration details from China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), the design introduces minor tweaks, but there will be a new powertrain option. Three motor configurations, including a new 130 kW (174 hp) variant, are slated for commercialization. These changes will […]
December 12, 2024
The Board of Directors of the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) has elected Ola Källenius, Chairman of the Board of Management of the Mercedes-Benz Group, as its new President, who will assume this function from 1 January 2025. Ola Källenius will take over the presidency from Renault Group’s CEO, Luca de Meo, who has held […]
December 11, 2024
IATA, the global airline umbrella organization, expects airlines worldwide to carry 5.2 billion passengers next year, the first time this will exceed the 5 billion mark. More passengers also mean more flights, leading to higher CO2 emissions from the aviation sector. For example, using more sustainable fuels, such as biomass or used oils, could help […]
December 11, 2024
A year after the California DMV suspended Cruise’s robotaxi services in San Francisco following a series of incidents with pedestrians, General Motors is killing off its robotaxi daughter. It dispatches its engineering teams to the motherhouse to focus on more common driving aid systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving for passenger cars. “GM will no longer […]
December 11, 2024
Every year, around 239,000 deaths in the European Union can be attributed to exposure to fine particulate matter, a key air pollutant. Another 70,000 Europeans die from excessive ozone concentrations and 48,000 from nitrogen pollution. In Belgium alone, this concerns 4,100 deaths from particulate matter, 1,400 from ozone, and 1,200 from nitrogen. The figures come […]
December 11, 2024
The Brussels Motor Show (BMS) will be held from 10 to 19 January 2025 in the Brussels event halls at the Heysel. After skipping 2024, the 101st edition wants to return with a bang. At least 63 exhibitors have signed up to be present, and organizer Febiac hopes that more than 300,000 visitors will also […]
December 06, 2024
There are no longer any fully electric winners in VAB’s ‘Family Car of the Year’ election this year. The gold medal goes to a hybrid (HEV) from the Chinese brand that sells the most EVs in Europe: the MG3. The other gold winner in the more expensive category is a mild-hybrid Hyundai i30. It perfectly […]
December 06, 2024
Almost half of Belgians, 47%, never take the train, according to the survey ‘Accessibility of transport in Belgium 2024’ by the Federal Public Service Mobility. The same goes for the bus: 44% of Belgians never take the bus. Although more than eight in 10 respondents regularly use the car every week (82%), only one in […]
December 06, 2024
For the second time in four years, Subaru ranked first in Consumer Reports’ annual brand report card, which measures vehicle performance, safety, and reliability. The 2025 report card is part of an updated data set released by Consumer Reports that packages all its automotive rankings in one spot. Consumer Reports also found that Subaru was […]
December 04, 2024
California-based start-up Aptera Motors is once again turning to crowdfunding in its mission to bring its solar-powered, three-wheeled electric vehicle to the assembly halls. This renewed effort aims to secure the additional $60 million necessary to transition its prototype to a production-ready car. The new crowdfunding campaign follows Aptera’s previous one, which concluded in May […]
December 04, 2024
The new UK government is putting its money where its mouth is: the private rail company Southern Western Railways will become a public transport company again. After all, before the election, Labour had indicated that if the party would be again in government, it would nationalize the entire UK train network within five years. “Our […]
December 04, 2024
Ford has unveiled the electric version of its best-selling model in Europe. The Cologne-based manufacturer emphasizes its dynamic acceleration and efficiency. However, the battery and its price make it unclear whether the Puma Gen-E will be well received and also sell well. One thing is clear: Like many other manufacturers, Ford is not in an […]
December 04, 2024
In November 2024, 31,824 new cars were registered, or 15.3% less than in November 2023. Regarding second-hand car registrations, Traxio sees continued growth in the first eleven months of 2024 compared to previous years. In 2024, the figure for the year’s first eleven months went up to 672.625 registrations. In 2023, it was 637.950 units; […]
December 03, 2024
According to a new ranking by Transport & Environment (T&E), only 10 out of 77 airlines are making noteworthy efforts to switch to sustainable alternatives to fossil kerosene. The remaining 67 are either buying too few sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs), the wrong kind of SAFs, or are not considering SAFs at all in their decarbonization […]
December 03, 2024
On Sunday, the multinational automotive group Stellantis said that its chief executive officer, Carlos Tavares, has resigned, forcing the company to expedite its leadership transition amid a turbulent market environment. Stellantis Group, like other European players, is severely suffering from the dire market conditions in the automotive industry. Not so long ago, CEO Carlos Tavares […]
December 03, 2024
According to the sector federation Febiac and the Federal Government service Mobility and Transport, the car registrations for November were 15.2% down compared to last year in the same month. For the first eleven months of 2024, this results in -5.8% compared to 2023: 424,840 registrations instead of 450,960. Light commercial vehicle (LCV) registrations also […]
November 29, 2024
Belgium has a bad reputation regarding the quality of its road network, but now the country seems to have reached a new low. According to a recent study by the World Economic Forum, Belgium ranks 61st for road quality out of 119 countries surveyed. That is even lower than countries such as Uzbekistan and Rwanda. […]
