June 19, 2024
Polestar is gearing up to expand its retail operations, targeting seven new markets in 2025, including a return to France, where Citroën kicked it out. As the company’s model line-up grows, the conquest of new markets aims to capitalize on emerging opportunities. In 2025, Polestar plans to accelerate its geographic expansion by entering seven new […]
June 19, 2024
Suppose you’re willing to pay €120 to €160 and not weigh nearly 100 kg. In that case, you can be one of the first to experience pure electric flying between the airports of Liege (Belgium), Maastricht (Netherlands), and Aachen (Germany) as a passenger in a Pipistrel Velis Electro, currently the only EASA-certified electric aircraft. The […]
June 19, 2024
A source familiar with the matter told Reuters that Ferrari’s first electric car will cost at least €500,000. The luxury automaker is preparing to open a plant to make the model, which could boost group production by up to a third in the long run. The exclusive Italian brand has said it will launch an […]
June 18, 2024
Like several of its Stellantis counterparts, Jeep is also working on an affordable battery-electric model to target younger people and private customers in North America and Europe. This new model will be the next-generation Renegade, expected by 2027, with a sub-$25,000 price tag for the electric version. Like Fiat and Citroën, which recently unveiled their […]
June 18, 2024
Audi is following the slipstream of the recently facelifted Porsche Taycan and unveiling an updated version of its all-electric sports car, the E-Tron GT. The new version boasts enhanced range, sharper performance, and faster charging capabilities to align with the advancements seen in its Porsche Taycan counterpart. The E-Tron GT was introduced in 2021 as […]
June 18, 2024
The writing on the wall said that a miracle was needed to save Danish designer Henrik Fisker’s American-based electric car start-up. According to Reuters, talks on new investments with a non-disclosed ‘major car manufacturer’ finally failed, and Fisker Group officially filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in Delaware on June 17. Things had been looking bleak […]
June 18, 2024
Lancia’s unexpected European comeback starts in Belgium and Luxembourg, where the famous Italian brand strategically relaunched itself in six dealerships. This marks the beginning of the brand’s ambitious ten-year plan, which aims to re-establish the brand in the European premium segment. The opening of six new showrooms took place over the weekend. The newly opened […]
June 17, 2024
Lynk & Co, the Swedish-Chinese sister brand to Zeekr, Volvo, and Polestar, is finally going fully electric with the newly revealed Z10, a five-meter-long luxury sedan with a pure electric range of over 800 km. Presented in Gothenburg, Sweden, it will debut in China, with pre-orders opening in July. There is no word yet about […]
June 17, 2024
A new showroom for exclusive vehicles was inaugurated last weekend in the industrial zone in Heusden-Zolder, in Limburg (Belgium). Numerous models of Mercedes, BMW, Porsche, Lamborghini, and Aston Martin, among others, are on display. However, they’re not real cars but electric children’s vehicles. The target group is children between three and eight years old. With […]
June 14, 2024
The Chinese car manufacturer Chery confirmed that Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) will use its M3X and E0X modular platforms for future battery-electric and plug-in cars, which will probably be sold mainly in China. To that end, JLR has signed a strategic agreement with Chery brand Exeed. JLR, owned by Indian Tata Motors, will use two […]
June 14, 2024
The EU Commission revealed on Wednesday the rate of the ‘intended’ extra taxes on imported Chinese EVs, ranging from 17.4 to 38.1% on top of the existing 10% import duties on all cars today. China, meanwhile, accuses the EU of intended protectionism and warns “not to go the wrong way.” It threatens to open a […]
June 14, 2024
Alpine, Renault’s performance brand, has officially entered the electric era by launching the A290, an electric hot hatch emphasizing performance, agility, and lightness. The new model marks a significant departure from Alpine’s traditional line-up and is set to debut later this year. The A290 is heavily inspired by last year’s Beta concept, bringing a bold […]
June 12, 2024
The electric counterpart of the subcompact Hyundai Casper gets its own name in Europe: Inster. This competitor to the Dacia Spring and Citroën ë-C3 will debut later this month and have a range of 355 km. The rumors are true: Hyundai is preparing an all-electric version of its A-segment crossover Casper, which has been on […]
June 12, 2024
After news broke on Tuesday that the take-over of Belgian bus maker Van Hool in Koningshooikt (Lier) by its Dutch competitor VDL Group was finalized on Friday last week, VDL now specified its plans. That means only retaining spare part manufacturing, aftersales, intake, development, and finances, providing jobs for 250 people in Belgium. Before, 300 […]
June 11, 2024
According to The Times, Volvo is investigating plans to shift some of its manufacturing output from China to Ghent in response to the upcoming new import tariffs from the EU. The ramp-up to build units of the EX30 in Belgium would be accelerated, while reportedly, the EX90 is also named for a production move. The […]
June 11, 2024
D’Ieteren Automotive, the Belgian importer of all VW brands, received the green light from the Belgian Competition Authority (BCA) for the takeover of the Porsche Centre East-Flanders in Sint-Martens-Latem. With that, it owns seven of the nine Porsche dealerships in Belgium. However, conditions apply to ensure fair competition. The BCA investigation showed ‘serious doubts’ about […]
June 10, 2024
According to the latest edition of International Energy Agency’s annual World Energy Investment report, global investment in clean energy is set to reach almost double the amount going to fossil fuels in 2024, despite pressures on financing. Total energy investment worldwide is expected to exceed $3 trillion in 2024 for the first time, with some […]
June 10, 2024
As the curtain falls on the second-generation Peugeot 3008, a massive hit for the French manufacturer so does the production of ICE-only models at its historic Sochaux production site. Only electric and (mild) hybrid models will be built from now on. To say the 3008 II was a success for Peugeot would be an understatement. […]
June 10, 2024
Citroën has announced a plan for the future to streamline its model line-up, focusing on Europe’s primary market segments. CEO Thierry Koskas confirmed in an interview with Autocar that the brand will prioritize the B- and C-segments, phasing out smaller and larger models. Citroën’s future range will start with the B-segment C3, including its electric […]
June 07, 2024
Solid-state battery developer Factorial Energy has delivered B-samples of its cells to Mercedes-Benz. The German company is now integrating these into modules and battery packs before extensively testing them. The American company has also publicized an energy density value for the first time: 391 Wh/kg. According to Factorial Energy, the B samples are solid-state battery […]
June 06, 2024
Ford’s European top executive, Martin Sander, is moving back to the Volkswagen Group, his former employer. The German car manufacturer announced that he will now oversee sales, marketing, and aftersales for the Volkswagen brand. Sander (57) moved from Audi to Ford in June 2022 as head of the US company’s Model E passenger car division […]
June 06, 2024
In full transition to a mobility provider, D’Ieteren is taking a pioneering step by introducing tele-driving on Belgian roads. Partnering with Ush, the driverless vehicle arm of the company, and Poppy, Benelux’s largest car-share provider, operations are scheduled for later this year. The service must boost the efficiency and customer experience of car sharing. Ush […]
June 06, 2024
Between 2015 and 2022, the number of reported bicycle thefts in the Brussels Region increased by more than 70%. This is according to a study by safe.brussels, the security management organization for the capital region. The rapidly increasing use of bicycles in the capital and region is undoubtedly making bicycles hip to thieves. 5,000 theft […]
June 06, 2024
Volvo will launch the world’s first electric vehicle (EV) battery passport with its new EX90 electric SUV, which has finally gone into production. The move aims to provide customers with detailed information about the battery’s composition, material origins, carbon footprint, and usage. Despite many brands diluting their commitment to a deadline for an all-electric portfolio, Volvo’s […]
June 06, 2024
Stijn Blanckaert (50) is the new Managing Director of the Belgian Federation of Vehicle Rental Companies, Renta. Its predecessor, Frank Van Gool, recently announced that he would be the new CEO of Febiac, so his place was vacant at Renta. Renta President Johan Portier hasn’t waited too long to assign its successor: “We are very […]
June 05, 2024
The target of 5% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) by 2030 is extremely ambitious, according to IATA, the International Airline Association. Nevertheless, IATA remains committed to its target of net zero emissions by 2050, although its chairman, Willie Walsh, clearly states that it “is not going to promise to achieve something that does not seem possible […]
June 05, 2024
The current Belgian road code, which is some half a century old, will be modernized from 1 September 2026. This news was already known, but with the king signing the text yesterday, the new traffic rules are now officially in place. The new modern code gives everyone a fairer place on public roads – read: […]
June 04, 2024
Following the decision to withdraw production of the Q8 e-tron from Europe and relocate it to Mexico, the search is ongoing for alternatives for the Audi plant in Brussels. This could be a new high-luxury SUV EV, the assembly of batteries and other electric parts, or both. As the German publication Handelsblatt writes, citing negotiating […]
June 04, 2024
According to the data of the sector federation, Febiac, the car registrations in Belgium and Luxembourg decreased by 5.9% compared to May 2023. According to Febiac, the regression is due to the company car market because many contracts were anticipated in 2023 for fiscal reasons. The market for individual buyers is increasing. For the first […]
June 03, 2024
Although many European manufacturers warn of Chinese competition and think they’re getting indirect subsidies, obstructing a level playing field, they also seem interested in partnerships with ‘the enemy’. Take Renault, for example: It will be running its ICE business (called Horse) with Geely, and now it’s partnering with another Chinese company to create the new […]
May 31, 2024
At the demand of Flemish Mobility Minister Lydia Peeters, the Flemish government has consented to a five-year pilot project allowing approved repairers to proceed to certain car re-inspections. The project aims to reduce the waiting lines and times at the official inspection centers. After evaluation, another 5 years can be added. The Minister expects that […]
May 31, 2024
According to news agency Reuters, China is set to invest more than 6 billion yuan (765 million euros) in a government-led project to develop solid-state batteries (SSB). The state funding will be attributed to six companies supporting their work on next-generation battery technology and securing the nation’s lead on the global EV playing field. Belgian […]
May 30, 2024
Rail freight company Lineas is getting a new 46 million euro bailout. It is striking that the regional governments in Flanders and Wallonia are now also going to help save the company, reports the business newspaper De Tijd. Earlier, the federal government supported Lineas financially twice. The company, the largest private rail freight operator in […]
May 30, 2024
Febiac, the federation for the Automobile and Two-wheeler sector in the Belux, has announced that the Brussels Motor Show (BMS) will again take place next year. The show will not occur in January, as usual, but from Friday 14 till Sunday 23 February. After a year of absence, the board of Febiac, regrouping most automakers […]
May 30, 2024
At the Terhills tourist site in Dilsen-Stokkem and Maasmechelen in Limburg, five instead of two self-driving shuttles will now drive around to take tourists and guests there to the various hotspots. It is the first and, so far, only fully autonomous transport system in Europe, i.e., without a safety steward on board. The shuttles can […]
May 29, 2024
High-speed train operator Eurostar has concentrated the management of its entire network and incident handling in one place: Brussels. The new operations center, which operates 24 hours a day, employs some 100 people managing around 100 trains and 50,000 passengers a day. Previously, there were two operational centers: one in Brussels for the former Thalys […]
May 29, 2024
The German automaker Volkswagen is putting the rumours to rest and has officially announced the arrival of an entry-level electric car to compete with the Dacia Spring and the Citroën ë-C3. The successor to – remember? -the e-Up will arrive in 2027 and will be dubbed ID.1. In recent weeks, it became apparent that the […]
May 28, 2024
In the annual charging test from P3, the Lotus Emeya set a new benchmark, charging 458 kilometers in only 20 minutes. This is the highest ever recorded, highlighting Chinese advancements in charging technology and crowning the Lotus the long-distance champion. Previous winners in the test were the Mercedes EQS, Kia EV6, and Lucid Air. Every […]
May 28, 2024
The Brussels city council wants the Brussels Region to take measures against noise from amplified engines and exhaust pipes in the capital’s streets. To this end, the city council approved a resolution by Councilor Mathias Vanden Borre (N-VA) on the issue. According to the World Health Organization, noise is the second biggest environmental cause of […]
May 27, 2024
Last Friday, the board of manufacturer and importer federation Febiac appointed Frank Van Gool as its new CEO, replacing Andreas Cremer on the 1st of July. Frank Van Gool (52) is well-known in the Belgian automotive business. Since 2013, he has been the managing director of Renta, the Belgian Federation of Vehicle Rental Companies, and […]
May 24, 2024
Kia has unveiled the EV3, a new compact SUV with electric drive. The 4.30-meter-long model adopts many elements of the large EV9 inside and out; even the platform is essentially the same. It will launch in Europe later this year, with further versions already announced for 2026. At first glance, the presented production model has […]
May 24, 2024
By the end of next year, EV drivers will be able to access 130 (ultra) fast-charging points on Flemish motorways. Actually, there are already 95 of them available. “With this, the Flemish government will meet its target of installing every 25 km charging infrastructure along or close to motorways by the end of 2025,” says […]
May 23, 2024
The Brussels public transport company MIVB/STIB will start operating the new tram line 10 from Churchill to the Military Hospital on 23 September. The new line should mainly increase the accessibility of Neder-Over-Heembeek, a borough of the city of Brussels. Residents of that borough currently must do a lot to get to the center of […]
May 23, 2024
Volvo Trucks wants to give combustion engines another chance at existence beyond the next decade by introducing hydrogen combustion-powered trucks. The first road tests with this technology will begin in 2026, and commercialization is planned by the decade’s end. Hydrogen combustion is considered a carbon-neutral way to keep combustion engines alive without the massive costs […]
May 23, 2024
Electra, one of Europe’s experts in fast-charging stations, announces a collaboration with the Colmar Group, a renowned restaurant chain, to enhance the electric vehicle charging infrastructure in Belgium and France. By the end of 2025, all six Belgian sites under the Colmar Restaurant brand will feature fast-charging stations managed by Electra. This collaboration aims to […]
May 23, 2024
Since the Flemish Traffic Center started measuring in 2011, April was the second heaviest month for congestion. The record for the heaviest congestion month ever remains June 2019 for now. Moreover, traffic jams in February, March, and April – with 167 km of traffic jams per working day that month – were never as heavy […]
May 22, 2024
Engineers at ArcelorMittal have launched a pilot plant in Ghent to capture CO2. The plant in Ghent is the first of its kind in the European steel industry. It is an important step toward greening the polluting steel industry. For all that, the Flemish government is raising support for the steel company from 350 to […]
May 22, 2024
According to the figures of the European Car Manufacturers Association (ACEA), the European Union car market grew by 13.7% in April 2024. New registrations totaled 913,995 units, driven by strong increases across all major markets: Spain (+23.1%), Germany (+19.8%), France (+10.9%), and Italy (+7.7%). This growth can be partly explained by the two extra sales […]
May 22, 2024
Renault is opening the order books for the first two Renault 5 E-Tech electric versions. The Techno version is available for €32,900, while the Iconic Cinq version costs €2,000 more. The €25,000 base model Five with a smaller battery will follow in early 2025. In 2024, the €5,000 premium for individual buyers is still available […]
May 21, 2024
The consortium between Ostend-based wind energy producer Elicio and renewable energy developer and solutions provider BayWa r.e. has won a tender to build the world’s first commercial floating wind farm off the coast of France. Elicio won the tender process, initiated in 2021 for an offshore floating wind project with a capacity between 230 and […]
May 17, 2024
Carlos Tavares, the big boss of car giant Stellantis, with a total of 14 French, Italian, and American car brands under his wings, is crushing opposed to Joe Biden’s move to increase import taxes for Chinese cars in the US with 100% and the EU’s plans to do something similar. “When you put a bubble […]
May 16, 2024
As the US government has now opted to quadruple trade tariffs on electric vehicles from China, Europe is also considering a (much more modest) increase. However, whether any of the trade war’s efforts will benefit customers remains to be seen. Apparently, the European Union will impose punitive tariffs on electric cars made in China before […]
May 16, 2024
On Wednesday, Chinese premium carmaker NIO officially showed the world its first model of a completely new ‘affordable’ line, the Onvo L60. It is directly targeted to compete in China with Toyota’s RAV4 and the Tesla Model Y for 219,900 yuan (€27,890), which is 30,000 yuan (€3,820) cheaper than the latter. According to NIO founder […]
May 15, 2024
“We will never let China control the market for this type of vehicle.” With those words, the President of the US, Joe Biden, announced that he would raise current import rates for Chinese EVs from 25% to 100%. Fearing an engulfment of cheaper Chinese electric cars, this doubles their retail price. Citing the impossibility of […]
May 15, 2024
South Korean carmaker Kia has decided to spruce up its EV6 fully electric cross-over three years after its introduction. That car got the ‘Car of the Year 2022’ title, beating the Renault Mégane E-Tech and its sister brand Hyundai Ioniq 5. New ‘eyes’, a quieter and smoother ride, 19 km more range, and faster charging […]
May 15, 2024
The Stellantis Group and Chinese electric car manufacturer Leapmotor have finalized the establishment of their joint venture and announced that Leapmotor International would commence operations in Europe in September 2024. The market launch in Europe will initially start in France, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Greece, and Romania. Both sides have announced that […]
May 14, 2024
By 2030, trucks and other heavy-duty vehicles in Europe must reduce their CO2 emissions by 45% from 2019 levels. That threshold will then be raised to 65% by 2035 and 90% by 2040 – the average lifespan of a truck is 18 years, that’s why. The European Parliament had previously approved these new emission standards, […]
May 14, 2024
Avatr, the joint venture between the Chinese state-owned manufacturer Changan and CATL, with Huawei as a major supplier, has unveiled its third model: the 07, a mid-size extended-range electric SUV. It follows the larger Avatr 11 SUV and Avatr 12 sedan and should rival the Tesla Model Y with a low price tag. With a […]
May 14, 2024
China’s biggest EV maker, BYD, has launched the Sea Lion 07, the first of a new Ocean-array SUV model product line. It is built on an upgraded e-Platform EVO 3.0, offering a ‘higher level of integration, stronger powertrain, and charging performance’. In China, the Sea Lion will cost 189,800 yuan (€24,220) and is targeted—once again—against […]
May 13, 2024
The VW ID.1 could arrive as the final VW e-up! successor later this decade. Volkswagen has begun initial planning but faces challenges in bringing the new electric city car to the market. The slowdown in EV sales is not one of them. Meanwhile, after confirming the launch of an all-new Golf EV, Volkswagen has started […]
