Stellantis CEO finalizes his top management reshuffle

October 08, 2025

Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa has completed his homework and redesigned a significantly revamped Stellantis Leadership Team (SLT) to face the tough challenges of the coming years. Filosa has now positioned his man (and women) where he wanted them. “With these new appointments, we are promoting exceptional talent from inside and out to leadership roles as […]

Electric motorbike pioneer Zero Motorcycles moves to Europe

October 08, 2025

Pioneering electric motorcycle manufacturer Zero Motorcycles is relocating its administrative headquarters from the United States to the Netherlands. The Netherlands will thus become the company’s global headquarters. However, the US locations will continue to play an important role. Zero Motorcycles officially justified the move by stating that Europe has become the most important growth engine. […]

EU’s intended tariff wall against cheap steel evokes mixed reactions

October 08, 2025

The European Commission wants to erect a tariff wall to protect the strategically important steel industry from global overcapacity. Welcomed by the European steel industry, which is in a state of survival, but met with skepticism by European carmakers who fear higher production costs. Specifically, the Commission wants to limit tariff-free imports of steel from […]

Tesla’s stripped-down Model 3 and Y cost $5,000 less in US

October 08, 2025

After launching an upgraded “Premium” version of the Model 3 sedan and Model Y SUV, Tesla has also introduced a stripped-down “Standard” version of its two core models. They now list at $5,000 less in the US: $36,990 for the Model 3 Standard and $39,990 for the Model Y Standard. Prices for Europe have not […]

Mercedes EV sales are picking up again

October 08, 2025

Mercedes’ electric car sales have fallen year-on-year for six consecutive quarters. The Stuttgart-based company has now reported growth again for the third quarter of 2025, thanks in part to the new CLA. Things are also looking up for vans. Since the first quarter of 2024, Mercedes-Benz has only seen declining electric car sales. That has […]

Used car market has become the new normal in Belgium

October 07, 2025

Belgium’s car market is shifting gears. While sales of new vehicles continue to fall, the second-hand sector is gaining ground, increasingly becoming the backbone of automotive sales. Almost two out of three cars registered in Belgium this year were second-hand. According to the mobility federation Traxio, the summer months saw a decline in second-hand sales, […]

Belux car sales in September show slight decrease of 0.5%

October 02, 2025

According to data from the federal public service Mobility & Transport and sector federation, Febiac, 31,519 new cars were registered in September. Compared to the same month last year, this represents a 0.5% decrease. Overall, registrations fell back 9.2% during the first three quarters of the year, while 323,868 new cars were registered. Febiac expects […]

Most EV drivers complete journeys without recharging en route

October 02, 2025

A Dutch survey analyzing the habits and pain points of EV drivers has successfully separated some facts from fiction about electric driving. It appears that more than half never need to charge their cars while underway, and that the overwhelming majority charge their cars using solar panels. If you’re looking for the real needs of […]

Vias: Half of accidents involving pedestrians do not occur while crossing streets

October 02, 2025

Almost half of incidents involving pedestrians occur when they are on the sidewalk, a bike path, or in a pedestrian zone, and not when they are hit while crossing the street, as is commonly expected. This is according to a new study by the Traffic Safety Institute Vias. Also noteworthy: 1 in 5 accidents or […]

Kia unveils EV5 for Korea and Europe, to arrive end of 2025 (Update)

October 01, 2025

Kia’s new EV5 mid-sized SUV, built on Hyundai’s E-GMP platform, delivers up to 530 km range, fast charging, V2L/V2G power capabilities, and advanced safety. It is scheduled to launch in Korea and Europe in late 2025; pricing has just been communicated and starts at €45,990. Kia’s EV5 is a fully electric mid-sized SUV built on […]

Study reveals Google Maps eclipses traditional navigation

October 01, 2025

For two decades, the car dashboard has been a battleground between the tech industry and traditional manufacturers. New figures suggest that the first have won over the driver, but carmakers are far from ready to concede. A survey of 1,000 Dutch motorists by ‘Ikwilvanmijnautoaf.nl’ found that more than half of them rely primarily on Google […]

U.S. tax credit for electric cars has stopped

October 01, 2025

As of today, the tax credit for purchasing electric cars, both new and used, has expired in the US. Some manufacturers are reportedly trying to extend the availability of subsidies through their dealers for a little longer. As U.S. President Trump decided in the summer, the tax credits of $7,500 for the purchase of new […]

NMBS/SNCB urged to sell tickets via TrainPoints

October 01, 2025

At the Belgian public railway company NMBS/SNCB, only 6,5% of tickets are still purchased at ticket offices, compared to 50% a decade ago. This is logical, considering that there are only 91 stations with ticket offices left, which are often only open in the mornings. The Mobility Committee is now asking NMBS/SNCB to launch a […]

Curtain falls on Tihange 1 nuclear power plant

September 30, 2025

Four in a row, because after the Doel 3, Tihange 2, and Doel 1 nuclear reactors were permanently shut down earlier, on Monday night, the plug will also be pulled on Tihange 1. The nuclear reactor has been in service for 50 years, although the Belgian government hopes that this is not the end of […]

Renault CEO François Provost: ‘Europe must focus on lower EV prices’

September 30, 2025

The recently appointed new CEO of the Renault Group, François Provost, gave his first international press interview recently at the IAA in München. His central message was clear: EU legislators should focus on reducing the cost of BEVs, rather than forcing manufacturers to sell significantly more of them. The Frenchman was recently named CEO of […]

New social leasing plan in France for EVs

September 30, 2025

France is launching a new round of its social leasing plan for the purchase of electric cars, aimed at lower-income households. The system was also launched last year, but was suspended after about six weeks because the budget was quickly exhausted as the number of validated orders was much higher than expected. For this year, […]

Engie’s Vilvoorde-based BESS starts as one of Europe’s largest battery parks

September 29, 2025

After the construction of a large gas-fired power plant encountered permitting issues, Engie developed the country’s largest Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) on its historic site in Vilvoorde, on the outskirts of Brussels. The 320 battery modules each contain dozens of battery packs, storing large amounts of electricity. Located north of Brussels, the Vilvoorde site has […]

Bosch Mobility axes 13,000 jobs to tackle structural €2.5 billion cost gap

September 26, 2025

German Bosch, one of the largest automotive suppliers worldwide, announced that it has to axe 13,000 jobs, mainly in Germany, as “structural and personnel adjustment measures are unavoidable” to close a structural cost gap of €2.5 billion globally. Bosch states that “particularly its Mobility locations in Germany” will be affected by these cuts, which are […]

August figures show electric blitz: one in five new EU cars is an EV

September 26, 2025

European drivers are buying electric cars at record levels this year, even as the continent’s overall car market shows signs of stagnation. The latest figures from the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) reveal battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) expanding their foothold across the region. Gasoline and diesel models face a steep decline. In August, registrations of BEVs […]

Belgian Council of State also rejects Alstom’s objection in CAF tender

September 25, 2025

There is no longer any legal obstacle preventing the Belgian public railway company NMBS/SNCB from awarding the contract for the definitive allocation of hundreds of new AM30 trainsets to the Spanish company CAF (Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles). After the Council of State rejected Siemens Mobility’s appeal against the order by German train manufacturer last […]

Van Mossel trying to outshine Cardoen with ‘largest’ used car showroom?

September 25, 2025

Van Mossel, a major player in the automotive sector and acting as a dealer for 32 car brands, is proud to announce the official opening of its brand-new Used Cars Center in Lokeren. “This impressive branch is immediately the largest indoor used car center in Belgium, with a range of more than 300 carefully selected […]

ACEA’s Outlook sees Belgium co-leading EV-adoption in Europe

September 24, 2025

ACEA, the European car manufacturers’ federation, remains cautiously optimistic about its economic outlook, with the European economy expected to grow by 1.1% in 2025, followed by a rise to 1.5% in 2026 amid trade tensions and the United States’ tariff changes. Inflation is forecast to ease from 2.3% in 2025 to an average of 1.9% […]

Stellantis halts production at six European plants over weak demand

September 24, 2025

Stellantis is preparing to suspend operations across multiple European plants. Slow demand forces the automotive giant to curb output and recalibrate inventories. The company confirmed temporary shutdowns in France and Italy, while reports in the French business daily Les Échos indicate similar pauses in Spain, Germany, and Poland. At the Poissy plant, west of Paris, […]

Can this upgraded Volvo EX90 fix its damaged reputation?

September 24, 2025

Volvo Cars is pressing reset on its digital platform after a rocky start for its flagship battery-powered SUV EX90. The Swedish automaker has unveiled sweeping upgrades to the 2026 model year, including a jump to 800 V architecture. It also outlined plans to build extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs) in the US, as it seeks to rebuild […]

Souped-up +900 hp Zeekr 001 plays in a different league in China

September 24, 2025

The Zeekr 001, which we first drove in 2023, was never a weakling to begin with, but now it’s had another dose of steroids. In China, the updated version for 2026 is presented with a power boost from 400 kW (544 hp EU specs) to 680 kW (912 hp) for the two-motor version. This makes […]

China ramps up EV exports as sales surge in Europe

September 23, 2025

China is intensifying its efforts in the electric car market. The country has unveiled a new strategy that pairs ambitious domestic sales targets with a sharper focus on exports. The new ambitions coincide with a significant increase in sales from Chinese brands in Europe, where their sales have more than doubled in the past year. […]

Porsche in reverse: EV dream stalls, petrol roars back

September 23, 2025

Porsche is dramatically scaling back its push into electric cars, shelving key models and extending the life of gasoline and hybrid vehicles. The sudden reversal comes after a profit warning and has unsettled investors. One of Germany’s most celebrated luxury brands is in turmoil and intends to fight back by looking to its roots. The […]

Omoda 9 SHS-P: electric every day, ICE backup for range anxiety

September 23, 2025

In June 2025, Chery, China’s largest vehicle exporter, announced a second model in Belgium, alongside the Omoda 5 (ICE and EV), the flagship SUV, the Omoda 9 SHS. Now it’s here to order, priced at €52.900 for those cautiously entering the world of electric driving to soothe their eco-consciousness, but secretly like to keep their […]

World premiere in Brussels: Mitsubishi’s rebirth with fully electric EV

September 18, 2025

Four years after the Japanese carmaker virtually disappeared from the European market, Mitsubishi is back. Thursday evening, it landed in Brussels for the world premiere of the Eclips Cross EV, a fully electric C-segment SUV fitting Europe’s current most-wanted car type, built in the Alliance Ampere (Renault) factory of Douai, France. A rebirth in two […]

Fastned’s Belgian flagship charging plaza Gentbrugge opens

September 17, 2025

Dutch fast-charging network Fastned has just opened its 47th charging station in Belgium. Fastned Gentbrugge, along the E17 highway between Ghent and Antwerp, is the largest to date and a ‘flagship’ location. It showcases the company’s aim to deliver a more seamless charging experience, featuring a coffee stop and sanitary facilities throughout its entire network […]

Port of Antwerp-Bruges tests first autonomous truck in Belgium

September 17, 2025

On Tuesday, Port of Antwerp-Bruges organized the first fully autonomous truck journey on public roads in Belgium. This milestone, operated under the Belgian regulatory framework, showcases how Belgium – and Europe — can take the lead in advancing autonomous freight technology. With this initiative, the port authority wants to emphasise its pioneering role in the field of […]

China prepares to outlaw retractable car door handles over safety fears

September 17, 2025

China is poised to ban retractable car door handles by 2027, following a series of fatal crashes that have exposed the dangers of a feature once hailed as a marker of futuristic design. Flush-mounted handles, popularized by Tesla and copied by numerous electric vehicle makers, are designed to sit flat against the car body until […]

Weak EV sales push Ford to slash 1,000 jobs in Cologne factory

September 17, 2025

Ford will cut up to 1,000 jobs at its electric vehicle plant in Cologne, Germany, as part of a restructuring effort aimed at adjusting production to sluggish demand for battery-powered cars in Europe. Operations will be reduced at the site from two daily shifts to a single one starting in January 2026. The Cologne facility, […]

VW pushes back production of electric Golf and T-Roc over budget strains

September 16, 2025

Volkswagen is delaying the rollout of two of its most critical future models, the all-electric Golf and T-Roc. The German carmaker is struggling with rising costs, plant disruptions, and strategic uncertainty regarding its long-term electrification plans. The battery-powered Golf, initially slated for 2028, won’t arrive before the decade’s end, according to sources familiar with Bloomberg. […]

First EU-assembled XPeng G6 and G9 roll off Magna Steyr line in Austria

September 16, 2025

In Graz, Austria, the first European-assembled models of the Chinese Xpeng G6 and G9 have rolled off the production line. The factory will initially assemble the two SUV models, but additional Xpeng vehicles are in the planning for the future. For Xpeng, which started selling in Norway in 2021 and has since expanded to over […]

VRT News dossier: ‘Flanders is Europe’s second cycling region’

September 15, 2025

By 2040, 30 percent of all journeys in Flanders should be by bicycle. This is the ambition of the Flemish government, which wants to invest 300 million euros annually in its cycling policy. These investments will definitely pay off in the future, experts say.  The Flemish government also wants an integrated cycling policy. Minister of Mobility Annick […]

Cybertruck’s flop mirrors Tesla’s declining US market grip

September 15, 2025

Tesla’s Cybertruck was meant to redefine the electric pickup market. Instead, it has become a cautionary tale for the EV maker, exposing the cracks in its once-dominant position. Just months after launching a cheaper rear-wheel-drive version (in April 2025), Tesla has quietly scrapped the model from the configurator, acknowledging what the market already knew: buyers […]

Hyundai to build first European Ioniq model in Türkiye

September 15, 2025

Türkiye is rapidly becoming a growing force in Europe’s fast-expanding EV market. Reportedly, Hyundai has also chosen the country to start assembling the Ioniq 3 as of 2026 in a bid to make the model more affordable due to lower wages and a beneficial trade deal between Türkiye and the EU.  The decision was revealed […]

Von der Leyen stands firm on 2035 ICE ban but moves up formal review

September 15, 2025

At last Friday’s highly anticipated meeting of European carmakers with the EU Commission, President Ursula von der Leyen didn’t give in to the pressure to question the 2035 phase-out date of CO2-emitting cars and vans. Still, it was agreed to forward the formal review of the 2035 rules from 2026 to the end of 2025. […]

‘Chinese Dyson’ to challenge Bugatti with vacuum cleaner tech (update)

September 12, 2025

After announcing it at the end of August, Chinese Dreame Technology has unveiled the first render images of the electric supercar it wants to build to challenge other supercars like Bugatti. And you might even see ‘some resemblance’ to the actual Bugatti Chiron, successor to the Veyron. Dreame has ambitions to build this car even […]

Porsche to demo 11 kW wireless home charging for upcoming Cayenne EV

September 05, 2025

Charging your car at home on an inductive charging pad like the one for your smartphone, but somewhat bigger. Porsche will be demoing an 11 kW inductive charging solution next week at the IAA motor show in Munich, to be used with the upcoming full-electric Cayenne in 2026. Porsche claims it will be the first […]

Tesla pivots to AI and robots as EV sales tumble

September 04, 2025

Tesla has unveiled the fourth chapter of its much-hyped ‘Master Plan’, a manifesto that typically outlines a roadmap for the company’s future. However, for the first time, the plan no longer focuses solely on electric transport and clean energy. Actually, the document reads more like an essay on artificial intelligence, humanoid robots, and Elon Musk’s […]

VW’s ID.2all Concept will become ID.Polo

September 04, 2025

Just ahead of the IAA, VW unveiled its new naming strategy for electric cars. As expected, it will drop the combination of the ID. prefix and a number, as VW intends to return to the names of its “established bestsellers.” The first model to follow this approach will be the production version of the ID.2all […]

BMW remains a hydrogen believer: series production in 2028

September 03, 2025

Several car manufacturers have abandoned the development of hydrogen-powered vehicles as a means of powering cars. Still, there are perseverers and, like Hyundai and Toyota, BMW is one of them. The last two are, in fact, seriously collaborating on the subject. BMW Group Plant Steyr is getting ready for series production of fuel cell systems. […]

Is Mercedes pulling the plug on EQE Sedan and SUV in 2026?

September 03, 2025

Weak demand and dwindling profits are reshaping Mercedes’ electric plans. According to the British website Autocar, this will lead to the discontinuation of the EQE sedan and its sibling, the EQE SUV, in 2026—a remarkable decision, as these models were only released in 2022. Instead of the planned facelift, they could be facing the axe. […]

Toyota assigns first European-built BEV to Czech plant

September 03, 2025

Toyota announced on Wednesday that the first battery electric vehicle (BEV) to be built in Europe will come from the Czech Republic. It pumps an additional €680 million into its Kolin facility to expand it for BEV production. Currently, this plant builds the Aygo X and Yaris Hybrid. The carmaker previously indicated plans to launch nine […]

Emily Coenegrachts is the new CEO of Traxio

September 03, 2025

Mobility federation Traxio has a new chief executive officer. Emily Coenegrachts will report to the board and the strategic committee. Coenegracht has expertise from very different sectors in the industry and has been working, among others, for BPost, VIAS, and Keolis. She will start officially in her new position on the 15th of September. Traxio […]

Smart confirms Fortwo successor with all-electric #2 due in 2026

September 02, 2025

Smart will return to its roots with a new two-seat city car that revives the spirit of the Fortwo, the diminutive model that defined the brand for more than two decades. The company, now a 50/50 joint venture between Mercedes-Benz and Geely, confirmed that the electric-only Smart #2 will debut in late 2026 as the […]

Belux car sales 10% lower than last year in the first eight months

September 02, 2025

According to data from the federal public service Mobility and Transport and those of the sector federation Febiac, 26,120 new cars were registered in August in Belgium and Luxembourg, representing a 10.9% decrease from the same month last year. Looking at the first eight months of 2025, 292,349 new cars were registered, representing a 10% […]

BMW Group sells 3 millionth electrified vehicle

September 01, 2025

With the handover of a 3 Series plug-in hybrid model from the Munich plant to a customer, BMW has sold its three millionth vehicle with an electrified drive. This milestone for the company was achieved through a significant increase in sales of fully electric models and plug-in hybrid models in the first half of 2025. “With […]

BYD rides sales surge but margins shrink in price war

September 01, 2025

BYD, the world’s biggest maker of electric vehicles, is selling record numbers of cars but has reported its first fall in profits in more than two years. The toll of a fierce price war in China’s car industry turns BYD’s strategy into a balancing act. The Shenzhen-based carmaker sold almost 2.2 million vehicles in the […]

New VW T-Roc versus ID.4, ICE vs BEV what to choose?

September 01, 2025

It’s here and it looks good, especially in bright yellow: the newest version of Volkswagen’s bestseller, the T-Roc. It is significantly larger, which translates into more rear-seat space and larger boot space, as well as premium tech from its larger siblings, such as the Tiguan, but still not electric. However, this might be the last […]

Could Mazda’s radical six-stroke engine make EVs obsolete?

August 29, 2025

Mazda has once again turned to unconventional thinking in its pursuit of cleaner combustion. The Japanese automaker, which builds on a solid reputation of daring powertrain experiments, has filed a patent for a six-stroke internal combustion engine that doesn’t emit any local CO2. So no, it is not running on e-fuels. Ready for something completely […]

Porsche is looking for a new CEO

August 29, 2025

According to a German media report, Porsche CEO Oliver Blume has decided to step down to focus on his role as head of the entire Volkswagen Group. The search for a successor is ongoing, with both internal and external candidates under consideration. The German business newspaper Wirtschaftswoche (WiWo) was the first to report on the […]

Volvo confirms XC70 plug-in hybrid SUV coming to Europe after China debut

August 28, 2025

Volvo Cars’ new XC70 plug-in hybrid SUV will not be limited to China after all. The automaker has confirmed that the long-range model, originally unveiled with a focus on the Chinese market, will also be offered in Europe, expanding its role within the brand’s global electrification strategy. The XC70 revives one of the most familiar […]

Suzuki starts global shipments of its first electric Indian-built eVitara

August 28, 2025

Suzuki Motor Corporation has begun shipping its first battery-electric vehicle, the eVitara, worldwide. The company hosted a dispatch ceremony at its Gujarat facility in India, where the compact SUV is produced. The event drew high-level participation, underscoring the importance of the launch for both Suzuki and India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Gujarat Chief Minister […]

Car industry asks EU (again) to revise C02 targets

August 27, 2025

In a letter addressed to the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, European automotive manufacturers (ACEA) and suppliers (CLEPA) outlined their expectations for the upcoming Strategic Dialogue on the future of the European automotive industry, scheduled for 12 September. The associations ask for a new ‘transformation plan’ to save the European automotive […]

BYD ships first Thai-made EVs to Europe in bid to dodge tariffs

August 27, 2025

China’s BYD has started exporting electric cars from its Thai factory to Europe. In anticipation of the start of its production site in Hungary, the Chinese EV maker uses this bypass to skip its 17.4% excess tariffs. As products imported from Thailand into the EU are exempt from import levies, the new route is expected […]

Michigan University study proves once again: EVs are always cleaner

August 27, 2025

A first-of-its-kind cradle-to-grave Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) study by the University of Michigan and Ford, spanning vehicle types, classes, regions, and usage patterns, shows once again that battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) are always the greener choice when comparing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. No matter where you live in the US. Across regions and methods worldwide, recent […]

Mercedes-AMG GT XX ‘around the world in eight days’ smashing EV records

August 26, 2025

Mercedes-AMG has pushed the limits of zero-emission performance with its GT XX concept, the forerunner of the brand’s first purely electric sports car. The futuristic four-door saloon has effectively driven the circumference of the Earth, without ever leaving southern Italy. Over the course of just over a week, two prototypes of the GT XX circled […]

Create a free account, or log in.

Gain access to read this article, plus limited free content.

Yes! I would like to receive new content and updates.