October 16, 2026
France and Germany have struck a provisional deal to soften Europe’s 2035 emissions rules in exchange for stronger protection of European car production. Although it still requires approval from other EU countries and the European Parliament, the compromise between the bloc’s two largest economies significantly increases its chances of becoming law. But Toyota, whose European […]
October 16, 2026
Nine years after its original unveiling, Tesla has finally shown a radically redesigned Roadster that can drive upside down, accelerate like a rocket, and even perform aerial flips. The Texas demonstration was undeniably spectacular. But behind Elon Musk’s latest technological extravaganza lie some uncomfortable questions about broken promises, road legality, and whether customers will ever […]
October 16, 2026
Flanders is pressing ahead with plans to abolish mandatory technical inspections when used cars are sold, despite figures showing that almost one in five vehicles inspected last year had serious defects. A petition backed by 15,752 signatures has failed to secure an immediate reversal, while new documents raise questions about whether the reform’s environmental impact […]
October 15, 2026
Belgian motorcyclist Jelle Verstaen has set a new Guinness World Record by covering 436.5 kilometers on a production Zero DS without recharging, smashing the previous record by more than 40%. But the spectacular distance came with a little help from geography: a carefully planned route from the French Alps towards the Mediterranean, ridden at an […]
October 14, 2026
Electric cars are becoming an unexpected buffer against the global oil crisis. In the Benelux alone, EVs now displace an estimated $1 billion in oil annually, according to the energy think tank Ember. Across the EU, electric mobility avoided $3.1 billion in oil consumption in just six months. And with battery-electric cars accounting for more […]
October 13, 2026
BYD is bringing its ultra-fast Flash Charging technology to its European model range with the new Atto 8, a seven-seat electric SUV unveiled at the Paris Motor Show. Known in China as the Tang L, it takes over the flagship position currently occupied by the Tang, sold in Belgium from €72,000. Offering up to 653 […]
October 13, 2026
Renault has fully unveiled its electric E-Space Concept at the Paris Motor Show, revealing a futuristic six-seat interior that looks more like a living room than a conventional car. While the French manufacturer still has no plans to produce the MPV itself, it confirms that one of its most striking innovations, the 1.13-meter-wide OpenR Panorama […]
October 12, 2026
Tesla has abandoned one of its most controversial marketing claims in Europe. Its ‘Full Self-Driving (Supervised)’ software is now called ‘Tesla Assisted Driving’, following a compromise with the German government. But the change is more than cosmetic: it could help unlock the European market for Tesla’s advanced driving software, despite disagreements over speeding, safety and […]
October 12, 2026
Europe has reached a preliminary agreement with China to restrict rapidly growing imports of Chinese hybrid cars, potentially cutting future shipments by more than half. But while Brussels celebrates a trade breakthrough, Beijing insists exports can continue growing. Meanwhile, a new Allianz Trade study suggests Europe’s automotive crisis is partly self-inflicted. Will protectionism give European […]
October 12, 2026
Russia’s electric-car and plug-in-hybrid market is booming, partly fuelled by petrol shortages following Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries. President Vladimir Putin now wants the country to develop cutting-edge battery technologies, as state-owned Rosatom opens its second gigafactory. But Russia’s EV ambitions face an uncomfortable reality: much of its electric-car industry still depends on Chinese […]
October 09, 2026
Renault’s strategy to make its electric models more affordable is taking shape. Following similar improvements to the Renault 5 in August, the French carmaker is introducing a new entry-level Renault 4 with a smaller LFP battery, a less powerful electric motor and a Belgian starting price of €27,600. That is €2,300 below the Renault 4’s […]
October 09, 2026
Belgium’s electric company cars are approaching another fiscal turning point. From January 2027, newly ordered EVs will lose part of their generous tax deductibility for the first time. Leasing company Ayvens estimates that postponing an order for 50 BMW iX1s until next year could cost the company almost €35,000 over five years. But does that […]
October 09, 2026
The reborn Freelander brand, jointly developed by Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) and China’s Chery, has officially confirmed Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands among its European target markets. But the international Freelander 8 will be considerably different from the powerful Chinese version: its battery is almost halved, while output drops from 818 to 617 hp. As […]
October 08, 2026
Tesla wants its Full Self-Driving technology to conquer Europe, but CEO Elon Musk has highlighted one awkward edge case facing its camera-based approach: detecting small, low-contrast objects in the dark. His example? “Grey kittens on grey tarmac.” Tesla recently extended the operating hours of its Robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, from 10 p.m. to 11 […]
October 08, 2026
European electric car drivers are venturing further afield than ever, with Austria and Italy recording spectacular growth in holiday charging sessions. But while range anxiety is fading, unpredictable charging bills remain a headache. One Dutch driver even received a bill exceeding €400 for a single charging session in Paris. New figures from the Dutch motoring […]
October 07, 2026
Renault Group has appointed Carine Damois as its new Chief Financial Officer, bringing in an experienced finance executive from Michelin as CEO François Provost continues to shape his leadership team. She will take up the position on November 14. Damois has been Deputy CFO of Michelin since 2021 and has more than 20 years of […]
October 07, 2026
Renault spent the past decade gradually turning its pioneering Espace people carrier into an SUV. Now it seems to be reconsidering that decision. The new electric E-Space Concept goes back to the one-box proportions, spacious cabin and family-focused philosophy of the 1984 original. The concept will make its public debut at the Paris Motor Show […]
October 07, 2026
Range wasn’t the problem. Neither was finding chargers. But after 4,157 kilometers from Belgium to Albania and back, with electricity costing anything from nothing to almost €0.90/kWh, one question remained: what did the trip actually cost? And how does that compare with gasoline or diesel? In Parts 1 and 2 of our EV road trip, […]
October 06, 2026
Renault is doubling down on its French industrial base. In an interview with France Inter, CEO François Provost said the group intends to invest more than €10 billion in France over the next five years, mainly in electric mobility and more affordable cars. Renault had already put a more precise figure on that commitment in […]
October 06, 2026
Arval has recruited one of the top executives of its biggest European rival, Ayvens, to lead the company through its next phase. Annie Pin, currently Chief Commercial Officer at Ayvens, will become CEO of Arval on 1 April 2027, shortly after the BNP Paribas leasing subsidiary completed its major acquisition of Athlon. Pin will join […]
October 06, 2026
After 4,157 kilometers through nine countries, we rarely struggled to find electricity and rarely had to queue. But Europe’s collection of charging cards, apps, tariffs, and payment systems can still turn a simple charging stop into an unnecessary puzzle. A waiter in a bar in Gjirokastër probably provided the best summary of European EV charging […]
October 05, 2026
Can you take an electric car from Belgium to Albania without spending half your holiday looking for chargers? We put it to the test with a Kia EV6 on a three-week, 4,157-kilometer road trip through nine countries. Surprisingly, range was the least of our worries. One persistent argument against electric cars in Belgium – and […]
October 02, 2026
Transport & Environment says Europe is on track to produce enough battery cells to meet its own demand by 2030. On paper, that sounds like a major step toward independence from Asia. But recent failures, delays, and new Chinese investments in Europe show that the reality is more complicated. According to the environmental lobby group […]
October 02, 2026
Five months after Hyundai unveiled the China-developed IONIQ V, the electric fastback has now reached Chinese showrooms. Its most striking feature is no longer its futuristic styling or 800-volt architecture, but its price: even the version offering up to 650 kilometers of range costs less than €17,000 in China. Beijing Hyundai officially launched the IONIQ […]
October 01, 2026
Yet another Chinese EV brand is knocking on Europe’s door, but this very young AIVA comes with unusually heavyweight parents. The brand, backed by Seres and battery giant CATL, has chosen Paris for the global debut of its first production model, the ME7. European sales, however, have not yet been confirmed. AIVA was created in […]
October 01, 2026
BYD is radically overhauling its cheapest electric car. The second-generation Seagull, sold in Europe as the Dolphin Surf, grows by more than 40 centimeters, gains considerably more power, and moves upmarket with features including a massage seat, a sizeable frunk, and optional LiDAR. In European terms, the little Chinese city EV is emerging as a […]
October 01, 2026
Electric cars may retain considerably more of their value than conventional leasing calculations suggest. A new analysis by Transport & Environment (T&E) claims that the residual-value gap between battery-electric and combustion cars could be around 80% smaller once taxation, subsidies, inflation and falling new-EV prices are taken into account. Based on 2025 used-car transaction data […]
September 22, 2026
Renault is testing just how far its diamond badge can stretch into premium territory. The new Rafale Hypnotic will cost €60,500 in Belgium and be limited to 1,500 numbered cars across Europe. But beneath the exclusive satin-black finish, there is no extra horsepower: mechanically, it remains the same 300-hp Rafale Atelier Alpine. That makes the […]
September 22, 2026
Alpine’s electric expansion appears to be doing more than simply increasing volumes. Almost 80% of A290 buyers come from outside Renault Group’s existing customer portfolio, while the electric hot hatch now accounts for 70% of all Alpine sales. Those two figures offer perhaps the clearest indication yet that Renault Group’s decision to turn Alpine from […]
September 21, 2026
BMW Motorrad has made motorcycle racing history by becoming the first European manufacturer to win the FIM Endurance World Championship. But behind the German badge is a remarkably Belgian operation: the factory team is run by former Belgian racer Werner Daemen, whose MRP Racing organization is based in Genk. The BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team […]
September 15, 2026
Renault’s new Trafic Van E-Tech electric has been named International Van of the Year 2027, even before the first customer vehicles hit the road. The 26-member jury voted unanimously for Renault’s new mid-sized electric van at the IAA Transportation show in Hanover. The award is Renault’s sixth IVOTY title, but the more interesting question is […]
September 14, 2026
Two months after opening the Belgian order books for the B03X, Leapmotor has released the full European specification of its compact electric crossover. The €24,900 starting price remains unchanged, but the final range figures, equipment details and unusually practical interior now give a clearer picture of how Stellantis’ Chinese partner intends to attack Europe’s crowded […]
September 14, 2026
Renault will not follow Chinese rivals into ever-shorter vehicle development cycles. CEO François Provost says around two years is effectively the lower limit for an all-new platform and its first model if the French group wants to preserve proper testing, validation and quality. That is a striking line for a company that has spent the […]
September 14, 2026
BMW M is preparing a conspicuously old-school birthday present for the Nürburgring. To mark the German circuit’s centenary in 2027, it is launching six M cars and three M motorcycles in a ‘100 Jahre Nürburgring’ edition, all finished in historical Nürburgring Green and dressed with Nordschleife references. The timing is almost more interesting than the […]
September 14, 2026
Nearly half of all passenger cars in Belgium’s long-term rental fleet are now fully electric. And the transition is far from finished: more than three-quarters of the vehicles ordered by leasing companies in the first half of 2026 were BEVs. Belgium’s company-car fleet continues to electrify at a pace that bears little resemblance to the […]
September 13, 2026
BMW is moving its hydrogen program another step closer to series production. The next-generation iX5 Hydrogen is undergoing real-world testing while prototype assembly, supplier industrialization, and production preparations are running in parallel. Technically, BMW is increasingly demonstrating that a hydrogen passenger car can work. The harder question in 2026 is whether enough customers will still […]
September 10, 2026
China’s battery industry has pushed lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cells beyond 200 Wh/kg in a new fourth-generation high-compaction benchmark. The number sounds technical, but the consequence is simple: the cheaper battery chemistry that dominates China can store more energy per unit weight, making it increasingly suitable for longer-range EVs in Europe, too. Chinese battery expert […]
September 10, 2026
D’Ieteren Group is changing drivers at a remarkably sensitive moment. Francis Deprez will step down as CEO in December after seven years at the helm and will be replaced by Belgian investment specialist Eric Machiels. The announcement comes barely a week after D’Ieteren Automotive put 344 Belgian jobs at risk – and as the group […]
September 09, 2026
Fastned has officially inaugurated its largest charging station in Wallonia, with twelve ultra-fast charging points along the E411 at Libin. But behind the new yellow canopy lies another story: the ambitious Fastned-IDELUX network announced two years ago is taking considerably longer to materialize than initially planned – and one of the original eleven locations has […]
September 09, 2026
Only days after announcing a restructuring that could put 344 jobs at risk, D’Ieteren Automotive has opened a new Bugatti showroom and workshop in Drogenbos, south of Brussels. At first sight, the timing could hardly be more contradictory. In reality, it says a lot about where Belgium’s biggest car importer thinks money will still be […]
September 09, 2026
Belgium’s plan to make the federal mobility budget compulsory for employers offering company cars could punch a hole of up to €1 billion a year in federal revenues, according to calculations by consultancy EY seen by De Tijd. The figure is striking, but it is not a forecast: it represents a scenario in which one […]
September 09, 2026
Renault has appointed former Nissan and General Motors executive Jean-Pierre Diernaz as its new global marketing chief. At first sight, it looks like another management reshuffle. But Diernaz’s long Nissan history and the fact that he will report directly to Fabrice Cambolive give the appointment a broader significance. Diernaz becomes Vice-President Renault Brand Global Marketing […]
September 08, 2026
Volkswagen is preparing one of the most striking industrial conversions of Germany’s post-war era. Its Osnabrück plant, best known today for the T-Roc Cabriolet, is set to stop building cars in summer 2027 and gradually become a competence center for security and defense systems. VW has agreed key terms with the state of Lower Saxony […]
September 08, 2026
Nissan has appointed Tom Stampaert as Country Performance Manager for Belgium and Luxembourg. The title may sound less senior than the former ‘Country Manager’ label, but the job is substantial. Stampaert will lead Nissan’s commercial activities in both countries and work closely with the local organization and dealer network. He arrives at a difficult moment. […]
September 08, 2026
Dacia has officially unveiled the second-generation Spring, and the biggest change is not its tougher design or slightly longer range. Europe’s cheapest electric car is no longer a low-cost Chinese import. The new Spring will be built at Renault Group’s Novo Mesto plant in Slovenia, with an expected starting price in Europe of €17,900. Belgian […]
September 07, 2026
A month after revealing the technology behind its new A2 e-tron, Audi has answered perhaps the more important question: what will its new electric entry model actually cost? In Belgium, prices start at €38,450, while the version offering the headline 646-kilometer WLTP range comes in at €48,550. That puts the A2 e-tron in an interesting […]
September 07, 2026
Three weeks after Geely announced its €20,000 E2 for Belgium and the Netherlands, the compact EV is moving from announcement to reality. The first cars have reached Belgian showrooms, while Dutch dealers are opening their doors for orders and test drives. And Geely is not relying on a handful of experimental outlets: the brand already […]
September 07, 2026
When we first met the Mazda CX-6e at its static Belgian presentation in June, the central question was obvious: can an electric SUV developed together with Changan and built in China really feel like a Mazda? After roughly three hours behind the wheel around Düsseldorf, the answer is clearer. On the road, surprisingly often yes. […]
September 03, 2026
Leapmotor has surpassed the 100,000-car monthly delivery threshold for the second month in a row, underscoring just how quickly the Chinese EV maker is moving from start-up status to a global volume player. The company delivered a record 103,129 vehicles in August, 80.7% more than a year earlier and slightly above July’s 101,267 units. That makes […]
September 03, 2026
A massive analysis of more than 500,000 EV battery tests suggests that most electric cars retain at least 90% of their original battery capacity after 150,000 kilometers. But the averages hide large differences between individual cars – precisely why Belgium is already adding battery-health data to the Car-Pass and why calls for an independent battery […]
September 02, 2026
Belgian speed-pedelec start-up Specter has started production of its second-generation Specter 2, promising up to 200 kilometers of range and two-wheel drive. But the real achievement may be less spectacular than those headline figures: Specter has found a way to make much of the technology of its €10,000-plus first generation considerably more affordable, while bringing frame […]
September 02, 2026
MINI used to be the kind of car employees wanted, but fleet managers hesitated to buy. In Belgium, that image has changed remarkably quickly. HR group Accent has now ordered 500 fully electric MINIs, the largest single EV order in MINI history worldwide. The cars, mainly Aceman and Countryman Electric models, will be deployed across […]
September 02, 2026
The Belgian new-car market continued to claw back its poor start to 2026 in August. Registrations rose by 8.3% year-on-year to 28,295 cars, while fully electric models took a record 46.2% of the market. Yet the headline growth needs some perspective: August had one more working day than last year, and volumes remain well below […]
September 01, 2026
From 1 January 2027, the mandatory technical inspection before the sale of a used car will disappear in Flanders for vehicles already registered in Belgium. Mobility organization VAB says buyers should therefore rely on three “safety lines”: the regular roadworthiness inspection, the Car-Pass, and, for those seeking greater certainty, a voluntary professional diagnosis. The warning […]
September 01, 2026
BMW is reportedly postponing the introduction of its agency sales model in Germany until mid-2028, more than two years later than originally planned. That seems strange, as BMW continues to insist that the same model is working successfully at MINI. The explanation may be that MINI demonstrated both the potential and the complexity of taking […]
September 01, 2026
Dutch car-sharing company MyWheels wants to become the first major European operator to put Tesla’s Full Self-Driving Supervised system into shared cars. It plans to deploy at least 50 FSD-equipped Teslas in 2026, with the first car already in service. But after questions from Newmobility.news, MyWheels is adding an important nuance to its original claim. […]
August 31, 2026
When BYD unveiled its tiny Racco for Japan earlier this year, it looked like a very specific answer to the peculiar rules of the Japanese kei-car market. Six months later, it is becoming clear that some of its technology could also shape BYD’s next generation of small, affordable EVs for Europe. According to reports from […]
August 31, 2026
Volkswagen has finally shown the ID. California Cruise at the Caravan Salon in Düsseldorf. But anyone expecting an electric equivalent of the familiar California Ocean may be surprised. VW appears to have solved the weight problem that once put the ID. Buzz camper on hold by keeping this first version deliberately simple. That makes the […]
August 31, 2026
Renault will use the IAA Transportation show in Hanover to take the next commercial step with its completely new Trafic Van E-Tech electric. The van itself is no longer a secret: the definitive production version was shown at Solutrans last November. What appears to be new on September 14 is the opening of the order […]
August 28, 2026
Lotus is growing again, but its latest half-year results also confirm how radically the British sports-car brand has had to rewrite its future. Deliveries rose 39% in the first half of 2026, yet Europe went backward, losses remain heavy, and the parent company, Geely, has had to inject another $128 million. The all-electric revolution is over. […]
