CEO Mazda Europe: ‘We will never tell people what they need’

January 23, 2023

At the Brussels Motor Show, the Japanese manufacturer Mazda had a world premiere, the MX-30 e-Skyactiv R-EV, a range extender version of their MX-30 BEV. On the sidelines, we talked to Martijn ten Brink, President and CEO of Mazda Europe. This relatively small car manufacturer has its own way of doiThis content has been archived. […]

With 270.000 visitors Brussels Motor Show secures its survival

January 23, 2023

The 100th-anniversary edition of the Brussels Motor Show (BMS) welcomed some 270 000 public visitors in nine days. That’s considerably less than in the heydays before the pandemic, but it still makes it the most popular indoor event in Belgium. The organizers hoped that 300-350 000 people would hThis content has been archived. Log in […]

BMW Motorrad breaks sales record

January 20, 2023

BMW Motorrad achieved the highest sales in its corporate history, with 202 895 motorcycles and scooters handed over to customers in 2022. This is an increase of +4,4 % compared to the previous year. By doing so, BMW Motorrad remains in first place in the global premium motorcycle and scooter segmentThis content has been archived. […]

Vanwall launches the Vandervell, its first EV production car

January 20, 2023

Vanwall, a former English Formula 1 racing team, is revived and has presented an electric compact production model to be built in Germany. The Vandervell stands out with its sporty look and performance and will be delivered in the third quarter of 2023 at a (hefty) price tag of around €150 000. This content has […]

CEO Stellantis: ‘We can no longer wait for governments to take decisions’

January 19, 2023

After leaving the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) last year, Stellantis has just announced they will stop all European lobbying efforts. CEO Carlos Tavares made the decision as a way to be more proactive than reactive in terms of future mobility strategies. “We no longerThis content has been archived. Log in or Subscribe to a […]

Jon Williams (Ford): ‘Different customer needs ask for specialized businesses’

January 18, 2023

At the Brussels Motor Show, we met Jon Williams, European Vice-President and General Manager of Ford Blue, the ICE part of Ford Europe’s business. He talked about the different specialisms inside Ford Motor Company now. “Recently, we’ve made clear that electrification and sustainability are the mThis content has been archived. Log in or Subscribe to […]

EU car market at its lowest level since 1993

January 18, 2023

In December 2022, new car registrations in the EU expanded by 12,8%, marking the fifth consecutive month of growth this year. However, in 2022, the European Union passenger car market contracted by 4,6%, mainly due to component shortages in the first half of the year. Although the market improvedThis content has been archived. Log in […]

Volvo’s smallest EVs get improved range, charging, and RWD

January 17, 2023

As part of a new package of product updates, Volvo has improved both the range (WLTP) and charging for the XC40 Recharge and C40 Recharge, increasing range by as much as 60 kilometers on some variants. Furthermore, three new powertrains are offered on the C40 Recharge and XC40 Recharge. These incThis content has been archived. […]

BMW CEO: ‘Our EVs will soon be the benchmark’

January 17, 2023

Last week, BMW Group CEO Oliver Zipse previewed some of the technology on its ‘Neue Klasse’ EV platform at the CES in Las Vegas. He was also very outspoken regarding the group’s future in the EV market. Zipse boldly said that BMW’s next wave of EVs will be the industry benchmark in range, chargingThis content […]

World premiere at BMS: Mazda adds PHEV-version of MX-30

January 16, 2023

As we were already hinting at a few weeks ago, Mazda revealed a new car at the Brussels Motor Show. The independent Japanese manufacturer is adding a plug-in hybrid version to its battery-electric MX-30. The MX-30 e-Skyactiv R-EV is the announced new variant with a rotary engine acting as a range exThis content has been […]

Car of the Year 2023 is Jeep Avenger

January 16, 2023

For the first time, the award-winning Car of the Year (COTY) ceremony was at the Brussels Motor Show. Fifty-seven car journalists from 23 countries have finally voted for the fully electric Jeep Avenger as COTY 2023. Before the voting, there was no great rival this year, although the VW ID. Buzz This content has been […]

D’Ieteren will show more than cars at BMS

January 12, 2023

Where VW Group importer D’Ieteren had decided not to be present at the 2022 BMS (which was finally canceled), it’s again present with an entire exposition hall (11) at the BMS 2023. But the importer will not only show the novelties of its VW Group brands. Apart from that, all ‘new mobility’ proposalThis content has […]

‘Premium experiences and events’ instead of a motor show

January 12, 2023

The organizers of the Brussels Motor Show are announcing the presence of 95% of the market at the motor show opening its doors (for the press and VIP guests) tomorrow. However, it’s only 85% considering that Mercedes-Benz and Jaguar Land Rover will only be ‘symbolically’ present. Volvo and Mercedes This content has been archived. Log […]

Growing EV sales confirm BMW’s lead among German premium three

January 11, 2023

For the second consecutive year, the BMW Group has beaten Mercedes-Benz in total sales for 2022. The number three, Audi, follows at arm’s length. Also noticeable: all three have sold consistently more electric and electrified cars than in 2021. With 2,4 million vehicles sold by the BMW Group (BMWThis content has been archived. Log in […]

Rolls-Royce and Co: newly preferred toys for the super rich (update)

January 11, 2023

In 2022, the high-luxury daughter of BMW, Rolls-Royce, sold 6021 cars. Never before has the illustrious company sold so many cars: 8% more than the previous record year, and that was 2021. Bentley sold more than 15 000 cars, also a record. So the Ukrainian war, the energy prices, etc., don’t affeThis content has been […]

Everybody ‘premium’? How the ‘generalists’ are losing their clients

January 10, 2023

When one follows the car market and the manufacturers’ policies, one of the ever-recurring words is ‘premium’. There’s almost no manufacturer anymore that doesn’t want to be –be it partly – premium, at the same time neglecting a (big) part of its former sales base. It’s becoming very crowdy in tThis content has been archived. […]

VinFast gives details about smaller cars VF6 and VF7

January 09, 2023

VinFast, Vietnam’s electric car manufacturer, is lining up its following two models after the VF 8 and VF 9 that were previously presented. At CES, VinFast specified the VF 6 and VF 7, their new B and C segment electric cars. Vinfast expects to open reservations this coming March. Meanwhile, the bThis content has been […]

Stellantis CEO Tavares warns: ‘Middle-class consumers will buy Chinese’

January 09, 2023

In an interview with the German specialized magazine Automobilwoche at the Computer Electronics Show  (CES) in Las Vegas, Stellantis boss Carlos Tavares warns the industry that many European middle-class customers will buy Chinese in the future. “The price difference between European and ChineseThis content has been archived. Log in or Subscribe to a level that […]

Michelin shows automated tire inspection scanner TireStation

January 06, 2023

ProovStation and Michelin unveiled TireStation, a fast and reliable solution for automated tire inspection, at the CES in Las Vegas. Combining the expertise and know-how of both companies, the system optimizes professional tire inspection. According to both companies, TireStation is a turnkey tiThis content has been archived. Log in or Subscribe to a level that […]

ZF shows ‘heat belt’ to increase EV range and new self-driving shuttle

January 06, 2023

The German automotive supplier ZF is looking to save range as much as possible for EVs. The latest attempt is a heated seat belt that claims somewhat surprising range improvements. At the same time, ZF is showing its next self-driving shuttle at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. TThis content has been archived. […]

RAM 1500 EV will come in 2024, a concept is shown at CES

January 06, 2023

The electric Ram 1500 pickup Stellantis showed at the CES today is still a concept vehicle. Unlike what was rumored a few weeks ago, the production vehicle will not appear before 2024. Instead, the Ram 1500 Revolution BEV wants to give an idea of what Ram will be doing a year from now, “redefining tThis […]

Car market 2022: still slow, but electrification is gaining momentum

January 05, 2023

A few days ago, we gave the final results of the Belux market. Today, we go for some analysis and pay attention to foreign markets. We see that the market trends quickly evolve as the energy transition comes under steam and other evolutions manifest themselves. The influence of the company car maThis content has been […]

BMW shows ‘digital emotion experience’ i-Vision Dee in Las Vegas

January 05, 2023

The BMW Group shows its vision of ‘the future digital experience’, at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2023 in Las Vegas. The BMW i Vision Dee is a futuristic mid-size sedan with a new, pared-down design language. ‘Dee’ stands for Digital Emotional Experience, aiming to create an even stronger boThis content has been archived. Log […]

Renault COO: ‘There will be no Zoe successor’

January 04, 2023

The Renault Zoe, first released in 2012, will not be replaced. Renault’s second-in-command, Fabrice Cambolive, has confirmed this to the English car magazine Autocar. Instead, Zoe will end its life as one of the best-selling electric cars in its home country and one of the EV best-sellers in Europe.This content has been archived. Log in […]

VW shows camouflaged ID.7 at CES in Las Vegas

January 04, 2023

Volkswagen will showcase its first fully electric sedan based on the modular electric drive matrix (MEB) at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas (from 5 to 8 January). Following on from ID.4, the new sedan is Volkswagen’s next global electric vehicle and will be offered on three continThis content has been archived. Log […]

Four out of five new car sales in Norway are electric

January 03, 2023

In 2022, almost 80% of all newly registered cars in Norway were electric, a world record. Tesla is the overall market leader, with a 12,2% market share. As the government wants to build down incentives and the Norwegian consumer is having trouble recharging, it could be that this was the highest salThis content has been […]

Belgian car sales -4,4% in 2022, BMW number one again

January 03, 2023

Despite an excellent December month (+20,6% compared to last year), the Belgian car market regressed by 4,4% compared to 2021. This was due to significant deficits in sales in the first seven months, which couldn’t be compensated by the progress in the last five months. As the Belgian market stays dThis content has been archived. […]

RAM 1500 REV electric pickup is ready for launch

January 03, 2023

Ram’s electric pickup is set to debut in less than a week, and up until recently, it wasn’t exactly clear what it would be called. However, a new trademark filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office indicates it could go by the name of Ram 1500 REV. On January 5, Ram will reveal […]

Hyundai will only sell EVs in Norway

December 30, 2022

From now on, Hyundai Motors has decided to sell only pure electric vehicles in Norway. The Hyundai Group has invested a lot lately in developing electric cars. It is already benefitting from it as it has become the third biggest car manufacturer in the world. Hyundai imported the first electric IThis content has been archived. […]

Brussels Motor Show: ‘ugly duckling’ is one of the survivors

December 30, 2022

The 100th-anniversary edition of the Brussels Motor Show (BMS, 14 to 22 January 2023) will show at least 14 world or European premieres and 48 Belgian ones. Of course, this has to do with the absence of the (live) show for a couple of years, but also with the painful exit of some of its […]

And now for something completely different: we drove the Smart #1

December 29, 2022

The era of the original Smart two-seater has gone. In came the new Smart, a completely different approach and the fruit of a collaboration between Mercedes and Geely. The new #1 is also a completely electric car, like the latest ‘old’ Smarts, but every other similarity halts here. The newcomer isThis content has been archived. […]

Hyundai pussyfooting into third place worldwide

December 29, 2022

The Hyundai Group is officially the third-largest automaker globally, behind only Volkswagen and Toyota. However, the South Korean automaker may have an advantage as the auto industry transitions to electric vehicles. Especially as the number one, Toyota, seems to hesitate to go for EVs at full speeThis content has been archived. Log in or Subscribe […]

Henrik Fisker: ‘Nobody wants to drive a bad-looking car’

December 28, 2022

Since the end of last month, the first units of the new electric SUV Fisker Ocean have been coming of the line in the Magna-Steyr factory in Austria. This is a perfect moment to ask CEO and owner Henrik Fisker about his views on the car business and its recent evolutions. Henrik Fisker is Danish […]

Will ‘retrofit’ soon have a legal base in Belgium?

December 28, 2022

Retrofit, the transformation of an existing, sometimes old car into an electrically driven one, is becoming increasingly popular. But many countries have legal obstacles to such a conversion. Federal Mobility Minister Georges Gilkinet (Ecolo) wants to solve these problems by creating a legal canvas This content has been archived. Log in or Subscribe to a […]

Scania to deliver 600 electric trucks for Girteka in Lithuania

December 27, 2022

Scania and the transportation company Girteka from Lithuania announce an extensive new partnership. Girteka expects Scania to deliver up to 600 battery-electric trucks over the next four years. The companies will also collaborate on establishing charging infrastructure. The aim is to help reduce This content has been archived. Log in or Subscribe to a level […]

Umicore and Nano One join forces to produce cathode active materials

December 27, 2022

Umicore, the Belgian materials technology group, and the Canadian battery developer Nano One announce the signing of a non-exclusive agreement to jointly develop production process technologies for lithium-ion battery active cathode materials. Both companies intend to share their technologies forThis content has been archived. Log in or Subscribe to a level that has access to […]

Citroën’s Christmas present: another 1 000 My Ami Buggy’s

December 23, 2022

Did you miss your Citroën My Ami Buggy? Most probably, the 50 produced specimens were sold out in… 18 minutes. Now, Citroën has decided to produce 1 000 more, twenty times the initial number. As an answer to the success of the first version, a new limited edition of “My Ami Buggy” will goThis content […]

BMW to produce solid-state battery cells in Germany with Solid Power technology

December 23, 2022

BMW wants to produce solid-state battery cells in its own pilot plant in Germany based on the design of technology partner Solid Power. To this end, the Munich-based carmaker has obtained a research and development license from the US company. “Solid Power, Inc., an industry-leading developer of This content has been archived. Log in or […]

Survey: ‘One-third of Belgians not in favor of electrified car’

December 22, 2022

Belgium’s biggest bank, BNP Paribas Fortis, wants to be far more active in the mobility sector. So it launched a survey among 2 000 Belgians about their mobility preferences. 35% of the respondents declared not to be ready for electrification (fully electric or hybrid), which is a 6% increase comThis content has been archived. Log […]

Toyota produces 5th generation hybrid powertrain in Europe

December 22, 2022

Toyota has announced a €77 million investment for producing fifth-generation hybrid powertrains at its Poland and UK plants. The powertrain will be built in the UK and Turkey and used for the first time in the new Corolla. Seven production lines will be upgraded at Toyota Motor Manufacturing PoThis content has been archived. Log in […]

Stellantis starts electric drive production in Trémery and partners with Octopus Energy

December 21, 2022

Stellantis has started production of electric drive systems at its former largest diesel engine plant in Trémery as part of the Emotors joint venture with Nidec. Production capacity is expected to reach more than 1 million units annually by 2024. The first electric motor will be called M3 and haThis content has been archived. Log […]

Audi presents ‘360 factory’, producing EVs in all plants as of 2029

December 21, 2022

Audi has presented its plan for future production strategy under the slogan ‘360factory’. By the end of this decade, the brand will manufacture electrically powered models at all production sites worldwide. By 2033, ICE models will be phased out completely, and production costs will have to be hThis content has been archived. Log in or […]

Car importer D’Ieteren takes over Jennes dealerships (update)

December 20, 2022

Via its daughter Sopadis, D’ieteren Auto wants to take over the dealerships owned by the Jennes family in the eastern part of the Vlaams Brabant province. In a press release, D’Ieteren states that the negotiations for the take-over are in an advanced stage. Just yesterday, the Belgian competition auThis content has been archived. Log in […]

BMW Belux CEO: ‘We want to double our BEV sales in 2023’

December 20, 2022

During a press conference previewing the Brussels Motor Show of next January, BMW Belux CEO Alexander Wehr declared that he foresees doubling the sales of pure electric BMWs in 2023. This year, already 12% were BEVs, but some 40% were plug-in hybrids, BMW Belux totaling more than half of its BMW salThis content has been […]

Mobile inductive charging on trial in Germany

December 19, 2022

For the first time in Germany, dynamic wireless charging technology for electric vehicles is being tested in practice. The main actor of the pilot project in Balingen is a shuttle bus for the Garden Show 2023, which is to charge its vehicle battery while driving. The Israeli company ElectReon, whThis content has been archived. Log […]

Stellantis thinks about producing small EVs in India

November 28, 2022

European car manufacturers struggle to produce affordable EVs in Europe and to make it a profitable business. That’s why Stellantis boss Carlos Tavares, during a visit to Chennai (India) declared that his company was unable at the moment to produce affordable EVs in Europe and that he was thinking oThis content has been archived. Log […]

BMW will also produce batteries in Debrecen

November 28, 2022

BMW has announced that it will build assembly lines for the high-voltage batteries next to the new vehicle plant in Debrecen, Hungary. The first construction work is already underway, and the production of the battery packs will begin in parallel with vehicle production of the New Class, ‘die Neue KThis content has been archived. Log […]

Mercedes USA offers power upgrade via subscription

November 25, 2022

Mercedes-Benz USA has posted a new product called ‘Acceleration Increase’ on its online shop’s website. The new service costs $1 200 for one year (excluding tax) of the service, which can improve an EQ vehicle’s acceleration by 0,8 to 1,0 seconds. The car manufacturer’s website writes that thThis content has been archived. Log in or […]

100th Brussels Motor Show: less space, more information and animation

November 25, 2022

The anniversary edition of the Brussels Motor Show (BMS), taking place from 14 to January 22nd, 2023, is not to be considered the 100th edition of the ‘old school’ motor show but the first of a new kind. The aim is clear: inform the visitor/customer about the energy transition and its (electric) This content has […]

ZF presents new electric drives

November 23, 2022

The German supplier ZF presented a new generation of electric drives for passenger cars and light commercial vehicles. With numerous innovations at the component and system level, these are to “set standards with outstanding power density and energy efficiency”. According to the company’s preThis content has been archived. Log in or Subscribe to a level […]

Is VW readjusting its e-strategy?

November 23, 2022

Persistent rumors exist that the VW brand is about to replan its product strategy for further electric models fundamentally. According to some reports, more electric cars based on the MEB platform will be launched on the market.  This means that MEB will have to be modernized, with an investment ofThis content has been archived. Log […]

ABB E-mobility raises over €200 million for further growth

November 22, 2022

Swiss/Swedish technology group ABB has raised CHF 200 million (± €204 million) for its E-mobility division. Shares to raise said capital are being issued as part of a pre-IPO private placement. The transaction is expected to close before the end of 2022, and the capital will be used to implement This content has been archived. […]

ACEA’s 9-month overview of car registration and production

November 21, 2022

In October 2022, new passenger car registrations continued their upward trend (+12,2%) in the European Union, with 745 855 units sold. However, this result remained nearly 290 000 units below the October 2019 pre-pandemic levels. When we look at the first nine months, car registrations in the EU felThis content has been archived. Log in […]

VW breaks EV production record, ID. sub-brand now really on course

November 21, 2022

Volkswagen’s electric car plant in Zwickau set a production record in the week from 7 to 11 November when 7 100 electric cars were produced, more than in any previous week. This means that the plant is close to reaching its maximum capacity. Concerning the future of the VW icon Golf, the CEO has iThis […]

First Fisker Ocean rolls off the line at Magna plant in Austria

November 18, 2022

The production of the Fisker Ocean has started on schedule at the contract manufacturer Magna in Graz (Austria). However, this production of the electric SUV, for which Fisker has registered more than 63 000 reservations so far, is not expected to really pick up speed until next year. In addition, tThis content has been archived. […]

VW CEO Blume questions new EV factory in Wolfsburg

November 18, 2022

According to German media sources, the new Volkswagen Group boss Oliver Blume is questioning the construction of the new electric car plant initiated by his predecessor Herbert Diess in the Warmenau district of Wolfsburg. It also means that the first EV planned to be produced there, the prestigious This content has been archived. Log in […]