January 28, 2026
Since 2024, Mini has offered an electric SUV with the Countryman Electric. Now, the ‘British’ BMW Group brand has slightly modernized the drivetrain technology, enabling the Countryman E to exceed 500 kilometers of WLTP range for the first time. Mini first unveiled the fully electric Countryman at the IAA in Munich in 2023, and since […]
January 28, 2026
Dacia will continue to sell the Spring alongside its upcoming Renault Twingo-based EV, making it the only firm to offer two affordable, electric city cars at once. Dacia product boss Patrice Lévy-Bencheton, speaking to the English car magazine Autocar, explained that the two cars can coexist even though they are both A-segment EVs. “They are still […]
January 27, 2026
In 2025, new EU car registrations increased by 1.8% compared to the same period last year, according to data from the Association of European Car Manufacturers ACEA. However, overall volumes remain well below pre-pandemic levels. In December, the EU’s new-car market grew by 5.8%. The battery-electric car market share reached 17.4%, in line with projections […]
January 26, 2026
The American car manufacturer Ford has appointed Christian Weingärtner, effective February 1, to the newly created position of General Manager, Passenger Vehicles, Ford Europe. In his new role, Weingärtner will be responsible for the strategic direction and operational implementation of Ford’s passenger vehicle business in Europe. He will also oversee the introduction of a new […]
January 26, 2026
Nissan announced Friday that it has reached an agreement with Chery for Chery to acquire its production assets in Rosslyn, Pretoria (South Africa). Chery South Africa will acquire the land, buildings, and related assets of the Nissan plant, including its nearby stamping facility, by mid-year. “Nissan has a long and proud history in South Africa […]
January 23, 2026
French car manufacturer Renault Group intends to reintegrate its electric vehicle division Ampere into the main company. It was spun off in 2023, and a planned IPO for Ampere had already been halted some time ago. With a new CEO at the helm, François Provost, Renault is apparently reassessing the situation. This is reported by […]
January 23, 2026
According to the German news magazine Der Spiegel, German premium car manufacturers BMW and Mercedes-Benz have received significantly more pre-orders for their competing new electric SUVs than expected. As a result, both manufacturers are accelerating production of their ‘electric SUVs of a new era’, the BMW iX3, the first member of the ‘Neue Klasse’, and […]
January 22, 2026
Over 75 e-mobility leaders convened in Strasbourg on Wednesday, urging the EU Parliament to deliver regulatory certainty by 2035, not further dilution. More than 75 senior industry leaders from the Take Charge Europe campaign met Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) in Strasbourg with a clear message: strong, clean targets are essential for Europe’s electric […]
January 21, 2026
The new Seabob SE63 for Automobili Lamborghini is set to raise the bar for water toys on superyachts. It is the result of a brand collaboration between the VW Group sports car daughter and the German manufacturer Cayago AG. This new high-performance water toy is the result of a brand collaboration between Cayago AG, the […]
January 21, 2026
In an earlier contribution, we already discussed the relatively good sales figures of the Renault brand and the Renault Group in a challenging environment. Today, we put the spotlight on Renault’s daughters Dacia and Alpine. There are also persistent, indirectly confirmed rumors that the Renault Group will produce drones for the French Army. Dacia: 10 […]
January 20, 2026
The Renault brand delivered a strong performance in 2025, with 1,628,030 vehicles sold worldwide (+3.2% increase PC+LCV vs 2024), driven by a 10% increase in global passenger car sales (1,292,000 units). “This marks the third consecutive year of growth for the Renault brand, confirming the consistency and success of its commercial strategy, with steady and […]
January 19, 2026
The three regions in Belgium launch ‘Life Cycle Impact’, an all-in environmental score for cars, compared mutually based on their total lifecycle impacts. It’s an enlargement of the well-known Ecoscore and resumes in one figure the impact of production, fuel production, and use over 200,000 km. The score, developed by the research center Vito and […]
January 19, 2026
In just nine days (and a press day), the Brussels Motor Show drew almost 350,000 visitors to the Heyzel expo halls. That’s over 42,000 more than the year before (nearly +14%) and proof that the BMS has achieved a status that inevitably leads to the title of the most crucial motor show event in Europe. […]
January 16, 2026
Toyota Motor Europe (TME) sold a record 1,229,038 Toyota and Lexus vehicles in 2025 (+1%). TME’s mix of electrified vehicles grew to 77%, an increase of 5%, with sales of battery electric vehicles up 46%, plug-in hybrids up 76%, and hybrids up 3%. Toyota Professional’s range of commercial vehicles also achieved an all-time sales record […]
January 15, 2026
To be an electric leader over the long term, BMW also needs to electrify the emotional core of its brand: high-performance sports sedans like the M3 and M5. And it needs to do that with products that enthusiasts will accept as authentic. “BMW M’s high-performance vehicles will soon deliver the ‘Ultimate Driving Machine’ experience in […]
January 14, 2026
Stellantis has officially discontinued all plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) sold under its Jeep and Chrysler brands in North America. The CEO of Stellantis’ biggest competitor, GM, is somewhat surprised by this decision. Although GM has also slowed EV production, Mary Barra remains convinced that EVs will be the endgame. It will only take longer. […]
January 14, 2026
The Volkswagen Group delivered 983,100 electric vehicles worldwide across all brands in 2025, nearly a third more than in 2024. In Europe, deliveries increased by 66%. With a 32% increase compared to the 744,800 battery-electric vehicles delivered in 2024, the VW Group has returned to its growth trajectory. In 2024, global electric vehicle sales had declined […]
January 13, 2026
At the Brussels Motor Show, gaining in international importance, we were able to meet an increasing number of company representatives. One of them was Katrin Adt, the recently appointed new CEO of Dacia. Her message was clear: “We want our offer to be simple and affordable. Expanding into the fleet/leasing market is certainly not one […]
January 11, 2026
At the press day of the Brussels Motor Show last Friday, the organizers of the annual European Car of the Year election announced that the new Mercedes-Benz CLA can now call itself COTY 2026. In this 63rd edition of the election, the 59 members of the Jury, all car journalists from more than 20 European […]
January 08, 2026
Reinforced by its recent sales successes, Alpine is substantially enlarging its dealer network in Belgium. “This strategic enlargement follows the dynamic growth curve of Alpine and shows that Alpine wants to be even closer to its customers to deploy its electric portfolio progressively,” says the importer, Renault Belgium. Alpine already has ‘Alpine Stores’ in Antwerp, […]
January 08, 2026
Volvo Cars announces the appointment of Thomas Ingenlath as Chief Design Officer, effective 1 February 2026. Meanwhile, Volvo also reported its December sales and 2025 results. “The appointment of Thomas Ingenlath marks the return of one of the most influential designers in the company’s recent history and reinforces Volvo Cars’ leadership in design,” Volvo proudly […]
January 07, 2026
Bosch eBike Systems is making its e-bikes less attractive to thieves. At CES 2026 in Las Vegas, the company is presenting an additional protection mechanism that allows e-bikes to be marked as stolen via an app, making them visible as such across Bosch eBike Systems’ entire digital ecosystem. Bosch has added an extra layer of […]
January 07, 2026
Last year, the BMW Group once again produced more than one million vehicles at its German plants. This means that one in four cars built in Germany comes from a BMW Group plant. According to the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA), a total of 4.15 million vehicles were manufactured in Germany during the […]
January 07, 2026
The Dutch charging provider Fastned expanded its European fast-charging network to over 400 locations by the end of 2025. A total of 406 Fastned locations are now present in the Netherlands, France, Belgium, Germany, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Denmark, Spain, and Italy. In its announcement of this milestone, Fastned reflected on its journey to date: […]
January 07, 2026
At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, the German premium car manufacturers BMW and Mercedes-Benz are taking their intense rivalry to the technology show, showcasing digital AI innovations in their latest-generation vehicles. On the one hand, there’s the BMW Group with AI assistant technology via a collaboration with Amazon Alexa; on the other […]
January 06, 2026
According to the usually well-informed news site CarNewsChina (CNC), the profit margin of China’s auto industry was 4.4% in 2025 (January to November), at some $2,000 per vehicle (€1,700), the second lowest in history. The lowest in history was 2024, with 4.3%. Obviously, Chinese car manufacturers have some work to do if they want to […]
January 06, 2026
BMW has started trial production of its Neue Klasse electric vehicles at its factory in Shenyang. With the ongoing pre-series of the long-wheelbase BMW iX3, the company considers itself prepared for the start of series production in 2026. According to the Chinese news agency Xinhua, the first pre-series units of the long-wheelbase iX3 have been […]
January 06, 2026
In a French car market that decreases by another 5% in 2025 (YOY), Renault Group has sold more cars than Stellantis in the hexagon: it has reached almost 26.4% market share selling Renaults, Dacias, and Alpines, against 25.8% of share for the 14 Stellantis brands. If one counts LCVs into the equation, Stellantis is still […]
January 05, 2026
According to data from the sector federation Febiac and the federal public service Mobility & Transport, December was a very good month (+23.2%) for new car registrations, limiting the decrease for the whole year compared to 2024 to -7.5%. In 2025, 414,770 new cars were registered in Belgium and Luxembourg, 33,507 fewer than last year, […]
December 31, 2025
On Monday, sports car manufacturer Maserati, part of the Stellantis Group, appointed Van Mossel Automotive Group as sales and service partner for the Netherlands. Van Mossel will open two new Maserati showrooms in 2026. Earlier this year, there was already a collaboration between Van Mossel and Maserati about the import and service of the brand […]
December 30, 2025
The world’s largest-ever electric vehicle winter test just concluded in China, and the results show how extreme cold punishes driving range. Chinese EVs dominated the rankings, but one American and one Japanese model still cracked the top ten. The test was conducted by Autohome, China’s largest automotive media outlet, which drove roughly 67 new EVs […]
December 30, 2025
The ID. Polo is arriving in 2026 as the first of a new family of entry-level Volkswagen EVs. It was initially expected to start at €25,000, but that may take longer. The German automaker may still make electric mobility more affordable, but it likely won’t be as soon as expected. “With an entry-level price starting […]
December 29, 2025
2025 has seen a slew of announcements for high-speed electric vehicle (EV) motors, with several exceeding 30,000 rpm. What is behind this sudden need for speed? A report from IDTechEx discusses the benefits, challenges, and solutions for taking this approach. In an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle, a higher maximum rpm has been associated with […]
December 29, 2025
It’s no secret that the Alliance of Renault with its two Japanese partners, Nissan and Mitsubishi, has been under pressure in recent years. At the same time, collaborations with the Chinese car manufacturing group Geely have multiplied. Is Renault steadily preferring Geely over its Japanese partners? Renault started collaborating with Geely in 2021. First in […]
December 29, 2025
Volkswagen has confirmed that there will be no 2026 model year for the ID. Buzz in the US. However, US plans for the MEB van have not been completely canceled; a revised model is expected to follow in 2027. Back in July, Volkswagen temporarily suspended deliveries of the ID. Buzz to the US. At the […]
December 24, 2025
Korean car manufacturer Kia, part of the Hyundai Group, will get a new leader for its European division in the new year. Soohang Chang, the current head of the Middle East and Africa region, is set to take over as President and CEO of Kia Europe from January 1, 2026, with a focus on rapid […]
December 23, 2025
Volkswagen is discontinuing direct sales through the agency model for private customers across Europe. This means the distribution of electric vehicles will gradually return to the traditional dealership model. Almost exactly a year ago, VW decided that, from January 2026, battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) for private customers would return to the traditional dealer model in Germany […]
December 23, 2025
In November, EU car registrations rose 2.1% according to data from the European Car Manufacturers Association (ACEA). For the year to date (YTD), the rise is 1.4%. With the EFTA countries and the UK included, the increase is 2.4% and 1.9%, respectively. Despite the recent positive momentum, overall volumes remain well below pre-pandemic levels. The […]
December 22, 2025
The Volkswagen Group has completed its planning round for the next five years, although with a delay, but has not yet presented any results. This is likely also due to the situation at Audi, where CEO Gernot Döllner is said to have abandoned plans for a standalone US plant, but not for Audis built in […]
December 22, 2025
Chinese automaker Leapmotor, partner of Stellantis, plans to produce up to four models at Stellantis’ Spanish plant in Figueruelas near Zaragoza. As expected, production will start with the B10, followed by three additional models by 2027. The news was reported by the Spanish portal Forococheseléctricos, citing statements from Ding Yongfei, Leapmotor’s Global Quality Director. “We […]
December 19, 2025
For the 5th year in a row, BMW is the undisputed market leader in Belgium, a unique feat worldwide. BMW Belux CEO Alexander Wehr was, of course, thrilled with this result at the traditional yearly overview. When it comes to the future of BMW and Mini in our countries (and abroad), BMW’s top manager remains […]
December 17, 2025
Ford Motor Co. is drastically scaling back its electric vehicle plans and refocusing its U.S. manufacturing footprint on hybrid and gasoline vehicles to reduce losses from an EV market that never developed the way it envisioned. Ford has announced a comprehensive realignment of its electric vehicle business—primarily focused on North America. Production of the F-150 […]
December 15, 2025
The EU and China have resumed negotiations on a minimum price plan for electric cars manufactured in China. Most recently, the EU had examined a possible exemption for Volkswagen from EV tariffs, which now appears to have set the process in motion again. Representatives of the European Union and China are once again discussing alternatives […]
December 12, 2025
According to organizer Febiac, the Brussels Motor Show 2026 is alive and kicking. This 102nd edition will feature a record number of participating exhibitors (64), while two-wheelers are back again, with an additional 28 exhibiting companies. Frank Van Gool, CEO at the sector federation Febiac: “Records are always lovely for statistics, but to me it’s […]
December 11, 2025
Last week, President Donald Trump’s administration proposed loosening federal fuel-economy standards, giving automakers a reprieve from stringent emissions rules and prompting some analysts and environmental organizations to say the change could mean the return of the gas-guzzler. Trump and Department of Transportation officials said automakers might now be required to meet an average of 34.5 […]
December 10, 2025
Under the slogan ‘small is the new big’, Citroën launched its ELO concept car, “a laboratory of ideas that embodies the brand’s values of innovation and creativity and brings together ideas for the future,” according to Citroën. “ELO is small but thinks big! Small in size, it surprises with its spacious interior and modularity thanks […]
December 10, 2025
The Supervisory Board of BMW has decided on the successor to CEO Oliver Zipse: At the Annual General Meeting in May 2026, current Production Board Member Milan Nedeljković (56) will take over as Chairman of the Board in Munich. BMW had already made an exception to its internal age rule for Zipse. In 2023, the […]
December 09, 2025
Renault Group and Ford form a strategic partnership for passenger and commercial vehicles, starting with two affordable electric cars in Europe. The companies have signed a partnership agreement to develop two Ford-branded passenger electric vehicles based on Renault Group’s Ampere platform. Additionally, the companies will explore the opportunity to collaborate in the commercial vehicle segment […]
December 09, 2025
Six EU member states have urged the European Commission in a letter to weaken the planned 2035 ban on new registrations of internal combustion engine cars. The signatories are primarily from Central and Eastern European countries. A group of six EU member states is urging the European Commission to permit the sale of hybrid vehicles […]
December 08, 2025
The new GLB with EQ technology aims to maintain its reputation as the most practical of Mercedes-Benz’s entry-level models in the electric age. Following the CLA and its Shooting Brake variant, Stuttgart has now unveiled the most versatile model based on the MMA platform. While the drivetrain options hold no surprises, the design certainly does. […]
December 05, 2025
For the 39th edition of the Family Car election by Flemish mobility club VAB, the participating journalists and VAB members could choose from two pricing categories. In the past, there was a third category for electric cars, but it has since been abolished as more affordable BEVs have entered the market. This year, (partial) electrification […]
December 04, 2025
Jaguar Land Rover’s design chief, Gerry McGovern, has left the automaker amid a shakeup instigated by the new CEO, P.B. Balaji. McGovern was fired and “escorted out of the office,” Autocar India reported, citing sources with knowledge of the situation inside JLR’s Indian parent company, Tata Motors. JLR declined to comment when contacted. McGovern, 69, […]
December 04, 2025
As already assumed earlier, the Board of the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) has re-elected Ola Källenius, CEO of Mercedes-Benz, for a second term as ACEA President in 2026. Källenius is also setting the tone for his second year at the helm of the association: Competitiveness and market-driven decarbonisation high on agenda,” states the headline […]
December 03, 2025
A lot is going to happen for Nissan Belux in 2026. The recently launched Micra and Leaf are ready for sale; other BEVs are coming. Secondly, Nissan will again be present at the Brussels Motor Show (BMS) in January. Thirdly, Nissan Belux, part of Nissan eNEST (Benelux plus three Scandinavian countries), will be selling the […]
December 03, 2025
Renault’s Ampere ElectriCity plant in Douai has already built 100,000 examples of the Renault 5 E-Tech electric, launched in October 2024. The 100,000th vehicle, a Techno with a 52kWh battery (the most common level-trim/battery combination), was assembled last week. “A little over a year after its launch, the production of the 100,000th Renault 5 E-Tech […]
December 02, 2025
According to data from the sector federation Febiac and the Federal Public Service Mobility & Transport, 28,071 new cars were registered in November, 11.8% fewer than in the same month last year. Looking at the first 11 months of this year, sales went down 9.2% compared to the previous year. We see the same trend […]
December 02, 2025
Germany’s federal coalition has agreed on a unified national position regarding the EU’s 2035 zero-emission requirement for new cars. The government wants scope for ‘highly efficient combustion engine models’ alongside electric vehicles as the EU reviews its regulation. A formal proposal from Brussels is expected in December. Germany’s coalition government has agreed on a joint […]
December 01, 2025
The British start-up Morris Commercial will manufacture its electric revival of the Morris J-Type, a small van produced in the 1950s, in Wales. The market launch of the retro electric vehicle is now planned for late 2026, after initially being scheduled for 2021. Morris Commercial is now targeting a start of production at its St […]
November 27, 2025
Students at the Technische Universiteit Eindhoven (TU/e) have developed a sustainable electric city car called Aria, which users can repair themselves in some cases. The goal of the study is “to inspire the automotive industry and challenge European policymakers”, as the university team states. The Technical University in Eindhoven (southern Netherlands) is renowned for its […]
November 27, 2025
BMW is reportedly considering equipping some electric models with range extenders, primarily for the Chinese market. The larger model series are the main candidates, as they are more likely to have the space for an additional powertrain. News agency Bloomberg broke the news on BMW’s plans, citing sources familiar with the company’s strategy. Apparently, the […]
