August 21, 2025
This summer, Belgium has 100,000 public charging points in the country, possibly providing energy for over 380,000 fully electric cars and 270,000 PHEVs driving on Belgian roads. This puts Belgium in third place across Europe when looking at the availability of charging points per inhabitant. Belgium now has 7.6 charging points per 1,000 inhabitants; only […]
August 19, 2025
Chinese car manufacturer BYD’s new all-terrain circuit is the first of its kind in China, and it’s pretty wild. It’s more than a test track. The complex is essentially a playground for electric vehicles with indoor dunes, ice fields, off-road mountains, and high-speed racetracks. It even has a pool. It shouldn’t be open only to […]
August 19, 2025
At the event in Emden, where a VW top brass handed over the 1.5 millionth ID. model, VW sales chief Martin Sander was calling for greater government support to accelerate the shift to electric vehicles. Meanwhile, VW introduced a power hike on its ID.3 EV by subscription. First reactions aren’t that enthusiastic. “We need a […]
August 18, 2025
Following Håkan Samuelsson’s return to the CEO position in the spring, Volvo Cars has made further changes to its top management team. In addition, there will be managers responsible for the individual product lines in the future. In March, Volvo’s board of directors dismissed CEO Jim Rowan and appointed his predecessor, Håkan Samuelsson, as his successor […]
August 18, 2025
Volkswagen and its Chinese partner Xpeng have been developing a joint E/E architecture, set to be integrated into the Wolfsburg-based carmaker’s EV platforms CMP and MEB. Now, both companies have decided to extend the partnership to include plug-in hybrids and internal combustion engine models. These will be plug-in hybrid and ICE models sold exclusively in […]
August 18, 2025
A new ‘Center for Special and Individual Paintwork’ is about to be built at BMW Group Plant Dingolfing. Over the next two years, an investment of more than €30 million will enable the construction of a new southern extension to the existing paint shop. Construction is scheduled to commence in September 2025, with the new […]
August 13, 2025
BMW plans to expand its lineup with a rugged utility model to challenge the iconic Mercedes-Benz G-Class. Production of the rock crawler is scheduled for the second half of 2029 at BMW’s plant in Greer, South Carolina, US, two people with knowledge of the plan told Automotive News. A BMW spokesperson declined to comment on […]
August 13, 2025
According to Arval Mobility Observatory, three smaller BEVs lead the list of most ordered company cars at leasing and mobility solutions company Arval. Although the BMW iX1 remained the number one in the second half of 2024, it has now been overtaken by the Kia EV3 and the Skoda Enyaq. “We knew these smaller BEVs […]
August 12, 2025
The head of German carmaker Mercedes-Benz has highlighted the challenges facing the company in an interview with the German business newspaper Handelsblatt. CEO Ola Källenius, also the current President of ACEA, warns of a European car market collapse if the ban on ICE vehicles in 2035 is implemented. Källenius proposes to drop an actual date […]
August 12, 2025
At Ford, they’re talking about a new ‘Model T moment’. That’s how important they estimate the venue of the ‘Universal EV Platform’ linked with a new production system that reduces weight, parts, and cost. The American car manufacturer is preparing to launch a family of affordable electric vehicles based on this new Ford Universal EV […]
August 11, 2025
As part of its 2024 joint venture with BAIC, Beijing Hyundai will launch the EO in September, its first EV developed specifically for China. The production model of the electric SUV, formerly known as the Elexio, will be called the EO and is scheduled to hit the Chinese market in September 2025. Beijing Hyundai reportedly […]
August 11, 2025
The Chinese technology group and recent electric car manufacturer Xiaomi has hired Kai Langer, former head of design at BMW i. Kai Langer worked for BMW for over 20 years and joined Xiaomi on August 1st. Langer will remain based in Munich, where Xiaomi operates a research and development center. Langer’s exact role at Xiaomi […]
August 08, 2025
Nissan has announced prices for the electric Micra, which was presented in May. After the UK, where it starts at £22,995, the same price as the R5 Electric, with which it shares its technology, the price is set in Belgium at 29,250. That’s 5,000 euros more than the R5 e-tech base version here, but this […]
August 05, 2025
Adrian Mardell, CEO of Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), wants to retire after around three years in the top job. Under his leadership, the British manufacturer achieved its highest profit in ten years, significantly reduced its debts, and recently undertook a controversial rebranding of the Jaguar brand. JLR is changing CEOs at a perilous time. Mardell […]
August 05, 2025
The best-selling Mercedes-Benz SUV is going electric, and it’s bringing a new style with it. Mercedes promises the new GLC EV “redefines” the face of the luxury brand. At the same time, it serves as a signal of Mercedes’ powertrain diversification. It’s no secret that Mercedes-Benz’s somewhat egg-shaped EQ electric cars haven’t caught on. Despite […]
August 05, 2025
Volvo has been producing the European version of the EX30 in Belgium since April. Now it is gearing up the production of the model in its Ghent factory. Meanwhile, Volvo’s July sales were down again, 14% less than in the same period last year. The production acceleration of the EX30 in Ghent is not only […]
August 05, 2025
Renault will stay resolute in its commitment to full-hybrid (HEVs) and electric cars (BEVs), essentially dismissing the usefulness of plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) as it transitions to a fully electrified range. Renault has just been crowned the number two car manufacturer in Europe, behind Volkswagen, but now ahead of Toyota, in the first half of 2025. […]
August 04, 2025
According to the Federal government service Mobility & Transport and the sector federation Febiac, 31,613 new cars have been registered in July 2025, 1.7% less than in the same month last year. Once again, the individual buyers bought more cars (+7.3%), while the professional market decreased again (-7.4%). Looking at the first seven months of […]
August 04, 2025
On the last day of July, Renault Group communicated its financial results for the first half of 2025. They weren’t exactly rosy, but the manufacturer still performed better than a lot of its competitors. On his first day as new CEO, François Provost promised ‘continuity and perseverance’. Renault Group announced on Thursday an adjusted benefit […]
August 01, 2025
BMW reported a sharp drop in first-half profits on Thursday, weighed down by US tariffs, currency headwinds from the dollar, and challenging business conditions in China. The Munich-based automaker reported a post-tax profit of €4 billion, down 29% from the same period last year, marking the third consecutive decline in the first half for the […]
August 01, 2025
Peter Kronschnabl, a senior figure from the BMW Group, has been appointed as the MD of Genesis Motor Europe. He takes over from Xavier Martinet, President & CEO of Hyundai Motor Europe, who previously served as interim Managing Director for Genesis MotorEurope. According to Genesis, Kronschnabl will head up the premium South Korean EV brand’s […]
July 31, 2025
New Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa promised “tough decisions” to turn around the money-losing automaker, a raft of new and returning models, and a fresh executive team eager to “roll up our sleeves” and build on encouraging signs in the first half of 2025. But he and CFO Doug Ostermann, speaking to analysts on July 29 from Stellantis […]
July 30, 2025
Our assumptions earlier today that François Provost would be nominated as the new CEO of the Renault Group have been confirmed. The official announcement came late in the afternoon. “The Renault Group Board of Directors, meeting today (Wednesday, July 30) under the chairmanship of Jean-Dominique Senard, decided, following recommendation from the Governance and Remuneration Committee, […]
July 30, 2025
An analysis by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) of CO2 fleet emissions for new cars in H1 of 2025 shows that the car industry currently exceeds the EU limit by nine percent. This breach should actually trigger fines payable to the European Union. Due to the recent flexibilisation, that will not happen. The […]
July 30, 2025
According to Bloomberg and Le Figaro, the Renault board will announce today that François Provost, Chief Purchasing Officer at Renault, will be appointed to a new position as CEO of the Renault Group, in succession to Luca de Meo, who left the group suddenly to lead the Kering luxury group. One could say that Provost […]
July 29, 2025
Global sales of electric cars are picking up speed again, driven by strong growth in China and renewed momentum in Europe, according to a new analysis by consulting firm PwC. In the first half of the year, more than 5.9 million battery electric vehicles (BEVs) were registered worldwide, a 37% increase compared to the same […]
July 29, 2025
Stellantis has lured away Gilles Vidal, design chief at Renault, from its main French competitor. As head of design, Vidal will oversee the future design steps for all the European brands, including LCVs, at Stellantis. The move, announced last Friday, is a homecoming for Vidal, who spent 25 years as a designer at Citroën and […]
July 29, 2025
The FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile) has extended its partnership with the all-electric racing series Formula E by ten years. Formula E will thus remain the exclusive, fully electric, single-seater category with FIA World Championship status, at least until 2048. While manufacturers and fans are mainly looking ahead to the next season starting in December […]
July 28, 2025
In the second quarter of 2025, Volkswagen Group recorded a profit of €2.3 billion, a 36.3% drop compared to April-June 2024. It has obliged the group to revise its forecasts, and Europe’s number one cr manufacturer now foresees a profit margin between 4 and 5% instead of the 5.5-6.5% margin previewed earlier. Turnover for 2025 […]
July 28, 2025
The long-awaited trade deal between the European Union and the U.S. was concluded yesterday. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and U.S. President Trump found an agreement when they met in Scotland. The general import tariff in the U.S. for the EU will be fixed at 15%. According to von der Leyen, the 15% […]
July 25, 2025
BMW is installing a new electrical steel strip from steel specialist Voestalpine in the electric motors of its ‘Neue Klasse’. A cooperation agreement for this important component has been established between Voestalpine in Linz, Austria, and BMW, with the assembly to take place at BMW’s Steyr plant. Steyr is home to the BMW Group’s largest […]
July 25, 2025
BMW has announced a new update for the My BMW App and MINI App, introducing a feature that allows drivers to view their carbon footprint. It’s designed for use with traditional ICE vehicles as well as BEVs and plug-in hybrids. “Our usage research shows: The information in My Trips is one of the most popular […]
July 25, 2025
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz criticized plans, according to the German newspaper Bild, that the European Union is working on prohibiting car-rental firms and large corporations from buying non-electric vehicles for their fleets starting in 2030. The European plan is still a proposal and draws inspiration from Belgian regulations that stipulate that by 2026, all new […]
July 24, 2025
In the first half of 2025 (H1 2025), new EU car registrations dropped by 1.9% compared to the same period last year, according to the data of ACEA. With a strong 7.3% year-on-year (YOY) decline for June, this is indicative of the challenging global economic environment for automakers. The battery-electric car market share for H1 […]
July 23, 2025
Following a second quarter that met analysts’ expectations, General Motors has confirmed its 2025 forecast, including the impact of the Trump administration’s import tariffs. In the second quarter of this year, turnover was $47.1 billion (-1.8%), while the net profit decreased by 35.4% to $1.89 billion. The manufacturer has estimated the impact of the import […]
July 23, 2025
Renault Group’s global sales increased by 1.3% in the first half of 2025, with passenger car sales in Europe up 5.4% in a flat market, the automaker announced on Tuesday. In Europe, Renault’s sales increased by 8.4% to 394,278 units, Dacia’s sales rose by 1.1% to 308,957, and Alpine’s sales jumped 89% to 4,871 units. […]
July 22, 2025
Jaguar Land Rover is postponing the launch of its upcoming all-electric models, including the Range Rover Electric. According to The Guardian, an English newspaper, deliveries originally planned for the end of 2025 will now not commence until 2026, with Jaguar also experiencing delays. JLR will launch its first fully electric models from its own production […]
July 22, 2025
Stellantis reported a preliminary net loss of €2.3 billion for the first six months. The company expects a greater impact from the US tariffs on vehicle and auto parts imports in the second half of the year. Stellantis also explained that President Donald Trump’s tariffs had cost it €300 million so far, as the company […]
July 18, 2025
US ride-hailing company Uber announced on Thursday that it plans to deploy at least 20,000 robotaxis over the next six years. The robotaxis are based on the Lucid Gravity model. The company said the fleet would be comprised of SUVs manufactured by U.S. electric vehicle manufacturer Lucid and equipped with self-driving technology developed by start-up […]
July 18, 2025
Yesterday, Volvo Cars reported a group operating profit (EBIT) of SEK -10.0 billion for the second quarter of 2025. This is due to the challenging automotive market and the Trump administration’s import tariffs. That’s why Volvo will also build its XC60 best-seller in the U.S. “The result reflects a continued challenging environment for the automotive […]
July 17, 2025
A recent long-term test by Germany’s largest automobile club, ADAC, provides a reassuring answer on the long-term health of a popular fully electric car, the Volkswagen ID.3. After putting the electric hatchback through a four-year, 160,000 km endurance test, the results look very promising. The key finding was remarkable: the high-voltage battery still had a […]
July 17, 2025
France is heading towards a fourth lawsuit in the Dieselgate saga. After Volkswagen, Peugeot-Citroën, and Renault, it’s Fiat-Chrysler’s turn to be investigated for fraudulent software in some of their diesel cars. The manufacturer contests “the entire jurisdictional argumentation”. Fiat-Chrysler is suspected of having commercialised between 2014 and 2017 diesel vehicles of the brands Fiat, Alfa […]
July 17, 2025
Renault Group has named its recently appointed CFO, Duncan Minto, as interim CEO to replace Luca de Meo, who is leaving the automaker to run the luxury group Kering. Minto will run the company alongside Renault Group Chairman Jean-Dominique Senard, Renault said in a news release on July 15. It said the search for a […]
July 16, 2025
The French government has announced a second season of its social leasing scheme for EVs. An envelope of €370 million is destined for subsidising the rental of at least 50,000 EVs for three years or more. Social leasing of (smaller) EVs has been a significant success in France last year. Even overwhelmingly so, because 50,000 […]
July 15, 2025
According to the analysis of sector federations Febiac and Traxio, the Belgian car market saw 608,426 cars sold in the first half of 2025. 234,616 of them were new ones (-10.9%), 373,810 were second-hand (+0.9%). In both markets, electrification evolves further. BMW and Dacia are the winners when looking at the specific models. With the […]
July 14, 2025
Volkswagen and SAIC close their joint plant in Nanjing, China. Production has already come to a standstill. In Nanjing, the partners had mainly built combustion models such as the VW Passat and Skoda Superb. Production is now moving to a nearby plant. There had already been rumors last year about the closure of the plant […]
July 14, 2025
The Paris prosecutor’s office has asked for a third lawsuit in the so-called dieselgate scandal. After Volkswagen and Peugeot-Citroën (part of Stellantis now), it’s Renault’s turn. The French manufacturer denies any infringement. Renault has supposedly “specially calibrated” Euro 5 and Euro 6 vehicles sold between 2009 and 2017 to pass the legal tests, but they […]
July 11, 2025
There’s a scientific consensus that electric vehicles are the cleanest form of propulsion. A new study by the International Council on Clean Transportation now shows that their climate advantage is growing faster than previously assumed. Today’s EVs sold in Europe emit 73% fewer greenhouse gases over their lifetime compared to petrol cars. The reason is […]
July 11, 2025
Hyundai presented the new Ioniq 6 N at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in West Sussex, England. This marks Hyundai’s second high-performance EV following the Ioniq 5. In terms of technical specifications, the performance offshoot of the Ioniq 6 offers an output of 478 kW and 770 Nm of torque (with N Grin Boost), 175 […]
July 11, 2025
German car manufacturer BMW Group reported a 0.5% decline in sales for the first half of the year, marking a positive sign amid the country’s ongoing automotive sector crisis, which is being intensified by competition from China. The group clearly increased EV sales, but the growth in this area is slowing. The premium carmaker, which […]
July 10, 2025
The Mazda 6 was briefly absent from the European market. At the beginning of the year, the fully electric successor made its European debut at the Brussels Motor Show. This second half of the year, it comes into the market, and we were able to drive it. The newcomer is based on the Chinese Chang’an […]
July 10, 2025
The Volkswagen Group recorded 465,500 BEV deliveries worldwide in the first half of 2025, 47% more than in the same period of last year. The VW Group’s electric cars were in demand in the USA and especially in Europe; however, there was a sharp decline in China. The 465,500 electric cars delivered in the first […]
July 09, 2025
Kia has confirmed plans for a sub-€25,000 electric city car as part of its upcoming EV line-up, alongside a next-generation SDV platform and range-extender technology for larger models. The brand continues to balance EVs, hybrids, and combustion engines to meet global demand. Kia is preparing an entry-level electric city car to launch before the end […]
July 04, 2025
BMW is gearing up to launch production of its ‘Neue Klasse’ series of vehicles. In September, at the IAA, the iX3 will be launched as the first vehicle of this class. To meet nearly the entire global demand for electric drives, BMW’s factory in Steyr was upgraded to produce both combustion engines and electric drives. […]
July 04, 2025
The recall problems at Stellantis don’t stop. Following issues with the PureTech gasoline engines and Takata airbags, the manufacturer is forced to recall nearly a million cars equipped with the 1.5 BlueHDi diesel engine. The timing chain has flaws and is prone to failure, which can potentially lead to an engine breakdown. Some 930,700 vehicles […]
July 03, 2025
On Wednesday, 2 July, the Belgian Federal Minister of Mobility, Climate, and Ecological Transition, Jean-Luc Crucke, and the Mayor of Bornem, Greet De Bruyn, accompanied BMW Group Belux CEO Alexander Wehr to leave an ‘imprint’ at the launch of the rebuild of BMW’s headquarters in Bornem. The plans were announced at the end of 2023 […]
July 02, 2025
In June 2025, the figures of the federal service Mobility & Transport and Febiac show a 16.4% decrease in registrations in Belgium and Luxembourg, with 41,527 newly registered cars. Cumulatively, 234,616 cars were newly registered during the first six months of 2025, representing a 10.9% decrease compared to the same period in 2024. Noticeable is […]
July 01, 2025
Mitsubishi Motors aims to sell 75,000 to 80,000 vehicles annually in Europe, a gain of 20 to 30 percent over last year, with the help of two new Renault-sourced models that arrive in 2025, regional CEO Frank Krol told the specialized magazine Automotive News Europe. It’s also thinking of (re)introducing some of its own Japanese […]
July 01, 2025
Volkswagen has increased its stake in US partner Rivian. A second payment of one billion US dollars (approximately €850 million) became due on June 30, following Rivian’s achievement of the targets agreed upon in the contract. Meanwhile, the group also thinks about a new ‘Nova’ platform for its ICE/PHEV luxury and supercars. VW had invested […]
June 30, 2025
BMW has to recall more than 70,000 electric vehicles in the U.S. due to a software issue with the electric motor. It could lead to a sudden loss of propulsion while driving, increasing the risk of an accident. The i4, i5, i7, and iX model series are affected. As is customary in the United States, […]
