Ziegler Belgium’s wind-down continues with sale of headquarters

October 20, 2026

The headquarters of the Brussels-based transportation group Ziegler, located along the canal in Neder-Over-Heembeek, is up for sale for 10.9 million euros. Ziegler did not own the building; it leased it through several banks, which decided to sell it. On March 31, the Lille Commercial Court ordered the liquidation of the company’s French operations, affecting […]

Can 35 electric aircraft by 2030 keep Deurne flying?

October 20, 2026

Starting in 2030, 35 new electric passenger aircraft are expected to be deployed from Deurne. The aircraft were ordered by ASL Group and Flying Group, respectively, two Antwerp-based companies that both specialize in the management and operation of private jets. Electric aviation offers the financially struggling Deurne Airport opportunities, but whether it will be enough […]

H.Essers triples electric truck fleet but 2030 target remains far away

October 19, 2026

The Genk-based logistics group H.Essers is further expanding its electric fleet with 20 new e-trucks. This brings H.Essers’ electric truck fleet to 31. Yet its 31 battery-electric trucks still account for just 2.3% of its 1,358-vehicle fleet. The company is also expanding charging infrastructure and energy supply across several sites. The logistics service provider aims to […]

Belgian cycling airbag on Time Magazine’s ‘best inventions’ list

October 19, 2026

American Time Magazine has included the bicycle airbag from Turnhout-based company Aerobag on its list of the best inventions of 2026. The system protects cyclists in a fall by inflating an airbag around the neck and upper body in just 100 milliseconds. The Aerobag has been in development for six years. The system is integrated into […]

Belgian to lead global transport union representing 16.6 million workers

October 19, 2026

Belgian trade union leader Frank Moreels will become president of the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) on January 1, 2027. He will lead one of the world’s most influential international labor organizations, representing 16.6 million workers across shipping, ports, road transport, aviation, railways and logistics. The appointment was formally confirmed by ITF’s Executive Board during […]

Brussels Mobility mobilizes schools to ensure children’s safety in traffic

October 16, 2026

As days grow shorter and winter approaches, the regional public service Brussels Mobility urges drivers to make children and young people more visible on the road. Starting October 15, the organization will launch several awareness-raising campaigns. For several years, Brussels Mobility has observed that accidents involving pedestrians during the evening rush hour (between 5 p.m. […]

Limburg offers free truck training amid Europe’s 500,000-driver shortage

October 16, 2026

With Europe facing a shortage of more than half a million truck drivers, five transport companies in Belgium’s Limburg province are offering young people a free route into the profession. The initiative reflects a growing European effort to remove costly entry barriers as the industry struggles to replace retiring drivers. But attracting a new generation […]

Phone at the wheel: Belgian police catch 2,564 drivers in two days

October 16, 2026

During a large-scale crackdown on distracted driving, Belgian police recorded 2,564 violations by drivers using a cell phone or other mobile device. According to the police, distraction while driving is one of the most significant risk factors on the road. Even a few seconds of distraction can cause an accident. On October 8 and 9, […]

‘Flanders drops used-car checks despite 93,000 safety failures’ (update)

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 […]

Lufthansa, not Air France-KLM, acquires a stake in TAP

October 15, 2026

The Portuguese government has chosen Lufthansa as TAP’s strategic partner. Lufthansa is acquiring a 44.9% minority stake in TAP Air Portugal, winning it from Air France-KLM. The deal is valued at approximately 1.2 billion euros. By choosing Lufthansa, the German group, which already owns Swiss, Austrian, Brussels Airlines, and ITA Airways, will expand its presence […]

Belgian Zero rider sets 436-km electric motorcycle range record

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 […]

IRENA: ‘EVs could help solve renewables’ growing grid dilemma’

October 14, 2026

The world is installing renewable energy at record speed, but its electricity networks and storage capacity are struggling to keep up. In its new World Energy Transitions Outlook 2026, published on 13 October, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) explains that renewable electricity is expanding faster than the infrastructure and energy systems needed to use […]

Who pays for Brussels riot damage? Shared mobility users, eventually

October 14, 2026

During riots, shared mobility companies end up footing the bill for damage to their shared bikes, e-scooters, and cars, even though you’d expect insurance companies to cover it. For some shared mobility companies, damage sustained, such as during the recent riots in Brussels, can amount to 40,000 to 60,000 euros. Ultimately, users end up footing […]

Europe’s EVs shield it from oil shock, saving Benelux $1 billion a year

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 […]

Six Benelux projects join Europe’s battle to reduce reliance on China

October 13, 2026

The European Commission has selected 46 new strategic projects to strengthen the extraction, processing, and recycling of critical raw materials in the European Union, to reduce dependence on countries such as China. Two Belgian projects – one by Umicore in Hoboken and one by Comet Traitements in La Louvière – were also selected, as were […]

Dutch drivers reject Belgian tolls, but the Netherlands charges too

October 13, 2026

More than eight in ten Dutch respondents support keeping the Benelux toll-free, according to a new survey by Dutch motoring organization ANWB. With Flanders preparing to introduce a digital road vignette in May 2027, 34% say they would look for alternative routes, while 22% expect to visit Belgium by car less often. Yet the Netherlands […]

Double the battery, same two passengers: Smart unveils the #2 

October 13, 2026

As announced by the brand on many occasions, Smart kept its promise and revealed the production version of the #2 at the Paris Motor Show. Compared to its predecessor, the range has doubled, but the price has remained the same. Is the new two-seater a remedy for inflation? Adamant fans will not be disappointed. The […]

Tesla sacrifices ‘Full Self-Driving’ name in battle for EU approval

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 […]

World first: CMB.TECH’s ammonia-powered bulk carrier makes history

October 12, 2026

The Antwerp-based. shipping group CMB.TECH has launched the world’s first dry bulk carrier powered by ammonia. The vessel Mineral Europa has set sail on its maiden voyage to Australia. It is a Newcastlemax, an ore and coal carrier with a deadweight tonnage of approximately 210,000 metric tons. “The Mineral Europa heralds the fifth revolution in […]

Climate protests grow again, but is Europe losing its green momentum?

October 12, 2026

Tens of thousands of people returned to the streets of Brussels on Sunday in one of Belgium’s largest climate demonstrations since the historic school strikes of 2019. Police counted 45,000 participants, while organizers estimated 60,000, roughly twice last year’s turnout. Yet the renewed mobilization comes as climate ambitions increasingly compete with economic pressures, wars, and […]

Europe puts Chinese hybrids on a leash, but can’t tame competition

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 […]

Aggression against Belgian rail staff leads to twice as much sick leave

October 09, 2026

While 2,102 incidents of aggression against NMBS//SNCB staff were recorded in 2024, the figure rose by nearly a quarter the following year to 2,602 incidents. However, the impact on the Belgian railway company’s staff rose even more rapidly: aggression against staff resulted in 95,336 hours of sick leave last year, more than double the previous […]

Dutch regulator scaled back Tesla FSD review after €365,000 billing row

October 09, 2026

A dispute over a €365,000 invoice prompted the Dutch vehicle regulator RDW to scale back parts of its safety review of Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) Supervised system, according to internal correspondence obtained by Reuters. The revelations raise fresh questions about the transparency and independence of Europe’s approval process, as Tesla pushes regulators to clear its […]

Belgium’s EV tax honeymoon ends in 2027: why ordering now matters

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 […]

Last M7s roll out as Alstom Bruges faces an uncertain future

October 08, 2026

In the coming weeks, the French train manufacturer Alstom will build the last M7 double-decker railcars for the NMBS/SNCB railway company in Bruges. The last of the 751 ordered cars is expected to be ready by the end of the year, but after that, it is a complete unknown – or at best, full of question […]

From 61,000 to seven: Belgium’s busiest and quietest train stations

October 08, 2026

With an average of more than 60,000 passengers boarding on weekdays, Brussels’ 3 main stations remain the busiest train stations in Belgium. This was revealed by figures from the public railway company NMBS/SNCB, which used a new and more accurate counting method. The contrast with the quietest station could not be greater: in Hourpes in […]

Friday strike chaos: 40% of Brussels Airlines flights canceled

October 07, 2026

Brussels Airlines expects major disruptions on Friday due to the union protests against federal government measures. About 4 in 10 scheduled flights to and from Brussels Airport have been canceled due to disruptions expected at the ground-handling provider Alyzia. Service provided by the Flemish public transportation company De Lijn will also be severely disrupted that […]

Belgium to test Swedish-style ‘alcohol gates’ at public venues

October 07, 2026

Belgium wants to introduce Swedish-style ‘alcohol gates’ at public locations as part of a broader crackdown on drink-driving. The system, already used in Sweden, requires drivers to pass a breath test before a barrier opens, preventing those over the limit from entering the public road network. The federal government plans to test the technology at […]

Traxio: ‘Used speed pedelecs sales nearly doubled in three years’

October 07, 2026

Registrations of new speed pedelecs during the summer months were, on average, just under 20% higher than last year. As a result, the total figure for the first nine months – 12,293 units – is a remarkable 13.4% higher than in 2025, and 14% higher than in 2024. “If this rapid growth continues over the […]

Antwerp, Rotterdam and Rhine-Ruhr ports deepen alliance

October 06, 2026

At a Port Summit in Meise, the ports of Flanders, the Netherlands, and North Rhine-Westphalia signed an agreement to collaborate more closely and effectively in the future, particularly in circular value chains and automated freight transport. Together, the ports and the surrounding industrial area form the European Union’s largest economic and logistical hub, generating about […]

Traxio: used EVs rise as private buyers tighten car budgets

October 06, 2026

Geopolitical uncertainty, high interest rates, and equally high gasoline prices are making consumers hesitate when buying a car. Private customers, in particular, are looking for good deals more than ever; they gather thorough information and want maximum certainty. Yet they keep buying cars, mostly used ones, including electric vehicles. Private individuals consistently focus on a car’s […]

Volvo Cars drops 2026 forecast; Stefan Fesser returns to Volvo Ghent

October 05, 2026

Volvo Cars reported global sales of 141,609 cars in the third quarter of 2026, down 10.7% from the same period last year. Sales during the quarter were impacted by a further deterioration in market conditions in China, where industry volumes remained under significant pressure, as well as a slower-than-expected recovery in the U.S. As a […]

Brussels adopts more lenient approach to boost electric taxis

October 05, 2026

A taxi with an internal combustion engine may remain in service in Brussels for up to 9 years, instead of 7. With this extension, the Brussels government aims to give the taxi sector more time to make the transition to zero-emission vehicles. However, the requirement that, starting January 1, 2027, only zero-emission new taxis may […]

Minister requires airplanes flying over Brussels to change their flight paths

October 02, 2026

Federal Minister of Mobility Jean-Luc Crucke (Les Engagés) has proposed a series of operational and structural measures to reduce noise pollution around Brussels Airport. The minister was backed into a corner: he had to submit a proposal to the court by October 1, or risk a penalty of 10,000 euros for each new noise violation. Crucke […]

Ghent offers 11,000 families their own mobility budget

October 02, 2026

The city of Ghent wants to help 11,000 families with a social mobility budget. From 1 May 2027, they can get financial support for car sharing, bike sharing, purchasing or renting a bicycle, bicycle repairs, cycling lessons, and collective transport to work. The city is allocating 4.46 million euros for this purpose.  Mobility Alderman Joris Vandenbroucke […]

Belux new car registrations up 1.9% in September, more than half are BEVs

October 02, 2026

According to data from the sector federation Febiac and the federal public service Mobility & Transport, new car registrations in belgium and Luxembourg were 1.9% higher than in September last year. The result for the first three quarters of 2026 cumulated is -1% compared to 2025. More importantly, for the first time in the Belux, […]

NMBS/SNCB details December train boost for Limburg and Antwerp

October 01, 2026

Starting December 13, additional early and late trains will run to and from Hasselt in the province of Limburg. Service will also be expanded in the province of Antwerp. This is evident from the presentation of the new schedule that the Belgian railway company is implementing. The broad outlines of this new train service have […]

Belgium and Engie buy another month for nuclear takeover talks

October 01, 2026

No decision will be made on October 1 regarding the possible nationalization of the nuclear reactors in Belgium operated by energy giant Engie. The Belgian government and Engie have agreed to postpone the deadline for negotiations on a possible takeover until November 4. According to the joint statement from the Prime Minister, the Ministry of […]

Flanders’ new budget shields infrastructure, but slows down De Lijn’s growth

October 01, 2026

Mobility infrastructure is largely escaping the axe in the Flemish government’s biggest savings operation yet. While Flanders must find nearly €2 billion in savings next year and more than €3 billion by 2029, roads, waterways, and other major public works remain relatively protected compared with many other policy areas. Of the total effort, €1.2 billion […]

Antwerp premetro renovation not set to be completed until July 2027

September 30, 2026

Because workers found more asbestos than expected in previously inaccessible areas, renovation work on the Antwerp premetro tunnel between the Left and Right Banks has been delayed by 3 months. The work is now not expected to be completed until July 2027. The alternatives offered since the closure will remain available until then. These include […]

Very slight increase in company cars in Belgium, debate on the issue remains polarizing

September 29, 2026

Recently, yet another stir arose over the status of company cars in Belgium. As part of federal budget negotiations, the Planning Bureau listed more than 250 cost-saving options, including one that sparked considerable debate: eliminating or reducing tax benefits for company cars and fuel cards. Once implemented, that could generate 4,5 to 5,5 billion, nearly […]

Touring: ‘issues remain for EV transition of Belgian private buyers’

September 29, 2026

The Belgian car market seems to have finally turned toward electrification. But mobility organization Touring says the transition is largely due to company cars, and warns that issues remain for private buyers. For example, the ease and cost of public charging. For the first time ever, there are more hybrid and electric cars on the […]

VW ID. Tiguan: LFP batteries to boost sales?

September 29, 2026

Volkswagen has confirmed what unions already leaked at the beginning of the year: its facelifted ID. 4 will return as the ID. Tiguan. The German carmaker has released camouflaged photos ahead of the world premiere in October, around the Paris Motor Show. Change in strategy As we reported back in January, IG Metall first let […]

Bigger battery for Kia PV5 Chassis Cab boosts range

September 28, 2026

Kia is fitting its PV5 Chassis Cab with an optional 71.2 kWh battery, nearly 40 percent larger than the 51.5 kWh pack the conversion-friendly van launched with late last year. The long-range version of the PV5 keeps the 120 kW motor and adds 10-80 percent DC fast charging in about 30 minutes, with a full […]

Tesla’s FSD ignores speed limit in Brussels test and lies to the driver 

September 28, 2026

The Belgian road safety group Johanna has put Tesla’s self-driving system, FSD, to the test and found that it continuously breaks the speed limit. Worse: it lies to the driver about the ruling speed limit even though it reads it correctly. A Tesla running Full Self-Driving broke the speed limit in 55% of the 30 […]

Belgian personalized license plates: offensive combinations can now be revoked

September 28, 2026

Belgians can get a license plate with a personal message by simply paying for it. The DIV, the Belgian vehicle registry office, can now officially revoke offensive combinations that were inadvertently accepted. For the Belgian government, personalized license plates are quite lucrative. A license plate containing any combination of up to 8 letters and numbers […]

Infrabel and Siemens sign €215 million contract for Belgian digital rail

September 25, 2026

The Belgian rail network operator Infrabel has signed a new contract with Siemens Mobility to maintain, further develop, and modernize the Operational Control System (OCS), a digital system that ensures trains run safely and smoothly across the Belgian railway network. The framework agreement, worth 215 million euros, will run for 11 years and is also […]

Plasman closes and exposes the slow death of Volvo Ghent’s supply chain

September 25, 2026

Canadian bumper manufacturer Plasman is closing its Ghent factory, costing more than 300 jobs. The announcement follows an earlier decision by axle-parts supplier Benteler to shut its nearby site next spring. The local supply network that once sustained Volvo’s assembly line is now effectively gone. But how come? Remaining production evaporated Plasman throwing in the […]

European first: Brussels Airport tests mobile blending facility for SAF

September 24, 2026

Brussels Airport is the first European airport to test a mobile blending facility to produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The project is the final phase of the Stargate project, established with the support of the European Commission, through which the airport has explored more than 30 sustainability measures in recent years. “We remain committed to […]

The Brussels Metro celebrates its 50th anniversary

September 23, 2026

50 years ago – on September 20, 1976, to be exact – King Baudouin inaugurated the Brussels Metro. The network, which now comprises just under 40 km of track spread across 4 lines with some 60 stations, carries more than 150 million passengers a year, making it by far the most popular mode of transportation […]

ASWR launches new e-scooter safety campaign in Wallonia

September 23, 2026

Just as in Flanders and Brussels, the number of e-scooter accidents is also rising in Wallonia. And although drinking and riding don’t mix, according to the Walloon Road Safety Agency (AWSR), more than one in ten e-scooter users (12%) involved in an accident tested positive for alcohol. Precisely because of the significant increase in accidents […]

Chinese brand Geely expands to 16 Belgian dealers in six months

September 23, 2026

Geely Auto Benelux is adding two new Belgian dealerships to its network. The expansion coincides with the arrival of the E2, a sub-€20,000 electric hatchback poised to give Western brands a run for their money in Europe. Nivelles and Genk In the six months after the Chinese brand – part of the holding with the […]

Renault tests its premium ceiling with €60,500 Rafale Hypnotic

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 […]

CAE to close training center, Brussels Airlines to train pilots abroad

September 22, 2026

The Canadian aviation training provider CAE will close its pilot training center at Brussels Airport at the end of this year. The company, which has been operating at a loss, confirmed this in discussions with the unions. Brussels Airlines, which had all its pilots trained at the center, has found alternatives abroad. Active in Brussels […]

One in five bike paths along Flemish regional roads is still a ‘death strip’

September 22, 2026

Just over a quarter of the bike paths on Flemish regional roads, or 2,623 km (26%) of a total network estimated at over 10,000 km, do not meet safety standards and are not sufficiently elevated or separated from the roadway. The province of Limburg has the highest proportion of dangerous road stretches (30%), Antwerp the […]

VIAS study: GAS fines for speeding are not a revenue model, but they do pose a risk

September 22, 2026

Many drivers in Belgium feel like they’re being “milked” when they receive a GAS fine for a minor speeding violation in the mail. Yet local governments primarily use these GAS fines to promote traffic safety, not as a revenue stream. This is evident from a comprehensive study by the Vias Traffic Institute and Ghent University, […]

Belgian Solar Team finishes second in 24h European solar race in Zolder

September 21, 2026

Twente University’s Top Dutch Solar Racing has won the 24h iLumen European Solar Challenge on the circuit of Zolder. The Belgian Innoptus Solar Team, run by KU Leuven students, came second in their BluePoint Atlas car, losing its European title. Over the past weekend, the Belgian Zolder circuit was the place to be for solar […]

New NMBS/SNCB train schedule adds nearly 600 extra trains per week

September 21, 2026

Although the Belgian railway company NMBS/SNCB has not yet fully announced the new schedule for all provinces, many areas will see the addition of extra early and late trains starting Sunday, December 13. Across the entire country, the new 2026-2029 transportation plan – which will be rolled out in three phases from December 2026 through […]

Only minor Tesla self-driving accidents in Belgium, as fatal crashes reach peak in the U.S.

September 21, 2026

Flanders Minister of Mobility, Annick De Ridder (NV-A), has published the first safety data from three months of Tesla’s supervised self-driving system on Belgian roads. The encouraging results report only five minor incidents. At the same time, FSD had its deadliest month in the US.  Since June, owners of Teslas equipped with FSD are allowed […]

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