November 05, 2026
German carmaker BMW Group reported a nearly 15% drop in third-quarter net profit on Wednesday, after weak sales in China and a profit warning issued the day before. The consequences will also be felt in China: according to Chinese media, 1,800 jobs will disappear at the BMW Brilliance joint venture. The Munich-based company said net […]
November 04, 2026
Chinese premium EV maker Zeekr is preparing another update of its 001 electric shooting brake, potentially introducing battery technology capable of charging almost completely in under nine minutes. But while Chinese customers benefit from increasingly rapid technological advances, European buyers are still offered a considerably slower-charging version. The new Zeekr 001 has appeared in the […]
November 02, 2026
BYD has released footage of its 3,000 hp electric Yangwang U9 Xtreme crashing during testing on a closed track in China. The car was destroyed, but the test pilot was uninjured. The release of the crash footage coincides with the confirmation that BYD’s electric supercar will attempt to break a top speed of 500 km/h. […]
October 30, 2026
While Volkswagen, Ford, and other Western automakers are cutting jobs, China’s BYD is moving in the opposite direction. With more than one million employees, it now ranks among the world’s largest corporate employers. But as sales growth slows and international expansion becomes more expensive, can BYD afford to keep growing its enormous workforce? BYD chairman […]
October 30, 2026
Volkswagen posted its steepest quarterly loss in more than a decade in the third quarter, hit by a writedown on its stake in Porsche and weakness in China, adding urgency to the automaker’s sweeping restructuring plan. The world’s second-largest carmaker reported an operating loss of €5.9 billion for July to September 2026, prompting management to […]
October 30, 2026
Chinese EV manufacturer XPENG has launched its new L05 family SUV at a remarkably low starting price of $21,720 in China. The nearly 4.9-meter-long electric crossover promises generous space, advanced AI technology, and up to 635 km of range. It is also coming to Belgium in 2027, with European specifications and prices to be revealed […]
October 29, 2026
For decades, Chinese carmakers learned how to build cars from European, Japanese, and American manufacturers. Today, that relationship is increasingly reversing, with European manufacturers turning to China for batteries, electronics, and software. At its annual congress in Suzhou, the China Society of Automotive Engineers (China-SAE) unveiled ten technological developments expected to reach important milestones in […]
October 29, 2026
After a first failed attempt to conquer the European market, Chinese manufacturer Great Wall Motor (GWM) is taking a second chance. It will start vehicle production in Bulgaria in the first quarter of 2027, plans to launch 10 new models over 2 years, and expand into multiple European markets, including Belgium. GWM has been active […]
October 28, 2026
Volkswagen is reportedly considering equipping up to 75% of its future European mainstream models with an electronic architecture developed in China in partnership with Xpeng. The move could save billions of euros but threaten its expensive partnership with American EV maker Rivian. It also raises questions about European homologation, cybersecurity, and European carmakers’ growing dependence […]
October 27, 2026
Lepas, a brand from the Chinese Chery group, has unveiled the Aura. The shooting brake is the brand’s “first global concept car” and will inspire the design of future models. Chery still might not sound as familiar to European customers as brands like BYD or MG. But with sales of its Jaecoo and Omoda brands […]
October 27, 2026
What happens when a Chinese luxury car brand leaves behind the technology partner that helped define its identity? Chery is preparing to bring its premium Luxeed marque to international markets, including Europe, with six electrified models. But there is a remarkable twist: unlike their Chinese counterparts, the export versions will feature none of Huawei’s sophisticated […]
October 27, 2026
Chinese EV maker NIO has opened its 22nd battery-swapping station in Germany, bringing its European network to 61. But behind the promise of a fully charged battery in just three minutes lies an uncomfortable reality: too few compatible cars, limited use of expensive infrastructure, and little sign of further expansion. Belgium illustrates the dilemma particularly […]
October 27, 2026
Just over a year ago, we reported that China EV Marketplace (CEVM) had stopped selling used electric vehicles in Europe because of quality concerns. Now the importer is embracing that market, claiming it sold 7,900 pre-owned cars to European customers in nine months. With discounts reaching 40%, used Chinese EVs offer a potentially attractive alternative […]
October 26, 2026
FAW-Volkswagen’s Chinese brand, Jetta, has launched the M6, its first electric model. With a launch price starting at 79.800 Chinese Yuan (about €10.700), 1.000 yuan below the pre-order price, the electric sedan seems like an instant hit. VW is in financial turmoil, among other things, because of a sales decline in China, the world’s largest […]
October 26, 2026
Chinese car manufacturer BYD is preparing to unveil an ultra-luxury electric limousine under its Yangwang brand in the United Arab Emirates, reportedly in Dubai on November 5. The new flagship, codenamed ‘HU’, could cost around €250,000 in China, underscoring the group’s ambitions. But could it also challenge established luxury brands such as Mercedes-Maybach and Rolls-Royce […]
October 23, 2026
BMW is preparing to introduce its first three-row (six- or seven-seater) electric SUV. With its official debut coming up, the iX7 was spotted testing, offering a sneak peek at the full-size luxury SUV. The test mule ran alongside the current X7 M60, the 523-horsepower V8 flagship that tops BMW’s SUV range. The iX7 is the […]
October 22, 2026
CATL has unveiled a rather intriguing range extender for electric trucks. The architecture doesn’t use a combustion engine; instead, it uses a dual-battery system that pairs a large, swappable main pack with a small, permanently installed reserve battery. On paper, it is a neat fix for range anxiety, but almost everything that makes it work […]
October 22, 2026
Tesla has fallen out of the top ten of the world’s most innovative EV makers for the first time in the ranking’s ten-year history, dropping from sixth to eleventh. The Center of Automotive Management (CAM), which publishes the biannual Electromobility Report, now crowns the Geely Group as the most innovative battery-electric manufacturer. In 2016, when […]
October 21, 2026
As Toyota celebrates 60 years of its Corolla, the world’s best-selling car nameplate with more than 57 million units sold, the Japanese manufacturer is reportedly preparing to build its next generation in China from 2028, including a fully electric version. But while Toyota is accelerating its transition to electric mobility, an important question remains unanswered: […]
October 21, 2026
BYD has officially launched its second-generation Seagull in China, combining five-minute charging with a price under €10,000. Even more remarkably, the entry-level version starts at around €8,400, despite being much larger and better equipped than its predecessor. Could the next European Dolphin Surf challenge the continent’s cheapest electric cars below €20,000? BYD launched the new […]
October 21, 2026
BYD is preparing to launch the next-generation Tang, an electric five-seat SUV and successor to the model currently offered in Belgium. Whether the new model will join the European line-up has not been confirmed at the moment. The Tang SUV was the first-ever car BYD brought to Europe, with sales starting in EV-country Norway as […]
October 20, 2026
Foxconn, the world’s largest electronics contract manufacturer, is strengthening its foothold in the automotive industry. The Taiwanese company has bought a 50% stake in Mitsubishi Electric Mobility, the supplier’s automotive equipment arm. Despite the name, Foxconn hasn’t bought itself an EV company from Japan. The announced equal joint venture is about parts making. Mitsubishi Electric […]
October 19, 2026
Chinese automotive giant Changan is expanding its European offensive with the NEVO Q05, an affordable electric family SUV offering up to 450 km of range. Unveiled at the Paris Motor Show, it will reach European showrooms in early 2027. Meanwhile, Changan is adding plug-in hybrids to its Deepal range and exploring production in Europe. But […]
October 19, 2026
While European carmakers struggle to make electric vehicles affordable, China’s BYD is pushing in the opposite direction: offering luxury, performance, and cutting-edge technology at prices that seem almost impossible by European standards. Its new Da Han electric flagship promises up to 1,008 km of range, nearly 500 hp, and nine-minute charging for the equivalent of […]
October 15, 2026
At the Paris Motor Show, Avatr confirmed rumors that it will enter Europe next year, starting in select markets. Within three years, the brand promises six models in the higher end of the market. But it risks becoming a leap of faith, reminiscent of Hongqi’s failed plans. Launching first in Norway and Spain, Avatr will […]
October 15, 2026
Just a few years ago, European aircraft manufacturer Airbus wasn’t particularly concerned about the rise of Chinese aircraft manufacturer Comac. These days, however, Airbus is carefully adjusting its language. “Hardly a week goes by without us discussing competition in China,” said Lars Wagner, Airbus’s Head of Commercial Aircraft, during a recent press conference in Toulouse. […]
October 15, 2026
Chinese battery manufacturer Greater Bay Technology (GBT) has started series production of all-solid-state battery cells at its plant near Guangzhou. The company claims this is a world first, as all benchmark players are still trialing pilot lines. GBT, a battery cell developer backed by automotive group GAC, has officially opened its first factory for solid-state […]
October 14, 2026
At the 2026 Paris Motor Show, Xpeng unveils its new flagship, the G9L. The large electric SUV is available to order now, with a starting price of €74.990 in the Belgian market. The G9L has to support Xpeng’s claims to the premium segment. It launches as Xpeng grows in Europe while facing tough competition in […]
October 14, 2026
Electric cars are becoming an unexpected buffer against the global oil crisis. In the Benelux alone, EVs now displace an estimated $1 billion in oil annually, according to the energy think tank Ember. Across the EU, electric mobility avoided $3.1 billion in oil consumption in just six months. And with battery-electric cars accounting for more […]
October 14, 2026
Automotive Cells Company (ACC) has celebrated its five-millionth French-made battery cell, just as shareholder Stellantis prepares to temporarily halt production at two factories because of insufficient battery supplies. So, behind the motor show glamour, mass production still has some caveats. How can a battery supplier meet its contractual commitments and still leave its biggest customer […]
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 […]
October 13, 2026
BYD is bringing its ultra-fast Flash Charging technology to its European model range with the new Atto 8, a seven-seat electric SUV unveiled at the Paris Motor Show. Known in China as the Tang L, it takes over the flagship position currently occupied by the Tang, sold in Belgium from €72,000. Offering up to 653 […]
October 13, 2026
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 […]
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 […]
October 12, 2026
Europe has reached a preliminary agreement with China to restrict rapidly growing imports of Chinese hybrid cars, potentially cutting future shipments by more than half. But while Brussels celebrates a trade breakthrough, Beijing insists exports can continue growing. Meanwhile, a new Allianz Trade study suggests Europe’s automotive crisis is partly self-inflicted. Will protectionism give European […]
October 12, 2026
Russia’s electric-car and plug-in-hybrid market is booming, partly fuelled by petrol shortages following Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries. President Vladimir Putin now wants the country to develop cutting-edge battery technologies, as state-owned Rosatom opens its second gigafactory. But Russia’s EV ambitions face an uncomfortable reality: much of its electric-car industry still depends on Chinese […]
October 09, 2026
The reborn Freelander brand, jointly developed by Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) and China’s Chery, has officially confirmed Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands among its European target markets. But the international Freelander 8 will be considerably different from the powerful Chinese version: its battery is almost halved, while output drops from 818 to 617 hp. As […]
October 08, 2026
After the Chinese government rejects voluntary export limits on hybrid cars to the EU, the European Commission is reportedly considering a quota combined with tariffs to achieve this. Rather than imposing blanket tariffs, Bloomberg sources indicate tariffs could be imposed on cars when their volume exceeds a certain level, creating a trade imbalance. After previously […]
October 06, 2026
Britain is weighing tariffs of up to 45 percent on Chinese electric cars, mirroring the EU duties. The trigger isn’t a sudden shift to protectionism. Brussels is threatening London with the loss of access to the EU market if nothing changes. Chinese brands are soaring in the UK, benefiting from tariff-free access. With the Jaecoo […]
October 02, 2026
Transport & Environment says Europe is on track to produce enough battery cells to meet its own demand by 2030. On paper, that sounds like a major step toward independence from Asia. But recent failures, delays, and new Chinese investments in Europe show that the reality is more complicated. According to the environmental lobby group […]
October 02, 2026
Five months after Hyundai unveiled the China-developed IONIQ V, the electric fastback has now reached Chinese showrooms. Its most striking feature is no longer its futuristic styling or 800-volt architecture, but its price: even the version offering up to 650 kilometers of range costs less than €17,000 in China. Beijing Hyundai officially launched the IONIQ […]
October 01, 2026
Yet another Chinese EV brand is knocking on Europe’s door, but this very young AIVA comes with unusually heavyweight parents. The brand, backed by Seres and battery giant CATL, has chosen Paris for the global debut of its first production model, the ME7. European sales, however, have not yet been confirmed. AIVA was created in […]
October 01, 2026
BYD is radically overhauling its cheapest electric car. The second-generation Seagull, sold in Europe as the Dolphin Surf, grows by more than 40 centimeters, gains considerably more power, and moves upmarket with features including a massage seat, a sizeable frunk, and optional LiDAR. In European terms, the little Chinese city EV is emerging as a […]
September 30, 2026
Volkswagen has agreed on new joint ventures with its Chinese battery partner Gotion to bring LFP production to Europe. The move must speed up the switch from NMC to cheaper LFP chemistries while complying with the European Commission’s new Made in Europe draft. The deal between VW and Gotion reorganizes three projects already under construction […]
September 29, 2026
Geely Auto, the mother company of Volvo and Polestar, has taken a 30% stake in Nio Power, the battery-swapping and charging unit of its Chinese rival. The interest seems bizarre. Barely a week earlier, Geely unveiled a fast-charging technology that makes swapping redundant. Only a few days ago, Geely unveiled a 2.2 Megawatt charger, topping […]
September 25, 2026
Geely Auto has unveiled a 2.25-megawatt smart-charging system that charges its electric cars from 10 to 70% in four minutes and 30 seconds. That is roughly thirty seconds quicker than BYD’s latest Flash Charging 2.0 platform, the previous benchmark. The company officially announced the record-breaking charging system at its Safety Center in Ningbo. It’s not […]
September 24, 2026
Chinese carmakers grabbed a record share of the European car market last month. But their advance is increasingly driven by plug-in hybrid sales. As many as one in three PHEVs now carry a Chinese badge. Chinese brands accounted for almost 12% of European new-car sales in August, according to figures from German market researcher Dataforce. […]
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 […]
September 22, 2026
Humanoid robots are reshaping the factory floor, especially in China. Toyota is joining the bandwagon, targeting 400,000 units to modernize its production infrastructure. Can the bots take over from humans? Toyota has told investors it may need 400,000 robots and roughly 1 trillion yen ($6.4 billion) a year from 2028 to upgrade its factories. The […]
September 17, 2026
Volvo’s Gent factory is saved. During the Strategy 2026 call, the carmaker has confirmed that a second brand will roll off its production lines in the near future. No concrete names were unveiled, but a Geely-model seems most likely. No factory closures The employees at Volvo Car Gent can take a sigh of relief. During […]
September 17, 2026
Beijing has published its new five-year plan for intelligent connected new energy vehicles, promising that these will capture 70% of sales by 2030. That sounds more ambitious than it really is. The bolder target of the document is automated driving making it “large scale” by then. China aims for NEVs to reach 70% in the […]
September 16, 2026
Chinese manufacturer Li Auto has confirmed its presence at this year’s Paris Motor Show in October. It will show the European version of its electric Li i6 SUV, and detail its further plans for the brand. There seems to be no end to the number of Chinese manufacturers wanting to expand to Europe. Next in […]
September 15, 2026
The IAA Transportation in Hannover shows how quickly electric trucks are shifting gears: beyond regional deliveries into long-haul and even heavy transport. European manufacturers are pushing range and payload, but Chinese – and one famous American – newcomers are turning the technological race into a commercial battle. Change in the making Electric trucks have been […]
September 15, 2026
Stellantis Pro One revealed the autonomous BOW delivery concept at the IAA Transportation in Hannover. This delivery pod offers a glimpse of a future where selling vans and services will be replaced by a complete logistics ecosystem. The BOW, or Box On Wheels, wasn’t a surpise unveiling. Stellantis Pro One already teased the innovative concept […]
September 15, 2026
President Donald Trump has said in a television interview that he is prepared to allow Chinese carmakers to build electric vehicles in the United States. Yet, the US auto industry is demanding precisely the opposite: a complete legislative ban on Chinese vehicles. Is President Trump backtracking on the hardlined opposition against Chinese cars? In an […]
September 14, 2026
Geely is using the IAA Transportation in Hannover to showcase its newest products in the commercial vehicle segment. After the Farizon SV and V7E, the Chinese company premieres its electric Homtruck. Geely is no stranger to those following mobility developments coming from China. It is the holding company which owns Volvo, Polestar, Lotus and Zeekr, […]
September 14, 2026
Two months after opening the Belgian order books for the B03X, Leapmotor has released the full European specification of its compact electric crossover. The €24,900 starting price remains unchanged, but the final range figures, equipment details and unusually practical interior now give a clearer picture of how Stellantis’ Chinese partner intends to attack Europe’s crowded […]
September 14, 2026
Renault will not follow Chinese rivals into ever-shorter vehicle development cycles. CEO François Provost says around two years is effectively the lower limit for an all-new platform and its first model if the French group wants to preserve proper testing, validation and quality. That is a striking line for a company that has spent the […]
September 11, 2026
After BYD, Geely is joining the race to superfast charging. The company claims it is running test cars in China filling up in five minutes at 1.800 kW superchargers. Europe is also on the radar. Tesla once built an empire by selling electric cars accompanied by the charging stations that power them and that could […]
September 10, 2026
The White House thinks Ford has gone soft on Beijing. But CEO Jim Farley believes that Chinese players are ahead of the game and that you need to join them cause you can’t beat them. The paradox keeps Ford in a tight space. US Transport Secretary Sean Duffy fired off a letter this week demanding […]
