January 25, 2024
Candy and pet care company Mars has partnered up with Swedish start-up Einride to electrify its European transport fleet. The first two electric trucks have already been delivered, with 298 more on the way by 2030. Einride wants to make these trucks autonomous, starting with a pilot project in 2025. Mars, known for its candy […]
January 24, 2024
The French oil and gas group TotalEnergies has signed a deal with Danish sustainable energy company European Energy for a majority stake in two wind projects. Under the arrangement, TotalEnergies will take an 85% stake in the Jammerland Bugt project (240 MW), and 72,2% in the Lillebaelt South nearshore development (165 MW), both in Danish […]
January 24, 2024
The European Commission has blocked plans by German airline group Lufthansa to take a minority stake in Italian airline ITA Airways. EU anti-trust regulators are “concerned after a preliminary investigation that the transaction could restrict competition on several short- and long-haul routes to and from Italy,” they said in a press release. This mainly concerns […]
January 22, 2024
Lucid has found a replacement for Michael van der Sande as Managing Director for its European operations. Coming from Polestar, the German Alexander Lutz is taking over. He reports directly to Martin Winterhoff, the company’s current COO for Europe. Alexander Lutz previously served as the head of Polestar’s operations in Italy. He was promoted to […]
January 22, 2024
Chinese auto manufacturing group BYD is reportedly considering expanding its European range with hybrid off-road models from its sub-brands Yangwang and Fangchengbao. The former is a 1200-hp luxury vehicle with tank turn capability, and the latter is a more affordable SUV that could rival the Toyota Land Cruiser and Land Rover Defender. BYD is expanding […]
January 17, 2024
Swedish battery maker Northvolt will get 4,6 billion euros to expand its large battery factory in Sweden and the Revolt Ett recycling plant next door. It is the largest green loan given to a company so far in Europe, according to the European Investment Bank (EIB), which is issuing the loan with 23 commercial banks […]
January 15, 2024
The Dutch energy storage company Giga Storage plans to develop Europe’s largest battery park in Dilsen-Stokkem (Belgium). The 60 MW energy storage project will have a 2 400 MWh capacity. This means that the average energy consumption of 330 000 families can be stored here each day and fed back into the electricity grid. “In […]
January 12, 2024
Harald Seidel, President of DAF Trucks, takes over from Martin Lundstedt (Volvo Group) as the new chairman of the Commercial Vehicle Board of the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) for 2024. He will be in charge of defending the truckmakers’ interests in Europe. The ACEA unites the European vehicle manufacturers, including commercial vehicles. Luca de […]
January 09, 2024
Germany has been given the green light by the European Commission to allocate 902 million euros in subsidies to a battery plant by Sweden’s Northvolt in Heide, in the state of Schleswig-Holstein. The plant in northern Germany, positioned to produce the cleanest batteries for EVs in continental Europe with a capacity of up to 60 […]
December 22, 2023
From January 1st, car buyers in Belgium will pay an additional 10 euros environmental contribution when buying a new car or van. This contribution will pay for the future recycling of the vehicle, reports Febelauto, the Belgian management body for both end-of-life vehicles and batteries from hybrids and EVs. Febelauto has been managing the recycling […]
December 21, 2023
The General Court of the European Union has annulled the billions in aid approved by the European Commission to French airline Air France-KLM during the coronavirus health crisis. According to the court, the EC “erred” at the time. France, the major shareholder of Air France, helped the airline in 2020 with a 4-billion-euro state guarantee […]
December 20, 2023
The liberalization of the European railroad market is continuing, which will also be at the expense of the services of NMBS/SNCB. So says Belgians railroad company’s CEO, Sophie Dutordoir, who warns of congestion on the track if additional international operators track trains through Brussels. “If two operators are added, ten public service trains will disappear […]
December 19, 2023
Negotiators from the EU Parliament and the EU member states agreed on the new emission limits for cars, buses, and other (heavy) vehicles, commonly known as the Euro 7 standards. As the original proposals of the European Commission have been weakened by both the member states and the EU Parliament, reactions to the final decision […]
December 18, 2023
Denmark will impose a tax on air travel starting in 2025. By 2030, the flight tax should be at cruising speed and will amount to an average of 100 Danish kroner or 13,5 euros, the Danish government has announced. At the same time, it is calling for the adoption of a European tax on the […]
December 15, 2023
The French government has unveiled its new plans for subsidizing the electric transition. Next to the details of the social lease at €100 per month for households with a fiscal income inferior to 15 400 euros, it also published the final list of cars eligible for the new Ecobonus. Windfall for the local manufacturers as […]
December 14, 2023
The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) warns the European authorities of a Chinese dominance of the EV supply chain and the US government incentives for domestic automakers. According to ACEA, the EU electric vehicle industry risks losing ground even more without a robust EU industrial strategy. It risks putting the EU on the back pedal […]
December 12, 2023
Five significant companies in Wallonia are pledging to invest 346 million euros in their plants to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. So reports the business newspaper L’Echo. They are cement companies Holcim, CCB, and CBR and metal companies Aperam and Industeel. Together, they are responsible for annual CO2 emissions of 2 415 million tons. They are […]
December 12, 2023
After a break of almost a decade, the long-awaited night train connection between Brussels and Berlin is finally operational again. The first trip of the Nightjet train departed on Monday evening in Berlin and was waved goodbye by German Transport Minister Volker Wissing and the boss of Deutsche Bahn Richard Lutz. The journey took 13 […]
December 11, 2023
Milence, the joint venture between Daimler Truck (Mercedes-Benz Trucks), the Traton Group (MAN, Scania), and Volvo Group (Volvo Trucks, Renault Trucks) created to tackle the charging infrastructure for long-haul electric transport, has started operations with its first charging hub in Venlo, the Netherlands. Another will follow soon in Antwerp. Milence can be described as the […]
December 07, 2023
Fiat’s low-cost electric model has been named: not Panda but Pandina. This cousin to the Citroën ë-C3 is set to be produced in Kragujevac, Serbia, for a starting price of around 20 000 euros. A mild hybrid version is also coming for around 15 000 euros. Meanwhile, Stellantis promises to maintain a production target of […]
December 07, 2023
The Belgian gas system operator Fluxys has decided to partner with two German companies to develop cross-border CO2 pipelines to transport and store CO2 in the North Sea. The companies announced the deal on Wednesday, during the Belgian state visit to Germany. Fluxys previously concluded an agreement with the German oil and gas company Wintershall […]
December 05, 2023
The initial goal for Norway was to achieve a 50 percent market share for zero-emission trucks by 2030. Still, the Norwegian parliament (Storting) has asked the government to go for the full 100 percent in the 2024 budget agreement. This makes Norway the first country to set a concrete deadline for combustion-powered trucks. Whereas the […]
December 05, 2023
There will be no specific validity restriction on driving licenses for the over-70s in Europe. They will also not undergo mandatory medical checks to renew their driving licenses. European mobility ministers in Brussels agreed on this. Europe thus leaves each member state free to decide on any shorter period of validity of driving licenses for […]
November 30, 2023
Febelauto, the Belgian management organization for waste vehicles and industrial batteries, will organize a circular truck and bus event in December. The event will take place in Beringen on December 11th. Importers and OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) will be invited to sign a manifesto that day. Flemish Minister of Mobility and Public Works Lydia Peeters […]
November 30, 2023
Starting on January 1st, 2024, truck drivers who want to take the ADR exam to transport dangerous goods can finally do so digitally in Flanders. Until now, they had to convene once a month at a single location, but with this digital method, exam moments can be scheduled freely at 16 exam centers. The Flemish […]
November 30, 2023
Orders for the Honda e have stalled in Europe. Due to slow sales and a strong customer preference for all-electric SUVs, the Japanese carmaker is readdressing its strategy for battery-powered mobility. In the lower categories, it is prioritizing zero-emission scooters and motorbikes. In 2020, Honda boldly entered the electric vehicle market with a small but […]
November 30, 2023
On the eve of the COP 28 climate conference, and in the run-up to EU elections next year, the President of the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA), Luca de Meo, unveiled a manifesto and roadmap for a competitive mobility ecosystem, co-signed by the CEOs of Europe’s major vehicle manufacturers. “Our sector is in the midst […]
November 29, 2023
The Iveco Group has been granted a 500 million euro loan from the European Investment Bank to allow the Italian truck and bus maker to invest in the electrification of its products and to work toward solutions for autonomous driving. Most of the investment will go to Iveco’s Turin and Foggia plants. This is not […]
November 28, 2023
Mercedes-Benz opened its first European Charging Hub in Mannheim, Germany, after opening one in the US and two in China earlier this year. The hub offers 300 kW charging for up to six vehicles and is near a Mercedes dealership. Over 200 Mercedes-branded charging points are coming in Europe by the end of 2024. Earlier […]
November 27, 2023
A while ago, the European Car of the Year (COTY) jury revealed the 28 models that comprised the long list of candidates for the European Car of the Year 2024. Yesterday, the jury announced the seven finalists. The winner will be revealed at the next Geneva International Motor Show on February 26th, 2024. The active […]
November 24, 2023
Don’t stick to Ora and Wey only as from 2024, but say ‘Great Wall Motors’. The Chinese group is rebranding its model line-up. The previous brand names are set to become product lines, while Great Wall Motor (GWM) will serve as the title brand. The Ora Cat, for example, will be called Great Wall Motor […]
November 21, 2023
On Monday, November 20th, the Belgian contractor Jan De Nul announced that it had signed a “milestone agreement” with the Egyptian government, represented by the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company (EETC), to start the study for the construction of an undersea export cable between Egypt and Europe. Compared to the greater part of Europe, conditions for […]
November 21, 2023
With a 14% share in new car sales from January to October 2023, battery electric vehicles (BEVs) have overtaken diesel cars’ cumulative share (13,9%) in the European Union for the first time. Registration of BEVs increased by 36,3% in October to reach 121 808 units. Belgium (+143%) and Denmark (+100,7%) contributed quite a bit to […]
November 20, 2023
Industrial start-up Verkor officially laid the foundation for its cutting-edge Gigafactory in Dunkirk (France). The Prime Minister of France, Elisabeth Borne, attended the inaugural ceremony. The facility aims to produce high-performance electric batteries, for which it received a substantial investment of 659 million euros approved by the European Commission. Verkor’s Gigafactory, slated for operation by […]
November 17, 2023
Belgian grid operator Elia and its Norwegian counterpart Statnett are investigating whether installing a submarine power cable between Belgium and Norway is possible. The cable would connect both countries’ high-voltage grids and integrate Norwegian offshore wind farms. A similar project was previously launched in Denmark. The study is intended to analyze the “technical and economic […]
November 13, 2023
Stellantis’s daughter Lancia confirms its return to Belgium and Luxembourg on the occasion of the presentation of Lancia Pu+Ra HPE at the Residence of the Italian Ambassador in Brussels. Other European countries to return to are the Netherlands, Germany, France, Spain, and Portugal. The iconic Italian brand has a history of 117 years but disappeared […]
November 10, 2023
Using the phone while driving? Check. Not using a direction indicator when changing lanes or parking in a place for people with disabilities or in the cycle lane? Check. A survey of over 12 000 residents of ten European countries, commissioned by Foundation Vinci Autoroutes, which operates toll roads in France, shows that most Europeans […]
November 10, 2023
The members of the European Parliament have voted on the proposed Euro 7 emission standards as foreseen. The original proposal had been watered down by fierce lobbying from all sides, and the final result was a compromise that left almost everybody unhappy. The EU Parliament will now enter trilogue negotiations with the EU Council and […]
November 08, 2023
Ford Otosan has inaugurated the renewed Yeniköy ‘plant of the future’ in Turkey after a €2 billion investment to improve efficiency and clean energy usage. The new Ford Transit Custom and Tourneo Custom have started production, with the e-Transit Custom and E-Tourneo Custom set for launch in 2024. The €2 billion investment has gone further […]
October 17, 2023
The European Union will defend eliminating fossil fuels well before 2050 at the November COP28 climate summit in Dubai. This is rated in the joint position adopted unanimously by the 27 member states. “The transition to a climate-neutral economy requires the elimination of ‘unabated’ fossil fuels at the global level,” meaning no CO2 is captured […]
October 17, 2023
The proposal of the EU to cut CO2 emissions of heavy trucks and buses by 90% from now until 2040 is getting a mixed response from the industry and environmentalists. European car manufacturers federation ACEA wants supporting targets for the infrastructure and transport companies, while Transport & Environment (T&E) feels the short-term targets are too […]
October 17, 2023
Digital Charging Solutions (DCS) has started a cooperation with Volvo Cars. Through this partnership, Volvo Cars customers will access over 590 000 charging points in Europe. The joint offer is scheduled to be launched in November. Through the cooperation, users of an all-electric Volvo model will have access to the charging points that DCS manages […]
October 16, 2023
Europe’s most important motor show will finally make its comeback in 2024. That’s what the Geneva International Motor Show (GIMS) organizers have announced recently. The 100th-anniversary edition will open again between Monday, 26 February, and Sunday, 3 March 2024. After four years of cancellations caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and problems around the organizers (financial […]
October 13, 2023
According to the highest European Court, an e-bike is not a motorized vehicle. Speed pedelecs and other electric bicycles are, therefore, not covered by compulsory insurance for motor vehicles because they are not driven exclusively by mechanical power. That is what the European Court of Justice states in a judgment in a Belgian case. The […]
October 12, 2023
European airports think that starting next year, they will regain the volume of passenger traffic they had before the coronavirus crisis. That is a year ahead of schedule. ACI Europe even foresees a slight increase compared to before the Covid-19 disruption, according to their updated Airport Traffic Forecast 2023-2027. The International Association of European Airports […]
October 10, 2023
Nearly 10 major European cities, including Paris, Brussels, and Rome, have petitioned the European Parliament, demanding stricter standards for air quality and exhaust emissions. The 27 EU member states approved in September a watered-down regulation. This has yet to be negotiated with the European Parliament, which has not yet determined its position. The 27 do […]
October 09, 2023
Ford is running out of options in the search for a new investor in its Saarlouis plant in Germany, where it produces the compact Focus model, which is set to retire in 2025. The only potential investor remaining has pulled out, leaving 4 400 jobs threatened. It has been widely reported that Ford’s switch to […]
October 09, 2023
Volvo Group and Renault Group have signed a binding agreement to create a joint venture with the goal of creating a new generation of electric vans. These will be built on a modular platform with 800 V batteries, with production expected to start in 2026. Logistics company CMA CGM is also planning to join the […]
October 05, 2023
It’s a growing problem on fully booked short flights in Europe: passengers carrying (too much) hand luggage to be stowed in the airplane’s overhead bins as rules differ among airlines, and some of them charge extras. The European Parliament wants to end these confusing rules and urges to review the EU laws on aviation passenger […]
October 04, 2023
In a striking opinion piece, William Todts, Executive Director of the NGO Transport & Environment (T&E), points at the mess the German car industry has made these recent decades and the efforts from the European Union to tackle the problem. “Earlier this month, Ursula von der Leyen sent shockwaves through the European and Chinese car […]
September 28, 2023
Chinese state-owned carmaker Chery Automobile is coming to Germany in 2024 with three brands, offering a mix of models, price points, and even drive types, with both ICE and EV cars on offer. Should the launch succeed, a local production site is also considered. The report comes from the German business magazine WirtschaftsWoche, which says […]
September 28, 2023
Last Monday, the 27 EU member states substantially softened the Commission’s proposition for new Euro 7 emissions regulations by 2025. Led by France and Italy (amongst others), the member states feared that this would cost the EU car industry too much and even retard investments in electrification. The member states are hereby responding to the […]
September 28, 2023
Nissan’s plan to launch only electric cars and hybrids in Europe from 2023 lasted only a short time. From now on, the Japanese want to introduce only pure electric vehicles so that the last hybrid will be sold by 2030. According to the new plan, Nissan wants to sell only fully electric cars in Europe […]
September 25, 2023
The French mining company Eramet and waste management specialist Suez have decided on Dunkirk, near the Belgian border, for the location of their EV battery recycling plant. The first part of the plant is scheduled to be operational by 2025, with a capacity of up to 50 000 tons of battery packs per year. Eramet […]
September 22, 2023
The proposal from the French Green Party to update the European driver’s permit is meeting strong opposition. On Thursday, the German Green Party responded that “a night driving ban for young drivers and an extra driving license for SUVs completely miss people’s reality and are nonsense”. Karima Delli handed in the proposal from the French […]
September 21, 2023
The Prime Minister of the UK, Rishi Sunak (Conservatives), is attempting to water down the UK policy to ban the sale of new combustion vehicles in 2030. The British car industry doesn’t seem happy at all with this policy change. “To give us more time to prepare, I’m announcing that we’re going to ease the […]
September 20, 2023
A 3,5-year EU project, GIANTS (Green Intelligent Affordable New Transport Solutions), aims to develop technology solutions that will enable the production of affordable LEVs or light electric vehicles (categorized L5, L6, and L7) for urban transport worldwide. Two major car manufacturers are also involved. How can the millions of tuk-tuks in the world’s cities be […]
September 20, 2023
Since 1995, European countries have invested 66% more in highways than rail connections. “We spend more money on means of transport that emit the most greenhouse gases,” says Joeri Thijs, spokesperson for Greenpeace. Greenpeace Central en Eastern Europe requested a study by the Wuppertal Institute and think tank T3 Transportation. That study revealed that over […]
September 19, 2023
Spain’s Perte plan, a subsidy scheme to transform the country into an industrial hub for electric mobility, is bearing fruit. After Volkswagen, the Stellantis group is tapping into favorable incentives. Models built on the STLA Small architecture will be produced in Spain. Stellantis has three plants in Spain and will now convert those in Figueruelas, […]
September 15, 2023
Leasys, the 50/50 joint venture between multinational automotive company Stellantis and the French Crédit Agricole Consumer Finance, is a multi-brand leasing company operational in eleven European countries. This week, Leasys Belgium was officially presented. The new company intends to take advantage of the changes in the market and maximize its presence. According to the press […]
