December 30, 2025
From now on, anyone in France who exceeds the speed limit by 50 km/h or more will no longer receive a simple fine but will be immediately summoned to appear before the criminal court. Just as they would for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, they could face a fine of up to […]
December 29, 2025
The first batch of Deepal electric SUVs has officially left Thailand for Europe, marking a concrete new phase in the expansion of another Chinese carmaker on the European market. The shipment concerns the Deepal S05, produced at Changan Automobile’s newly opened factory in Rayong, Thailand. It is the group’s first overseas production site dedicated entirely […]
December 29, 2025
BMW Group has once again been named the most attractive German employer in the Trendence Professionals Barometer 2025. It marks the fourteenth consecutive year that the Munich-based carmaker has topped the influential survey among highly educated professionals in Germany. In doing so, BMW once again ranks ahead of domestic automotive rivals such as Mercedes-Benz Group […]
December 29, 2025
XPeng is preparing to give its P7+ sedan a new role on the global stage. The key change is not just a facelift, but a fundamental shift in powertrain strategy, one that seeks to monetise the lingering grip of range anxiety on European car buyers. The Chinese electric vehicle maker has confirmed that the updated […]
December 29, 2025
From January 1, the low-emission zone (LEZ) in the Brussels-Capital Region will be tightened. Diesel vehicles with Euro 5 standards and gasoline vehicles with Euro 2 standards will no longer be allowed to enter. Brussels car dealers are noticing this tightening, writes BRUZZ. For example, the banned Euro 5 diesels have become a lot cheaper […]
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
Ford just introduced the Bronco New Energy in China, a fully battery-electric version and an extended-range electric variant, at a starting price of just over 32,000 US dollars. It quietly confirms a fundamental shift in how the company has, for some time now, treated several of its most recognizable nameplates. In the US, it remains […]
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
BMW has crossed a crucial industrial threshold at its Munich home plant. The carmaker has completed what it calls the ‘functional checks’ or ‘warm up’ of newly installed production equipment for the Neue Klasse, effectively dry-running the entire production process without vehicles or components. For Munich, this milestone carries symbolic and strategic weight. The Bavarian […]
December 18, 2025
The European Commission is expanding the carbon tax system on imports of steel and aluminum, among other products. This will soon include finished products, such as car parts and washing machines. This will make the border tax somewhat more watertight. The so-called ‘Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism’ (CBAM) or border tax requires companies outside the EU […]
December 18, 2025
The announcement in an official press release on 18 December that BNP Paribas’ subsidiary, Arval, has entered into exclusive negotiations to acquire Athlon from Mercedes-Benz Group is widely seen as the next significant milestone in consolidating Europe’s vehicle leasing market. If completed, the transaction would create a full-service leasing group managing around 2.3 million vehicles, […]
December 17, 2025
The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) has responded to the European Commission’s decision to postpone the 2035 ICE ban for cars and to weaken van CO2 targets. The lobby group is satisfied with the EU’s direction but wants greater clarity for trucks as soon as possible. For context, the European Commission has announced its ‘Automotive […]
December 17, 2025
Fare evasion on the Belgian railway company NMBS/SNCB is clearly on the rise. This is once again evident from the results of a recent large-scale ticket inspection. We are observing a similar trend in neighboring countries, along with higher fines. However, there is one notable exception: Luxembourg, because traveling by public transport there does not […]
December 17, 2025
The European Commission has presented as expected on Tuesday its broad Automotive Action Plan aimed at supporting the competitiveness of Europe’s car industry while maintaining the EU’s long-term climate objectives. Central to the proposal is a revision of the framework governing CO₂ emissions from new cars and vans after 2035, combined with industrial support measures […]
December 16, 2025
Chinese carmaker BYD has announced one of the most generous battery warranties yet. The world’s best-selling EV maker promises a coverage of 250,000 kilometers, up from 200,000 kilometers previously. The increased mileage seems bold, even disruptive, but behind the figure sits a more complicated story about trust, technology, and the yearly mileage European customers cover. […]
December 16, 2025
According to a newly released statement from Smart Europe, the fully electric #2, to be launched at the end of 2026, has entered an intensive real-world validation phase on its entirely new Electric Compact Architecture (ECA). The #2, expected to become the spiritual successor to the original Smart Fortwo, arrives at a moment when the […]
December 15, 2025
Renault has announced that it will dismantle its standalone mobility arm, Mobilize, drawing a line under its brief experiment with car-sharing and electric microcars. The French car maker needs to counter mounting financial pressures. The French carmaker said it would wind down Mobilize, halt production of its electric quadricycles, and exit the car-sharing market altogether. […]
December 15, 2025
Toyota takes another step in the gradual expansion of its European electric vehicle range with the unveiling of the final all-new Urban Cruiser, a compact battery-electric SUV designed to compete in one of the continent’s fastest-growing segments. The model made its world premiere at the Brussels Motor Show earlier this year. Positioned below the bZ4X […]
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
Europe will no longer hold on to its long-promised ban on new registrations of gasoline and diesel cars as of 2035. The Commission has settled for a rewrite, now demanding that the average vehicle sold will be obliged to emit 90% less CO2 after that deadline. Pitched as a measure to safeguard jobs in the […]
December 11, 2025
Oslo’s ambition to reshape its transport system around cleaner, more flexible mobility has taken a new step through a partnership with Volkswagen that will bring an autonomous ID.Buzz fleet to the city’s streets from 2026. Once again, the Norwegian capital is positioning itself as an early adopter of technologies that many European cities embrace far […]
December 11, 2025
Will we soon be hearing “Bon appétite!” or “Enjoy your meal” a little faster before the British border comes into view on the Eurostar? There’s a good chance of that happening, as the British government has changed the rules on bringing meat and dairy products into the UK as ‘personal luggage’ in response to outbreaks […]
December 11, 2025
Mercedes has inked a significant new supply deal with South Korea’s LG Energy Solutions. On paper, the agreement appears to be a routine procurement for the carmaker’s next wave of electric models. But in practice, it exposes the deepening malaise within Europe’s battery ambitions, as one of the continent’s flagship manufacturing projects continues to miss […]
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 charging infrastructure in Europe will increase from approximately 12.2 million charging points to around 35.4 million by 2030. That means almost a threefold increase over five years. This is according to a recent report compiled by the consulting firm Ricardo on behalf of the European division of the International Automobile Federation (FIA). A large […]
December 08, 2025
In the future, Brussels’ Maximilian Park will also serve as a source of heating and cooling for the surrounding buildings. Test drilling will begin today as part of the park’s energy transition in the North District. Be.SHARE, a project for a low-temperature network, aims to drastically reduce CO2 emissions in the district by replacing fossil […]
December 05, 2025
There is an EU agreement for a system like the Belgian Car-Pass, at least if it is up to the European transport ministers. With this initiative, Europe aims to tackle odometer fraud in second-hand vehicles across the European Union. The mandatory registration system is primarily based on the operating principles of the Belgian Car-Pass, a […]
December 05, 2025
Despite the (mostly German) carmakers’ lobbying to hit the brakes and give ICE another chance, Europe’s electric-vehicle landscape is shifting fast, and a new analysis from TradingPedia offers an unusually detailed snapshot of which brands and models are winning the race in 2025. TradingPedia, a Bulgarian financial analysis platform that frequently works with industry datasets, […]
December 04, 2025
The European Commission wants to make Europe less dependent on rare materials and other critical raw materials. It is allocating a budget of €3 billion for this purpose. Among other things, the program includes restricting the export of waste that can be recycled for valuable materials essential to the green transition, such as rare-earth metals […]
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 04, 2025
To stabilize its shrinking European market share, Ford plans to leverage its most rugged American model. The carmaker is preparing to launch a Europe-exclusive version of the Bronco in 2027, but it will not feature a purely electric driveline. And don’t expect a rival for the upcoming small G-Class and baby Defender. Ford doesn’t shy […]
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
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 02, 2025
Geely took to the legendary Paris-Beijing route – or rather, vice versa – to make a point about the durability of its Galaxy M9 SUV. Tale to the story: the car not only reached its destination in good shape, but engineers also dismantled the model overtly to demonstrate its resilience. Automakers typically prefer their vehicles to […]
December 01, 2025
European aircraft manufacturer Airbus has issued a software update for its A320 Neo aircraft. This was prompted by a recent incident involving a JetBlue Airways Corp. aircraft. According to Airbus, this incident showed that intense sunlight can affect critical control data, potentially forcing the airplane into an unexpected dive. Initially, there was talk of a […]
November 28, 2025
When Leapmotor first unveiled the B05 at the IAA Mobility show in Munich last September, it was clear that the compact electric hatchback was conceived with Europe in mind. What was less clear then was how aggressively the Chinese newcomer, backed by Stellantis, intended to position itself. Now, following the official launch of the model […]
November 27, 2025
CATL, the world’s largest manufacturer of automotive batteries, and automotive giant Stellantis have started construction of a battery factory in Figueruelas, near Zaragoza. The expected capacity of the LFP battery factory is up to 50 kWh, enough to supply tens of thousands of EVs with batteries each year. For CATL, this is the third battery […]
November 27, 2025
According to Ryanair, Belgium is pricing itself out of the market now that the De Wever government has decided that the flight tax will be €10 for all flights from 2027, while other countries are reducing or completely scrapping their taxes. However, the Irish low-cost airline’s comment should be taken with a grain of salt. […]
November 27, 2025
Horse Powertrain, the Renault-Geely joint venture backed by Saudi Aramco, has unveiled the production-bound version of its ‘Future Hybrid System,’ signalling a decisive shift from an intriguing idea shown earlier this year to a fully industrialised technology aimed at mass-market deployment by 2027. It’s more than yet another powertrain technology. It signals a shift in […]
November 26, 2025
Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Källenius is apparently seeking a second term as president of the European Car Manufacturer Association ACEA. The ACEA president is elected annually, and an extension is possible, which Källenius now appears to intend. The rumors were reported by the German business publication Handelsblatt, citing industry sources. Typically, the ACEA president serves a […]
November 26, 2025
At last week’s Solutrans trade show in Lyon, Renault Trucks finally pulled the wraps off what it had promised earlier as its spearhead for long-distance electric freight. The new E-Tech T 780 and its payload-focused sibling, the E-Tech T 585, build upon the architecture developed by Volvo Trucks. The new trucks aim at convincing logistics […]
November 25, 2025
From 2027, the air passenger tax in Belgium will increase for flights over 500 kilometers from €5 to €10 per departing passenger. This is the second time in this legislative period that the federal government will increase the tax on airline tickets. Brussels Airlines points out that it cannot pay the additional tax out of its […]
November 25, 2025
Ford Trucks is preparing to enter a new chapter in its history with the launch of the F-LINE E, the company’s first fully electric heavy truck, first unveiled to the public at the Solutrans commercial vehicle show in Lyon in late 2025. The choice of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg as pioneers reflects both strategic […]
November 25, 2025
GAC has begun building its Aion V electric SUV at Magna Steyr’s plant in Graz. While giving the Austrian contract manufacturer fresh volume after a series of wind-downs, this is one of the first actual Chinese passenger cars produced in Europe. While the Aion V isn’t a common sight on Belgian roads, the midsize electric […]
November 24, 2025
Belgian railway infrastructure manager Infrabel is allocating 200 million euros to strengthen the infrastructure for the transport of heavy military equipment, according to RTL info. The money will mainly be used to reinforce bridges, widen tunnels, and develop new tracks, particularly around the ports of Antwerp and Zeebrugge. The investment is in line with the European […]
November 24, 2025
BYD has moved decisively into the global lead in battery-electric vehicle sales, widening the gap with Tesla and signalling a shift in the balance of power in the world’s largest and most contested segment of the auto market. New data for the third quarter of 2025 shows BYD selling more than 582,000 BEVs worldwide, comfortably […]
November 21, 2025
Ghent ranks third in the Copenhagenize Index of the world’s most bicycle-friendly cities, after Utrecht and Copenhagen. The index is compiled every two years by the Danish consultancy Copenhagenize Desing Co., an agency specializing in bicycle strategy, urban planning, and mobility, and is considered an international benchmark. Antwerp ranks eighth. Brussels, the only other Belgian […]
November 21, 2025
On January 1st, 2026, Magnus Nilsson will take over as the new CEO and plant manager of Volvo Car Gent from Stefan Fesser. After more than seven years, Stefan Fesser will take on a strategic role within the company. Magnus Nilsson (58) was born in Sweden. He has worked for Volvo Cars since 1988, in various […]
November 21, 2025
Chances are high that you’ve seen this S6 EV before. In the summer, this SUV was inadvertently published on Euro NCAP’s test publication pages ahead of its official reveal. MG has finally unwrapped the full specs of its latest addition to its electric portfolio. It’s an SUV destined for families who have outgrown the S5 […]
November 20, 2025
To enhance security and increase the EU’s deterrent capacity, Member States must be able to rapidly move large quantities of troops and equipment across the Union. This means there should be specific rules for cross-border military mobility, preferably without excessive administrative hassle. Currently, member states have their own rules and requirements, which make troop movements […]
November 19, 2025
Belgium ranks 37th on the Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI), the annual ranking of climate performance by environmental NGOs. This means the country has dropped two places compared to last year. The CCPI evaluates the climate‐mitigation performance of 63 countries plus the European Union (EU) — together covering more than 90 % of global greenhouse […]
November 18, 2025
A new international survey by the Global EV Alliance suggests the electric-vehicle landscape is being shaped as much by politics and perception as by product and pricing. As for car brands, 41% of buyers are reluctant to buy Tesla due to political concerns, while one in ten opposes cars made in China. The Global EV […]
November 18, 2025
Renault Group and Nissan are in talks to revive their faltering alliance following leadership changes at the two automakers and struggles at Nissan, The Financial Times reported. Citing people familiar with the discussions, the FT reported on November 17th that Luca de Meo’s departure last summer had spurred the talks. De Meo was replaced by […]
November 17, 2025
The Automotive Cells Company (ACC), the battery cell joint venture between Stellantis, Mercedes-Benz, and TotalEnergies, appears to be on the verge of permanently closing its factory in Termoli, Italy. An announcement could be made in a matter of weeks. The decision is imminent and could be officially announced by the end of this year or […]
November 14, 2025
The European Parliament on Thursday backed a target to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2040 compared with 1990 levels, broadly aligning with the position agreed earlier by EU member states. 379 MEPs voted in favor, 248 against. The 2040 target is now legally enshrined as an intermediate step towards 2050, when the EU […]
November 14, 2025
A new study by the French Institut Mobilités en Transition (IMT) casts fresh doubt on the future of plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs), arguing that prolonging their sale in Europe beyond 2035 would harm both household budgets and the continent’s climate ambitions. The study finds that for buyers of new vehicles, plug-in hybrids cost about 7% […]
November 12, 2025
Yutong, China’s biggest bus manufacturer, based in Zhengzhou, which has supplied electric buses to Norway, Denmark, and the Netherlands, has built a remotely operated ‘kill switch’ into its vehicles. This mechanism gives the manufacturer digital access to systems for software updates and diagnostics. Still, in theory, it is also possible to disable or influence the […]
November 12, 2025
Executives at Renault Group say they hope the European Commission’s plan for an ‘E-car,’ a small, low-cost EV built in Europe, can be accomplished by freezing regulations for existing small cars rather than creating a new category. Such a freeze would allow automakers to lower their cost base and make the cars economically viable and […]
