July 30, 2025
Every category of commercial vehicles has faced negative results in the first half of 2025 in Europe. Vans and trucks suffered the most, but buses have remained relatively stable, thanks to their large share of electrification. However, the sector warns that the conditions are still not suitable for the mass adoption of electrified heavy commercial […]
July 29, 2025
Global sales of electric cars are picking up speed again, driven by strong growth in China and renewed momentum in Europe, according to a new analysis by consulting firm PwC. In the first half of the year, more than 5.9 million battery electric vehicles (BEVs) were registered worldwide, a 37% increase compared to the same […]
July 29, 2025
It was already known that the Flemish government provides compensation support to major CO2 emitters. But according to the newspaper De Standaard, that support has increased from 36 million euros in 2019 to almost 270 million euros today. The top 10 beneficiaries include large companies, such as ArcelorMittal, BASF, ExxonMobil, and TotalEnergies. The support concerns the […]
July 28, 2025
Qatar is threatening to stop gas supplies to the European Union. The threat comes in response to the European duty of care law on forced labor and environmental damage. This is evident from a letter from Qatar to the Belgian government, which was seen by Reuters news agency. Qatar is the world’s third-largest exporter of […]
July 28, 2025
The long-awaited trade deal between the European Union and the U.S. was concluded yesterday. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and U.S. President Trump found an agreement when they met in Scotland. The general import tariff in the U.S. for the EU will be fixed at 15%. According to von der Leyen, the 15% […]
July 25, 2025
Car manufacturer Stellantis, with brands such as Peugeot, Citroën, Opel, Jeep, and Fiat, will cease production of combustion engines at its Douvrin facility in the northern French department of Pas-de-Calais. The approximately 350 employees at the site will be transferred to the nearby ACC gigafactory, a joint venture for battery production, or to other sites […]
July 25, 2025
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz criticized plans, according to the German newspaper Bild, that the European Union is working on prohibiting car-rental firms and large corporations from buying non-electric vehicles for their fleets starting in 2030. The European plan is still a proposal and draws inspiration from Belgian regulations that stipulate that by 2026, all new […]
July 24, 2025
The Board of directors of the Belgian public railroad company NMBS/SNCB has finally chosen Spanish train builder CAF (Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles) as the preferred bidder for the supply of new train carriages. It concerns a contract for up to 600 new train sets by 2034, for an estimated sum of between €1.7 billion […]
July 24, 2025
In the first half of 2025 (H1 2025), new EU car registrations dropped by 1.9% compared to the same period last year, according to the data of ACEA. With a strong 7.3% year-on-year (YOY) decline for June, this is indicative of the challenging global economic environment for automakers. The battery-electric car market share for H1 […]
July 22, 2025
Because the Netherlands has awarded domestic train traffic to Dutch Railways NS, the European Commission is going to the European Court of Justice. Such a direct allocation is contrary to the European rule that requires several transport companies to be able to apply for the main domestic train traffic. The court may decide to fine […]
July 17, 2025
Renault Group has named its recently appointed CFO, Duncan Minto, as interim CEO to replace Luca de Meo, who is leaving the automaker to run the luxury group Kering. Minto will run the company alongside Renault Group Chairman Jean-Dominique Senard, Renault said in a news release on July 15. It said the search for a […]
July 16, 2025
The French government has announced a second season of its social leasing scheme for EVs. An envelope of €370 million is destined for subsidising the rental of at least 50,000 EVs for three years or more. Social leasing of (smaller) EVs has been a significant success in France last year. Even overwhelmingly so, because 50,000 […]
July 15, 2025
Good news, EV Belgium, the sector federation for electromobility, heralds: Europe will officially have more than one million public charging points this summer. This also means that traveling with an electric car has never been easier. According to the European Alternative Fuels Observatory, every EV driver can enjoy a carefree holiday this summer with their […]
July 14, 2025
The number of international train travelers at the Belgian public railroad company NMBS/SNCB is increasing year after year. Since 2019, the number of bookings through NMBS/SNCB International has risen by over 50%. The most popular countries are France, the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. NMBS/SNCB sells tickets to more […]
July 11, 2025
More and more EU countries are concerned about the new European tax on CO2 emissions, but there is no support for postponing it. ETS2 is the European Union’s carbon tax, planned for introduction in 2027, which will make the use of fossil fuels more expensive for consumers. The new tax is an extension of the existing […]
July 09, 2025
German truck maker Daimler Trucks, one of the leading companies globally in the sector, has announced that it will cut 5,000 jobs in its homeland, Germany, by 2030 to become more market resilient and improve its profitability. In Germany, the company employs around 35,500 employees, of whom around 28,000 in its Stuttgart hub. Sluggish economic […]
July 08, 2025
Stellantis is launching the new Jeep Compass 4xe, in Europe, a successor to the current PHEV, which promises enhanced off-road capability. That includes a 195 hp engine, a 10 mm raised suspension, a dedicated off-road driving mode, dual off-road bumpers, an anti-scratch Bumper Shield, a matte anti-glare hood sticker, a rear tow hook, and 19-inch […]
July 08, 2025
According to a new study by the clean transport and energy lobbying group Transport & Environment (T&E), the European car industry, which is responsible for €330 billion of the EU’s GDP and employs three million people directly or indirectly, faces an agonizing choice. It can boost and ramp up EV production with proper EU support, […]
July 07, 2025
Will we soon have self-driving Teslas in Belgium? The American carmaker has already applied to the European Commission in March for approval of autonomous driving (Full Self Driving), and more specifically, supervised hands-off driving. According to the Vers L’Avenir newspaper, Federal Minister of Mobility Jean-Luc Crucke (Les Engagés), unlike his predecessor, is already in favor. […]
July 04, 2025
Changan Automobile, one of China’s largest state-owned automakers, is accelerating its push into Europe. The carmaker has confirmed its intention to build its first manufacturing facility on the continent as part of a broader strategy to grow its electric vehicle footprint. The mounting trade barriers have persuaded the carmaker to localize operations. “We are committed […]
July 04, 2025
The recall problems at Stellantis don’t stop. Following issues with the PureTech gasoline engines and Takata airbags, the manufacturer is forced to recall nearly a million cars equipped with the 1.5 BlueHDi diesel engine. The timing chain has flaws and is prone to failure, which can potentially lead to an engine breakdown. Some 930,700 vehicles […]
July 03, 2025
Polestar is staking its European future on a new production strategy that focuses on local manufacturing for regional markets. The Swedish electric performance brand, owned by China’s Geely, confirmed this week that its upcoming Polestar 7 will roll off the lines at Volvo Cars’ under-construction factory in Košice, Slovakia. The 7 marks the premium brand’s […]
July 03, 2025
The American research organization BloombergNEF (BNEF), widely regarded as an authority in global analyses across various domains, including electric mobility and clean energy, expects EV sales to surge this year like never before, with a 25% increase to 22 million vehicles. Nearly two-thirds of those 22 million will be sold in China, 17% in Europe—a […]
July 02, 2025
The French-speaking liberal party MR wants to relaunch mining in Belgium. They advocate rebuilding a full value chain, from mine to recycling. After all, the energy transition is driving up demand for metals, and Europe needs to reduce its dependence on China in particular, according to the party’s study center. “If we have an idea […]
July 01, 2025
Mitsubishi Motors aims to sell 75,000 to 80,000 vehicles annually in Europe, a gain of 20 to 30 percent over last year, with the help of two new Renault-sourced models that arrive in 2025, regional CEO Frank Krol told the specialized magazine Automotive News Europe. It’s also thinking of (re)introducing some of its own Japanese […]
July 01, 2025
To boost the competitiveness of zero-emission road transport, the European Commission has proposed extending the toll exemption for electric and hydrogen trucks and buses. The exemption currently expires at the end of 2025, but the Commission wants to postpone the deadline until 2031. The market share of zero-emission trucks and buses remains marginal, primarily due […]
July 01, 2025
Lufthansa’s planned entry into Latvian airline airBaltic has been approved by the German competition authority. The German airline group will now have a 10% stake in airBaltic, which has Riga as its central hub. Otherwise, airBaltic’s main shareholder remains the government of Latvia. The entry involves a sum of € 14 million. Although the deal […]
June 30, 2025
After months of tense negotiations with the European Commission, the Belgian federal government has decided to drastically limit its planned extension of tax deductions for plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs). What was once pitched as a broad incentive to support businesses transitioning away from older combustion engine cars will now apply only to self-employed individuals. Companies […]
June 27, 2025
Tesla has dismissed one of its most senior executives amid its sales debacle and growing unease over CEO Elon Musk’s polarizing public profile. Omead Afshar, a long-time confidant of Musk and head of operations for North America and Europe, was quietly let go, according to Forbes. The departure reflects deepening turbulence within the electric vehicle […]
June 26, 2025
The financial analysis platform TradingPedia analyzed global sales of electrified vehicles worldwide in 2024 by examining new car registration data from the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) and the International Energy Agency (IEA). The fact that China is by far the leading country in EV sales is confirmed here. According to TradingPedia research, China led […]
June 26, 2025
After some embarrassing failures in the past to do it alone, such as Volkswagen’s, eleven giants from the German automotive industry have realized they need to join forces in developing the software that will increasingly define the car of the future. Under the impetus of the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA), they signed […]
June 25, 2025
Mercedes-Benz Vans has received its most significant EV order to date. The German manufacturer will deliver 5,000 electric vans to Amazon’s European delivery partners. Three-quarters of which are the larger eSprinter, while the rest of the order consists of eVito panel vans. The vehicles will be delivered in the coming months. As the American e-commerce […]
June 25, 2025
The French government has ordered the immediate immobilization of 800,000 additional vehicles because of the presence of possibly lethal Takata airbags. All car brands are involved in the massive and urgent recall that is now needed. Last week, French car manufacturer Citroën initiated a ‘stop drive’ for all its C3 and DS3 models produced between […]
June 25, 2025
Tesla finds itself under the French spotlight for all the wrong reasons. The American EV maker has now been slapped with a formal injunction by France’s consumer watchdog, the DGCCRF. The charge? Misleading advertising and dubious business practices, according to French authorities, that veer off the legal path. The case zeroes in—unsurprisingly—on Tesla’s most contentious […]
June 25, 2025
Renault is gathering its collection of historic vehicles, artworks, and archival documents in a new exhibition center outside Paris, at the landmark Flins site, set to open in 2027. The public will be able to explore the brand’s unique heritage through tours and themed exhibitions. This ambitious project aims to showcase the brand’s 125-year history […]
June 20, 2025
Ford has issued a global stop-sale on its electric Mustang Mach-E as it grapples with a potentially serious safety issue that may prevent the doors from unlocking, putting occupants at risk of being trapped. The recall affects nearly 317,000 vehicles spanning model years 2021 to 2025, raising fresh concerns among customers and dealers about delivery […]
June 20, 2025
MOIA, Volkswagen Group’s autonomous ride-sharing subsidiary, has unveiled the series production version of the VW ID. Buzz AD. The self-driving electric minivan is now available for sale to mobility providers and comes complete with all necessary software solutions and operator assistance. MOIA was founded in 2016 as part of Volkswagen’s ADMT (Autonomous Driving Mobility and […]
June 19, 2025
Hylane, a German zero-emissions truck rental company primarily known for its hydrogen efforts, is expanding in two ways. The company now also offers battery-electric trucks and has expanded into the Netherlands, where it will benefit from additional subsidies to partly finance its new trucks. Hylane was founded in 2021 in Cologne, Germany, and, as the […]
June 19, 2025
Steel giant Arcelor Mittal is considering closing its innovative Steelanol plant in Ghent, a prestigious showpiece for the company’s decarbonization strategy. The plant, which converts CO2 from blast furnace gases into ethanol, is struggling with strict and unfavorable European regulations, threatening to make the project financially unsustainable. The Steelanol plant captures residual gases from the […]
June 19, 2025
The Belgian socialist transport trade union BTB-ABVV is launching a multilingual hotline for truckers. They can go there in 21 languages to ask questions about their rights or to report abuse or malpractice. “Every driver deserves a correct wage, dignified working conditions, and access to help, regardless of nationality or employer,” BTB-ABVV states. “The hotline […]
June 18, 2025
Two years after the European consumer organization BEUC filed a complaint, airlines are still engaging in greenwashing, or using misleading environmental claims, according to Testaankoop/Test Achats and its European umbrella organization, BEUC. While the situation has “slightly improved,” greenwashing remains the norm in the airline industry, according to the consumer organizations. Still a widespread practice […]
June 17, 2025
The Belgian government is allocating over 76 million euros from the European Recovery Fund to rail. With just under 70 million euros, railroad network operator Infrabel will get the lion’s share of the envelope. Among other things, the money will be used for the electrification of the network, while stations will also be upgraded with […]
June 17, 2025
Genesis, founded in 2015 as an independent luxury brand of South Korean Hyundai, was initially active only in its home country and the United States, later expanding to Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and Germany. It is now focusing further on Europe, entering the markets of France, Spain, Italy, and the Netherlands with first deliveries expected […]
June 16, 2025
Dutch charging provider Allego has fulfilled its promise and is now offering Plug&Charge technology across its ultra-fast charging network in Europe. The convenience eliminates the need for apps and cards, providing a seamless charging experience. Following in the footsteps of charging point operators like Ionity, Allego has an edge. It pioneers the latest communication protocol. […]
June 12, 2025
The World Health Organization (WHO) has established a new agency to make recommendations to the health sector in the European Region. The ‘Pan-European Committee on Climate and Health’ (PECCH), as the new organization is called, will offer pragmatic and cost-effective health sector solutions to address climate change. Former Icelandic Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir will chair the PECCH. […]
June 11, 2025
Antonio Filosa has been chosen as the new CEO of the Stellantis Group, pending confirmation at the annual shareholders meeting on July 18th, which is expected to be a formality. The board of Stellantis took its time to choose a successor to the ousted Carlos Tavares. In the meantime, Agnelli heir John Elkann, Chairman of […]
June 11, 2025
The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) has issued a public statement following the latest Transport Council report on 5 June, in which no further action was taken regarding the revision of the Weights and Dimensions Directive. The lobby group urges the Council to conclude negotiations to make the truckmakers’ lives easier about the EU’s 2030 […]
June 11, 2025
The European Federation of Bicycle Associations has named the Belgian railroad company NMBS/SNCB, along with the Swiss railroad company SBB, as the continent’s most bicycle-friendly rail companies. However, the Cyclists’ Union continues to find accessibility problematic, a point that is also apparent when examining the state of Flemish stations from the perspective of a person […]
June 11, 2025
The Chinese Geely Holding does not intend to join the race for the best production sites in Europe and the US. Amid subsidy criteria and ongoing global tariff conflicts, localised production in Europe and the US has become an increasingly relevant topic for Chinese carmakers. Still, Geely doesn’t want to get involved in this. At […]
June 10, 2025
Eurostar plans to run direct trains from London to Frankfurt and Geneva starting in 2030. Both train journeys would take some five hours. The high-speed train operator also plans to invest heavily in its fleet. The rail company will invest some 2 billion euros to boost the number of trains by 30%. Pushed by competition […]
June 10, 2025
The Chinese electric car manufacturer Leapmotor is continuing its expansion in Europe with the support of its Stellantis partner. In the past two weeks, the company has established sales partnerships in seven new European markets, ranging from Ireland to Bulgaria. Specifically, Leapmotor is now also present in Ireland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary, Croatia, […]
June 06, 2025
European transport ministers propose that air passengers will now be entitled to compensation only for flight delays of four hours or more. European legislation currently provides for compensation of three hours or more of delay if the airline is at fault. However, the proposal still requires approval from the European Parliament and the European Council. […]
June 06, 2025
The West’s once-dominant car manufacturers are losing ground at an alarming rate to the new generation of fast-rising competitors from Asia, especially China. According to a study by the consulting firm EY, the profit gap is expected to continue growing. A new quarterly report by consultancy EY reveals a strong divide between Western and Asian […]
June 06, 2025
The beloved VW Golf hatchback is falling out of favor. Volkswagen is moving Golf production to Mexico as demand for the current gas-powered model sinks. The upcoming EV version will replace it in VW’s German production alongside a new electric SUV. Since the first Golf rolled off the assembly line in late March 1974, Volkswagen […]
June 05, 2025
Just under four years after its launch, the fifth-generation Kia Sportage has undergone a facelift. The family SUV adopts the new family light signature introduced with the electric EV9 and EV3 models, while retaining its choice of electrified combustion powertrains. The Kia Sportage has been the best-selling model from the Korean manufacturer, with over 7 […]
June 05, 2025
The European Commission is calling on the Belgian government to thoroughly cut subsidies for fossil fuels. It states this in its annual socio-economic recommendations to Belgium. The Commission also regrets that there are no plans to phase out the subsidies before 2030. Such a measure could both boost the greening of transportation and buildings, as […]
June 05, 2025
Global carmakers are facing a mounting crisis. China’s tightening grip on the export of rare earth materials begins to choke off essential supplies, which might lead to plant shutdowns and fuel fears of a broader disruption across the auto industry. The supply chain strain, rooted in the export controls imposed by Beijing, is the latest […]
June 05, 2025
In an interview with the German newspaper Die Welt, Renault Group CEO Luca de Meo says that “small cars and LCVs with electric propulsion will soon be cheaper than their ICE counterparts.” De Meo has pointed out several times already that one of the most significant problems for the breakthrough of EVs is the price. […]
June 04, 2025
Mercedes is facing a harsh market reality with its all-electric G580 with EQ Technology. Sales figures published by the German media outlet Handelsblatt suggest that the high-end electric SUV is falling well short of expectations. In stark contrast, the iconic G-Class continues to thrive with its blasting combustion engines. To make matters worse, Mercedes is […]
June 04, 2025
Chinese carmaker BYD has unveiled plans to deploy a sweeping network of ultra-fast electric vehicle chargers across Europe — and not in some distant future, but within the next 12 months. The bold move forms part of the company’s strategy to become a dominant force in the European car market by the end of the […]
