May 19, 2025
Portuguese electric vehicle charging firm Powerdot is ramping up its European ambitions, pledging €140 million to expand fast-charging infrastructure across France and Belgium. The move was announced at this year’s Choose France summit, the government-backed initiative designed to woo foreign investment. The company is earmarking €100 million for France and €40 million for Belgium in […]
May 19, 2025
In contrast with earlier speculations, Volkswagen CEO Thomas Schäfer has confirmed plans to further develop the MEB platform with the MEB+, following longstanding rumors of a refresh. The platform refresh will begin with the launch of the new ID.2 next year. Following the launch of the ID.2, Volkswagen will begin moving all of its electric […]
May 19, 2025
The Chinese holding company Geely posted a sharp rise in first-quarter profit. Record sales and cost controls helped the automaker tighten its grip on its fast-moving domestic market. But in the near future, the Chinese car group, which owns Volvo, Polestar, and others, will face mounting export pressures and, consequently, push for a corporate restructuring. […]
May 19, 2025
French car manufacturer Renault will reveal an off-road show car based on the Renault 4 E-Tech Electric on the sidelines of the French Open tennis contest. Compared to the production model, the small off-roader features a second engine on the rear axle and more ground clearance. The electric R4 is not yet on the road; […]
May 16, 2025
Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD will establish its European headquarters and a significant research and development hub in Budapest. The investment is part of a €248 million expansion into Hungary. It underlines the company’s growth ambitions and the Orban government’s close ties with Beijing. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and BYD’s chairman and chief executive, Wang […]
May 16, 2025
Toyota is set to launch an estate car version of its all-electric SUV model, the bZ4X, next year. It will be called the BZ4X Touring and will be 14 cm longer than the standard car. Its European launch is planned for the first half of 2026. The bZ4X Touring features 33% more trunk space than […]
May 15, 2025
At a meeting of the Supervisory Board held following BMW AG’s Annual General Meeting, Dr. Nicolas Peter was elected chairman. 86.21 percent of shareholders had voted earlier to appoint Dr. Peter to the Supervisory Board for a four-year term. Dr. Nicolas Peter served as a member of BMW AG’s Board of Management responsible for the […]
May 15, 2025
According to the latest report by the International Energy Agency (IEA), electric vehicle sales are on course to top 20 million globally in 2025, marking a significant milestone for the automotive sector. This figure translates to one in every four new cars sold this year being electric—a remarkable rise considering the lingering economic uncertainty and […]
May 15, 2025
The Stellantis brand DS Automobile has introduced the DS N°4, a revision of its compact hatchback. The new lineup, a second in the N° nomenclature, features a fully electric E-Tense with a range of 450 kilometers, as well as PHEV and hybrid versions. DS Automobiles says it has focused on technological development with this revision, […]
May 14, 2025
Roughly a year after the major facelift of its electric Gran Turismo, Audi is expanding the e-tron GT line-up with a new powertrain variant. Following the S and RS models, it has introduced a new ‘base model’ with 430 kW of power and a starting price of €108,900 in Germany and €110,500 in Belgium. Since […]
May 14, 2025
All alarm bells are going off at Nissan. Japanese media reported that Nissan Motor Co. plans to cut about 20,000 jobs globally as part of a ramped-up restructuring campaign under the new CEO, Ivan Espinosa. Last week, in an effort to speed reforms and conserve cash, Nissan announced it was canceling plans to build a […]
May 12, 2025
Car manufacturing group Stellantis has launched an online compensation platform for European clients with unforeseen reparation costs related to their 1.0 and 1.2 PureTech engines. Several generations of these engines (also known as EB) confronted their owners with excessive oil consumption or a premature degradation of the timing belt. This additional compensation scheme is meant […]
May 12, 2025
IAG, the group behind British Airways and Iberia, is expanding its fleet with 71 new aircraft. The orders are neatly divided between Boeing, an American manufacturer, and its European rival, Airbus. The order involves more than 20 billion dollars. The planes would be delivered between 2028 and 2033. IAD did not release how much specifically […]
May 12, 2025
Tesla faces mounting internal unrest after a veteran employee was fired for publicly criticizing CEO Elon Musk. He urged the company to replace him amid falling sales and reputational concerns tied to Musk’s political activity. Tesla confirms its reputation for customizing free speech to its own rhetoric only. Matthew LaBrot, a staff program manager who […]
May 12, 2025
In the first quarter of 2025, the Chinese manufacturer MG realized substantial growth in Europe and the Belgian car market. In Europe, it sold 78,505 cars during Q1, a 33.5% increase in sales compared to 2024. In Belgium, MG registered 35% more registrations in the same period. With the noticeable progress of another Chinese brand, […]
May 09, 2025
Cadillac’s hand-built electric flagship, the Celestiq, was meant to mark the return of American automotive grandeur. Instead, it risks becoming an expensive ghost — rarer than a Bugatti, but not by the board’s initial plan. Nearly three years since its glitzy announcement, fewer than 25 buyers have committed to the €300,000 EV, and even that […]
May 09, 2025
With more drama than some critics feel is appropriate, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and US President Donald Trump announced a deal that brings the 27% tariff on British cars imported into the US virtually back to 10% like before and slashes the 25% tariff on steel. The price: 13.000 tons of tax-free US beef […]
May 09, 2025
Toyota has refreshed the styling of its five-year-old Corolla Cross, enhanced cabin comfort, and introduced a GR Sport variant for the first time in the European lineup. The updated model will arrive in summer 2025, with the GR Sport following in the fall. Positioned between the C-HR and RAV4, the Corolla Cross was initially seen […]
May 08, 2025
Global methane emissions from fossil fuels remain extremely high, while a significant portion could be avoided. Measures to tackle methane emissions are often very cost-effective and could have brought an extra 100 billion cubic meters of gas to market in 2024, the IEA’s Global Tracker shows. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), one-third of […]
May 08, 2025
German carmaker BMW Group reported a 26.4% drop in first-quarter net profit to €2.2 billion, as weak demand in China weighed on earnings. Revenues fell 7.8% to €33.8 billion as global vehicle deliveries dropped 1.4% to 586,117 units, driven by a decline in China amid intense market competition. “Given the sustained demand for its attractive […]
May 08, 2025
Polestar is introducing official battery health certificates for used versions of its Polestar 2 electric car. The new offer must calm nerves across Europe’s struggling second-hand EV market. The Electric car maker says the new certificate will help ease fears over battery life and falling used EV prices. The certificate will become mandatory in the […]
May 08, 2025
Foxconn, best known as Apple’s iPhone assembler, is entering the global electric vehicle market with its first contract to supply an established automaker, Mitsubishi, with a full electric model. Mitsubishi announced it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Foxtron, the EV arm of Taiwan’s Hon Hai Precision Industry Corporation (or Foxconn), to develop […]
May 08, 2025
The new Volvo XC70 mid-size SUV is Volvo Cars’ first extended-range plug-in hybrid. According to the Chinese CLTC standard, it provides a pure electric range of up to 200 kilometers, making it Volvo Cars’ longest-range plug-in hybrid. The new XC70 is designed to meet the demand for longer-range PHEVs in China, where it will be […]
May 07, 2025
Ford presented its business figures for the first quarter and reported a 200% increase in sales for its electric car division. As a result, turnover is also higher, and the loss is lower than a year ago. However, the loss still totals $850 million, and the manufacturer seems to be struggling with its EV future. […]
May 07, 2025
Italian sports carmaker Ferrari is in roaring good health. Net revenues in the first three months of 2025 topped 1.79 billion, up 13.0% versus the prior year, and total shipments of 3,593 cars were 33 more than in the same period last year. Ferrari will announce six new models, which include the newly launched 296 […]
May 06, 2025
Today, the all-new Jeep Compass debuted in Italy and will be manufactured at the Melfi plant, a key hub for Stellantis’ electrification strategy. The new Compass evolves with an expanded engine range, which includes three powertrain options: e-Hybrid, e-Hybrid plug-in, and full electric with up to 650 km range. The latter also offers four-wheel drive. […]
May 06, 2025
South Korean management reads Julius Caesar. As attack is the best defense, the Hyundai group plans to launch a major product push to combat the economic cooldown and Trump tariffs. Most particularly in the lower regions of the electric category. What’s coming, as the fifth largest carmaker retools its strategy to stay competitive in a […]
May 06, 2025
Stellantis President John Elkann and Renault CEO Luca De Meo said in an interview with Le Figaro on Monday that the fate of the European automotive industry is being played out this year. Both are pleading for Europe to rediscover its origins: the popular and affordable car. They say that a radical and fast simplification […]
May 06, 2025
According to a newly published patent, Mazda seems to be laying the groundwork for an electric future for its beloved MX-5 roadster. The details uncover an unconventional battery layout designed to preserve the iconic roadster’s nimble character. The patent, filed at the US Patent and Trademark Office in late 2024, surfaced only recently under the […]
May 05, 2025
Flemish Environment Minister Jo Brouns (CD&V) is introducing stricter distance rules for large wind turbines. This is reported by the newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws. For windmills higher than 200 meters, the distance to the first residence must from now on be at least three times the tip height. “Flanders is too small to place such […]
May 05, 2025
Should Elon Musk stay or should he go? Many have lately asked this question for Tesla, as the car company suffers a massive sales and revenue drop due to the CEO’s political endeavors. According to American media, the board has actively been scouting for a replacement. A month after reporting a staggering 71 percent drop […]
May 05, 2025
The federal service Mobility & Transport and the sector federation Febiac have shared their data about the number of vehicle registrations in April 2025. In the same period, 37,812 cars were registered, 4.7% less than a year ago. Noticeable: the market of individual car buyers rose (again) by 7.7%, the professional market of company cars […]
May 05, 2025
Lynk & Co, the Geely-Volvo-founded brand now operating under Zeekr, has officially launched its most ambitious product: the Lynk & Co 900. It’s a full-size plug-in hybrid SUV positioned to take on China’s fiercely competitive upper market. The 900, which was already unveiled at the beginning of the year, marks a bold step for the […]
May 04, 2025
US President Donald Trump softened some of his automotive tariffs on Tuesday, following industry complaints. Trump signed off on orders that will stop separate levies “stacking” on top of each other, thereby reducing the overall tariff level on vehicle imports. The orders state that vehicles assembled in the US will qualify for partial reimbursements on […]
April 30, 2025
Volvo Cars reports a group operating income (EBIT) of SEK 1.9 billion (€173 million) for the first quarter of 2025, following a drop in wholesales (-6%) and adverse currency effects. The result also reflects the current turbulence in the world and a challenging external environment for the automotive industry. To protect profitability, drive structural efficiencies […]
April 29, 2025
After much deliberation over different platforms and product strategies to enter India’s EV market over the last two years, Skoda appears to have come to a decision. The company has allegedly begun working on its first locally manufactured EV for this important emerging market. According to a recent report from the Indian newspaper Business Standard, […]
April 29, 2025
Stellantis claims it has taken a significant step forward in electric vehicle battery technology. It has cleared internal validation tests for its next-generation solid-state cells and is now paving the way for a demonstration fleet by 2026. But the revolution might be a bit less victorious than the press clippings suggest. The 77 Ah cells, […]
April 29, 2025
The new 2025 Range Rover Electric has completed its second round of winter tests, ahead of its planned release later this year. Technical details have now been confirmed, and the 800-volt SUV runs on a 117-kWh battery with cell-to-pack architecture. The launch of the long-awaited newcomer is planned later this year. The first technical data […]
April 28, 2025
Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD extended its lead in the global EV race with a record-setting first-quarter profit. The carmaker solidified its dominance at home while advancing its global ambitions. But over in Europe, the brand shifted strategy as it struggled with its dealership footprint. The Shenzhen-based car maker’s net profit rose to 9.2 billion […]
April 25, 2025
The two most important members of the Alliance, Renault and Nissan, posted very different results for Q1 2025. Renault holds strong in a challenging environment, while Nissan is struggling to survive and is still looking for a partner. Renault Group recorded 564,980 sales in 2025 Q1, up 2.9% versus 2024 Q1. In Europe, Group sales […]
April 25, 2025
Volkswagen is stepping deeper into the autonomous driving race, announcing plans to bring a fleet of self-driving ID to market. Buzz electric vans through a new partnership with Uber. The German automaker aims to supply thousands of autonomous vehicles for Uber’s ride-hailing platform across the U.S. over the next decade, beginning with Los Angeles in […]
April 24, 2025
How can Belgium become climate-neutral by 2050 without driving industry out? Research institute VITO/EnergyVille formulated an answer: “The most expensive option is to do nothing.” Vito/EnergyVille launched a study and joined forces with several major players in the Belgian energy market: grid operators Elia and Fluxys, major consumers such as BASF and ArcelorMittal, and producer Luminus. With […]
April 24, 2025
According to data from the European car manufacturers’ association ACEA, new EU car registrations declined by 1.9% in the first quarter of 2025 compared to Q1 2024, with March 2025 figures showing a slight 0.2% year-on-year (YOY) decline as the global economic context remains particularly challenging and unpredictable for auto makers. In Q1 2025, the […]
April 24, 2025
The Chery Group, one of China’s most important car exporters, didn’t fail to wow at the Shanghai Auto Show. As it stunned the local market with a flood of models, it also announced that it would bring two additional brands to Europe, aside from Jaecoo and Omoda. Lepas will compete with Dacia, while Jetour aims […]
April 24, 2025
Bad news for Chinese start-ups. As China’s electric vehicle market races toward saturation, industry insiders are sounding the alarm for the country’s well-known EV brands. Nio, Xpeng, and Li Auto, once hailed as the darlings of China’s new energy vehicle (NEV) boom, are now facing warnings from analysts and executives that their independent survival chances […]
April 23, 2025
On Wednesday, the Toyota bZ7 all-electric sedan debuted at the 2025 Shanghai Auto Show as the first joint venture (GAC-Toyota) car equipped with Huawei’s HarmonyOS cockpit system, and developed specifically for the Chinese market. The official launch is expected to occur later this year. A Toyota bZ7 concept car previously appeared at the 2024 Guangzhou […]
April 23, 2025
Confirming expectations, Tesla’s finances have fared poorly at the start of 2025. The pioneering EV maker saw net income fall by 71% to just $409 million during the first quarter. If it weren’t for regulatory credits, the company would report losses, which means that its car-making business is currently in the red. Musk wants to […]
April 23, 2025
Volkswagen Group’s premium Audi brand is fighting back with a range of new, more extended versions of its models designed for the Chinese market, where wealthier consumers with chauffeurs often sit in the back of their cars. It also showcased the first vehicle of a new model line with a different logo from its famous […]
April 23, 2025
With no less than three concept cars from its three China joint ventures, VW provided a taste of the model offensive that will start in 2025 on the eve of Auto Shanghai. A total of 30 new vehicles are to be launched on the market by 2027. The three announced VW studies are the ID. […]
April 22, 2025
As automakers around the globe recalibrate their electric vehicle strategies amid cooling demand, Horse Powertrain is positioning itself as a timely solution. The Renault Group and Geely joint venture, with additional backing from Saudi oil giant Aramco, has unveiled a novel hybrid powertrain explicitly designed for retrofitting into battery-electric vehicles. The Future Hybrid Concept aims […]
April 22, 2025
Renault is opening reservations for the Renault 5 Turbo 3E ‘mini-supercar’ on 22 April 2025, from 9 a.m. (CET). A modern, electric reboot of the legendary Renault 5 Turbo and Turbo 2 of the 1980s, the new vehicle will be available for €155,000, including VAT as an introductory price, excluding options, accessories, and personalisation choices. […]
April 22, 2025
At first glance, the Renault Embleme looks like just another sleek European shooting brake, long, low, and a little futuristic. But hidden beneath that sculpted bodywork is an experiment that could rewrite the rules of car manufacturing. The Embleme dazzled crowds at last year’s Paris Motor Show. But it is much more than a concept […]
April 22, 2025
Reactions to the automotive import tariffs in the US differ from manufacturer to manufacturer. Audi is considering producing in the US, GM has no plans to move from Mexico to the US, and Mazda is decreasing its US production. In an interview with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ), Volkswagen Group CEO Oliver Blume said the […]
April 22, 2025
The world leader in EV batteries, Chinese CATL, which provides more than a third of the global needs, announced three innovations for the following months, with one that could change the industry drastically: it will be the first to start mass production of sodium-ion (Na+) batteries by the end of this year. Sodium is abundant […]
April 22, 2025
Subaru of America unveiled its second electric SUV, the Trailseeker EV, at the New York International Auto Show. The model is scheduled for sale in the US starting in 2026. Meanwhile, the brand’s first EV, the Solterra, received a facelift. It’s not clear yet if and when the Trailseeker will come to Europe. Trailseeker EV: […]
April 18, 2025
Lotus Technology Inc. has announced that Geely, the majority owner of its vehicle manufacturing business Lotus UK, exercised its put option earlier this week to sell its 51% stake in the latter company back to the former company. In other words, Geely steps out, and Lotus Tech has to buy back 51% of Lotus UK’s […]
April 17, 2025
According to data from the sector federation, Febiac, and the government services, 120,940 new cars were registered during the first quarter of 2025, a decrease of 10.5% compared to 2024. We already showed these results earlier; now is the time to get into the details about who buys what. In 2023 and 2024, Belgium had […]
April 16, 2025
China has ordered its airlines to stop taking further deliveries from Boeing, the US manufacturer that, along with Airbus, ranks as one of the world’s largest aircraft producers. This reports news agency Bloomberg. This is a retaliatory measure in the trade war launched by US President Donald Trump. Beijing has also asked Chinese airlines to […]
April 16, 2025
2024 was disappointing for the Stellantis Group, President John Elkann told the annual shareholders meeting in Amsterdam on Tuesday, adding that a new CEO to replace Carlos Tavares, who quit in December, will be named by the middle of this year. The remuneration of the former CEO for 2024 also caused some turmoil. “I would […]
April 16, 2025
Rho Motion, a leading EV research house, revealed that 1.7 million electric vehicles were sold globally in March 2025, with 4.1 million sold in Q1 2025. The EV market grew by 29% in March 2025 compared to March 2024 and increased by 40% compared to February 2025. For Q1 overall, the growth rate was also […]
