March 25, 2025
According to the European Car Manufacturers Association (ACEA) date, new EU car registrations declined by 3% in February compared to the same period in 2024. Notably, the bloc’s significant markets saw declines, with Italy (-6%), Germany (-4.6%), and France (-3.3%). Spain conversely recorded an 8.4% increase. In February 2025, the year-on-year (YOY) decline was 3.4%, […]
March 24, 2025
Once a symbol of Europe’s proud automotive tradition, several closed or downsized car factories across Western Europe are now being repurposed for defense manufacturing. Not only Audi Brussels but also VDL Nedcar and Volkswagen Osnabrück are trading in automotive parts for military components. This reminds us of how the automotive assembly sector was transformed for […]
March 21, 2025
China has apparently delayed the approval for the construction of BYD’s Mexican plant. Chinese authorities fear that Mexico could gain unrestricted access to BYD’s advanced technology and know-how and potentially share it with the US. The Financial Times reports, citing two people familiar with the matter, that there are other reasons why Beijing could oppose […]
March 21, 2025
Contract builder Magna Steyr, which today still builds cars like the Mercedes G-Class, Toyota GR Supra, and BMW Z4 that share the same platform at its plant in Graz, Austria, is, according to a new report, closing a deal with Chinese Xpeng and GAC to build EVs for the European market. It would work on […]
March 21, 2025
“Our sales in Europe will make a big jump starting in March and April,” says Stella Li, Vice-President of the Chinese car manufacturer BYD. The carmaker still wants to expand its offer of PHEVs and BEVs, including a very affordable entry-level model. Meanwhile, Europe is investigating the financial aid the company got to build its […]
March 21, 2025
Tesla has met its recall, which an over-the-air update can’t fix. The company must reserve all 46,096 Cybertrucks built to date after reports that stainless-steel body panels could detach while driving due to faulty adhesive. This raised safety concerns and further complicated the electric pickup’s rocky launch. The American National Highway Traffic Safety Administration disclosed […]
March 20, 2025
IKEA Belgium is ramping up its sustainability efforts by introducing seven new electric trucks for home deliveries. The move aims to modernize its logistics operations. Built by Volvo Trucks in Ghent, these vehicles will handle large orders, such as kitchens and wardrobes, reinforcing the retailer’s commitment to eco-friendly transportation. The purchase of the electric trucks […]
March 20, 2025
Surprisingly, SAIC Motor’s daughter MG will launch a completely new version of its MG4 EV. This car sells well overseas but has very low sales in China. The new version is larger than the previous one and has a brand-new design. This might signal that the company decided to start all over again with its […]
March 19, 2025
Tesla’s turbulent start to 2025, fueled by CEO Elon Musk’s political narrative, is lashing back at its owners. These face not only repercussions from activists throwing eggs and dog excrement at their cars but also higher running costs. For a brand that once set the pace for the global electric vehicle market, Tesla’s past few […]
March 19, 2025
Scientists in China claim to have found a way to breathe new life into worn-out lithium-ion batteries. Researchers at Fudan University have developed a revolutionary lithium injection method that could restore degraded batteries to near-factory conditions. They say this breakthrough could dramatically extend battery lifespan and stabilize EV resale values. The findings, published in the […]
March 18, 2025
Stellantis is partnering with Swedish startup Luvly to explore its innovative flat-pack vehicle production method. This method could dramatically reduce manufacturing and transportation costs and prove a worthwhile Western alternative to Chinese low-cost production. With the Citroën Ami and its siblings at Opel (Rock-e) and Fiat (Topolino), Stellantis has already explored the market for microcars. […]
March 18, 2025
The crisis at Audi deepens. Just weeks after the full closure of its Brussels plant, the luxury carmaker announced that it will slash 7,500 jobs in Germany by 2029 as part of a broad cost-cutting strategy. The Volkswagen-owned luxury automaker announced the move after lengthy negotiations with the company’s works council. The job cuts, which […]
March 17, 2025
Changan, a state-owned Chinese auto manufacturer known for its sub-brands Avatr and Deepal and its joint ventures for domestic production of Ford and Mazda models, is coming to Europe. The brand will hold a launch event in Mainz, Germany, where it will introduce the Deepal S07 to the European public, soon followed by other models. […]
March 17, 2025
Releasing its 2024 financial results, BMW’s net profit plummeted by over a third last year. The German automaker warns of continued headwinds from trade tariffs and sluggish demand in China. The Bavarian company reported a 36.9% drop in net profit to €7.68 billion ($8.32 billion), in line with market expectations and German competitors. However, geopolitical […]
March 14, 2025
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a dramatic rollback of vehicle emissions regulations. The changes, led by EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin under the Trump administration, will relax emissions targets for cars, trucks, and power plants. Critics say it marks a fundamental shift away from the agency’s historic mission of environmental protection. Trump’s oil […]
March 14, 2025
At its yearly Kenshiki event in Brussels, Toyota also unveiled the FT-Me. This microcar concept represents Toyota’s vision for all-electric micro-mobility that “combines premium design with affordability.” Inspired by the success of Toyota’s mobility solutions developed for the Tokyo 2021 and Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the FT-Me aims to address the evolving needs […]
March 14, 2025
The BMW Supervisory Board has made several new appointments to the Board of Management. Joachim Post, the current Chief Purchasing Officer, will take over as CTO from Frank Weber, who has to leave the company. Nicolai Martin will succeed Post as Chief Purchasing Officer. The change within the Management Board could be an essential test […]
March 13, 2025
Porsche is embarking on a significant restructuring effort, cutting 3,900 jobs as it faces declining sales in China, rising trade tensions, and a potential tariff battle with the United States. The German sports carmaker is adjusting its financial outlook and product strategy to maintain profitability. The company announced the job reductions to boost efficiency and […]
March 13, 2025
Europe’s pride in battery manufacturing, Northvolt, has filed for bankruptcy in Sweden, marking a major setback for the EU’s efforts to compete with Chinese dominance in the electric vehicle battery market. Despite years of substantial investment from automakers, financial institutions, and government subsidies, the company failed to secure the $1 billion needed to sustain operations […]
March 12, 2025
Thanks to some information shared by Volkswagen Group boss Oliver Blume, we have a better idea of the performance level that Lamborghini’s first electric car will achieve. This all-new model is set to arrive by 2029 and promises power levels of well over one megawatt (1,360 hp), possibly up to 2,000 hp. Initially, Lamborghini promised […]
March 12, 2025
Volkswagen’s profit dwindled by one-third last year due to slow demand and a cooldown in the Chinese market. But the salary of its CEO, Oliver Blume, rose. Will the near future relieve the ongoing problems at the German car giant? Volkswagen’s net profit plummeted 30.6% in 2024 to €12.39 billion. Europe’s largest automaker grapples with […]
March 12, 2025
Tesla shares tumbled more than 15% on Monday, suffering their worst single-day drop since 2020. The electric vehicle maker is grappling with plunging sales, and its valuation has been halved since December to roughly $700 billion (€640 billion). The trend marks a dramatic reversal from the optimism that followed Donald Trump’s election victory. To help […]
March 12, 2025
Nissan, the Japanese car manufacturer, has decided to change its leadership. The current CEO, Makoto Ushida, will leave at the end of the month. Ivan Espinosa, previously head of planning, will take over as CEO from the 1st of April. Ushida is said to have taken responsibility for the company’s economic crisis and the failed […]
March 12, 2025
Three Toyota EVs will be on the market soon, and three more will be available by 2026. Luxury brand Lexus also promises three new EVs within twelve months. Nevertheless, the world’s number one car manufacturer won’t change its ‘multi-pathway’ approach. For Toyota, Europe is significant. It may sell ‘only’ 1.2 million cars on the old […]
March 11, 2025
Volkswagen has announced that its upcoming entry-level electric vehicle, the ID.Every1, will be produced in Portugal, as part of affordability push. Expected to hit the market in 2027 with a price tag of around €20,000, the compact city car will be built at the company’s Palmela factory, located 40 kilometers south of Lisbon. The announcement […]
March 11, 2025
The BMW Group is launching a newly developed digital nervous system for all drivetrain variants and vehicle segments. It is more intelligent, powerful, and efficient and will be rolled out in the Neue Klasse models for the first time. Four high-performance computers, called ‘Superbrains,’ consolidate the computing power for the most crucial customer functions: infotainment, […]
March 11, 2025
American car manufacturer Ford is supporting the transformation of its European business with fresh capital for its German subsidiary. The US manufacturer announced a capital injection of up to 4.4 billion euros, which is intended to ensure the “financial stability of Ford-Werke GmbH.” At the same time, it cancels an important guarantee, which worries the […]
March 10, 2025
Volvo Group, the company behind Volvo Trucks and Renault Trucks, has shared the 2024 sales results of both truck brands. And it has been a productive year, with positive figures overall, making Volvo Trucks the heavy truck market leader in Europe, both in electric trucks and overall. Volvo Trucks and Renault Trucks have been pioneers […]
March 07, 2025
Maserati has officially canceled the MC20 Folgore, its long-planned all-electric supercar, due to a lack of demand. A company spokesperson confirmed the decision, which comes as the Italian luxury automaker faces a financial downturn and reevaluates its electrification strategy. Initially slated to be one of six electric Maseratis set to hit showrooms in the short […]
March 07, 2025
Chinese carmaker Xpeng has started rolling out its highly anticipated 2025 model lineup, and the latest addition is a refreshed version of its flagship SUV, the G9. This SUV, also available in Europe, is exciting as stakeholder Volkswagen intends to build derivatives of the model. The new G9’s LiDAR-based driving assistance aid swap is among […]
March 06, 2025
Renault daughter Alpine is currently testing its ‘sport fastback’ A390 in severe winter conditions in northern Sweden. The car will be officially presented on May 27th in its home turf, the Alpine factory in Dieppe near the Atlantic coast. “We are in Lapland to finalize the development in extreme conditions of the future A390, the […]
March 06, 2025
At a big event on Wednesday, Volkswagen showed its concept of the €20,000 BEV it wants to launch by 2027, the VW ID. Every1. The name gives away the whole idea: with this small BEV, ‘Volks-Wagen’ wants to become the manufacturer of ‘the car for all people’ again. With the series model, which will follow […]
March 05, 2025
Belgian Trends-Tendances magazine reports that Spanish-listed train builder CAF has won a tender to build hundreds of trains for Belgian railroad company NMBS/SNCB. French player Alstom, which is firmly entrenched in Belgium, missed out on the contract worth more than 3 billion euros, even though it was cheaper than the Spanish competitor. According to La […]
March 05, 2025
Chinese tech giant Xiaomi’s CEO, William Lu, is currently in Spain, where he told the Chinese press Jiemian that he will tour Europe’s car markets in the coming days to prepare for the launch of its EVs on the Old Continent starting in 2027. He wants to see firsthand how Chinese EV makers are doing […]
March 05, 2025
After promising ‘dozens’of new or refreshed models by the end of 2027, Mercedes has unveiled more details of its product offensive for the coming two years. The German manufacturer will launch over a dozen all-new models, eight facelifts, and two concept cars that will further expand the model range. Mercedes has faced a rough 2024, […]
March 04, 2025
Swedish-Chinese electric carmaker Polestar has secured a new loan of up to $450 million (€420 million) as it grapples with ongoing financial pressures and strives to turn a profit by 2026. Local Chinese media also reported that the company aims to downscale its Chinese operations and relocate production to South Korea, Europe or the US. […]
March 04, 2025
According to EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Brussels could weaken the CO2 target for car manufacturers in 2025. It is also holding out the prospect of a new battery subsidy. She explained that she wanted manufacturers to achieve the CO2 target over the next three years instead of this year, as initially planned, […]
March 04, 2025
As Volvo gears up for the full release of its new flagship sedan, ES90, tomorrow, the Belgian division accidentally uploaded an image of the latest model on its web page. The electric sedan, which is bound to break the brand’s barriers in charging and autonomy, unveils itself as a mix between the Polestar 2 and […]
March 04, 2025
In February 2025, 40,161 cars were registered in Belgium and Luxembourg, a decrease of 8.1%. Importer federation Febiac and the federal service Mobility & Transport point out that for the first time since 2014, the market of individual buyers is again slightly more significant than the professional market. BEVs increased their share to one-third of […]
March 03, 2025
Dongfeng Peugeot-Citroën, the joint venture between the Chinese and French manufacturers, has launched a new-energy vehicle (NEV) brand in China: Hedmos. The new brand hopes to revive the manufacturer’s sales figures with affordable electrified models, starting with an all-electric SUV for around €15,000. Dongfeng is one of the four biggest state-owned car manufacturers in China. […]
March 03, 2025
The latest J.D. Power 2025 US Electric Vehicle Experience (EVX) Ownership Study reveals a marked increase in EV owner satisfaction, with BMW emerging as the undisputed leader in the premium segment. The BMW iX secured the highest satisfaction score among electric vehicle (EV) owners, followed closely by the BMW i4, underscoring the brand’s dominance from […]
March 03, 2025
The former CEO of Stellantis, Carlos Tavares, suddenly left the company at the end of last year. Today, his severance pay has been published, amounting to €12 million, divided into a €2 million departing fee and a €10 million bonus. Last year, Tavares was paid €23.1 million in total, 37% less than the €36.5 million […]
February 28, 2025
On Tuesday, February 25th, the last Audi Q8 e-tron rolled off the line at Audi Brussels. Today, the factory closes its doors. Although the factory’s closure was announced a while ago, it symbolizes the upheaval in the car industry just a few days before the EU Commission’s action plan. Rumors had already emerged at the […]
February 27, 2025
BMW Group Plant Munich is gearing up to launch the ‘Neue Klasse’ in the summer of 2026. Three new production halls are being built for the body shop, assembly, and associated production logistics during the ongoing operations. “For the production start of the Neue Klasse, we will have a state-of-the-art plant in Munich characterized by […]
February 27, 2025
The European Commission proposed a significant action plan on Wednesday to accelerate the decarbonization of European industry. The Commission believes that EU countries must act now. The climate crisis, weak economic growth, declining business competitiveness, and significant geopolitical tensions (with Moscow, Washington, and Beijing) require a comprehensive transition plan. Various supporting measures should help with […]
February 27, 2025
Peter Rawlinson, CEO and CTO of American electric carmaker Lucid and the ex-engineer who once stood at the cradle of the Tesla Model S, is stepping down after more than a decade to pass the baton to a new, yet-to-be-found manager. Rawlingson remains a strategic technical advisor to Turqi Alnowaiser, the board chairman representing Lucid’s […]
February 26, 2025
The BMW Group has halted its plan to manufacture electric Mini cars at the Oxford plant in England. Two all-electric models were due to roll off the production line at Oxford next year, but this has now been postponed. The BMW Group announced in 2023 that it would build two new all-electric Mini models in […]
February 26, 2025
Milence, the joint venture between Europe’s largest truckmakers created to develop the fast-charging network for battery-electric trucks, has deployed its first two chargers using the Megawatt Charging System (MCS) standard. Belgium has the honor, as these MCS chargers can be found at the Ketenis truck stop in the port of Antwerp. The Megawatt Charging System […]
February 26, 2025
Tesla’s dominance in the European electric vehicle market took a significant hit in January 2025, as the company saw a staggering 45.2% drop in sales compared to the same period in 2024. New data from the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) reveal that Tesla sold just under 10,000 units in the region last month, down […]
February 25, 2025
Is Europe’s ban on combustion engines a curse or a blessing for its industry? Dwindling profits, plant closures, and firm reliance on global outsourcing seem to point to the first, but a study from the University of Sussex claims the opposite. “Changing gears (or acting as Trump does in the US, ed.) would be a […]
February 25, 2025
Mercedes-Benz has started testing a solid-state battery from partner Factorial Energy in a modified EQS this month. In the coming weeks, the Stuttgart-based company wants to collect data on the battery’s efficiency, durability, and performance. Road tests with the new solid-state battery in a ‘1,000 km’ EQS test car started in February 2025. According to […]
February 25, 2025
While one would expect a luxury carmaker like Lamborghini to bet on solid-state technology for its debut in the electric supercar market, the Italian carmaker ordered a study at Princeton University to investigate sodium-ion chemistries. The results are promising. As sodium-ion chemistries don’t rely on lithium, they are a cost-effective alternative to current lithium-ion battery […]
February 25, 2025
In January 2025, new EU car registrations declined by -2.6%. Notably, the bloc’s major markets saw declines, with France (-6.2%), Italy (-5.8%), and Germany (-2.8%). Spain conversely recorded a 5.3% increase. The data comes from ACEA, the Association of European Car Manufacturers. Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) made up 15% of the market share, up from […]
February 24, 2025
Through its competition watchdog, Italy has launched an investigation into four major automakers—Stellantis, Tesla, Volkswagen, and BYD—regarding potential unfair commercial practices related to electric vehicle performance claims. The probe focuses on concerns regarding the accuracy and transparency of information provided to consumers about EV driving range, battery degradation, and warranty limitations. According to the Italian […]
February 24, 2025
The BMW Group is presenting its next step in electric drive technology. At its Tech Days event in Landshut, the company provided some initial insights into developing and producing high-voltage batteries and electric drive systems using the sixth generation of BMW eDrive technology. This technology will benefit every fully electric Neue Klasse vehicle. The first […]
February 21, 2025
Renault’s low-cost daughter, Dacia, has started developing a new European electric city car (A-segment). The model will be offered at around €18,000, probably also thanks to its close relationship with the Renault Twingo E-Tech. “Dacia wants to complete the development of the small electric car within 16 months,” Renault Group boss Luca de Meo told […]
February 21, 2025
European aerospace group Airbus made a net profit of 4.2 billion euros last year, or a 12% increase. The profit came mainly from the strong demand for Airbus aircraft. Sales rose 6% to 69.2 billion euros. Airbus delivered 766 commercial aircraft last year, including 602 from the A320 family. Airbus plans to increase the number […]
February 21, 2025
Yesterday, Mercedes-Benz revealed plans to cut costs by several billion euros or 10% by 2027. Car production will be reduced from 2.5 million units to ±2.2 million in 2027. At the same time, the company wants to become “leaner, faster, and stronger”. Group earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) reached €13.6 billion (2023: €19.7 billion), […]
February 20, 2025
Publishing its 2024 financial results, Renault Group showed solid growth and record operating profit in challenging market conditions. The Group revenue was €56.2 billion (+7.4%), and the operating profit was € 4.26 billion (7.6%). The net cash financial position almost doubled from €3.7 billion at the end of 2023 to €7.1 billion on December 31st, […]
February 20, 2025
Hydrogen Vehicle Systems (HVS), a Scottish start-up founded in 2017 to develop a hydrogen-electric heavy truck, is changing course to avoid bankruptcy. The company faces over €10 million in debt and will now focus on retrofit conversions and selling its technology to cut costs. HVS was founded in Glasgow in 2017 by Abdul Waheed with […]
