June 26, 2026
Last year, almost one in five used cars failed the pre-sale vehicle inspection due to a major or dangerous defect. Goca Flanders, the industry federation for vehicle inspections and driving tests, reported this on Thursday in its 2025 annual report. In 2025, a total of 3,600,249 cars underwent inspection, of which 482,809 were used vehicles, 2% […]
June 25, 2026
The new rules the EU plans to introduce for booking tickets for cross-border rail travel still mean that nearly half of the busiest international train journeys are difficult or impossible to book. That’s according to T&E, a lobby group for sustainable mobility, in a new report. T&E also proposes several changes and measures that would […]
June 25, 2026
From July 1, the Flemish kilometer charge for trucks will be linked to the vehicle’s CO2 emissions – the more environmentally friendly the truck, the lower the rate. In reality, the new measure will represent a material cost increase for many conventional trucks, leading the political parties Anders and Vlaams Belang to view this as a […]
June 24, 2026
The ongoing heat wave continues to cause problems for NMBS/SNCB: through Friday, the Belgian public railway company will cancel 100 trains daily. According to NMBS/SNCB, the measure is necessary to ensure the well-being and safety of both passengers and staff. Despite recent modernization efforts, many older trains lack air conditioning and are also more prone […]
June 23, 2026
Australian metal mining company Fortescue is set to charter up to 12 Newcastlemax vessels – giant dry bulk carriers with a deadweight tonnage of 210,000 metric tons – capable of running on ammonia from Bocimar, the pioneer in green propulsion with the Belgian shipping company CMB.TECH. Ammonia is seen as a promising alternative fuel for […]
June 23, 2026
Sweden’s Transport Administration has told the European Union to vote against rolling out Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (Supervised) software unless the company disables a feature that allows the car to break posted speed limits. Belgium has approved since the beginning of the month. The Swedish recommendation arrived in a letter dated one month ago, addressed to […]
June 22, 2026
The Belgian public railway company NMBS/SNCB will cancel some P-trains today and tomorrow due to the heat wave. These are mostly older, non-air-conditioned trains that have been parked in direct sunlight all day. Passengers are advised to plan their trips before departure via the NMBS/SNCB website or app. No airco P-trains operate during peak hours. […]
June 22, 2026
Parts of Europe are experiencing a severe heatwave. Several countries are suffering through the second heatwave of the year, leading to dangerous spikes in ground-level ozone pollution with devastating consequences for human and environmental health, warns the European Environmental Bureau (EEB), Europe’s largest network of environmental NGOs. After several days of temperatures above 35°C, Italian […]
June 22, 2026
Following a storm of criticism over Mobility Minister Annick De Ridder’s (N-VA) plan to cut more than 200 bus routes for special education starting in September – to stay within the set budget of 139 million euros – the Flemish government has decided that no additional cuts will be imposed on De Lijn after all. […]
June 22, 2026
Last week, we reported that the site in Koningshooikt, which the bankrupt bus manufacturer Van Hool had offered for sale, had been sold for 21.5 million euros, but that it was not clear who ultimately bought the land. According to Van Hool’s bankruptcy trustee, the Dutch transport company G.A. den Otter Trucks is the new owner. […]
June 19, 2026
The Brussels government has green lighted the Station Plan. This master plan aims to improve safety at the Brussels North and Brussels South train stations, make them cleaner, and at the same time address the presence of homeless people and drug users. An annual budget of 10 million euros has been allocated for the plan. […]
June 19, 2026
From 1 July 2026, many traffic fines in Belgium will increase by 10%. The De Wever government announced the measure late last year as part of its efforts to raise additional budget revenue. The effective date has now been set. The increase applies to immediate-collection fines: the standard penalties imposed for many common offenses without […]
June 18, 2026
The news that De Lijn plans to cut back on student transportation to special educations schools starting in September has sparked a great deal of criticism and uproar from school principals and parents to ordinary citizens on the street and in parliament. More than 200 bus routes are being eliminated because Flemish Minister of Mobility […]
June 17, 2026
Brussels Minister of Mobility Elke Van den Brandt (Groen) acknowledged as much last year: Floya, the Brussels-Capital Region’s multimodal app, needs to become better known. MIVB/STIB is now addressing the issue itself by announcing that it will discontinue the multimodal mobility app starting in 2027. The app cost 6 million euros to develop, although Van […]
June 17, 2026
Next school year, the Flemish public transport company De Lijn will cut 204 bus routes for student transportation to special education schools, according to several media. De Lijn confirms that routes will be eliminated, but has not yet provided a specific number. The cuts are being made because Flemish Minister of Mobility Annick De Ridder […]
June 17, 2026
Global electric vehicle registrations reached around 1.8 million in May, according to Benchmark Mineral Intelligence data reported by Reuters. That was only 3% more than in May last year, bringing the first five months of 2026 to a modest 0.9% increase. On paper, that looks like a clear slowdown after years of double-digit growth. In […]
June 16, 2026
The Brussels Environment Council is calling on the region to adopt “a coherent strategy to reduce the weight of passenger cars gradually.” According to the Council, the weight of new passenger cars has increased by about 50% over the past 20 years. In 2023, more than half of new registrations in Brussels were SUVs, with […]
June 16, 2026
After 16 European countries, including Belgium and the Netherlands, called for uniform European legislation on e-scooters late last year, the Benelux countries are now also urging the European Commission to work toward a harmonized European framework for e-scooters and other light electric vehicles. The three countries point to increasing fragmentation in national regulations, “which leads […]
June 16, 2026
Renault’s new electric Twingo has already been pitched as a cheerful answer to the affordable urban EV. Now the French carmaker is giving it a second role: a mobile data collector for cities. Together with Software République, Renault has unveiled cleveR insights, a Twingo E-Tech electric equipped with cameras and sensors to collect and analyze […]
June 15, 2026
Starting in July 2027, a direct high-speed rail link will be established between Brussels and Basel, Switzerland. “This is a pilot project designed to assess the demand for travel between Brussels and Basel,” says the Belgian public railway company NMBS/SNCB. For this project, NMBS/SNCB, SNCF Voyageurs, and the Swiss operator SBB are joining forces. There […]
June 15, 2026
Lantis, the developer of the immense Oosterweel project in Antwerp, launched a new cycle route last Sunday that leads visitors past the construction works. The cyclists receive further explanation about the works and an idea of what the surroundings will look like in the future. The approximately 15-kilometer route, which starts at ‘Het Steen’, follows the existing […]
June 15, 2026
Three suspects, including a driving school director, have been arrested and placed in pretrial detention as part of an investigation into a large-scale driver’s license fraud scheme, the Antwerp police announced Friday. Investigators believe the fraudulent activities generated nearly half a million euros over approximately 3 years. The suspects were offering early appointments for practical […]
June 15, 2026
NÜWIEL, a German manufacturer of eTrailers, has been selected by the City of Antwerp for a new pilot project under the “Smart to Antwerp” initiative to help the city transition to zero-emissions logistics. Local businesses and entrepreneurs can try NÜWIEL’s eTrailer for free for 4 weeks to see if it can help reduce traffic congestion […]
June 12, 2026
To alleviate road congestion, Europe plans to establish a new waterborne freight corridor between Le Havre, Paris, and the Ports of Antwerp and Rotterdam. Both Flanders and Wallonia are allocating significant resources to this large-scale European inland waterway project, now called the Seine-Scheldt, which comprises a network of 1,100 kilometers of navigable waterways. To date, […]
June 12, 2026
Just as the issues surrounding the use of shared e-scooters in Brussels were starting to improve – save for a rise in the number of accidents – the Brussels government has decided to ban shared e-scooters starting in 2027. The decision stems from a rising number of accidents, increased nuisance to other road users, and […]
June 12, 2026
The number of traffic accidents in Belgium remained approximately the same in the first three months of this year, but what stands out is that the number of accidents in Flanders involving speed pedelecs has increased by 30% compared to the same period last year, from 142 to 184. In the province of East Flanders, […]
June 11, 2026
Liège Airport, Belgium’s largest cargo airport, started 2026 on a growth trajectory and expects to set a record this year. And why wouldn’t it, when a recent study by the University of Liège shows that the airport is at the heart of an ecosystem comprising nearly 150 companies and supports an estimated 12,600 direct, indirect, and […]
June 11, 2026
The Belgian gas shipping company Exmar has announced the historic delivery of its first seagoing vessel, partially powered by an ammonia engine. “A historic milestone for shipping,” the company stated in a press release on Wednesday. The newly built gas carrier has been named ‘MGC Antwerpen’ and is equipped with a dual-fuel motor: this means it […]
June 11, 2026
China’s rapid shift to electric and other new-energy vehicles reduced urban air pollution enough to prevent an estimated 262,000 premature deaths, according to a new peer-reviewed study published in Nature Health. The study’s researchers, published in May, compared actual pollution levels to a counterfactual scenario in which every vehicle on the road still ran on […]
June 11, 2026
Emerging markets are tapping into the opportunity of building their own brands on the wings of electrification. After Turkey and its national marque Togg, Mexico is seizing the opportunity of launching its own car manufacturer. One of the world’s most important car-making nations finally goes it alone. Mexico is one of the world’s largest vehicle-producing […]
June 11, 2026
Starting in July, anyone caught driving drunk will be given a twelve-hour driving ban. Until now, a driving ban following a positive alcohol test could last two, three, six, or twelve hours. The Federal Public Service Mobility and Transport reported on Tuesday that the legislative amendment was published in the Official Gazette. By systematically revoking driver’s […]
June 10, 2026
Volkswagen has shown its autonomous charging robot to a live audience for the first time. The concept of a charging butler is no longer science fiction. This prototype will do real work in a real city. Has plugging in finally become hassle-free? Volkswagen Group Innovation brought its autonomous charging robot to Dresden. It’s got six […]
June 10, 2026
The Belgian-Limburg logistics group H. Essers has opened a new inland waterway container terminal in Bergen op Zoom, the Netherlands. Thanks to its location outside the dike, inland waterway containers can now remain on the water from start to finish between the ports of Antwerp and Rotterdam. The new terminal has a capacity of 250,000 […]
June 10, 2026
Stellantis has teamed up with Bolt and Pony.ai to start offering robotaxi rides in Luxembourg. Not the city, but the whole country. Adding to other pilots, ranging from Zagreb over Munich to London, 2026 is unfolding as the year when robotaxis finally land in Europe. Luxembourg is a small country, but apparently it has a […]
June 09, 2026
Every bus driver employed by the Flemish public transportation company De Lijn will have three minor traffic violations reimbursed annually. Starting with the fourth minor violation within 12 months, the driver must pay the fine themselves. More serious violations, such as driving under the influence, are the employee’s responsibility from the outset. The new regulation […]
June 09, 2026
Citroën’s CEO, Xavier Chardon, confirmed in an interview with German fleet publication Autoflotte that the new 2CV will make its debut at the Paris Motor Show this October. The concept, he says, will be “very close to the production model.” Sales follow in 2028, or exactly eighty years after the original premiered at the same […]
June 09, 2026
For many Belgians, the car remains a constant for day trips, weekends, and holidays. However, the high cost of driving is causing motorists to choose, plan, and drive more consciously. This is evident from a new study commissioned by Auto5 among 809 Belgian motorists. Almost half say they are more cost-conscious: they think more about […]
June 08, 2026
Normally, the LEZ fines for Euro 5 diesel and Euro 2 gasoline vehicles were set to take effect in Brussels on June 7, but the date has been postponed yet again. Brussels Minister of Finance Dirk De Smedt (Anders) has now confirmed that the fines can be collected starting July 1. Specifically, 13,219 vehicles that […]
June 08, 2026
More than half (53%) of the tram tracks in Flanders are in “poor to very poor” condition: 230 km of tram track are in bad or very bad condition (127 km in bad condition and 103 km in very bad condition). This is evident from figures released by the public transport company De Lijn on […]
June 08, 2026
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has nearly halved its profit forecasts for airlines. This is primarily due to higher fuel prices, but also because the war in the Middle East has severely disrupted flights through aviation hubs such as Dubai. Nevertheless, IATA estimates that this year the number of passengers will exceed 5 billion […]
June 08, 2026
The bankrupt bus manufacturer Van Hool from Koninkshooikt (Lier, Belgium) has recently put a 30-hectare business expansion site up for sale, and the Flemish government is participating in the bidding process. Not because it is trying to become e real-estate player, but because it wants to keep control over a rare, large, contiguous industrial site. […]
June 08, 2026
Starting in December 2027, there will be an improved train service to and from Brussels Airport, with additional early-morning trains from cities including Bruges and Ghent. This is outlined in the new transport plan from the Belgian national railway company NMBS/SNCB, which the Council has approved with Ministers. Other notable changes include a 3% expansion […]
June 05, 2026
Destination charging operator Powerdot and energy provider Octopus Energy have merged home and public charging into a single €49.99 monthly subscription. It’s a real first in the sector, aiming to democratize and facilitate charging. The most important caveat for now is that it is only available in France. To get it out of the way […]
June 04, 2026
46% of cyclists during the morning rush hour in Flanders and Brussels are children or teenagers who ride independently. This is according to a survey by the Fietsersbond or Cycling Union. In addition to this 46%, 6% of children were being transported on an adult’s bicycle. These were mainly cargo bikes (43%), longtails (25%), or […]
June 04, 2026
The service offered by the Belgian public railway company NMBS/SNCB decreased by 3,9% last year compared to the previous year. Last year, all NMBS/SNCB trains together covered 79,2 million train-kilometers, compared to 82,4 million in 2024 – a decrease of 3,2 million train-kilometers. Nevertheless, the railway company aims to increase its service by 10% over […]
June 03, 2026
Wallonia and Brussels lag behind Flanders in bicycle commuting to work. Of course, the terrain and the capital’s busy urban environment play a role in this. But according to Avello, an advocacy group for cyclists in Walloon and Brussels municipalities, Wallonia and Brussels are also structurally the least bicycle-friendly regions, and it is precisely the […]
June 03, 2026
Ride-hailing giant Uber announces a three-way collaboration with chip giant Nvidia and Israeli artificial intelligence startup Autobrains to launch a second robotaxi program in Munich. With a different software approach, the technology bets on fast scalability and carmaker independence. Uber’s new deal combines Autobrains’ autonomous driving software, Nvidia’s Drive Hyperion Level 4 compute […]
June 03, 2026
Turning on your hazard lights instead of placing the warning triangle will become the new primary warning method for drivers whose vehicles break down on Belgian roads. The new rule takes effect on June 1, 2027. It is being introduced because placing a warning triangle along busy roads is no longer considered safe. After all, […]
June 02, 2026
Last year, the federal police recorded 10,1 million traffic violations in Belgium, a new record. Approximately 83% of all recorded traffic violations were speeding offenses. However, the majority of these are minor violations, involving speeds of 0-10 kph over the limit. This trend is largely attributable to the fact that traffic enforcement in Belgium is […]
June 02, 2026
For years, parking fines for vehicles with foreign license plates were not always collected in Brussels. That situation is now coming to an end thanks to the introduction of a new international collection system. Parking.brussels is engaging a specialized collection agency to address these violations. Of the total number of parking tickets issued in Brussels, […]
June 02, 2026
It’s the main question hovering over the use of ADAS technology and automated driving: if the systems fail and cause an accident, who’s paying the bill? Most disclaimers say that the use must be supervised and that the driver is always responsible. Not BYD. Still, there remain some ‘buts’. At its Intelligence Strategy Launch Event […]
June 02, 2026
Vehicle-to-grid has been “just around the corner” for some years now. Many EV owners are eagerly awaiting it, as second-generation EVs almost all offer the technology as a standard feature. This week, several announcements arrived at once – in Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands – that suggest the corner has finally been turned. The latest […]
June 01, 2026
Starting in 2028, new scanners will be installed at the security checkpoint at Brussels Airport. As a result, departing passengers will no longer have to remove liquids and electronics, such as laptops, from their carry-on luggage. Thanks to the new scanners, liquids will also be allowed in unlimited quantities in packaging of up to 2 […]
June 01, 2026
People are choosing to take the train more often because of high fuel prices. This is according to a survey of train passengers conducted by the Belgian public railway company NMBS/SNCB. NMBS/SNCB is also seeing this growth in passengers’ numbers reflected in the figures: in March and April, the railway company sold 10% more single […]
June 01, 2026
American ride-hailing operator Waymo has brought its most ambitious vehicle yet into rotation: the purpose-built Ojai (pronounced: oh-hi), its sixth-generation robotaxi made in China. Rides are currently free, but not for long. All of Waymo’s previous autonomous vehicles were regular consumer cars converted into robotaxis: a Chrysler Pacifica minivan, the Volvo XC90, and then a […]
May 29, 2026
The Dutch railway company GoVolta will launch a daily train service between Amsterdam and Paris on December 14, with stops at Antwerp Central and Ghent-Sint-Pieters. For Ghent, this marks the return of a direct train connection to Paris since the discontinuation of the Thalys service in 2015. GoVolta promises fares starting at €10 for train […]
May 29, 2026
Is Japan’s tightly guarded kei car market ready for a shake-up? There’s a new kid on Tokyo’s block, as the fresh brand EMTA has announced its intention to get its slice of the nation’s famous small and affordable cars. There’s a very deliberate attempt not to look Chinese, but the reality – of course – […]
May 28, 2026
Starting in June, the Belgian Limburg municipalities of Lommel and Pelt will become a rest region for smart and autonomous vehicles. Lommel Mayor Bob Nijs (CD&V) and his Pelt counterpart, Dennis Fransen (CD&V), have signed a letter of commitment to that effect. Initially, the test drives will take place at Ford’s test site in Lommel, […]
May 28, 2026
France has presented its national electrification strategy. As part of the plan, President Emmanuel Macron announced that Stellantis will invest more than one billion euros in producing a new generation of electric vehicles at its Mulhouse plant from 2029 onward. This week, President Macron hosted representatives from industry and politics at the ‘Réunion de l’équipe […]
May 28, 2026
Volvo EV owners in Europe are getting a meaningful charging improvement while traveling longer distances. Starting in the autumn of this year, drivers will be able to access, initiate, and pay for sessions at Tesla Supercharger stations without the need for a separate app. No, Tesla allowing rival brands to its Supercharger network in Europe […]
