Big Oil, big plug: why Q8 is teaching us how to drive electric

February 03, 2026

When Q8 Belgium reassures electric car drivers that it is normal to miss the reliability of a combustion-engine car, something has clearly shifted. In a recent Instagram reel, the fuel retailer opens with the line “Missing your petrol car?” before offering practical advice on how to improve real-world EV range and charge more efficiently. At […]

Driving blind for 28 meters: Vias reveals scale of phone use at the wheel

February 02, 2026

Despite Bluetooth being standard in almost every modern car, one out of eight Belgian drivers (13%) still make calls with their mobile phones in hand. This is evident from new research published by the Vias Traffic Institute, and based on a survey conducted in eleven European countries among a representative sample of the population. Even more […]

Traffic manslaughter included in Belgian Penal Code

January 30, 2026

Traffic manslaughter is now a criminal offense in Belgium. The Chamber has given the green light for this. Previously, fatal accidents were usually classified as ‘unintentional homicide’. The new legislation, based on a bill drafted by Minister of Justice Annelies Verlinden (CD&V), now makes vehicular homicide a separate crime with significantly increased penalties. The call for […]

Most fines collected by Belgium’s FPS Finance come from traffic violations

January 30, 2026

In 2025, Belgium’s FPS Finance collected 646.4 million euros in fines. This represents an increase of 22.4 million euros compared to 2024. Traffic violations account for most of these cases. The increase is due to more efficient collection, as well as rate increases and the explosive growth of cameras along Belgian roads. Most of the money […]

Belgian cities introduce ‘rotation tariff’ for occupying charging stations

January 30, 2026

Occupying a public charging station indefinitely without charging will be punished. Drivers who fail to respect charging station etiquette risk a hefty bill. The measure is already being implemented in Antwerp; Ghent and Brussels are following. After Antwerp introduced the so-called ‘rotation tariff’, Ghent and Brussels are also adopting the measure to deter users who leave […]

AWSR campaign targets hidden dangers after a first crash

January 29, 2026

In Wallonia, there are an average of 32 secondary accidents per year, resulting in 57 victims, including 3 fatalities. A secondary accident occurs when other road users collide with the scene of a crash or with people involved, such as drivers who get out of their cars, witnesses, or emergency responders. In a campaign, the […]

Wallbox and Eneco join forces to expand Benelux EV infrastructure

January 29, 2026

On Wednesday, Wallbox, a global provider of electric vehicle charging infrastructure, announced a new partnership with Eneco eMobility, one of the top three providers of smart charging stations in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg, to support the continued scaling of commercial EV infrastructure. Under the deal, Wallbox will supply its commercial AC charger, called ‘eM4 Twin’, for initial […]

D’Ieteren’s Joule lands mega Belgian federal bike-leasing contract

January 29, 2026

Ghent-based Joule, a subsidiary of the Brussels-based holding company D’Ieteren, is now the exclusive bicycle leasing company for the federal government. By winning the public tender, it will have the opportunity to lease bicycles to some 70,000 federal servants. This is the first time that bicycle leasing has been rolled out on such a large […]

On paper Belgian climate plan delivers, but on the road it fails

January 28, 2026

Belgium has raised its ambitions in its National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP), but still needs to make further efforts in renewable energy and energy efficiency in the coming years. But for the time being, the country will not be presented with a multi-million dollar bill. If an EU member state fails to reduce its CO2 […]

Ryanair suffers 80% drop in profits due to Italian fine

January 27, 2026

Irish budget airline Ryanair saw its profits fall by no less than 80% last quarter due to a fine of more than 255 million euros imposed by the Italian competition authority in December. Profit after tax amounted to 30 million euros in the three months to the end of December. A year earlier, profits stood […]

Groen proposes scrapping company cars for a €12 train pass

January 26, 2026

The company car system in Belgium is a unique phenomenon. And although the system is popular with users, it also attracts significant criticism, partly because it costs 4 billion euros a year. Brussels Groen leader and Brussels Minister of Mobility Elke Van den Brandt wants this tax money used to fund train passes costing €12 […]

GOCA: ‘Only 33% passes theoretical driving re-exam in Flanders’

January 26, 2026

Of all those who had to retake their practical driving test last year (for example, after being revoked for driving under the influence), one in three candidates failed. The pass rate for the theoretical retest was even lower, GOCA Vlaanderen, the sector federation of vehicle inspection and driving licence examination centers, explains. In Belgium, drivers whose licence […]

Five-day rail strike deepens rift between unions, government, and passengers

January 26, 2026

Throughout the week, fewer trains than usual will be running in Belgium due to a new five-day rail strike that began on Sunday evening. The national solidarity action in Brussels against the socio-economic policy of the current Arizona coalition government may also disrupt various bus, tram, and metro lines operated by De Lijn in Flanders, MIVB/STIB […]

Genk is Belgium’s least punctual train station

January 23, 2026

It’s not a title to be proud of, and certainly not something to boast about to visitors or travelers, but of the approximately 140 major train stations in Belgium, Genk remains the least punctual. The Limburg station is also the only one where, on average, more than two in ten trains were delayed by at […]

Europe’s first: De Lijn puts autonomous shuttle on regular city route

January 23, 2026

The Flemish public transport company De Lijn is deploying two autonomous shuttles in Leuven (Louvain). They will operate on line 16, the new line connecting the train station with the station and the borough of Heverlee. According to De Lijn, this is a European first for a public transport company. The Leuven-Heverlee route is approximately 4 […]

War on weight: how slimmer passengers could save airlines millions

January 22, 2026

A recent study by the American investment bank Jefferies estimates that the four largest American Airlines could save as much as 580 million dollars per year in fuel costs if passengers weighed less. The study approaches the weight issue from a surprising angle, namely the impact of rheumatoid arthritis on often controversial weight loss drugs […]

Amsterdam draws a line on sea cruise ships

January 22, 2026

The city of Amsterdam wants to ban sea cruises from 2035 onward. The Passenger Terminal Amsterdam (PTA) must disappear. It is one of the most far-reaching decisions taken by a major European port city in the debate over cruise tourism, air pollution, and urban space. The departure of the terminal has “clear advantages for sustainability and the […]

Mobi 2.0: the AI chatbot that finally understands train passengers

January 22, 2026

The Belgian public railway company NMBS/SNCB is launching Mobi 2.0, its updated AI chatbot. The virtual assistant is designed to help train passengers with questions about their journey 24/7. According to NMBS/SNCB, the revamped virtual assistant answers 90% of all questions correctly. The railway company says that it is one of the first large-scale GenAI […]

Vias: ‘Road safety is not gender-neutral and men are paying the price’

January 22, 2026

Figures have already shown this, and the Belgian Vias traffic institute confirms it again: road safety is not gender-neutral. Men die on the road far more often than women. Women, meanwhile, face different — and often overlooked — dangers in daily mobility. In Belgium, nearly eight out of ten traffic fatalities are men. That ratio […]

e-mobility industry leaders urge EU Parliament to deliver regulatory certainty

January 22, 2026

Over 75 e-mobility leaders convened in Strasbourg on Wednesday, urging the EU Parliament to deliver regulatory certainty by 2035, not further dilution. More than 75 senior industry leaders from the Take Charge Europe campaign met Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) in Strasbourg with a clear message: strong, clean targets are essential for Europe’s electric […]

VVC: ‘In 2025, Flemish drivers lost more hours than ever in traffic jams’

January 21, 2026

2025 was, once again, the year of traffic jams. Never before had Flemish people spent more time stuck in traffic than last year. All vehicles together lost an average of almost 105,000 hours per day in traffic jams. This marks the first time the 100,000-hour mark has been surpassed. The figures come from the Flemish Traffic Center […]

More train stations with assistance for reduced mobility passengers

January 21, 2026

Since the end of last year, passengers with reduced mobility have been able to request assistance at 24 additional NMBS/SNCB-operated stations. This brings the number of stations where this is possible to 174, or approximately one in three, as NMBS/SNCB manages around 555 train stations in Belgium. The stations concerned are Aalter, Antwerp-Luchtbal, Arcaden, Barvaux, […]

Musk and O’Leary at loggerheads as Tesla boss toys with buying Ryanair

January 21, 2026

There is currently a remarkable mudslinging match going on between Starlink and Tesla owner Elon Musk, the richest man in the world, and Michael O’Leary, the CEO of Ryanair. What began as a business discussion about Wi-Fi on board airplanes has escalated into personal insults and even a laconic threat from Musk to buy Ryanair. […]

Another 12% increase in cyclists in Brussels

January 20, 2026

Last year, Brussels Mobility counted approximately 12% more cyclists on cycle paths in the Brussels Capital Region. The increase is greatest on weekdays, at +13%, which drops to +7% at weekends. Meanwhile, cyclists and e-scooter riders are also anxiously awaiting the ban on bicycles and e-scooters in the Anspachlaan/Boulevard Anspach pedestrian zone, which is awaiting political […]

SNCF orders new TGVs for services between major French cities and Belgium

January 20, 2026

French railway company SNCF has ordered 15 new high-speed trains from train manufacturer Alstom. The additional trains will be used to expand services between France and Belgium, particularly between major French cities and Brussels. The order is worth 600 million euros. Alstom’s Avelia Horizon very high-speed train is the only double-decker train in the world capable […]

French army orders 7,000 trucks from John Cockerill and Daimler

January 19, 2026

Military vehicle manufacturer Arquus and German truck manufacturer Daimler Trucks have secured a contract to supply 7,000 trucks to the French Army. This was announced by Belgian engineering group John Cockerill, which has owned French company Arquus since 2024. According to several French media outlets, the contract is worth approximately 2 billion euros. The order is […]

Traxio: ‘Record of 23,681 speed pedelecs registered in 2025’

January 19, 2026

Last year, a record number of speed pedelecs – 23,681 – were registered in Belgium, both new and used. “2025 was a record year for second-hand speed pedelecs (9,623 units, +24%) and the third best year ever for new ones (14,058 units, +2.6%),” explains Filip Rylant, spokesperson for mobility federation Traxio. “All in all, this […]

CAF wants Alstom Bruges to help build Belgian trainsets after all

January 19, 2026

Spanish train manufacturer CAF wants to collaborate with Alstom in Bruges to build trainsets for NMBS/SNCB. Alstom lost the contract and unsuccessfully challenged that decision before the Council of State. Trade unions at Alstom Bruges feared that losing the contract would spell the end of the factory. The collaboration between CAF and Alstom Bruges comes […]

Premium under pressure but BMW Motorrad maintains its lead

January 19, 2026

BMW Motorrad has reaffirmed its position at the pinnacle of the premium motorcycle segment. With 202,563 motorcycles delivered worldwide in 2025, the Bavarian manufacturer surpassed the 200,000-unit mark for the fourth consecutive year. This underlines the strength of its brand and product strategy at a time when the wider two-wheeler market is showing signs of […]

Almost 10% of Belgian children are not systematically secured in car

January 16, 2026

Almost one in ten children under 1.35 meters tall are not consistently secured in their car seats. Of the children who are secured, not all are in a child seat. In addition, one in five children keeps their coats on in their car seats in winter. This is according to a new study by the […]

13,600 km across Africa in a fully electric bus: Uganda’s electric moment

January 16, 2026

After 39 days and more than 13,600 kilometers on the open road across Africa, the Grand Electric Trans-African Expedition concluded on Sunday as the team returned to Kampala aboard a fully electric bus designed and built in Uganda, Kiira Motors Corporation’s flagship 13-meter Kayoola EV Model 2025. The journey, which began in November 2025 and […]

Lufthansa Group tightens rules for fire-prone power banks on planes

January 15, 2026

The Lufthansa Group, including its subsidiary Brussels Airlines, is tightening the rules for power banks on board flights. For example, they may no longer be used to charge devices, and storing them in the overhead compartment above the seats is also prohibited. The tightening of the rules is due to an increase in fire incidents […]

Velofollies 2026: 300 exhibitors, 600 brands, and lots of cycling experience

January 15, 2026

This weekend, from 16 to 18 January 2026, Kortrijk Xpo will host the 18th edition of Velofollies, the must-visit event for active cyclists and cycling enthusiasts. With over 300 exhibitors and nearly twice as many brands represented, the show will offer a complete range of bicycles, from recreational and utility models — e-bikes, urban bikes, […]

Tesla ends one-time FSD purchases over low adoption

January 15, 2026

Tesla is closing the door on a long-standing sales tactic for its most controversial software feature, Full Self-Driving (FSD). Starting next month, buyers will no longer be able to purchase it outright, but will need to chose a monthly subscription. CEO Elon Musk, who pitched FSD as one of the company’s major income assets, confirmed […]

German Flixbus acquires Luxembourg airport shuttle platform Flibco

January 14, 2026

On Tuesday, the German bus company Flix, parent company of FlixBus, announced the acquisition of a majority share of Flibco, a leading European airport transfer platform currently owned by the Luxembourg company SLG (formerly Sales-Lentz Group). The parties involved did not disclose financial details. The Flibco name will, in any case, be retained after the takeover. […]

Eurostar hits 20 million passengers a year, a first in its history

January 14, 2026

Eurostar’s high-speed trains carried a record 20 million passengers last year. By investing in new trains and routes, the high-speed train operator, which currently has a monopoly on passenger transport through the Channel Tunnel, aims to reach 30 million passengers in the long term. Compared with 2024, passenger numbers increased by half a million, or just […]

Lufthansa Group partners with Starlink for Wi-Fi on all flights

January 14, 2026

The Lufthansa Group, which includes Brussels Airlines, will offer free, high-speed Wi-Fi on its approximately 850 aircraft starting in the second half of 2026. It will do so using the Starlink satellite network from SpaceX, the American space company owned by billionaire Elon Musk. The collaboration with Starlink applies to the entire Lufthansa Group, which also […]

Stromer recalls 6,500 speed pedelecs over suspension fork safety issue

January 13, 2026

Swiss company Stromer, which has been the market leader in speed pedelecs in the Netherlands and Belgium for many years, has recalled approximately 6,500 devices. The speed pedelecs are equipped with a WREN brand suspension fork, but they have a safety issue. A risk of metal fatigue has been identified in the steering tube of the […]

Brussels’ Delta and Herrmann-Debroux metro stations to get facelift

January 13, 2026

After Diamant, Maalbeek/Maelbeek, Stokkel/Stockel, and Ossegem/Osseghem, Brussels metro stations Delta and Herrmann-Debroux on line 5 in Oudergem are also getting a facelift this year. The work is part of Brussels Mobility’s Refresh program. With the Refresh program, Brussels Mobility aims to quickly improve user comfort through targeted interventions, without waiting for a complete renovation. The […]

Scammers resell driving test appointments slots in Flanders

January 13, 2026

Fraudulent traffickers in Flanders are systematically stealing time slots for practical driving tests and then reselling them to people who want to pass their exam faster. The fraud was discovered by the consumer radio program WinWin. It remains unclear how the fraudsters operate. However, it involves a form of hacking in which hackers reserve time slots […]

MR wants to reduce fines for Brussels LEZ violations from 350 to 15 euros

January 12, 2026

The French-speaking liberal MR faction in the Brussels Parliament has proposed a measure to significantly reduce fines for violations of the low-emission zone (LEZ) in the capital. The MR strongly opposes what it calls ‘punitive ecology’. It wants to reduce LEZ fines from €350 to €15. This would immediately remove the big stick for owners […]

Traxio & Febiac: ‘Used motorcycle market 2025 rebounds, new market stable’

January 12, 2026

New motorcycle registrations fell by 12.2% in 2025 (to 24,872 units) compared to 2024. However, 2024 was the best year of the past 15 years. The sector expects a strong start to 2026, thanks in part to the Brussels Auto Show, where nearly 20 motorcycle brands will be represented this year and at least 310 […]

Kia debuts its affordable EV2 electric car in Brussels

January 12, 2026

Kia kicks off the new year with the unveiling of the EV2, its affordable electric car designed to drive adoption among the broadest audience. At the Brussels Motor Show, the world premiere was a key driver of its international appeal. Unveiled to the public in Brussels during the press day last Friday, the Kia EV2 […]

Brussels Motor Show rediscovers its role as EU’s automotive reality check

January 12, 2026

With +100,000 or more than 20% extra visitors during the opening weekend compared with last year, the 102nd edition of the Brussels Motor Show has made one thing immediately clear: Brussels has become a genuine barometer of confidence. It’s a reality check: it is still a ‘sales’ show, not just an exhibition. If private buyers […]

Impulse Belgium: Infrabel’s new start-up incubator

January 10, 2026

Belgian railway network operator Infrabel is launching Impulse Belgium, a start-up laboratory, according to the business newspaper De Tijd. Through this internal innovation unit, Infrabel aims to focus on projects that enhance the network’s efficiency and safety. Two projects are being put forward: opening their electricity grid to third parties and using AI for railway maintenance. […]

Beijing’s air quality better than ever thanks to NEVs

January 10, 2026

Air quality in Beijing is better than ever. In 2025, the city reported more than 340 days of ‘good’ or ‘moderate’ air quality, attributable to strict emission regulations and the growing number of electric vehicles in Chinese cities. Heavy pollution days dropped from dozens per year in the early 2010s to almost zero. Over the […]

SD Worx: ‘Number of new company cars fell by half in 2025’

January 10, 2026

Company managers and employers often prefer to extend their current contracts by one year rather than purchase a new company car to keep the old, more favourable corporate tax deduction rules in place for longer. And if a new company car is purchased, it is greener but more expensive. By the end of 2024, 8 out […]

Dumarey Powerglide in Strasbourg closes down: 320 jobs lost

January 10, 2026

There has been unrest for some time at the Dumarey factory in Strasbourg, which manufactures car gearboxes. The union protest is set to grow now that West Flemish businessman Guido Dumarey has announced plans to close the factory in Alsace, France, before the end of this year. The closure could result in the loss of […]

Belgium’s bus sector taps unemployed workers with paid driver training

January 08, 2026

Now that many long-term unemployed people in Belgium are losing their allowance, the bus and coach sector is calling on them to become bus drivers. The industry is facing a severe staff shortage and has 530 vacancies. The 374 companies in the sector, united in the FBAA sector federation, are even willing to finance the training. […]

Riding the jet stream: Lufthansa turns 100

January 07, 2026

Lufthansa, founded on January 6, 1926, as “Luft Hansa,” celebrates its 100th anniversary today. The history of the German airline is almost as turbulent as aviation itself. From a technological pioneer in the 1920s to an active role during the Nazi regime, Lufthansa grew into Europe’s largest airline group, at least in terms of revenue. […]

Cambio sees number of users increase by 15%

January 07, 2026

Car-sharing operator Cambio saw its user base increase by 15% last year, from 71,500 in 2024 to 82,000 in 2025. The shared-mobility provider has about 3,000 cars available – including more than 400 electric vehicles – in 147 cities and municipalities across Belgium. The cambio cars are used intensively, ensuring that cambio users (80% of […]

EV Belgium’s success story and the silence on convincing consumers

January 07, 2026

At its annual press conference, EV Belgium, the umbrella federation representing the business ecosystem behind zero-emission mobility, delivered impressive figures: 2025 ended with more than 145,000 newly sold electric vehicles, a market share of 35 percent, and nearly 450,000 EVs on Belgian roads. Much of that success, however, is driven by the continued dominance of […]

Brussels Motor Show 2026: the car salon that refused to disappear

January 07, 2026

Brussels is set to reclaim center stage in the European automotive calendar this winter, as the 102nd Brussels Motor Show opens from 9 to 18 January 2026 at Brussels Expo in Heysel. After drawing more than 307,000 visitors at the previous edition, organizers once again expect comparable numbers, confirming the Belgian show’s remarkable resurgence at […]

Norwegian car sales are now (as good as) fully electric

January 06, 2026

Norway closed out 2025 with a milestone: nearly 100% of electric car registrations. The country has officially reached its long-standing target: a new car fleet free of tailpipe emissions. Simultaneously, the share of electric cars on Norwegian roads now overshadows that of diesel cars. Norway’s new-car market shattered records in 2025, both in total sales […]

Belgians rack up record number of traffic violations in first half of 2025

January 06, 2026

During the first six months of last year, 5,028,562 traffic violations were recorded by the federal police in Belgium. This is an absolute record, as it is more than 436,000 more than in the same period two years ago. Compared to 2017, this is even double the number. Almost 4.2 million of the traffic violations […]

‘Belgian used car market hits best results since 2006’

January 06, 2026

Last year, the Belgian second-hand car market achieved its best results since 2006. While the new car market continues to decline, the volume of used cars remains stable at a historically high level. Registrations increased by 0.9% (+6,194 units) after consecutive years of growth and a very strong 2024. In December alone, 59,090 used cars were registered, […]

CES 2026: Lucid and Uber unveil their global robotaxi 

January 06, 2026

Lucid and Uber make a high-profile entrance into the robotaxi race with the unveiling of a six-seat version based on the Gravity SUV. Its upmarket positioning pits it against the driverless S-Class, which Mercedes launched in the Emirates. Still, the Gravity will kick-start its services in San Francisco, challenging Waymo, before its global rollout. The […]

EV interest rebounds among Belgian households, BNP survey suggests

January 06, 2026

Nearly one in five Belgian households now report considering a switch to a fully electric car within the next two years, while almost a quarter already drive some form of electrified vehicle. These are some of the figures BNP Paribas Fortis presents prominently in its latest mobility survey, released ahead of the opening of the […]

11% increase in long-haul flights for Brussels Airport

January 06, 2026

Brussels Airport has experienced substantial growth in the intercontinental segment over the past few years. According to the business newspaper L’Echo, the share of so-called ‘long-haul’ flights rose by more than 11%. This growth is the result of a deliberate strategy to strengthen Brussels as an international hub. From Africa to North and Latin America […]

Belgian commuters pedal more, even as cars stay king

January 05, 2026

Belgians are increasingly using bicycles for their journeys, including commuting. This trend is confirmed by various mobility barometers and surveys in both Flanders and Wallonia. For the first time, more than half of Flemish people regularly cycle to work. Wallonia lags in this area, but even there, we observe that, for the first time, 6% […]

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