January 19, 2026
In just nine days (and a press day), the Brussels Motor Show drew almost 350,000 visitors to the Heyzel expo halls. That’s over 42,000 more than the year before (nearly +14%) and proof that the BMS has achieved a status that inevitably leads to the title of the most crucial motor show event in Europe. […]
January 16, 2026
Toyota Motor Europe (TME) sold a record 1,229,038 Toyota and Lexus vehicles in 2025 (+1%). TME’s mix of electrified vehicles grew to 77%, an increase of 5%, with sales of battery electric vehicles up 46%, plug-in hybrids up 76%, and hybrids up 3%. Toyota Professional’s range of commercial vehicles also achieved an all-time sales record […]
January 16, 2026
Fastned’s latest quarterly update underlines how quickly Europe’s fast-charging market is maturing. The Dutch operator closed Q4 2025 with €38.1 million in charging-related revenue, up 44 percent year on year, delivering nearly 55 GWh across more than two million sessions at 406 stations across nine countries. On the surface, the figures signal continued momentum in […]
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 […]
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 […]
December 30, 2025
The ID. Polo is arriving in 2026 as the first of a new family of entry-level Volkswagen EVs. It was initially expected to start at €25,000, but that may take longer. The German automaker may still make electric mobility more affordable, but it likely won’t be as soon as expected. “With an entry-level price starting […]
December 24, 2025
When British quality newspaper The Guardian revealed that Toyota has been encouraging employees in the US to lobby politicians to support the anti-BEV movement and climate change denial through an internal, video-game-style platform, the story initially appeared as a stunning example of corporate activism gone digital. The investigation matters because it exposes intent. It points […]
December 17, 2025
In the short term, Europe’s car industry gains breathing space. In the longer term, Europe’s climate policy and electric-mobility leadership risk losing clarity and momentum, despite mounting evidence that the electric car is already the technologically and economically superior option. That is the uncomfortable trade-off at the heart of the European Commission’s new automotive action […]
December 16, 2025
According to a newly released statement from Smart Europe, the fully electric #2, to be launched at the end of 2026, has entered an intensive real-world validation phase on its entirely new Electric Compact Architecture (ECA). The #2, expected to become the spiritual successor to the original Smart Fortwo, arrives at a moment when the […]
December 10, 2025
When the doors of the Brussels Motor Show open in January 2026, all eyes will turn to several ‘world premieres’, and one of them is Opel. The German brand is preparing the fully updated Opel Astra range, including the Astra Electric and the Astra Sports Tourer Electric. And fittingly, Brussels itself has grown in strategic […]
December 05, 2025
For the 39th edition of the Family Car election by Flemish mobility club VAB, the participating journalists and VAB members could choose from two pricing categories. In the past, there was a third category for electric cars, but it has since been abolished as more affordable BEVs have entered the market. This year, (partial) electrification […]
December 04, 2025
Jaguar Land Rover’s design chief, Gerry McGovern, has left the automaker amid a shakeup instigated by the new CEO, P.B. Balaji. McGovern was fired and “escorted out of the office,” Autocar India reported, citing sources with knowledge of the situation inside JLR’s Indian parent company, Tata Motors. JLR declined to comment when contacted. McGovern, 69, […]
December 04, 2025
As already assumed earlier, the Board of the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) has re-elected Ola Källenius, CEO of Mercedes-Benz, for a second term as ACEA President in 2026. Källenius is also setting the tone for his second year at the helm of the association: Competitiveness and market-driven decarbonisation high on agenda,” states the headline […]
December 01, 2025
When the Swedish-Chinese brand Lynk & Co was launched in Europe by its Belgian CEO, Alain Visser, it presented itself not simply as a new car brand, but as a corrective to everything outdated in the automotive world. Its message was evangelical: the age of car ownership was over, the future belonged to mobility, and […]
November 28, 2025
A survey commissioned by Belgian service chain Auto5 found that half of young drivers postpone essential car maintenance, even when it compromises safety or shortens the life of their vehicle. At first glance, the claim raises the question of whether it reveals a genuine societal trend or serves the interests of a company built on […]
November 25, 2025
Before the end of the year, the Peugeot family must decide who will represent them on the Stellantis Board. Currently, Robert Peugeot (75) is the Vice-President of the Board, representing the PSA part of the group. At the same time, Agnelli heir John Elkann is the President of the Stellantis Board, representing the FCA interests. […]
October 31, 2025
Four years after the Japanese carmaker virtually disappeared from the Belgian market, Mitsubishi is back, as we wrote earlier. Test-driving on Spanish roads, the two latest additions to the lineup—the hybrid Grandis and the fully electric Eclipse Cross—there’s one thing that’s immediately apparent. Driving electric is so much more fun. And it makes sense for […]
October 23, 2025
Michael Jost, former head of VW Group’s product strategy, recently addressed the car industry, policymakers, and the general public at the E4Testival in Germany. His message was clear: “There is no alternative for electromobility and the so-called technology openness is an illusion.” His discourse was titled “Electrify the world – think bigger.” He asked his […]
October 09, 2025
The car industry is demanding loopholes in the EU car CO2 law that would halve the bloc’s ambition of selling only zero-emission cars in 2035. That’s according to T&E analysis of a leaked position paper by the European car industry lobby ACEA. Carmakers are demanding more than 10 loopholes, including counting cars that run on alternative […]
September 10, 2025
At the IAA Mobility show in Munich, we can see an avalanche of Chinese carmakers expanding their European offer and/or preparing themselves to expand into the European market. On the other hand, we saw the leading German brands pull out all the stops in their efforts to counter the ‘Chinese invasion’. There are a lot […]
August 27, 2025
In a letter addressed to the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, European automotive manufacturers (ACEA) and suppliers (CLEPA) outlined their expectations for the upcoming Strategic Dialogue on the future of the European automotive industry, scheduled for 12 September. The associations ask for a new ‘transformation plan’ to save the European automotive […]
May 26, 2025
At the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2025, the renowned celebration of historic vehicles on the shores of Lake Como in Italy, where the BMW Group has long been a leading actor, the Munich company presented an exclusive new concept car that will subsequently be made available for purchase in a small series. “The BMW Concept […]
May 26, 2025
Many people are still wondering why, for Christ’s sake, one should go electric instead of staying with the combustion engine (ICE) that has been finetuned to nearly perfection in the last 130 years. The reason is quite apparent: electric cars are superior in nearly every aspect. The Smart #5 Brabus we had the opportunity to […]
March 24, 2025
In January, BMW Group announced it continued its growth path in 2024, delivering 426,594 fully electric vehicles to customers and achieving BEV-sales growth of +13.5 %. Now that more figures are available of its all-time competitors at the premium home front, Mercedes and Audi, it’s clear that they sold more EVs than those two combined. […]
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 04, 2025
According to the manufacturer’s name-giving logic introduced in 2023, Audi models with even numbers are electric, while those with combustion engines have odd numbers in their names. However, this nomenclature is history again. In March, there will be another new A6 with a combustion engine. In 2023, the now deposed CEO Markus Duesmann announced a […]
January 23, 2025
Citroën allegedly wants to give the classic 2CV model a second life. Initial design work for a new electric edition of the 2CV is probably already underway, but the project is still at an early stage. Read: It has not yet been fully decided. Citroën also seems to be reacting to its competitor Renault, who […]
January 15, 2025
Toyota, the world’s number one car manufacturer, has been revealed as the most prominent auto industry funder of climate deniers in the US Congress, according to a report released last week by Public Citizen. Meanwhile, it is spending a lot of money and influence lobbying against EV regulations. Public Citizen’s report, “Driving Denial: How Toyota’s […]
January 14, 2025
Despite all negative coverage in recent times, worldwide sales of electric vehicles grew by 25% in 2024. According to data from the British company Rho Motion, an electric vehicle research consultancy, 17.1 million battery-electric vehicles were sold last year. There’s a noticeable difference between regions. The progress in China was evident (11 million electric vehicles, […]
December 12, 2024
The Board of Directors of the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) has elected Ola Källenius, Chairman of the Board of Management of the Mercedes-Benz Group, as its new President, who will assume this function from 1 January 2025. Ola Källenius will take over the presidency from Renault Group’s CEO, Luca de Meo, who has held […]
December 06, 2024
There are no longer any fully electric winners in VAB’s ‘Family Car of the Year’ election this year. The gold medal goes to a hybrid (HEV) from the Chinese brand that sells the most EVs in Europe: the MG3. The other gold winner in the more expensive category is a mild-hybrid Hyundai i30. It perfectly […]
September 26, 2024
According to the mobility organization Touring, the average EV driver in Belgium is highly educated, has a higher-than-average income, and has a private parking spot for his car. Touring has realized the latest European Alternative Fuels Observatory (EAFO) survey in Belgium in cooperation with the Brussels VUB University and interrogated 1,356 Belgian drivers. 96 of […]
August 30, 2024
Polestar, the electric car brand of Geely and Volvo, announced the appointment of Michael Lohscheller as its new CEO. In October, he will succeed long-term CEO Thomas Ingenlath, who has held the position since 2017. The new appointment comes shortly after another significant change at the top of the board. On on October 1st, Lohscheller […]
August 12, 2024
Milan Nedeljkovic, BMW Group board member responsible for production, says that fully electric vehicles must have their own dedicated lane on highways. In an interview with the German newspaper Münchner Merkur, Nedeljkovic explained that this would make the possession and use of an EV far more attractive. “When EVs are constantly overtaking you while you […]
August 05, 2024
Several media outlets speculate about a possible Chinese takeover of the Audi factory in Forest (southwestern part of Brussels). The factory’s future as an Audi outlet looks dark, and Chinese companies looking for a solution to the import tariff war started by the EU could bring a solution. Currently, the Brussels factory is idle because […]
July 22, 2024
For years, EVs have been in a state of grace. For different reasons, this is over now. Electric vehicles, especially in the United States, are in for more challenging times. Even more so if a certain Mr. Trump gets elected again. There are multiple reasons for that. The rise of the electric vehicle may have […]
July 22, 2024
Almost two weeks ago, the management of the Audi Brussels plant called for an extraordinary works council and announced ‘the restructuring intention’ for the plant. The current production of the Q8 e-tron will be stopped before the end of 2026, and almost half of the workforce (1,410) will already lose their jobs this year, probably […]
July 01, 2024
As a ‘lifelong petrolhead’ (his words), Ford CEO Jim Farley has just recently posted an insightful ode to electric vehicles. In an opinion piece on social media, he shared a fresh and inspiring perspective about his newfound love for electric cars. As a self-described ‘lifelong petrolhead’ with a career in the automotive business (mainly Toyota […]
June 13, 2024
With the stalemate between the liberal MR party and Groen, the two big winners in the French and Dutch language groups in Brussels of the national elections, it looks like the Good Move mobility plan will become the topic of the municipal elections in October. MR president Georges-Louis Bouchez is determined that Good Move must […]
June 10, 2024
Last Sunday was election day in Belgium. Citizens had to vote for three (Flanders, Wallonia) or four (Brussels) different parliaments: European, federal, and regional (an additional one in Brussels). The respective mobility ministers saw different faiths. Federal Mobility Minister Georges Gilkinet (Ecolo) has not been re-elected in the federal parliament. Flemish Mobility Minister Lydia Peeters […]
May 16, 2024
As the US government has now opted to quadruple trade tariffs on electric vehicles from China, Europe is also considering a (much more modest) increase. However, whether any of the trade war’s efforts will benefit customers remains to be seen. Apparently, the European Union will impose punitive tariffs on electric cars made in China before […]
May 08, 2024
Dark clouds seem to be accumulating above Fisker’s future. Magna, the company contracted to build the Fisker Ocean in Austria, says in its Q1 2024 financial report that it assumes no more will be built. Fisker has been looking for opportunities to save itself for a while already. Now, the company hired to build its […]
April 22, 2024
Of the 5,500 workers at Volkswagen’s Chattanooga plant (Tennessee, U.S.), 73% voted yes to being represented by the United Auto Workers Union (UAW). This is the first time a foreign car manufacturer in the U.S. has a union-represented workforce and also the first time in the South of the States. It’s a double victory for […]
April 03, 2024
Danish car subscription start-up ‘:Dribe’ is ogling Belgium to export its fully digital platform to the rest of Europe. Offering subscriptions of 30 days and the freedom to switch cars when needed, this concept of Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) goes beyond any car leasing platform, the company claims. “We want to do this in collaboration with a […]
March 22, 2024
A new spring announces itself; a such-and-such new ‘mobility barometer’ is showing up. For just over half of all Belgians (51%), there is little to no belief in a new dawn the electric car could provide by 2035. 36% even think it won’t happen before 2045-2050, and 17% say ‘never for me’. Still, 48% (+7% […]
March 20, 2024
Renault Group CEO (and current ACEA President) Luca de Meo has addressed a ‘Letter to Europe‘ to “all key decision-makers and stakeholders across Europe”. It’s an “Advocacy for a sustainable, inclusive, and competitive automotive industry.” With just a few months to go before the European elections, this twenty-page document calls for European mobilization “to succeed […]
March 20, 2024
Tesla is hiring a ‘Senior Manager Zero Service’, Elektrec.co spotted a few days ago online. The candidate will join Tesla’s Service Operations organization “and lead the team responsible for identifying and eliminating the reasons our cars require service”. Is that possible? Do electric cars need no servicing at all? You will often hear that EVs […]
March 14, 2024
Walloon Environment Minister, Céline Tellier (Ecolo), has declared that the plan for Wallonia to become a Low Emission Zone (LEZ) was “disproportionate, difficult to apply and not very effective.” The Walloon LEZ is now axed, but major cities will be able to introduce restrictions to enhance air quality, not only on vehicles. Introduced in 2019, […]
March 14, 2024
According to Flemish Minister-President Jan Jambon and Minister for Work Jo Brouns, several possible candidates are ‘lining up’ and showing interest in investing in a restart of bus manufacturer Van Hool in Koningshooikt (Lier). But that doesn’t mean avoiding bankruptcy, as some – like Belgian entrepreneur Guido Dumarey, a specialist in blowing new life into […]
March 13, 2024
In an interview with the Financial Times on Tuesday, Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Källenius made a remarkable statement, rubbing up his French competitors by urging the European Commission to lower tariffs on Chinese EV imports instead of raising them. This would force European carmakers to make better cars, he added. “I’m a contrarian,” he said in […]
March 12, 2024
Belgian bus manufacturer Van Hool decided to cut almost half of its jobs at its headquarters in Koningshooikt after a series of cascading troubles eviscerated its competitiveness. Some point to Van Hool’s hydrogen strategy, others to the lack of support from public transport company De Lijn, but neither explanation offers a complete picture. It has […]
February 13, 2024
It isn’t a car, and it isn’t a moped on four wheels. Still, it can reach a top speed of 90 km/hour, and you need a driver’s license B for it in Belgium. Officially, it is a fully electric lightweight quadricycle (L7e) that looks like the direct reincarnation of the ultimate bubble car of the […]
January 24, 2024
Toyota Chairman and former CEO Akio Toyoda believes battery-electric vehicles will have a maximum market share of 30%, with the rest taken up by hybrids, hydrogen fuel cells, and ICE cars. “With a billion people in the world living without electricity, limiting their choices and ability to travel by making expensive cars isn’t the answer,” […]
January 22, 2024
Ford Motor has announced it will slow down production of its F-150 Lightning electric pickup truck to one shift at its Michigan Rouge Electric Vehicle Center, starting in April, to adjust to a slower uptake expected in 2024. Meanwhile, Ford will add a third crew at the Michigan Assembly Plant to increase the popular Bronco […]
January 12, 2024
Belgium has always been a ‘car-loving country’, and although the pandemic and the energy crisis made Belgians lose the appetite to buy a new (or used) car, 32% of them are getting that itch again. That’s double the percentage of 2022, and 12% more than last year, according to a Traxio survey. But it won’t […]
December 14, 2023
The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) warns the European authorities of a Chinese dominance of the EV supply chain and the US government incentives for domestic automakers. According to ACEA, the EU electric vehicle industry risks losing ground even more without a robust EU industrial strategy. It risks putting the EU on the back pedal […]
December 06, 2023
The current (and re-elected) president of the European Car Manufacturers Association (ACEA), Luca de Meo, has called for European ‘Kei Cars’ as one of the solutions to boost electric car sales and solve acute urban mobility problems. De Meo did so in his speech at the ACEA headquarters in Brussels while presenting the lobbying group’s […]
December 05, 2023
The electric car manufacturer Fisker is lowering its production forecast for 2023 once again. After last lowering its forecast to between 13 000 and 17 000 vehicles produced in 2023 as a whole, Fisker now only expects to produce just over 10 000 units. The reason given for this is the decision to produce fewer […]
October 04, 2023
In a striking opinion piece, William Todts, Executive Director of the NGO Transport & Environment (T&E), points at the mess the German car industry has made these recent decades and the efforts from the European Union to tackle the problem. “Earlier this month, Ursula von der Leyen sent shockwaves through the European and Chinese car […]
September 21, 2023
The Prime Minister of the UK, Rishi Sunak (Conservatives), is attempting to water down the UK policy to ban the sale of new combustion vehicles in 2030. The British car industry doesn’t seem happy at all with this policy change. “To give us more time to prepare, I’m announcing that we’re going to ease the […]
