German Sion solar car buys itself more survival time

January 26, 2023

Munich-based Sono Motors, creators of the Sion solar car, is buying more time to survive by extending its #savesion campaign until the end of February 2023. “As talks with potential investors are in progress”, the founders announce in a press release and a video. So far, they have managed to secuThis content has been archived. […]

British car industry at lowest level since… 1956

January 26, 2023

According to figures from the sector federation SMMT (Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders), vehicle production in the UK dropped to its lowest point in almost 70 years. However, a revival is due for the year 2023. “The automobile industry in the UK has been going through three horrible yeaThis content has been archived. Log […]

Toyota enters e-cargo bike business with French Douze

January 25, 2023

In France, Toyota will offer an e-cargo bike for the last-mile delivery sector and privateers. It has struck a deal with French e-bike brand Douze to jointly market a new e-cargo bike with “the potential of replacing a car”. The initiative is regional, as it was realized and managed by Toyota’This content has been archived. […]

E-Ray: the cleanest Corvette is also the fastest

January 24, 2023

The current generation of the Corvette stirs up the heritage bloodline in many ways. After moving the engine from front to rear, General Motors has now also pulled the covers from the first hybrid ever in the series: the E-Ray. Meet the cleanest, fastest, and most expensive Corvette of them all. ItThis content has been […]

Kia offers glimpse into EV9 specs and pricing

January 24, 2023

Kia may have just revealed some of the EV9’s specs and pricing in a customer survey. The family SUV could be offered in five different trim levels, starting from 56 000 US dollars (51 500 euros) and with a range of up to 290 miles (464 km). The launch of the EV9 is scheduled for […]

CEO Mazda Europe: ‘We will never tell people what they need’

January 23, 2023

At the Brussels Motor Show, the Japanese manufacturer Mazda had a world premiere, the MX-30 e-Skyactiv R-EV, a range extender version of their MX-30 BEV. On the sidelines, we talked to Martijn ten Brink, President and CEO of Mazda Europe. This relatively small car manufacturer has its own way of doiThis content has been archived. […]

Extremely efficient Aptera solar car promises 1.000-mile range

January 23, 2023

Californian start-up Aptera Motors has revealed the Launch Edition of its highly efficient solar car. Thanks to its solar array, it can recover up to 40 miles (64 km) of range per day. Production is set to start in late 2023, but Aptera still needs funding to build its vehicles. Aptera’s quest foThis content has […]

With 270.000 visitors Brussels Motor Show secures its survival

January 23, 2023

The 100th-anniversary edition of the Brussels Motor Show (BMS) welcomed some 270 000 public visitors in nine days. That’s considerably less than in the heydays before the pandemic, but it still makes it the most popular indoor event in Belgium. The organizers hoped that 300-350 000 people would hThis content has been archived. Log in […]

Geely’s SEA platform to underpin new Polish EV brand Izera (update)

January 23, 2023

ElectroMobility Poland (EMP), Poland’s only car manufacturer created in 2016, has postponed the production of its first car under the new Izera brand for the second time until the end of 2025. The state-owned company, which made a technology deal in November 2022 with Chinese Geely for the underpinnThis content has been archived. Log in […]

BMW Motorrad breaks sales record

January 20, 2023

BMW Motorrad achieved the highest sales in its corporate history, with 202 895 motorcycles and scooters handed over to customers in 2022. This is an increase of +4,4 % compared to the previous year. By doing so, BMW Motorrad remains in first place in the global premium motorcycle and scooter segmentThis content has been archived. […]

Belgian start-up Veton wraps EV-charger in fashionable design

January 20, 2023

Belgian start-up Veton wants to conquer the world and a growing number of EV owners from its base in Antwerp by wrapping the classic EV-charge pole or wallbox in a sleek, fashionable design with the cable neatly hidden when not in use. As 85% of EV charging is done at home or work, the young […]

Vanwall launches the Vandervell, its first EV production car

January 20, 2023

Vanwall, a former English Formula 1 racing team, is revived and has presented an electric compact production model to be built in Germany. The Vandervell stands out with its sporty look and performance and will be delivered in the third quarter of 2023 at a (hefty) price tag of around €150 000. This content has […]

Chinese MG launches into hydrogen with Euniq 7 MPV

January 19, 2023

Chinese SAIC daughter MG, the self-appointed heir to Brittain’s iconic sports car brand, has launched into hydrogen, showing the Euniq 7 FCEV at Auto Expo 2023 in Dehli, India. The 5,2-meter long MPV offering seating for seven and a range of 605 km (NEDC) is said to be a demonstration vehicle, as noThis content has […]

Jon Williams (Ford): ‘Different customer needs ask for specialized businesses’

January 18, 2023

At the Brussels Motor Show, we met Jon Williams, European Vice-President and General Manager of Ford Blue, the ICE part of Ford Europe’s business. He talked about the different specialisms inside Ford Motor Company now. “Recently, we’ve made clear that electrification and sustainability are the mThis content has been archived. Log in or Subscribe to […]

Xpeng will open four delivery centers in Europe this year

January 18, 2023

Xpeng is steadfastly forging its road into the European market. The Chinese EV maker has announced that it will open four service and delivery centers across Europe in 2023 as part of its expansion plans. The centers will be opened during the first half of the year in the four markets where the braThis content […]

Suzuki’s first all-electric SUV isn’t a Toyota

January 18, 2023

At the Delhi Auto Show 2023, Suzuki unveiled the EVx, a concept car announcing the brand’s first all-electric SUV. The first specs seem to point to in-house development. Though the unveiling took place in India, the brand intends to sell it worldwide. “Strong 4×4 DNA with the advanced features This content has been archived. Log […]

Volvo reveals electric MPV with Zeekr DNA for China

January 18, 2023

Volvo has presented its Chinese roadmap for 2023 during a press conference, revealing three new electric models coming this year. Next to a more luxurious version of the EX90 and the compact EX30 SUV, a yet-to-be-announced MPV is shown in a slideshow. And it should have some Zeekr DNA. Last year,This content has been archived. […]

EU car market at its lowest level since 1993

January 18, 2023

In December 2022, new car registrations in the EU expanded by 12,8%, marking the fifth consecutive month of growth this year. However, in 2022, the European Union passenger car market contracted by 4,6%, mainly due to component shortages in the first half of the year. Although the market improvedThis content has been archived. Log in […]

Volvo’s smallest EVs get improved range, charging, and RWD

January 17, 2023

As part of a new package of product updates, Volvo has improved both the range (WLTP) and charging for the XC40 Recharge and C40 Recharge, increasing range by as much as 60 kilometers on some variants. Furthermore, three new powertrains are offered on the C40 Recharge and XC40 Recharge. These incThis content has been archived. […]

BYD set to introduce new A-segment Seagull EV

January 17, 2023

With EV and battery technology gradually lowering in cost, more manufacturers are introducing cheap electric city cars. For example, the Chinese manufacturer BYD, the fourth largest EV company in the world, is set to introduce the Seagull, a new electric city car, as shown by Chinese regulatory filiThis content has been archived. Log in or […]

Energyville: ‘average car weight has risen 10% in Belgium’

January 17, 2023

Electrification and the swing toward SUVs are making their mark on the scales of the Belgian car fleet. On average, cars now weigh 10% more than three years ago, according to research by Energyville. According to the organization, the weight penalty of both trends is terrible news for safety and CO2This content has been archived. […]

BMW CEO: ‘Our EVs will soon be the benchmark’

January 17, 2023

Last week, BMW Group CEO Oliver Zipse previewed some of the technology on its ‘Neue Klasse’ EV platform at the CES in Las Vegas. He was also very outspoken regarding the group’s future in the EV market. Zipse boldly said that BMW’s next wave of EVs will be the industry benchmark in range, chargingThis content […]

Fierce competition forces Tesla into price war (update)

January 16, 2023

Facing stiff opposition from customers and criticism in its home country after lowering its prices in China twice in three months, Tesla has decided to make the price cut global. Depending on the model and the region a discount of up to 20% is now on the table in a bid to keep output at […]

World premiere at BMS: Mazda adds PHEV-version of MX-30

January 16, 2023

As we were already hinting at a few weeks ago, Mazda revealed a new car at the Brussels Motor Show. The independent Japanese manufacturer is adding a plug-in hybrid version to its battery-electric MX-30. The MX-30 e-Skyactiv R-EV is the announced new variant with a rotary engine acting as a range exThis content has been […]

Seres 5 for Europe unveiled at Brussels Motor Show

January 16, 2023

The American-Chinese manufacturer Seres, from the same group as DFSK, has launched its second model for Europe at the Brussels Motor Show. The Seres 5 is a midsize electric SUV with up to 585 hp and a driving range of around 500 km. Seres was first introduced to Belgium and other European marketsThis content has […]

Car of the Year 2023 is Jeep Avenger

January 16, 2023

For the first time, the award-winning Car of the Year (COTY) ceremony was at the Brussels Motor Show. Fifty-seven car journalists from 23 countries have finally voted for the fully electric Jeep Avenger as COTY 2023. Before the voting, there was no great rival this year, although the VW ID. Buzz This content has been […]

Astara to distribute Spanish Silence scooters and ‘nanocars’ (update)

January 13, 2023

Astara Western Europe, the former Belgian Alcomotive group and importer of Hyundai, Suzuki, MG, SsangYong, and Maxus, also becomes the BeLux distributor for the Spanish Silence scooters and micro-mobility EV, the so-called ‘nanocars’. The latter share an interesting ‘swapping battery’ technology. This content has been archived. Log in or Subscribe to a level that has […]

Mercedes to drop EQ badge for its electric cars?

January 13, 2023

According to internal sources quoted by the German Handelsblatt, Mercedes-Benz intends to drop its EQ-label it uses to differentiate its electric models from regular ICE cars. As the premium brand plans to go full electric by the end of the decade, it might start doctoring with the labels from 2024 This content has been archived. […]

D’Ieteren will show more than cars at BMS

January 12, 2023

Where VW Group importer D’Ieteren had decided not to be present at the 2022 BMS (which was finally canceled), it’s again present with an entire exposition hall (11) at the BMS 2023. But the importer will not only show the novelties of its VW Group brands. Apart from that, all ‘new mobility’ proposalThis content has […]

‘Premium experiences and events’ instead of a motor show

January 12, 2023

The organizers of the Brussels Motor Show are announcing the presence of 95% of the market at the motor show opening its doors (for the press and VIP guests) tomorrow. However, it’s only 85% considering that Mercedes-Benz and Jaguar Land Rover will only be ‘symbolically’ present. Volvo and Mercedes This content has been archived. Log […]

Porsche Macan EV favors performance over range

January 12, 2023

Accompanied by some pictures of prototypes and a video, Porsche has released further details on the upcoming Macan EV. The sports carmaker confirms that its first all-electric SUV will feature a battery pack of 100 kWh, ‘bank charging’, and a clever rear axle. A fast charge from 5 to 80% shouldnThis content has been archived. […]

Rolls-Royce and Co: newly preferred toys for the super rich (update)

January 11, 2023

In 2022, the high-luxury daughter of BMW, Rolls-Royce, sold 6021 cars. Never before has the illustrious company sold so many cars: 8% more than the previous record year, and that was 2021. Bentley sold more than 15 000 cars, also a record. So the Ukrainian war, the energy prices, etc., don’t affeThis content has been […]

Everybody ‘premium’? How the ‘generalists’ are losing their clients

January 10, 2023

When one follows the car market and the manufacturers’ policies, one of the ever-recurring words is ‘premium’. There’s almost no manufacturer anymore that doesn’t want to be –be it partly – premium, at the same time neglecting a (big) part of its former sales base. It’s becoming very crowdy in tThis content has been archived. […]

Sony and Honda unveil Afeela prototype EV (update)

January 10, 2023

Sony Honda Mobility Inc. (SHM) is planning to launch as soon as possible two other models besides the sedan – an SUV and probably an MPV – under the new Afeela EV brand, announced at CES in Las Vegas last week. It would make no sense to limit the brand to one model for the […]

VinFast gives details about smaller cars VF6 and VF7

January 09, 2023

VinFast, Vietnam’s electric car manufacturer, is lining up its following two models after the VF 8 and VF 9 that were previously presented. At CES, VinFast specified the VF 6 and VF 7, their new B and C segment electric cars. Vinfast expects to open reservations this coming March. Meanwhile, the bThis content has been […]

Stellantis CEO Tavares warns: ‘Middle-class consumers will buy Chinese’

January 09, 2023

In an interview with the German specialized magazine Automobilwoche at the Computer Electronics Show  (CES) in Las Vegas, Stellantis boss Carlos Tavares warns the industry that many European middle-class customers will buy Chinese in the future. “The price difference between European and ChineseThis content has been archived. Log in or Subscribe to a level that […]

Inception Concept: this is your electric Peugeot in 2025

January 06, 2023

The Peugeot Inception Concept looks like a wild idea on wheels, born to grab attention, but underneath its razor-edged surface sits a guideline for the future EVs of the French brand. Peugeot’s planned entry into the US was ditched a few years ago. With no current models on offer over the Atlantic This content has […]

ZF shows ‘heat belt’ to increase EV range and new self-driving shuttle

January 06, 2023

The German automotive supplier ZF is looking to save range as much as possible for EVs. The latest attempt is a heated seat belt that claims somewhat surprising range improvements. At the same time, ZF is showing its next self-driving shuttle at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. TThis content has been archived. […]

RAM 1500 EV will come in 2024, a concept is shown at CES

January 06, 2023

The electric Ram 1500 pickup Stellantis showed at the CES today is still a concept vehicle. Unlike what was rumored a few weeks ago, the production vehicle will not appear before 2024. Instead, the Ram 1500 Revolution BEV wants to give an idea of what Ram will be doing a year from now, “redefining tThis […]

Belgian second-hand car market closes 2022 with 9,4% loss

January 05, 2023

In 2022, 642 669 second-hand cars were registered in Belgium, a decrease of 9,4% (66 936 units) compared to the year before (709 605 registrations). Even compared to ‘corona year’ 2020, mobility federation Traxio registered a decline of 2,6%. In December 2022, a regression of 5% was listed, with This content has been archived. Log […]

Dutch solar carmaker opens waiting list for €40.000 Lightyear 2 (update)

January 05, 2023

Hours before the official ‘unveiling’ of the first teaser pictures of its second solar car at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, the Dutch scale-up opened on Thursday the waiting list for the Lightyear 2. This one, a more compact ‘grid-independent’ sedan with integrated solar panels and This content has been archived. Log in […]

BMW shows ‘digital emotion experience’ i-Vision Dee in Las Vegas

January 05, 2023

The BMW Group shows its vision of ‘the future digital experience’, at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2023 in Las Vegas. The BMW i Vision Dee is a futuristic mid-size sedan with a new, pared-down design language. ‘Dee’ stands for Digital Emotional Experience, aiming to create an even stronger boThis content has been archived. Log […]

Renault COO: ‘There will be no Zoe successor’

January 04, 2023

The Renault Zoe, first released in 2012, will not be replaced. Renault’s second-in-command, Fabrice Cambolive, has confirmed this to the English car magazine Autocar. Instead, Zoe will end its life as one of the best-selling electric cars in its home country and one of the EV best-sellers in Europe.This content has been archived. Log in […]

VW shows camouflaged ID.7 at CES in Las Vegas

January 04, 2023

Volkswagen will showcase its first fully electric sedan based on the modular electric drive matrix (MEB) at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas (from 5 to 8 January). Following on from ID.4, the new sedan is Volkswagen’s next global electric vehicle and will be offered on three continThis content has been archived. Log […]

Four out of five new car sales in Norway are electric

January 03, 2023

In 2022, almost 80% of all newly registered cars in Norway were electric, a world record. Tesla is the overall market leader, with a 12,2% market share. As the government wants to build down incentives and the Norwegian consumer is having trouble recharging, it could be that this was the highest salThis content has been […]

Is Chinese Aion readying the world’s most aerodynamic EV?

January 03, 2023

The EV battle for record drag has spawned a new self-declared winner. Chinese brand Aion, a subsidiary of GAC, has unveiled the hyper GT featuring a Cd value of just 0.19. It’s worth mentioning that the car is still in concept. It remains to be seen whether the production version can uphold those This content […]

Tesla Semi gives a sneak peek of its 1.000 Volts battery

January 03, 2023

About a month after the first delivery event of the Tesla Semi, where it proved its 500-mile range, technical images have emerged of the long-haul electric truck revealing its battery location and more details about its weight. Tesla data miner @greentheonly on Twitter has shared a series of techThis content has been archived. Log in […]

Belgian car sales -4,4% in 2022, BMW number one again

January 03, 2023

Despite an excellent December month (+20,6% compared to last year), the Belgian car market regressed by 4,4% compared to 2021. This was due to significant deficits in sales in the first seven months, which couldn’t be compensated by the progress in the last five months. As the Belgian market stays dThis content has been archived. […]

RAM 1500 REV electric pickup is ready for launch

January 03, 2023

Ram’s electric pickup is set to debut in less than a week, and up until recently, it wasn’t exactly clear what it would be called. However, a new trademark filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office indicates it could go by the name of Ram 1500 REV. On January 5, Ram will reveal […]

Hyundai will only sell EVs in Norway

December 30, 2022

From now on, Hyundai Motors has decided to sell only pure electric vehicles in Norway. The Hyundai Group has invested a lot lately in developing electric cars. It is already benefitting from it as it has become the third biggest car manufacturer in the world. Hyundai imported the first electric IThis content has been archived. […]

Brussels Motor Show: ‘ugly duckling’ is one of the survivors

December 30, 2022

The 100th-anniversary edition of the Brussels Motor Show (BMS, 14 to 22 January 2023) will show at least 14 world or European premieres and 48 Belgian ones. Of course, this has to do with the absence of the (live) show for a couple of years, but also with the painful exit of some of its […]

Driving the Chinese MG4: bang for your buck

December 29, 2022

You won’t be stared at for its modern but not unique looks when driving by, as this family hatchback – MG’s latest EV washing ashore in Europe – could be one in a thousand. Unless you chose that ‘Fizzy Orange’ color. Driving the basic version for the first time on Belgian roads, this MG4 proves […]

And now for something completely different: we drove the Smart #1

December 29, 2022

The era of the original Smart two-seater has gone. In came the new Smart, a completely different approach and the fruit of a collaboration between Mercedes and Geely. The new #1 is also a completely electric car, like the latest ‘old’ Smarts, but every other similarity halts here. The newcomer isThis content has been archived. […]

Hyundai pussyfooting into third place worldwide

December 29, 2022

The Hyundai Group is officially the third-largest automaker globally, behind only Volkswagen and Toyota. However, the South Korean automaker may have an advantage as the auto industry transitions to electric vehicles. Especially as the number one, Toyota, seems to hesitate to go for EVs at full speeThis content has been archived. Log in or Subscribe […]

Last ride in a Dutch-built Tesla 3 hearse

December 28, 2022

Going silently and electric until your final destination is now possible in a Dutch-built Tesla 3 hearse, a European first for this smaller Tesla, as Derks Autogroup in the Netherlands shows. The hearse is based on a Model 3 Standard Range Plus and gets a 100% composite, lightweight body with a tailThis content has been […]

Will ‘retrofit’ soon have a legal base in Belgium?

December 28, 2022

Retrofit, the transformation of an existing, sometimes old car into an electrically driven one, is becoming increasingly popular. But many countries have legal obstacles to such a conversion. Federal Mobility Minister Georges Gilkinet (Ecolo) wants to solve these problems by creating a legal canvas This content has been archived. Log in or Subscribe to a […]

NIO launches two new flagship SUVs in China

December 27, 2022

Chinese premium electric carmaker NIO has launched two new flagship SUV models – a Coupe-SUV EC7 and a new version of the bigger six-seat ES8 – at its traditional NIO Days event in Hefei, Anhui province, where the company builds its cars in two factories. It claims the EC7 has the industry’s loweThis content has […]

Scania to deliver 600 electric trucks for Girteka in Lithuania

December 27, 2022

Scania and the transportation company Girteka from Lithuania announce an extensive new partnership. Girteka expects Scania to deliver up to 600 battery-electric trucks over the next four years. The companies will also collaborate on establishing charging infrastructure. The aim is to help reduce This content has been archived. Log in or Subscribe to a level […]

Umicore and Nano One join forces to produce cathode active materials

December 27, 2022

Umicore, the Belgian materials technology group, and the Canadian battery developer Nano One announce the signing of a non-exclusive agreement to jointly develop production process technologies for lithium-ion battery active cathode materials. Both companies intend to share their technologies forThis content has been archived. Log in or Subscribe to a level that has access to […]