From hay to hydrogen: Kawasaki’s robotic horse gets serious

February 27, 2026

At Expo 2025 Osaka-Kansai, Kawasaki Heavy Industries first rolled out a life-size robotic horse, a hydrogen-powered mechanical stallion with four articulated legs, a saddle, stirrups, and a head-up display. At that time, most observers filed it somewhere between anime fantasy and corporate fever dream. But it’s actually becoming a reality: Kawasaki is going to build […]

Renault partners with Basquevolt on lithium-metal cells

February 25, 2026

Renault’s Ampere division has signed a development agreement with Basquevolt to accelerate the development and validation of lithium-metal batteries for future electric vehicles. Lithium-metal batteries represent a major technological leap in energy density compared to current lithium-ion batteries with liquid electrolytes. The Renault Group claims that Basquevolt has already demonstrated its technology’s ability to achieve […]

BMW drops Level-3: reality check for EU autonomous-driving goals

February 24, 2026

According to the German leading car magazine, Automobilwoche, BMW is abandoning its Level-3 automated-driving ambitions for the 7 Series. The headline sounded like a retreat. In reality, it may be a recalibration and a revealing one. BMW will discontinue its ‘Personal Pilot L3’ system in the 7 Series as part of the upcoming model update […]

Hydrogen sales rebound in Asia but FCEV passenger cars dream fades

February 24, 2026

It has become fashionable in European automotive circles to speak of hydrogen in the past tense. The mood darkened further last week as Cummins confirmed it is halting electrolyser production at its Belgian plant, cutting 100 jobs. Coming after Stellantis paused its light-fuel-cell commercial vehicle plans, it feels like another nail in a very expensive […]

Lamborghini kills its Lanzador EV: can the roar survive the electric age?

February 24, 2026

Lamborghini unveiled the Lanzador concept in August 2023, billed as the brand’s gateway to an all-electric era. That step has now been shelved, in what appears to be a calculated bet that regulatory flexibility in Europe after 2035 may allow combustion engines to survive in hybrid form. The company has scrapped plans for a pure […]

Not dead yet: Renault–Geely’s Horse H12 gives ICE a second wind

February 23, 2026

Horse Powertrain, the Renault–Geely joint venture, has just given the internal combustion engine one of its strongest “not-dead-yet” headlines in years. Together with Spanish energy company Repsol, it unveiled the HORSE H12 Concept: a 1.2-litre hybrid-oriented gasoline engine and powertrain concept designed to run on 100% renewable gasoline and to cut fuel consumption by around […]

Tesla facing a legal flood on accident cases with automated driving?

February 23, 2026

It has been a bruising month for the world’s most scrutinized carmaker, Tesla. As 2026 unfolds, the gap between Elon Musk’s expansive promises and the rigid realities of American courtrooms and dealership lots is widening. From a confirmed million-dollar verdict in Florida to a chaotic pricing strategy for the Cybertruck, the electric vehicle giant is […]

Largest-ever-study confirms PHEVs burn up to five times more fuel than claimed

February 20, 2026

There is a systemic gap at the core of Europe’s plug-in hybrid policy, and it has now been measured at scale. Using real-world fuel consumption data from approximately 980,000 plug-in hybrid passenger cars collected under the EU’s official on-board fuel consumption monitoring (OBFCM) system, the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research (Fraunhofer ISI) has […]

BYD’s tiny Racco for Japan, a kei car with European consequences?

February 19, 2026

Chinese BYD has revealed the interior and key specifications of the Racco, a compact urban runabout tailored to Japan’s uniquely popular kei segment. But in a European context, it could become something much more significant: a test case for whether the EU is serious about enabling a new generation of genuinely affordable small EVs. Japan’s […]

Ford reveals more details about its $30,000 electric pick-up truck

February 18, 2026

Ford is working on its ‘Universal EV platform’ that will underpin the next generation of electric vehicles, starting with a $30,000 pick-up truck in 2027. Now, the Blue Oval has shared more details about the upcoming model, which could become the electric alternative to the popular Maverick. Ford wants to create a new ‘Model T […]

MAN proves that megawatt charging also works in the cold

February 17, 2026

MAN has demonstrated the Megawatt Charging System (MCS) ‘s capability in sub-zero temperatures during the Kempower MCS Live Winter Days 2026 in Norrköping, Sweden. The MAN eTGX charged reliably at around 750 kW, enabling fast charging of long-range e-trucks during mandatory driver breaks. The Megawatt Charging System (MCS) is the next step toward making long-range […]

Electrify the trailer, not the truck: Australia’s road train revolution

February 17, 2026

With its hot climate and long driving distances, electrification remains a challenge for the Australian trucking market. But recent innovations aim to at least increase truck efficiency without compromising on usability. The solution? Electrifying the trailers, not the trucks. With 135-tonne road trains that need to cover thousands of kilometers in sweltering 40-degree Celsius heat, […]

Project Arrow reloaded: Canada unveils two homegrown EV visions

February 17, 2026

APMA, Canada’s only carmaker, has unveiled two ambitious electric vehicle concepts in Toronto. They present further proof that the country can design and build next-generation cars on its own. The new models are called Vector and Borealis, and could see the light of day around the end of the decade. At the 2026 Canadian International […]

Waymo scales up its driverless cars with cheaper hardware

February 13, 2026

Waymo has begun operating its latest autonomous driving system on public roads without safety drivers. In the long contest to commercialise robotaxis, the company moves one step ahead of its rivals. With a cheaper hardware stack, a planned 50,000-vehicle supply deal with Hyundai, and ambitions to exceed one million paid rides per week, this subsidiary […]

ChargePoint warns: from range anxiety to charger anxiety?

February 12, 2026

A new dataset from the US-based charging network operator ChargePoint suggests that the next constraint in the electric mobility transition may not be vehicle supply but rather charging capacity. As EV adoption accelerates, charging demand is beginning to outpace infrastructure expansion. Utilisation rates are rising faster than new chargers are being deployed. ChargePoint, one of […]

BYD Atto 3 Evo to raise stakes in Europe’s €40k EV battlefield

February 12, 2026

After presenting it in China, BYD is planning to launch the Atto 3 Evo in Europe in spring 2026. It won’t be a routine facelift as the ‘Evo’ badge – short for evolution – signals a deeper technical reset for one of the brand’s most important European models. The compact SUV moves to an 800-volt […]

From Port of Antwerp to ‘transportable AI’: Windrose’s next big bet

February 11, 2026

Windrose, the Chinese electric truck start-up with production plans in the Port of Antwerp, is looking to innovate in the AI sector with containerized data centers and battery backup systems. Founder & CEO Wen Han took to LinkedIn to float the idea… using AI artwork and very little concrete data. Windrose has faced many hurdles […]

Tihange demolition suspended as government eyes nuclear comeback

February 11, 2026

The demolition permit for two cooling towers at the nuclear power plant in Tihange, near Huy in the province of Liège, has been suspended following an appeal. Operator Engie wants to proceed quickly with the dismantling. Still, the federal government and Energy Minister Mathieu Bihet (MR) are reluctant to allow it because they want to […]

Solid-state moves out of shadows as QuantumScape starts production

February 11, 2026

Solid-state batteries are becoming less of a hype and more of a reality. One of the main actors in the pioneering technology, QuantumScape, launched its battery pilot line. A milestone in setting up and scaling production is widely regarded as the biggest hurdle for this heralded technology. The promise is finally becoming a product. And […]

Ferrari sees the light, calling its first-born EV Luce

February 10, 2026

Ferrari’s decision to call its first fully electric production car Luce is more than a naming exercise. It is a statement of intent. Luce, Italian for ‘light’, deliberately evokes clarity, precision, and optimism rather than brute force or technological spectacle. For a brand whose mythology has long been built around sound, combustion, and mechanical drama, […]

ACC the pulls plug on EU’s battery ambitions in German and Italian plants

February 09, 2026

The European dream of a battery production powerhouse lies in smithereens after Automotive Cells Company (ACC), the joint venture between Stellantis, Mercedes-Benz, and TotalEnergies, confirmed it is abandoning two of its flagship factory projects in Italy and Germany. What was once hailed as the continent’s ‘Airbus of batteries’ now hinges on a single plant in […]

BMW and PreZero advance circular car recycling, a nod to Febelauto

February 09, 2026

BMW Group has entered into a strategic partnership with circular-economy specialist PreZero to develop a scalable approach to vehicle recycling across Europe. The cooperation aims to turn end-of-life vehicles from a regulatory obligation into a structural source of high-quality secondary raw materials. For Belgium, where end-of-life vehicle management is centrally organised through Febelauto, the initiative highlights […]

Forget NMC and LFP? China launches first production sodium-Ion EV

February 09, 2026

China’s Changan Automobile and battery giant CATL have unveiled what they claim is the world’s first mass-produced electric vehicle powered by sodium-ion batteries. It’s a major step for a technology that has long been seen as a lower-cost, safer alternative to lithium-based systems. The car, a variant of Changan’s Nevo A06 sedan, contains a 45 […]

After 265,000 km in 18 months, this Xiaomi SU7 battery refuses to die

February 06, 2026

A Chinese man’s daily driving habit has unexpectedly turned into a peculiar experiment in electric vehicle durability. So put away your established assumptions about battery lifespan under scrutiny. Mr. Feng, the proud owner of a Xiaomi SU7 Pro, has driven over 265,000 kilometers in just 18 months, and his car’s battery still retains 94.5% of […]

Volvo’s losses deepen, more cuts are coming

February 06, 2026

Volvo Cars has reported one of the most bruising financial years in its modern history. The company has suffered a collapse in earnings, a stinging share price crash, and mounting doubts about its electric future. Navigating a worsening global auto market has been particularly difficult, according to its CEO, but the failing EX90 also took […]

Battery bottlenecks push Peugeot’s EV deliveries back eight months

February 06, 2026

Stellantis, the mother company to Peugeot, is facing severe production setbacks on several of its electric vehicle models after one of its key battery factories failed to scale up output. The crisis centers on Automotive Cells Company (ACC), the much-celebrated European venture from the group’s cooperation with Mercedes and Total. Cell production struggles have left […]

From rivals to roommates? Ford and Geely eye shared factories in Europe

February 05, 2026

Ford Motor and China’s Geely Group are said to be in early talks about sharing European manufacturing capacity, allowing Geely to assemble vehicles at under-utilized Ford plants in Europe, rather than on a full joint venture or merger of operations. While neither company has confirmed details publicly, several media outlets, including Reuters, have reported negotiations, […]

Waymo’s €16-Billion question for Europe: are robotaxis finally inevitable?

February 04, 2026

For Europe, robotaxis still mostly exist as pilots, policy papers, and cautious political debate. In the United States and China, they already carry paying passengers at scale. That contrast is what gives Waymo’s decision to raise a fresh 16 billion dollars at a valuation above 120 billion its real significance. The funding round is not […]

Renault’s product boss: ‘We’ve got a two-leg approach’

February 04, 2026

Renault could offer its next-generation electric cars with a new ‘super hybrid’ powertrain that uses a small petrol engine to boost range. Renault’s VP for Product Performance, Bruno Vanel, said the change in approach is a recognition that the company “has to remain flexible in the C- and D-segment” because, while it is working towards […]

Fast charging without guilt? CATL touts 1.8-million-km batteries

February 02, 2026

Chinese battery heavyweight CATL believes it has found a new way to take the edge off one of the electric car’s biggest anxieties: how long will my expensive EV battery last? In a short video released in January 2026, the world’s largest battery maker claims its latest 5C battery can withstand repeated ultra-fast charging while […]

Energy Minister Bihet under fire for nuclear standstill in Belgium

January 30, 2026

Belgian Energy Minister Mathieu Bihet (MR) has defended himself in parliament against criticism that he is not taking enough action on nuclear issues. Nothing concrete came of it, but according to Bihet, discussions are underway with operators and owners of nuclear power plants, and there are investors “interested in extending the maximum number of reactors, […]

China mandates automatic emergency braking, four years after Europe

January 29, 2026

China has issued its first mandatory national standard for automatic emergency braking (AEB), making the system compulsory for all new passenger cars and light commercial vehicles from 2028 onwards. The move introduces a formal nationwide safety baseline in the world’s largest car market, but comes several years after comparable requirements were already enforced in Europe. […]

Tesla kills off Model S and X for robots after near -50% profit slump

January 29, 2026

A near-50% profit slump in 2025 forces Elon Musk to redraw the company’s future. He is using the end of Tesla’s two original flagships to underline a decisive strategic shift: away from low-volume luxury cars and toward autonomy, artificial intelligence, and humanoid robotics. Tesla’s decision to discontinue the Model S and Model X comes at […]

Mercedes-Benz NextGen hydrogen truck enters small-series production

January 28, 2026

Daimler has presented its second-generation hydrogen prototype truck, the Mercedes-Benz NextGenH2. It succeeds the previous iteration, unveiled in 2020, with components taken from the eActros 600 to improve efficiency, while keeping the same liquid hydrogen-based architecture. The Mercedes GenH2 was first unveiled in 2020, using liquid hydrogen rather than high-pressure gaseous H2 to increase energy […]

Ford’s F-Line E: late to electric trucks, but finally on the road

January 27, 2026

With the introduction of the F-Line E, Ford marks its long-awaited entry into Europe’s electric heavy-truck market. The F-Line E, first unveiled to the public at the Solutrans commercial vehicle show in Lyon in late 2025, is positioned as a regional and urban workhorse rather than a long-haul flagship. Scheduled for rollout in 2026, it […]

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 […]

Geely moves solid-state batteries out of the lab, not yet into showrooms

January 26, 2026

Geely, the Chinese group behind brands such as Volvo, Polestar, Lotus, and Zeekr, just announced that it will complete its first in-house all-solid-state battery pack in 2026 and start testing it in cars. It reignites one of the electric car industry’s most persistent promises: a battery that charges faster, goes further, and is safer than […]

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 […]

SC01: obscure Chinese electric sports car takes Italian road to Europe

January 22, 2026

A new ‘Italian-built’ and fully electric sports car is set to come to life. The SC01, a lightweight, two-seat electric sports car developed by a little-known Chinese start-up, is now preparing for a limited European launch and intends to do so by assembling the car in Italy. Production will be deliberately limited to around 1,000 […]

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 […]

EX60 marks a turning point for Volvo’s electric strategy and for Ghent

January 22, 2026

With the world premiere of the Volvo EX60 in Sweden — its longest-range and fastest-charging model to date — Volvo Cars has launched far more than a new electric SUV. It marks a strategic turning point for the brand. The EX60 is designed as the cornerstone of Volvo’s next phase: a high-volume, fully electric model […]

Lamborghini’s electric water sled by Cayago

January 21, 2026

The new Seabob SE63 for Automobili Lamborghini is set to raise the bar for water toys on superyachts. It is the result of a brand collaboration between the VW Group sports car daughter and the German manufacturer Cayago AG. This new high-performance water toy is the result of a brand collaboration between Cayago AG, the […]

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. […]

Nissan’s new NX8 for China bets on two horses: EV and EREV

January 16, 2026

Nissan’s newest SUV, developed and launched first in China, signals a clear break from the product playbook that has defined the brand’s global lineup for the past decade. The NX8, a car from the Dongfeng Nissan subsidiary, is a reminder that much of Nissan’s zero-emission innovation is now emerging from its Chinese joint venture rather than […]

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 […]

BMW’s M Division goes fully electric

January 15, 2026

To be an electric leader over the long term, BMW also needs to electrify the emotional core of its brand: high-performance sports sedans like the M3 and M5. And it needs to do that with products that enthusiasts will accept as authentic. “BMW M’s high-performance vehicles will soon deliver the ‘Ultimate Driving Machine’ experience in […]

Lucid to arrive in Belgium: late to the party, but betting on its efficiency

January 15, 2026

While the Brussels Motor Show underlines how rapidly Europe’s car market is electrifying, one premium EV brand remains conspicuously absent from the exhibition halls: Lucid Motors. Yet behind the scenes, the American luxury electric carmaker is quietly preparing for its long-awaited entry into the Belgian market. After almost two years of delay, it’s working to […]

Renault courts premium buyers with new Filante crossover flagship

January 14, 2026

Renault has lifted the curtain on its new Filante crossover with an unmistakable message. The French carmaker is no longer satisfied with its role as a producer of sensible, mid-market vehicles. Instead, it is placing a costly bet on wealthier customers. But its ambition has no place on European roads. The Filante is Renault’s largest […]

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 […]

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. […]

810 km on a charge: Volvo’s all-new EX60 aims to crush range anxiety

January 09, 2026

Volvo Cars is raising the stakes in the crowded compact electric SUV market with its upcoming EX60. The battery-powered successor to its bestselling XC60 will travel farther and charge faster than any electric Volvo before. The EX60, set for full disclosure on January 21, is positioned as a critical model for Volvo as it tries […]

The vacuum cleaner’s hypercar dream(e)s that come true in Vegas

January 08, 2026

Chinese appliance maker Dreame, stepping onto the CES 2026 stage in Las Vegas, clearly hadn’t come to talk about better suction power alone. Next to robot vacuums and cordless cleaners, the company unveiled three dramatic electric sports car concepts. An idea that it has been playing with for some time now, coming true in Vegas, […]

Xiaomi updates its SU7 in China and Europe should pay attention

January 08, 2026

Smartphone maker Xiaomi has given its SU7 electric sedan a significant mid-cycle update in China, underscoring that its ambitions in the automotive sector extend beyond a one-off debut. And Europe should pay attention. The refreshed model, now open for pre-orders ahead of an April 2026 launch, brings higher-end hardware, longer range, and more advanced driver-assistance […]

BMW and Mercedes compete on AI assistance at CES

January 07, 2026

At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, the German premium car manufacturers BMW and Mercedes-Benz are taking their intense rivalry to the technology show, showcasing digital AI innovations in their latest-generation vehicles. On the one hand, there’s the BMW Group with AI assistant technology via a collaboration with Amazon Alexa; on the other […]

Volkswagen ID. Polo hails the return of physical buttons

January 05, 2026

Volkswagen has unveiled the interior of the all-new ID. Polo, its future entry-level electric model, is priced from €25,000—the ID. Polo reintroduces physical switchgear on board, complemented by retro-inspired graphics to enhance its appeal. Volkswagen started a new interior design philosophy with the advent of its electric ID model range, beginning with the ID.3 in […]

The need for speed: EV motors breaking the 30,000 rpm barrier

December 29, 2025

2025 has seen a slew of announcements for high-speed electric vehicle (EV) motors, with several exceeding 30,000 rpm. What is behind this sudden need for speed? A report from IDTechEx discusses the benefits, challenges, and solutions for taking this approach. In an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle, a higher maximum rpm has been associated with […]

Half the energy at highway speed: what Renault’s Filante says about EVs

December 23, 2025

Renault quietly delivered a revealing electric-car demonstration at the UTAC test track in Morocco. It’s an experimental aerodynamic EV test car, the Filante Record 2025, which completed more than 1,000 kilometers on a single charge with a standard 87 kWh EV battery while maintaining an average speed of just over 100 km/h. The distance is […]

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