September 14, 2026
Renault will not follow Chinese rivals into ever-shorter vehicle development cycles. CEO François Provost says around two years is effectively the lower limit for an all-new platform and its first model if the French group wants to preserve proper testing, validation and quality. That is a striking line for a company that has spent the […]
September 14, 2026
BMW M is preparing a conspicuously old-school birthday present for the Nürburgring. To mark the German circuit’s centenary in 2027, it is launching six M cars and three M motorcycles in a ‘100 Jahre Nürburgring’ edition, all finished in historical Nürburgring Green and dressed with Nordschleife references. The timing is almost more interesting than the […]
September 14, 2026
Barely a week after confirming the car’s discontinuation in the U.S, Volvo has announced a facelift for the EX40, its oldest electric model. The modest update brings new styling, more power and a heat pump as standard. The EX40 began life in 2019 as the XC40 Recharge, making it one of the earliest mass-market electric […]
September 14, 2026
Nearly half of all passenger cars in Belgium’s long-term rental fleet are now fully electric. And the transition is far from finished: more than three-quarters of the vehicles ordered by leasing companies in the first half of 2026 were BEVs. Belgium’s company-car fleet continues to electrify at a pace that bears little resemblance to the […]
September 13, 2026
BMW is moving its hydrogen program another step closer to series production. The next-generation iX5 Hydrogen is undergoing real-world testing while prototype assembly, supplier industrialization, and production preparations are running in parallel. Technically, BMW is increasingly demonstrating that a hydrogen passenger car can work. The harder question in 2026 is whether enough customers will still […]
September 11, 2026
Russians are increasingly looking for survival measures to keep their daily life going as the Ukrainian war lingers. One of them are electrified cars. Russian battery electric and plug-in hybrid vehicle sales more than doubled between June and August this year, climbing to 26,543 units. This represents an increase of 118 per cent. The cause […]
September 11, 2026
The total cost of the new tram line in Liège will amount to 1.3 billion euros. That is the conclusion reached by the Court of Auditors in a new report. While this is ‘only’ a good 139 million euros higher than when the PPP contract was signed in 2019, it represents a doubling compared to […]
September 11, 2026
After BYD, Geely is joining the race to superfast charging. The company claims it is running test cars in China filling up in five minutes at 1.800 kW superchargers. Europe is also on the radar. Tesla once built an empire by selling electric cars accompanied by the charging stations that power them and that could […]
September 11, 2026
The number of accidents resulting in injuries while commuting to or from work using soft mobility increased by more than 9% last year. This is according to a study by the industry association Assuralia. Infrastructure is a contributing factor to this upward trend, which has been underway for several years, but the main explanation is […]
September 11, 2026
Last weekend, a serious incident of aggression occurred against a ticket inspector working for the Flemish public transportation company De Lijn at Antwerp-Berchem station. Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident, as figures from the newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws show that De Lijn recorded 226 violent incidents against tickets inspectors last year. That is a […]
September 11, 2026
After the Renault Scenic got an update, its Japanese twin model gets the same treatment, upgrading to two battery options, increasing range to 650 kilometers. Mitsubishi has updated the Eclipse Cross with two new battery choices, ditching the previous single 87 kWh pack for a more flexible two-tier lineup. Whereas Mitsubishi only offered the larger […]
September 10, 2026
After showing its expanded electric GT line-up at the Brussels Motor Show 2026, Kia now officially launches the sportier versions of the EV3, EV4 and EV5. Kia wants to tailor to all needs with its electric vehicle line-up, from compact affordable cars like the EV2 and vans like the PV5 to big SUV’s like the […]
September 10, 2026
The White House thinks Ford has gone soft on Beijing. But CEO Jim Farley believes that Chinese players are ahead of the game and that you need to join them cause you can’t beat them. The paradox keeps Ford in a tight space. US Transport Secretary Sean Duffy fired off a letter this week demanding […]
September 10, 2026
In Brussels, the debate is once again in full swing over the ban on e-scooter-sharing services that the Brussels Region plans to introduce in 2027. It’s sometimes easy to lose sight of the fact that the various government bodies themselves have made quite a mess of things themselves, as the logic behind the regulations is […]
September 10, 2026
China’s battery industry has pushed lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cells beyond 200 Wh/kg in a new fourth-generation high-compaction benchmark. The number sounds technical, but the consequence is simple: the cheaper battery chemistry that dominates China can store more energy per unit weight, making it increasingly suitable for longer-range EVs in Europe, too. Chinese battery expert […]
September 10, 2026
The days when an end-of-life car disappeared into a scrapyard are increasingly numbered. Belgian vehicle recycling already recovers 98% of a scrapped car’s weight, but the next challenge is more ambitious: keeping complete parts in use rather than reducing everything to raw materials. West-Flemish dismantler Autohandel Didier, founded in 1993 by Didier Vanwijnsberghe, illustrates how […]
September 10, 2026
The new Pixo will revive a badge that was ditched in 2013. Can Nissan make a mark with its Japanese version of the Renault Twingo E-Tech in the booming affordable EV segment? To be clear: Nissan hasn’t unveiled the Pixo yet. But on World EV Day, the Japanese brand confirmed what everybody already suspected: the […]
September 10, 2026
D’Ieteren Group is changing drivers at a remarkably sensitive moment. Francis Deprez will step down as CEO in December after seven years at the helm and will be replaced by Belgian investment specialist Eric Machiels. The announcement comes barely a week after D’Ieteren Automotive put 344 Belgian jobs at risk – and as the group […]
September 10, 2026
Should the climate lawsuit filed by Belgian organic farmer Hugues Falys against TotalEnergies be moved again from Mons to Tournai? If it were up to the French oil giant, it would be, as TotalEnergies has filed a motion to that effect. In any case, it is a remarkable procedural move, and according to the NGOs […]
September 09, 2026
Volkswagen is preparing to launch a long-wheelbase version of its ID. Buzz Cargo. The LWB passenger version is already available, but now the van-version follows suit. At a brand event in Berlin, Volkswagen has unveiled a long wheelbase version of its electric ID. Buzz Cargo van. The longer wheelbase will bring several improvements for professional […]
September 09, 2026
In July and August, 15 million occasional passengers chose to travel by train. These were passengers with single-trip tickets, not season passes. That was 9,3% more than during the same period last year. The Belgian coast remained one of the most popular destinations: during the summer, 1,7 million tickets were sold to and from coastal […]
September 09, 2026
Fastned has officially inaugurated its largest charging station in Wallonia, with twelve ultra-fast charging points along the E411 at Libin. But behind the new yellow canopy lies another story: the ambitious Fastned-IDELUX network announced two years ago is taking considerably longer to materialize than initially planned – and one of the original eleven locations has […]
September 09, 2026
The Norwegian fertilizer giant Yara inaugurated Europe’s largest CO2 capture plant on Monday in Sluiskil (the Netherlands), near the Belgian border. The aim is to capture up to 800,000 tons of CO2 from its ammonia production every year, or about 0.5 percent of the Netherlands’ total annual emissions, and store it permanently. The plant completes […]
September 09, 2026
Only days after announcing a restructuring that could put 344 jobs at risk, D’Ieteren Automotive has opened a new Bugatti showroom and workshop in Drogenbos, south of Brussels. At first sight, the timing could hardly be more contradictory. In reality, it says a lot about where Belgium’s biggest car importer thinks money will still be […]
September 09, 2026
Belgium’s plan to make the federal mobility budget compulsory for employers offering company cars could punch a hole of up to €1 billion a year in federal revenues, according to calculations by consultancy EY seen by De Tijd. The figure is striking, but it is not a forecast: it represents a scenario in which one […]
September 09, 2026
As the electric Folgore strategy has failed on the Italian trident brand, the car maker has reached out to the Chinese smart-car tech company Huawei and the manufacturer JAC to explore a collaboration. The question is what this could entail for the brand’s defined Italian luxury image, as well as its prospects on the US […]
September 09, 2026
Renault has appointed former Nissan and General Motors executive Jean-Pierre Diernaz as its new global marketing chief. At first sight, it looks like another management reshuffle. But Diernaz’s long Nissan history and the fact that he will report directly to Fabrice Cambolive give the appointment a broader significance. Diernaz becomes Vice-President Renault Brand Global Marketing […]
September 08, 2026
Volkswagen is preparing one of the most striking industrial conversions of Germany’s post-war era. Its Osnabrück plant, best known today for the T-Roc Cabriolet, is set to stop building cars in summer 2027 and gradually become a competence center for security and defense systems. VW has agreed key terms with the state of Lower Saxony […]
September 08, 2026
The Swedish EV brand Polestar has unveiled a first glimpse of what the new 2 and 7 will look like. Is the timing of the design meant to mask the tough news that accompanied the latest publication of its balance sheet? Geely-owned Polestar has pulled back the curtain on the Formula 2030 design study at […]
September 08, 2026
Antwerp, Leuven, and Brussels Airport are now connected to Germany – specifically Cologne – by high-speed train. This is the first-ever high-speed train service between Antwerp and Germany. Deutsche Bahn is operating its newest ICE neo trains on this route, which can accommodate over 400 passengers and reach speeds of up to 300 km/h. Thanks […]
September 08, 2026
Anyone logging into the Belgian platform Just-on-web from Monday onward to pay a speeding fine will receive testimonials from mothers of children killed in accidents, alongside the federal speeding violation notices. In addition, the federal letters on speeding violations include cards with personal messages from witnesses. That is the core of a new road safety […]
September 08, 2026
Dacia has officially unveiled the second-generation Spring, and the biggest change is not its tougher design or slightly longer range. Europe’s cheapest electric car is no longer a low-cost Chinese import. The new Spring will be built at Renault Group’s Novo Mesto plant in Slovenia, with an expected starting price in Europe of €17,900. Belgian […]
September 07, 2026
A month after revealing the technology behind its new A2 e-tron, Audi has answered perhaps the more important question: what will its new electric entry model actually cost? In Belgium, prices start at €38,450, while the version offering the headline 646-kilometer WLTP range comes in at €48,550. That puts the A2 e-tron in an interesting […]
September 07, 2026
JLR is expected to announce it will cut 4.000 jobs. Although the figure has not been officially confirmed, the company behind Land Rover and Jaguar has stated it has informed employees about a voluntary redundancy program. Things have not been going smoothly for JLR, the UK’s largest car manufacturer, which employs around 30.000 people in […]
September 07, 2026
According to a report from the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), the financial case for battery cars has tipped into positive territory across much of Europe. At the heart of the transition sit lower battery prices. As the oil market is increasingly pressurized, the cost gap with combustion engines is projected to widen further. The […]
September 07, 2026
Brussels Airlines plans to resume operating one to two daily flights to Tel Aviv starting in September. Unlike in the past, the airline no longer wants to rely exclusively on volunteers for these flights and instead intends to require staff to work them through the standard scheduling process. According to the ACV Puls union, Brussels […]
September 07, 2026
Three weeks after Geely announced its €20,000 E2 for Belgium and the Netherlands, the compact EV is moving from announcement to reality. The first cars have reached Belgian showrooms, while Dutch dealers are opening their doors for orders and test drives. And Geely is not relying on a handful of experimental outlets: the brand already […]
September 07, 2026
Tesla’s Cybercab, the pinnacle of the company’s future, has been officially revealed and put to the test in the streets of Austin. Instantly, the first problem arose: Washington isn’t convinced it’s legal. Tesla has officially put its purpose-built Cybercab robotaxi into commercial service in Austin, Texas. The company kicks off a new chapter in its […]
September 07, 2026
When we first met the Mazda CX-6e at its static Belgian presentation in June, the central question was obvious: can an electric SUV developed together with Changan and built in China really feel like a Mazda? After roughly three hours behind the wheel around Düsseldorf, the answer is clearer. On the road, surprisingly often yes. […]
September 04, 2026
Travelers, aircraft manufacturers, aviation enthusiasts, and those nostalgic for the Concorde are dreaming aloud of a comeback for supersonic flight. Now that regulations in the U.S. are being amended to lift the absolute ban on supersonic flight over the country, nothing seems to stand in the way of a return of commercial flights at speeds […]
September 04, 2026
According to the federal police, the latest Bob campaign conducted in Belgium during the summer has once again presented encouraging results, with ‘only’ 1.36% of drivers testing positive for alcohol. When the first campaign was launched in 1995 – 31 years ago – that figure was still 6.4%. The message is certainly getting through, then […]
September 04, 2026
On July 23, Flightradar24 recorded 153,359 commercial flights worldwide within 24 hours – the busiest day ever recorded, well above the previous record set in 2023. That figure – 16,134 more flights than the old record – also sets the tone for the entire month of July, as global demand for air travel rose by […]
September 04, 2026
Range Rover’s first battery-powered car is a flagship model that promises V8 prowess without the emissions from gasoline. According to the brand, it is a Range Rover first and an electric second. But is that good enough to persuade the wealthy buyers who sidestepped the electric Mercedes G-Class? Maybe the real competitor here is exactly […]
September 04, 2026
D’Ieteren, Belgium’s largest car importer, has announced a major restructuring that could put up to 344 jobs at risk. The Volkswagen Group importer says the traditional model built around selling new cars no longer reflects market reality. The stock-quoted group wants to shift its focus further toward mobility services and longer-term customer relationships. D’Ieteren presented its […]
September 03, 2026
The federal energy regulator CREG, the Commission for Electricity and Gas Regulation, warns that the numerous projects planned by high-voltage grid operator Elia over the coming years will lead to high electricity rates for households and businesses. The plans include, among other things, the energy island, new high-voltage lines such as Ventilus and Boucle du […]
September 03, 2026
NMBS/SNCB has found a solution to the legal dispute arising from noise pollution caused by stationary diesel trains at the Lokeren station. The Belgian railway company is erecting a temporary noise barrier made of shipping containers, nearly 250 meters long. The stacked containers, representing an investment of 300,000 euros, will be placed near the former […]
September 03, 2026
America’s Robot.com is proud to present R-dog, the new delivery robot with a friendly face and WALL-E-like eyes, a red cap, and an approachable design. It can wiggle its furry tail and then ‘poop’ your package onto your porch. The R-dog has four articulated legs with wheels at the ends, so it can roll efficiently […]
September 03, 2026
Leapmotor has surpassed the 100,000-car monthly delivery threshold for the second month in a row, underscoring just how quickly the Chinese EV maker is moving from start-up status to a global volume player. The company delivered a record 103,129 vehicles in August, 80.7% more than a year earlier and slightly above July’s 101,267 units. That makes […]
September 03, 2026
A massive analysis of more than 500,000 EV battery tests suggests that most electric cars retain at least 90% of their original battery capacity after 150,000 kilometers. But the averages hide large differences between individual cars – precisely why Belgium is already adding battery-health data to the Car-Pass and why calls for an independent battery […]
September 03, 2026
The eagerly anticipated Polestar 4 SUV adds a rear window to the original concept. The model loses one of its most distinguishing features in exchange for more practicality. Is this car the one Polestar should have launched from the start? Polestar has finally done the obvious thing. The original 4, which is still the brand’s […]
September 02, 2026
Belgian speed-pedelec start-up Specter has started production of its second-generation Specter 2, promising up to 200 kilometers of range and two-wheel drive. But the real achievement may be less spectacular than those headline figures: Specter has found a way to make much of the technology of its €10,000-plus first generation considerably more affordable, while bringing frame […]
September 02, 2026
Last week, Tesla updated its European configurator to show a WLTP range of 572 kilometers for the base rear-wheel-drive Model 3. Up from 534 kilometers, that’s an impressive gain. Especially because no new motor or cell chemistry swap was involved. Just new shoes from an Indonesian tire manufacturer that don’t bode well, based on initial customer […]
September 02, 2026
MINI used to be the kind of car employees wanted, but fleet managers hesitated to buy. In Belgium, that image has changed remarkably quickly. HR group Accent has now ordered 500 fully electric MINIs, the largest single EV order in MINI history worldwide. The cars, mainly Aceman and Countryman Electric models, will be deployed across […]
September 02, 2026
Belgian employees spend more than one hour a day traveling to and from work, making Belgium once again Europe’s commuting champion. But the explanation is not simply that Belgians live farther from their jobs. In fact, Dutch employees often cover even greater distances. Belgium’s problem is that those kilometers take unusually long to cover. According […]
September 02, 2026
The Belgian new-car market continued to claw back its poor start to 2026 in August. Registrations rose by 8.3% year-on-year to 28,295 cars, while fully electric models took a record 46.2% of the market. Yet the headline growth needs some perspective: August had one more working day than last year, and volumes remain well below […]
September 01, 2026
From 1 January 2027, the mandatory technical inspection before the sale of a used car will disappear in Flanders for vehicles already registered in Belgium. Mobility organization VAB says buyers should therefore rely on three “safety lines”: the regular roadworthiness inspection, the Car-Pass, and, for those seeking greater certainty, a voluntary professional diagnosis. The warning […]
September 01, 2026
Heylen Warehouses, the real estate arm of the family-owned industrial holding company led by the Kempen-based entrepreneur Wim Heylen, has purchased the former Audi site in the Brussels municipality of Forrest/Vorst. Financial details of the transaction have not been disclosed. The site covers approximately 55 hectares and has been vacant for a year and a […]
September 01, 2026
Stellantis announces (again) new appointments within its Enlarged Europe Organization, effective September 1, as it continues executing its Fastlane 2030 strategic plan. Reporting to Emanuele Cappellano, COO Enlarged Europe, are now Arnaud Belloni, who has been appointed CEO of the FIAT, Abarth, and Lancia brands and chief marketing officer for Europe; Xavier Chardon, who has […]
September 01, 2026
Belgium’s biggest independent body repair network is changing ownership. After a period under the umbrella of a private equity firm, AutoRepairGroup has been acquired by its Finnish peer Suvia. It reads as an early sign of a consolidation wave that will ripple through the sector as electric vehicles are rewriting the playbook. AutoRepairGroup runs fourteen […]
September 01, 2026
Renault is upgrading the Scenic E-Tech electric with new features and services to enhance comfort, connectivity, and electric performance. With the 162 kW/220 hp motor, the Scenic E-Tech electric is now available with a choice of two new batteries offering greater range and shorter charging times at DC fast-charging points. The 89 kWh NMC (nickel-manganese-cobalt) long-range […]
