November 03, 2025
The financial problems of the trendy, stylish Brussels bicycle brand Cowboy may have been mainly resolved by its takeover by the French bicycle group Rebirth. Still, for owners of its e-bikes, these remain uncertain times that often lead to despair in the event of a breakdown. As it happens, you sometimes have to wait months […]
November 03, 2025
Audi’s third-quarter earnings have risen sharply, mainly because last year, the burden of shutting down its Brussels plant weighed heavily on the results. However, the positive figures mask deeper financial strain from tariffs, falling volumes in China, and rising costs associated with its transition to electric vehicles. Audi reported an operating profit of €468 million […]
November 03, 2025
The Nexperia crisis is entering an easing phase. China has said it will grant case-by-case exemptions from its ban on Nexperia chip exports. This could offer a lifeline to automakers scrambling to secure supplies. In the meantime, industry leaders warn that recovery from the disruption could take months. The Ministry of Commerce said eligible firms […]
November 03, 2025
BMW is one of the first European car manufacturers to receive approval for its driver assistance system (DCAS). The German carmaker can now offer its ‘Motorway Assistant’ for the new iX3 in 60 countries without having to apply for approval in each country. The DCAS regulation was adopted by the United Nations Economic Commission for […]
November 03, 2025
Solid Power, the U.S.-based battery developer, has made a new step to accelerate the commercialization of its all-solid-state battery technology, joining forces with Samsung SDI and BMW Group in a move that could signal a new phase in the industry’s long quest to move beyond conventional lithium-ion cells. The partnership, announced in late October, brings […]
October 31, 2025
“The United Nations’ Green Climate Fund (GCF) has had a record year in terms of approving projects in countries vulnerable to climate change, thanks in part to reforms that have reduced bureaucratic hurdles,” said its Executive Director, Mafalda Duarte, in an interview with AFP. GCF, founded in 2015 and based in Songdo (South Korea), is the […]
October 31, 2025
Subaru has presented a vision of how its performance arm can be made future-proof. At the Japan Mobility Show, the automaker introduced the Performance-E STI Concept, a quite attractive electric hatchback that reimagines the brand’s storied STI badge. Don’t look for turbocharged boxer engines underneath this one. It’s been three years since Subaru dropped the […]
October 31, 2025
Virgin Trains, the railway company owned by British businessman Richard Branson, has received permission from the British regulator, the Office of Rail and Road (ORR), to share a central rail depot in east London, where trains are maintained and parked, with Eurostar. With the application approved, Virgin Trains is removing a significant barrier to the […]
October 31, 2025
Kei cars are Japanese car culture at heart. So it’s symbolic and sensitive at the same time that Chinese automaker BYD has pulled the wraps off its first kei car, the Racco, at the 2025 Japan Mobility Show. Though the car is small, it is a bold step into Japan’s compact-car market. The Racco writes […]
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 30, 2025
German carmaker Mercedes-Benz on Wednesday said its third-quarter profit fell nearly 31% year on year, as Germany’s crucial automotive sector struggles amid rising costs, competition, and trade barriers. Profit fell to €1.19 billion from €1.71 billion in the third quarter of 2024. Adjusted group earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) slipped to about €2 billion […]
October 30, 2025
After more than ten years of research and fine-tuning of its pilot plant in Istanbul, Turkish SynPet Technologies has chosen the Port of Antwerp to build its first large-scale plastic recycling plant. The project will represent a 300-million-euro investment. If all goes according to plan, the plant will be operational in 2028 and will process […]
October 30, 2025
The Flemish public transport company De Lijn continues to rack up fines for violations of the low-emission zone (LEZ). In the first six months of this year, it has already paid almost 150,000 euros in fines, more than double the total spent in 2024. De Lijn will also have to pay LEZ fines next year. After […]
October 30, 2025
According to the American billionaire and philanthropist Bill Gates, global warming “is not going to lead to the disappearance of humanity”. While climate change will have “serious consequences, particularly for people in the poorest countries, […] people will be able to live and prosper on most of the planet in the near future,” writes Bill […]
October 30, 2025
From June 3, Brussels Airlines will fly twice a week to Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, as a stopover on flights to Nairobi, Kenya. Brussels Airlines specializes in flights to Africa. Next year, the airline will offer 18 destinations there. Parent company Lufthansa, on the other hand, will cut several European connections and domestic flights from its 2026 […]
October 30, 2025
Honda has revealed two new electric prototypes at the Japan Mobility Show 2025 in Tokyo: the Honda 0 α SUV and the compact Super-ONE Prototype. Both models represent the next step in the company’s electrification strategy. The Honda 0 α joins the Honda 0 Series lineup, following the Honda 0 Saloon and Honda 0 SUV […]
October 30, 2025
During the press conference at the Japan Mobility Show 2025 on Wednesday, Mazda Motor Corporation unveiled two concepts, the Mazda Vision X-Coupé and the Mazda Vision X-Compact (‘X’ pronounced as ‘cross’). Both are embodying the Company’s theme for this year’s exhibition: ‘The Joy of Driving Fuels a Sustainable Tomorrow’ for 2035. “This phrase expresses not […]
October 30, 2025
The mandatory technical inspection for second-hand motorcycles in Flanders will be abolished in mid-2026, barely three years after its introduction. Pretty unpopular among bike riders, it resulted in 21,000 fewer second-hand motorcycles sold in 2024. Motorcycles will no longer have to be inspected when sold or after an accident, and no periodic inspection will replace […]
October 29, 2025
Among the many concept and production vehicles from traditional car manufacturers present at the Japan Mobility Show 2025, there’s also a booth from… TV and household appliance maker Sharp. The Japanese company has unveiled its second interpretation of an electric car that serves as an addition to the household, rather than just a means of […]
October 29, 2025
French train manufacturer Alstom is consolidating its activities in Belgium and Luxembourg into its French entity, according to business newspaper L’Echo. At the same time, it is also parting ways with its Benelux CEO, Bernard Belvaux. “The new organizational structure will take effect on December 1 and reflects the close ties that exist between the […]
October 29, 2025
The lack of action on climate change claims millions of lives every year and puts health care systems under strain. “The climate crisis has become a health crisis,” states the latest Lancet Countdown report, published today in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO). The Lancet researchers have found that 12 of 20 key indicators tracking […]
October 29, 2025
The Kia PV5 is proving its chops as a professional vehicle. It not only offers a comfortable range according to the WLTP test cycle, but also a fully loaded range, as this new Guinness World Record proves: 693.38 km in an electric van with maximum payload on a single charge! The Kia PV5 is the […]
October 29, 2025
Anyone wishing to visit the Citadel and the rock above the Walloon city of Dinant will no longer be able to do so by cable car. A technical report has identified wear and tear and aging, which means the cable car will have to be temporarily shut down, possibly for 1.5 to 2 years, to […]
October 29, 2025
Renault’s sports car brand Alpine has confirmed an all-electric successor to its combustion-engined A110. Production of the current model will end in mid-2026, paving the way for the third-generation, fully electric A110, based on the new Alpine Performance Platform (APP). Alpine has officially confirmed that the next generation of its iconic A110 will be fully […]
October 29, 2025
Around 300 employees at Opel’s vehicle testing facilities near Frankfurt are set to lose their jobs as French engineering firm Segula Technologies, which operates the sites, winds down its activities following insolvency. The two affected facilities, in Rodgau-Dudenhofen and Rüsselsheim, which have long been central to Opel’s engineering heritage, are among the most significant test […]
October 29, 2025
Thirty years after the first Sprinter came to market, the fourth generation of Mercedes’ popular van is almost ready to hit the stage. As a small preview of its design, Mercedes has unveiled The BOuLDER, a sculpture that shows the fourth-generation van breaking out of its rocky shell. Exactly when Mercedes will unveil its newest […]
October 29, 2025
Chery, China’s 4th-largest auto manufacturer, might not yet be a familiar name to most Western European consumers. And yet, it has been China’s largest auto exporter for over 20 years. We travelled to Chery HQ in Wuhu, China, to attend the 2025 Chery International User Summit and learn how the company plans to become China’s […]
October 28, 2025
The Council of State is very critical of the Flemish plans to abolish the tightening of low-emission zones from 2026. According to the Council’s advice, which Belga was able to view, the intervention entails a “significant deterioration” in health and the environment. The original plan was to further tighten the rules from 2026 onward, meaning that owners […]
October 28, 2025
According to the data provided by the Association of European Car Manufacturers (ACEA), new EU car registrations increased by 0.9% compared to the same nine months last year, marking the third consecutive month of growth. This recent momentum has been driven in part by the launch of new models, with September alone posting a strong […]
October 28, 2025
The German car lobby is pushing an unusual idea to boost sales of plug-in hybrids as the EU seeks to measure their real-life emissions more accurately. The proposal? A legal obligation for plug-in hybrid drivers to charge their cars regularly. The punishment for not abiding by that obligation is reduced power. A creative solution, but […]
October 28, 2025
In the past ten years, the number of tram accidents involving pedestrians in the Brussels-Capital Region has halved. While the MIVB/STIB recorded between 40 and 50 such accidents per year in 2015, the figure for 2024 is 23 collisions. “A promising development,” says the public transport company, “but every accident has potentially serious consequences and […]
October 28, 2025
Peugeot will introduce the new ‘STLA Small’ platform in 2026 with the second generation of the e-208. It allows significantly higher battery capacities and ranges. Inside, the electric small car is set to feel distinctly futuristic and airy. Since the launch of the current generation, which has been on sale since 2019, Peugeot has been […]
October 28, 2025
This spring, Alpine, Renault’s sporty subsidiary, has unveiled its second electric model and its first SUV: the A390. The five-seater fastback promises the same agility and performance as the A110 sports car, but adds daily practicality and a more high-end interior. Now it’s ready to order, with prices starting at €67,500 for the ‘basic’ GT […]
October 27, 2025
Profits plunged by 95.9% at Porsche in the first three quarters of the year compared to the same period last year, with a change of strategy regarding its electric vehicle rollout seen as partly to blame. Profit after tax for the period over the nine months came to only €114 million, the German sports carmaker […]
October 27, 2025
France has launched its first highway capable of charging electric vehicles while they drive. On a 1.5-kilometer stretch of the A10, near Angervilliers, southwest of Paris, VINCI Autoroutes and a consortium of partners have begun real-world tests of an inductive charging system touted as an innovation that should complement the charging infrastructure landscape. Developed in […]
October 27, 2025
Last weekend, traffic on the Antwerp ring road was diverted via the new bypass, a temporary highway alongside the current ring road that will replace it during the Oosterweel connection works. According to client Lantis, the transition was successful, but significant disruption is expected. The so-called ‘bypass’ between the Afas Dome (formerly called ‘Sportpaleis’) in Deurne and the […]
October 27, 2025
After the 110R, Skoda’s design studio has taken another dive into its archives, reviving one of its most obscure models — the 1000 MBX coupé — as a fully electric concept. The reinterpretation, unveiled as part of the brand’s ‘Icons Get a Makeover’ series, gives the rare 1960s two-door a futuristic twist under Skoda’s ‘Modern […]
October 27, 2025
It is well known that prospective drivers must wait a long time to take their driving test in Flanders. These long waiting times, of six to seven months, are partly because, on average, more than 4,000 driving tests for a Class B driver’s licence are canceled each year. After all, every lost time slot is […]
October 27, 2025
Effective January 2, 2026, Alexandre Malval has been appointed Vice President of Design for the Renault brand. He will report to Laurens van den Acker, Chief Design Officer and member of the Renault Group Leadership Team. He will also join the Renault brand management committee. “We are delighted to welcome Alexandre Malval to our Design […]
October 24, 2025
The Walloon public transport company TEC is reforming its fare structure from February 1st. A single price on the classic lines will replace the zone fares. There will also be an indexation of 2.15%. The current ‘Next’ and ‘Horizon’ tickets will be merged into a single ‘Classic’ ticket that is valid for 90 minutes on […]
October 24, 2025
On Sunday, we will switch back to winter time. Clocks will be turned back one hour, extending the night by one hour and giving us an extra hour of sleep. Unfortunately, it also means that it will get dark earlier in the evening, and that there will be more pedestrian accidents after the time switch. Vias […]
October 24, 2025
Starting next year, Belgian consumers buying a used electric vehicle will, for the first time, be able to check the battery’s condition on the official Car-Pass, the document that certifies a vehicle’s history and which is mandatory in this country. Still, the battery’s condition health state mention will remain optional until Europe’s digital battery passport […]
October 24, 2025
Chinese automaker BYD is best known as an electric car brand, but all of its top sellers still rely on an electrified combustion engine. After the Seal U and the Seal 6, the compact crossover Atto 2 will soon add a plug-in hybrid variant to the pure electric model. The new addition is set to […]
October 24, 2025
In the third quarter of 2025, Renault Group achieved a 9.8% increase in registrations compared to the same period in 2024, totaling 529,486 vehicles sold. Both international and European sales contributed to this performance, up 14.9% and 7.5% respectively. In Europe, passenger car sales grew by 10.9%, outperforming a market up 7.5%. All brands were […]
October 23, 2025
Despite the high cost, Belgian urban families are increasingly opting for cargo bikes. According to figures from the mobility federation Traxio, sales in Belgium have skyrocketed over the past two years, rising by more than 66%, from 9,585 units in 2022 to 15,246 in 2024. The success of the cargo or longtail bike for the […]
October 23, 2025
At its GM Forward media event in New York, General Motors showcased how manufacturing scale, software expertise, and AI are converging to transform the car from a mode of transportation into an intelligent assistant. Chair and CEO Mary Barra and other senior leaders unveiled advancements in AI, robotics, energy, and autonomy, demonstrating how the company […]
October 23, 2025
High-speed train operator Eurostar has ordered 50 trains from French company Alstom. These are double-decker trains, a first for Eurostar. Thanks to their double configuration, with two trains coupled together, they offer more than 1,000 seats per journey while traveling at a maximum speed of 320 km/h. Eurostar needs the trains to open new routes […]
October 23, 2025
Astara Auto Finland, the company that imports Kia vehicles into Finland, is giving away free gasoline-scented car air fresheners to buyers of the new Kia EV4. And no, this is not a joke. You have to admit, the smell of fuel is popular among gearheads, but those with EVs no longer get to experience it. […]
October 23, 2025
Tesla’s latest quarterly report shows the electric-car maker couldn’t benefit from record sales, driven by the prospect of the EV credit abortion in its home country. Despite delivering a record 497,099 vehicles in the third quarter — a 7 percent increase year over year — the company’s net profit tumbled 37 percent to $1.37 billion. […]
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 23, 2025
Born from a skunkworks team at Rivian, the electric carmaker best known for its pickup trucks and SUVs, a group of engineers is now applying that same magic DNA to smaller wheels. An e-bike like a futuristic promise: sleek, software-driven, and distinctly Rivian in spirit. Their new spinoff, called Also, has unveiled the TM-B, a […]
October 22, 2025
The unions at Brussels Airlines are threatening to take action, such as a strike, following the dismissal of three flight attendants. The three refused to fly to Ghana after the cleaning crew reported pests on board, including fleas and bedbugs. According to Brussels Airlines, it was a false alarm. However, the action of the three […]
October 22, 2025
The European Commission will propose measures to mitigate the impact of its new carbon tax on citizens and businesses. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen wants to alleviate fears of price increases and provide Member States with resources to support families by adjusting the implementation of the CO2 tax. The aim is to save the […]
October 22, 2025
The European Parliament has approved two texts that pave the way for digital driving licenses on smartphones by the end of 2030. They do not replace the physical driver’s license, but both will be valid. In the future, it will also be possible to begin training to become a truck driver at the age of 17. […]
October 22, 2025
Criticized by some and cherished by others, the low-emission zone (LEZ) in Brussels is having the desired effect, according to the annual evaluation by Brussels Environment. The LEZ is leading to faster fleet renewal and better air quality in the Brussels-Capital Region. An average of 360,000 unique vehicles drive in the LEZ every day. Just […]
October 22, 2025
The new Mercedes-Benz GLC Electric and the upcoming BMW iX3 are poised to compete directly in the premium mid-size electric SUV segment. The GLC, from today on available in Belgium for ordering at €72,479, combines a luxurious interior, spacious design, and a WLTP range of up to 715 km. Priced at a similar level to […]
October 22, 2025
British startup Advanced Electric Machines specializes in electric motors that do not use rare earths. After facing financial difficulties in recent years, it has now secured a development partnership with a major automotive supplier. The British startup Advanced Electric Machines (AEM) has apparently reached a milestone, announcing that it has signed a development agreement with […]
October 22, 2025
The GTS name goes electric as Porsche adds more power and precision to its best-selling EV SUV. The dual-motor GTS delivers 571 hp and almost 1,000 Nm of torque, and sharper dynamics, making Porsche’s electric SUV the sportiest Macan yet. The Macan GTS EV is clearly positioned as a high-performance variant within the Macan EV […]
October 22, 2025
Febiac and Renta, the federations of car manufacturers and rental firms in Belgium, are warning that the implementation of a mandatory mobility budget in the lease sector in Belgium as of the 1st of January 2026 is completely unrealistic and will cost the federal government some €10à million. Febiac and Renta emphasize the importance of […]
October 21, 2025
During the national campaign against distracted driving on October 7 and 8, the Belgian police issued a total of 3,226 fines and immediate penalties. No fewer than 2,877 drivers were fined for using a cell phone while driving, and 1,097 driving licences were immediately revoked. “The number of violations remains very high,” says the federal […]
