October 21, 2025
The dispute between the Netherlands and China over semiconductor maker NXP (formerly Nexperia) is very much alive and escalating. It has moved from a governance dispute into a real supply-chain risk scenario. Nexperia’s China unit has publicly declared it will operate independently of the Dutch headquarters, saying Chinese site staff should ignore instructions from the […]
October 21, 2025
“Nissan intends to CO₂-pool with BYD across the EU during 2025 to meet more challenging emissions targets.” That’s what Schmidt Automotive Research, a UK-established, Germany-based independent consultancy and publishing firm that specializes in the automotive market, predicts. However, neither Nissan nor BYD has confirmed this so far. Nissan’s intention to pool its European fleet CO₂ […]
October 21, 2025
Volvo Cars is offering Swedish car buyers one year of free home charging with the launch of its free charge initiative. Volvo Cars is partnering with Swedish energy company Vattenfall to introduce this offer, which aims to make the switch to fully electric cars more attractive and accessible for more customers. Insights from the first […]
October 20, 2025
The EU-funded research project ‘Efferest’ aims to make electric vehicles more efficient, focusing specifically on the interaction between systems and components that manage interior comfort and powertrain performance. The project targets significant improvements in cabin comfort and drivetrain systems by the end of 2026. Considering both together ensures a holistic approach, allowing technical compromises to […]
October 20, 2025
According to VeloVeilig Vlaanderen, a large-scale study on road safety in Flemish cities by newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws, in which 27,676 residents participated, Flemish people give an average score of 4.8 out of 10 for general safety in their municipality. That’s a big fail. According to the study, 25% believe that there are still too […]
October 20, 2025
Antwerp N-VA politician Koen Kennis has been appointed as chairman of Lantis, the developer of the Oosterweel connection. Kennis has served as a Lantis director for 15 years. He succeeds his party colleague Marc Descheemaecker. “His commitment to the organisation and his years of experience in mobility issues made him an easy choice for this role.” […]
October 20, 2025
The Flemish government has approved a measure allowing heavier zero- and low-emission trucks to operate on its roads. On a proposal from Mobility Minister Annick De Ridder, the maximum permitted weight for five-axle zero-emission trucks will rise from 44 to 46 tonnes, while low-emission vehicles will be allowed up to 45 tonnes. Zero-emission trucks are […]
October 20, 2025
Ex-McLaren CEO Michael Leiters (54) will replace Oliver Blume as CEO of Porsche from 1 January 2026. Blume will remain at the helm of the Volkswagen Group. His contract there was extended until 2030. Rumors that VW and Porsche CEO Oliver Blume would concentrate solely on Wolfsburg had circulated for some time, but things moved […]
October 20, 2025
The vote on a carbon tax for international shipping, known as the Net-Zero Framework (NZF), has been postponed for a year. This was decided on Friday in London by the member states of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the maritime branch of the United Nations. The postponement comes under pressure from US President Donald Trump. […]
October 20, 2025
“Developed to bring the Joy of driving to gliding.” German premium carmaker is pushing its brand beyond traditional vehicles into electrified leisure mobility and new uncharted waters: an electric stand-up paddleboard (SUP). And it’s premium too, as the €3,990 price tag suggests. BMW is doing this with the help of Slovenian SipaBoards, a company founded in […]
October 20, 2025
The Chinese electric vehicle maker Leapmotor is best known in Europe for its low-cost models, marketed alongside Stellantis. But in its home market, the carmaker has revealed an ambitious new flagship SUV that pushes the brand into luxury territory. And not without making a mark. The D19, a 5.2-meter-long electric SUV, features an onboard oxygen […]
October 20, 2025
BMW’s German market responsible Christian Ach says in an interview with the German magazine Automobilwoche that the German domestic orders for the first car of the Neue Klasse, the iX3, already surpass those of the current combustion X3. “In the first six weeks after its unveiling at the IAA in Munich, we received over 3,000 […]
October 17, 2025
A pet travelling on an airplane falls under the definition of ‘baggage’. The European Court of Justice has declared this. The declaration arose from a dispute between a Spanish airline and a passenger whose dog was lost during transportation. Whether animal welfare organizations will be happy with this legal ruling is another question. They consider […]
October 17, 2025
Mercedes-Benz has unveiled the configurator for its eagerly anticipated entry-level electric CLA. Powered by a smaller lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery, the CLA 200 ships for €49,610 in Belgium, almost €6,000 less than the CLA 250+ with NMC pack. The German carmaker has built its new four-door coupé on its modular MMA platform, which underpins […]
October 17, 2025
Eventually, from mid-November, Flemish public transport company De Lijn would be operating self-driving shuttle minibuses to transport passengers between Leuven station and Heverlee. A Belgian first: autonomous vehicles driving in busy city traffic at normal speeds of up to 40 km/h. But more time is needed to fine-tune and becoming fully operational is now postponed […]
October 17, 2025
How about this: a pedalable trike vehicle with a top speed of up to 120 km/h? Something for you? It’s not entirely a crackpot idea, as there actually is a startup in France called Cixi working on a vehicle called the Vigoz that roughly matches that. That said, there are several caveats, and it has […]
October 16, 2025
Alphabet-Google’s daughter company, Waymo, plans to introduce its robotaxi operations in London next year. This is in response to plans by the British government to allow commercial pilot projects with autonomous vehicles from 2026. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said she was “delighted” by the announcement. For Waymo, this will be its second international expansion, after […]
October 16, 2025
Following Tihange 3 in July, the nuclear plant Doel 4 has now also been reconnected to the electricity grid. Operator Engie announced this on Wednesday. Both nuclear reactors are now operating at full capacity, together producing 2 gigawatts. At the end of 2023, the previous federal government reached an agreement with Engie to extend the lifespans […]
October 16, 2025
The amount of CO2 in the atmosphere increased by a record amount in 2024, potentially further warming the planet and leading to more extreme climate events. The concentration of greenhouse gases in the air increased by 3.5 ppm (parts per million) between 2023 and 2024 – the highest increase since modern measurements began in 1957. […]
October 16, 2025
Securail, the NMBS/SCNB security service, was called upon more than 7,000 times last year to intervene at Brussels South station. This was reported by the newspaper Het Nieuwsblad, among others, based on figures from Minister of Mobility Jean-Luc Crucke (Les Engagés). With an average of 20 interventions per day for incidents in Brussels South, this is […]
October 16, 2025
The end of the EV paradise? Norway’s 25% VAT exemption for electric vehicles has been in place for over 20 years, making it one of the earliest and longest-running EV incentives in the world, but now it’s thinking about scrapping it from 2027. Alongside, the government proposes increasing the registration tax on fossil fuel (ICE) […]
October 16, 2025
Following its world premiere in June, Nissan has released further details about the third-generation Leaf. Orders are expected to be possible before the end of this year at prices just below €37,000. There is also specific information about the version with the large battery. Following the start of orders before the end of the year, […]
October 16, 2025
The EU car industry wants plug-in hybrid vehicles to be considered carbon neutral, but data from thousands of vehicles shows that PHEVs emit just 19% less CO2 per km, on average, than petrol and diesel cars. Carmakers are lobbying and asking EU lawmakers to treat hybrids as clean vehicles under a ‘technology-neutral’ approach to decarbonizing […]
October 15, 2025
Work on extending the Ecluse steam network from the left to the right bank of the Scheldt has reached a significant milestone. On Tuesday, October 14th, Flemish Minister for Energy and Climate Melissa Depraetere visited the site to inaugurate this technical achievement. The Ecluse tunnel under the Scheldt River, the longest microtunnel in Belgium, transports […]
October 15, 2025
The Court of Audit, responsible for external control of the budgetary, accounting, and financial transactions of Belgian governments, has reviewed the Flemish plans for renewable energy. The institution also examined the financial support for renewable energy. Between 2014 and 2023, almost 13 billion euros in support for renewable energy were granted in Flanders. And 11.2 […]
October 15, 2025
The Supervisory Board has appointed Markus Haupt as the new Chief Executive Officer of Seat and Cupra with immediate effect. Haupt has served as interim CEO since 1 April and will now take on the role permanently. When Wayne Griffiths unexpectedly left the Seat CEO position in spring, the Supervisory Board of Seat and Cupra […]
October 15, 2025
According to a new report from UK-based research, analytics, and data company Rho Motion, global EV sales—battery electric (BEVs) and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) combined —passed the 2.1 million mark for the first time in September 2025, up 26% YoY. The Reuters press agency adds a regional snapshot detailing that China contributes the most with 1.3 […]
October 15, 2025
The federal judicial police in Halle-Vilvoorde have arrested three members of the same family from Sint-Pieters-Leeuw who organized large-scale fraud in the theoretical driving test. Research shows that family members helped candidates obtain their theoretical driving licenses fraudulently. One of the suspects had already been arrested in 2023 for similar crimes. According to the public prosecutor’s […]
October 15, 2025
Over its 35-year history, the Renault Clio has always set the benchmark in its category in Europe and has remained Renault’s best-selling model throughout its five previous generations. The sixth generation has been entirely redesigned to accentuate the values that have already attracted so many customers. As usual, the car is also slightly larger, more […]
October 15, 2025
Mercedes-Benz is unveiling a new concept vehicle—a Batmobile-like, sleek, two-door SL—that blends classic design elements from its golden age in automotive design with advanced electric and digital technologies. The concept is not to be seen on the roads soon, as it is rather a ‘vision’ that pays homage to historic Mercedes styling cues, especially from […]
October 14, 2025
The Flemish Utility Regulator (Vlaamse Nutsregulator, formerly VREG) currently sees no reason to introduce time-dependent network tariffs — i.e., cheaper grid fees when solar energy is abundant. The energy watchdog doesn’t want to make things more complicated for consumers. Nearly three years after the so-called ‘capacity tariff’ was introduced (in 2023), which makes households’ grid costs depend […]
October 14, 2025
Despite millions in aid from Flanders and the federal government, totaling 13,5 million euros, Antwerp Airport’s financial situation is so dire that the so-called alarm bell procedure is in effect. This means that any creditor can ask the court to dissolve the company. Nevertheless, for Flemish Minister of Mobility Annick De Ridder (N-VA), who is […]
October 14, 2025
Three years after its launch, Nissan has given the Ariya a modest but meaningful update. The electric SUV retains its core engineering but gains a sleeker design and much-needed digital upgrades. With Google built-in technology and the ability to power external devices, the Ariya is being repositioned as more practical and better connected. When it first […]
October 14, 2025
The High Court in London has opened one of the most attention-grabbing consumer trials in recent years. Five car manufacturers are accused of deceiving millions of drivers by installing defeat devices to cheat pollution tests. The case, expected to run for three months, revives the scandal that has haunted the industry for a decade. Billions of […]
October 14, 2025
Ahead of the upcoming Japan Mobility Show (JMS) 2025, which will take place from October 30 to November 9, Toyota is teasing a Corolla-branded concept car that is reportedly chargeable. Meaning it is either fully electric or a plug-in hybrid, a bridge between the traditional Corolla and the carmaker’s fully electric future, as it is […]
October 14, 2025
Ford has nominated a new CEO for Europe as it wants more region-focused cars again. Jim Baumbick is named Ford of Europe’s first president in three years; his first task will be to develop and build those more Europe-focused cars. Ford has named Jim Baumbick as its first dedicated European boss in three years, as […]
October 13, 2025
With the current US administration under President Trump waging war on EV mandates, a nationwide rollout of e-trucks seems unlikely. But the road transport sector is still looking to cut emissions through initiatives that don’t compromise. The second Trump administration has been battling the advancement of electric vehicles of all sizes across the US. EV […]
October 13, 2025
Volkswagen is preparing to launch the ID Unyx 07, a mid-size electric saloon that will debut a new Chinese-developed platform and broaden the company’s electric range in the world’s largest car market. The model’s main task is to be perceived as a Chinese rather than a German Volkswagen to help resurrect sliding sales. To do […]
October 13, 2025
With a new name and fresh design, the revamped DS 4 is entering the second half of its life as the DS N°4. For the first time, there is also a pure electric version, the E-Tense, which shares its technology with the Opel Astra Electric and offers a range of 450 kilometers. Built in Rüsselsheim, […]
October 13, 2025
The death of coral reefs marks the first catastrophic climate tipping point linked to greenhouse gas emissions. “Unless global heating is reduced to 1.2 degrees Celsius ‘as fast as possible’, warm water coral reefs will not remain ‘at any meaningful scale’,” the Global Tipping Points Report by 160 scientists across 87 institutions from 23 countries […]
October 13, 2025
Tomorrow, Belgian trade unions will mobilize en masse against the Arizona government’s plans. They are hoping for a repeat of 2014, when 100,000 demonstrators turned up to protest, among other things, an index jump. The unions are particularly concerned about the government’s pension reforms, the planned expansion of flexi-jobs, and lower pay for night work. […]
October 13, 2025
D’Ieteren is by far the most prominent car importer in the Belux and has now decided to regroup all its luxury brands under one umbrella, D’Ieteren Luxury Performance. The importer wants to streamline the (booming) business while also offering even better service. Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, Maserati, Porsche, and Rimac were gathered in the exclusive surroundings […]
October 10, 2025
The head of Lufthansa does not believe the aviation sector will achieve net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050. CEO Carsten Spohr attributes this to the slow development of technology and the increased availability of more sustainable aircraft fuels. The Lufthansa Group has set itself ambitious climate protection goals. The company aims to achieve a neutral CO2 […]
October 10, 2025
The listed energy company EnergyVision wants to invest more in wind turbines to complement its solar panels. EnergyVision is a Belgian energy company that supplies 100% green, locally produced electricity, primarily from solar installations installed for households and businesses in Belgium. In addition to solar panels and EV charging solutions, EnergyVision is now testing small rooftop wind […]
October 10, 2025
The members of Belgium’s largest rail unions have rejected the draft agreement on a modernized statute for rail personnel that the unions had initially agreed with Minister of Mobility Jean-Luc Crucke (Les Engagés). According to the rail unions, there will probably be no new round of negotiations, and the Minister is now free to do […]
October 10, 2025
The ultimate electric Ferrari, the Elettrica, is here, at least in part, with the chassis and underlying technology revealed in the first step. How it will look inside and out is still a well-kept secret, reserved by Ferrari for Spring 2026. This won’t be a mix-and-match of borrowed EV technology as it’s a pure Ferrari […]
October 10, 2025
Starting in April, Martin Sion, currently executive chairman of European aerospace company ArianeGroup, will become the new CEO of French railway manufacturer Alstom. Sion will replace Henri Poupart-Lafarge, the current CEO. Poupart-Lafarge, who has been CEO of Alstom since 2016, announced in May that he would not be seeking a fourth term. Martin Sion had […]
October 09, 2025
Global biofuels emit 16% more CO2 than the fossil fuels they replace, due to the indirect impacts of farming and deforestation, a new Cerulogy report on behalf of T&E shows. By 2030, biofuels are projected to emit 70 Mt CO₂e more than the fossil fuels they replace, equivalent to the annual emissions of almost 30 […]
October 09, 2025
From December 14th, extra late trains will run from Brussels and Antwerp on Friday and Saturday evenings, sometimes until well after midnight. This has been announced by NMBS/SNCB. At weekends, there will also be more trains between several major cities, such as the suburban S-net around Brussels, Ghent, and Charleroi. The changes have already been […]
October 09, 2025
The BMW Group was unable to quite match its forecasts and sales figures from the first half of the year, and the stock market has reacted accordingly (-8.25%). Meanwhile, BMW has now achieved six-figure electric car sales in a total of six quarters. The group achieved volume growth year-to-date in September across the European and […]
October 09, 2025
According to Christophe Dubon, spokesman for car and two-wheeler federation Febiac, the new motorcycle market performed well in the first nine months of the year. “During the first nine months of 2025, the new motorcycle market experienced a slight decline of -4.3%, with a total of 21,728 registrations, which is not a bad result. The […]
October 09, 2025
Starting January 1, 2026, Flanders will end its full exemption from registration and annual road taxes for fully electric (BEVs) and hydrogen-powered vehicles (FCEVs). Until then, all electric cars remain completely tax-free, and new owners of second-hand EVs registered earlier will still benefit. From 2026, new EVs registered in Flanders will pay a fixed one-time […]
October 09, 2025
The car industry is demanding loopholes in the EU car CO2 law that would halve the bloc’s ambition of selling only zero-emission cars in 2035. That’s according to T&E analysis of a leaked position paper by the European car industry lobby ACEA. Carmakers are demanding more than 10 loopholes, including counting cars that run on alternative […]
October 08, 2025
There will be no evaluation of the low-emission zone (LEZ) in Ghent for the time being. This is according to Filip Watteeuw (Groen), alderman for Climate and Environment, among others. According to Watteeuw, there is currently too much legal uncertainty, which means that the city cannot and will not decide to evaluate the LEZ and make […]
October 08, 2025
Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa has completed his homework and redesigned a significantly revamped Stellantis Leadership Team (SLT) to face the tough challenges of the coming years. Filosa has now positioned his man (and women) where he wanted them. “With these new appointments, we are promoting exceptional talent from inside and out to leadership roles as […]
October 08, 2025
According to the latest report from the International Energy Agency (IEA), growth in renewable energy is slowing due to policy changes in the United States and China. In its Renewables 2025 report, the IEA has lowered its projection for global renewable capacity additions in 2025–2030 by approximately 248 GW, or roughly 5%, compared to its 2024 outlook. In the […]
October 08, 2025
The German logistics company Hödlmayr, in cooperation with Stellantis, is currently using part of DronePort’s site in Brustem (Sint-Truiden, Limburg) to store a large number of new cars in ‘overstock’ produced by Stellantis.” Now, Hödlmayr has applied for a permit. What began as a temporary stopgap solution for car manufacturer Stellantis at the end of […]
October 08, 2025
Pioneering electric motorcycle manufacturer Zero Motorcycles is relocating its administrative headquarters from the United States to the Netherlands. The Netherlands will thus become the company’s global headquarters. However, the US locations will continue to play an important role. Zero Motorcycles officially justified the move by stating that Europe has become the most important growth engine. […]
October 08, 2025
The European Commission wants to erect a tariff wall to protect the strategically important steel industry from global overcapacity. Welcomed by the European steel industry, which is in a state of survival, but met with skepticism by European carmakers who fear higher production costs. Specifically, the Commission wants to limit tariff-free imports of steel from […]
October 08, 2025
After launching an upgraded “Premium” version of the Model 3 sedan and Model Y SUV, Tesla has also introduced a stripped-down “Standard” version of its two core models. They now list at $5,000 less in the US: $36,990 for the Model 3 Standard and $39,990 for the Model Y Standard. Prices for Europe have not […]
