February 05, 2025
On Tuesday, Ferrari raised its targets for 2025 after a bumper 2024 and announced six new models this year, including its first BEV. The iconic sports car manufacturer said it is revising its 2025 targets upward, with revenues above €7 billion, up at least 5% compared to 2024. 2024 was a fantastic year for Ferrari, […]
February 04, 2025
According to the manufacturer’s name-giving logic introduced in 2023, Audi models with even numbers are electric, while those with combustion engines have odd numbers in their names. However, this nomenclature is history again. In March, there will be another new A6 with a combustion engine. In 2023, the now deposed CEO Markus Duesmann announced a […]
February 04, 2025
From March 3rd, a lane on the Paris ‘périphérique’ will be reserved for carpool cars, security services, and public transport. Only cars with at least two occupants, public transport vehicles (buses and taxis), emergency services, and persons with reduced mobility are allowed to drive in the left lane of the Paris Ring Road. The rule […]
February 04, 2025
In a mandatory statement, German sports car manufacturer Porsche announced that it is planning talks with Chief Financial Officer Lutz Meschke and Chief Sales Officer Detlev von Platen to terminate their position on the Executive Board early. A sign of desperate times, desperate measures? The statement issued by Porsche is very short and reads: “The […]
February 04, 2025
Norway has set another benchmark in electric vehicle adoption, with 8,954 of the 9,343 new passenger cars registered in January being fully electric. This translates to a market share of 95.8%, a new record. Norway remains on track to meeting its goal of EV-only sales by the end of the year, though officials still express […]
February 04, 2025
The new federal government plans to expand the permitted use of smart cameras to facilitate police work. According to business newspaper De Tijd, the intention is to use more AI cameras to track down suspects and, for example, detect mobile phone use behind the wheel. The network of license plate recognition (ANPR) cameras will be […]
February 04, 2025
The year 2024 wasn’t the best for the European car market, with a slowdown in growth that the industry began to see signs of in 2022, resulting in only a 0.9% growth, where this still was 28% in 2023. New detailed figures from JATO Dynamics show a clear trend toward ‘cheaper’ hybrids driven by Toyota’s […]
February 04, 2025
The number of car registrations in Belgium and Luxembourg was down 13% in January compared to last year. According to data from the Federal Service Mobility and Transport and Importer Federation Febiac, this decrease is due to a 23.8% regress in company car registrations. Individual buyers bought 11.7% more cars. This means the Belgian car […]
February 04, 2025
Tesla is facing a significant downturn in sales across major markets, marking a challenging start to 2025 for the EV giant. In Belgium, registrations plummeted 44.8%, but also in the Netherlands, France, and Germany sales slid to their lowest level in over a year. The backdrop is noticeably bigger than its rivals. It seems that […]
February 03, 2025
Looser Low Emission Zone (LEZ) in Flanders allows the Antwerp Classic Car Event (ACCE) to return to its roots at the Cockerill Quay on the borders of the Scheldt River in the Antwerp city center on 3 and 4 May of this year. Some 15,000 car enthusiasts are expected to come and see some 1,000 […]
February 03, 2025
Flemish shared bike provider Blue-bike, owned by public transport operator De Lijn, experienced its most vigorous membership growth last year since its inception in 2011. The more than 45,000 members also made a record number of rides, at just over 377,000. Blue-bike, known for the slogan ‘Always a bike at the tip of your fingers,’ […]
February 03, 2025
Belgian dredging and maritime construction companies Deme and Jan De Nul have won contracts for two new offshore wind farms – Nordlicht 1 and 2 – in the German North Sea. When operational, they will provide power to approximately 1.7 million German households. The two wind farms will be located in a zone 85 kilometers […]
February 03, 2025
Antwerp-based transport company ADLC, which offers transportation by drones to companies, has raised 2 million euros in fresh capital. With that additional money, the company plans to further expand its services in the maritime and offshore industry. From now on, DronePort in Sint-Truiden, at the former air force base in Brustum, Limburg, will also be […]
February 03, 2025
Bloomberg reported on Sunday that car manufacturing group Stellantis is planning another management shake-up after CEO Carlos Tavares’s sudden ousting at the end of last year. According to people who are familiar with the matter, CSO Yves Bonnefont and Peugeot CEO Linda Jackson are losing their positions. Stellantis confirmed that a few hours ago. In […]
February 03, 2025
The ramp-up towards compact affordable EVs is taking shape as Kia confirms it will officially launch the EV2 in January 2026. The announcement, made during the company’s full-year 2024 earnings call, marks a significant milestone for Kia’s “EVs for all” strategy, which aims to rapidly increase its electric car share. The importance of these small […]
January 31, 2025
Travel by air has never been more popular. Last year, airlines worldwide counted around 4.89 billion passengers, an improvement from the record of 4.54 billion in 2019, the International Organization of Airlines (IATA) announced. The average aircraft load factor reached 83.5%, which is also a record. IATA expects global air traffic to increase by 8% […]
January 31, 2025
Great Wall Motor (GWM) is making another play for the premium segment by launching a new luxury vehicle brand, Confidence Auto. Positioned above its existing brands – Haval, WEY, Tank, and Ora – Confidence Auto is set to compete directly with BYD’s high-end Yangwang brand and Hongqi from FAW. GWM applied for the Confidence Auto […]
January 31, 2025
Hyundai is looking to enter the Indian mobility market, not with affordable EVs like the Inster, but rather with specific vehicles made for the busy streets of Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore: electric rickshaws. The Korean manufacturer showed the E3W and E4W concepts at Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025 and plans to partner with local manufacturer […]
January 31, 2025
Alfa Romeo is reversing course on its ambitious all-electric plans, opting instead for a multi-energy strategy as it battles declining sales and a shifting global EV market. The Italian automaker, which initially aimed to be fully electric by 2027, will now offer a mix of gasoline, hybrid, and electric powertrains in its future lineup. The […]
January 31, 2025
The European Commission is concerned about the future of the European Industry and has created a ‘Competivity Compass’ to address all related challenges. Meanwhile, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has made the problems of the EU car industry a ‘Chefsache,’ a ‘chief concern’ that she will handle personally. She has already sat around the […]
January 30, 2025
Renault Filante Record 2025 is an electric demo car developed to maximize energy efficiency and set a new record for power consumption and range with an 87 kWh battery, i.e., the same capacity as the Scenic E-Tech electric. We’re talking about a single-seater with a streamlined body design for aerodynamic efficiency. The Renault Filante Record […]
January 30, 2025
London Heathrow Airport, Europe’s largest airport, will get a third runway. The British government supports the idea and is inviting proposals to be brought forward by the summer. “A third runway at Heathrow will lead to growth, boost investment, and make the United Kingdom more open and connected,” said British Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel […]
January 30, 2025
Flexis, a collaboration between Renault Group, Volvo Group (Trucks, not Cars), and CMA CGM, has unveiled its line-up of electric vans. The Panel Van, Cargo Van, and Step-In Van are all based on the same software-defined ‘skateboard’ platform and feature a high level of modularity, an efficient electric drivetrain, and future-proof technology. The name of […]
January 30, 2025
Tesla reported a sharp decline in profitability for 2024, missing key financial expectations and experiencing its first annual sales drop in over a decade. Despite CEO Elon Musk’s optimistic projections for future growth, the company’s latest earnings report has raised concerns among investors and industry analysts. Tesla’s fourth-quarter net income fell by as much as […]
January 30, 2025
ALD Automotive/LeasePlan, the market leader in Belgium for full-service leasing, car rental, and fleet management, is the first mobility partner in Belgium to offer a leasing formula for drones. The drones are available in all shapes and sizes, can fly manually or automatically, and can be equipped with cameras, detection systems, or speakers. Multifunctional Drones […]
January 29, 2025
Spanish charging station operator Eranovum wants to install more than 1,000 charging stations in Belgium over the next three years. The company says there are many opportunities, especially in Wallonia. In France, the company also wants to install 1,000 additional charging points this year, in addition to the 9,000 it targets in Spain by 2026. […]
January 29, 2025
Europe’s longest indoor e-karting circuit will be built on the former General Motors site north of Antwerp. Experience Factory will operate the circuit. It is not yet known when it will open. The circuit will be 1.1 km long and spread over three floors. It will accommodate 80 electric karts. The Italian Tony Kart is […]
January 29, 2025
It’s a fire sale for residents in California, US, who are leaning toward hydrogen mobility. To desperately revive interest in its hydrogen-powered Mirai, Toyota is increasing its discounts to a staggering 70%, making it one of the cheapest new cars in the US. The move underscores the challenges the Japanese automaker faces in promoting hydrogen […]
January 29, 2025
BMW, the Munich-based carmaker, has revealed the facelifted version of its iX flagship, focusing primarily on technical upgrades and making only minor adjustments to the design. The iX was revealed in 2020 as one of the first electric BMWs of the (then) new generation. The new SUV model wasn’t just fully electric; it featured a […]
January 29, 2025
While 2,900 employees will lose their jobs on February 28th, 2025, when the last Audi Q8 e-tron will be made at Audi Brussels, Belgium’s only remaining car factory, Volvo Car Gent is looking for 350 new people to start building the EX30 in Europe. Volvo announced in October last year its intention to build the […]
January 29, 2025
Persistent rumors exist that Mitsubishi Motors, partly owned by Nissan, will not join the new holding Nissan-Honda. Mitsubishi seems to be planning to relaunch an EV in North America. Meanwhile, the Honda-Nissan deal faces serious problems in China. Although Nissan is still Mitsubishi Motors’ biggest shareholder, it seems the company is not ready to join […]
January 28, 2025
Due to track works, there will be fewer trains to Brussels Airport train station from February 1st to 21st and the weekend of March 1st and 2nd. A transfer or bus connection will be necessary for specific trips. Railroad manager Infrabel is renewing the tracks in Zaventem for the airport connection. In addition, a switch […]
January 28, 2025
Belgian Paralympic boccia player Francis Rombouts has filed a lawsuit against the public railroad company NMBS/SNCB because he cannot take the train in his hometown of Tielen. The case, dragging on for years, was heard yesterday at the Brussels Court of Appeal. And to make it even more painful, Rombouts could not enter the courtroom […]
January 28, 2025
The very first flight to Congo took off from Belgium on Thursday, February 12th, 100 years ago. Especially for this anniversary, a milestone for Belgian aviation, bpost is issuing a unique stamp. Two truly Belgian companies, bpost and Brussels Airlines, are joining forces for this purpose. The new stamp features a photo montage of the […]
January 28, 2025
The Dutch Road Assistance service Wegenwacht was called 1,355,000 times last year – an average of 37,000 daily interventions or two per minute. Ten years ago, there were ‘only’ 1.1 million. The most common breakdowns were a defective battery, flat tires, and problems with the alternator. However, with the higher number of electric cars on […]
January 28, 2025
China superluxury brand Hongqi has unveiled the Tiangong 05, a pure electric sedan the size of a BMW i5 and the second model in its Tiangong series, which is compatible with battery swapping technology. A market launch is scheduled for later this year, but whether the model will be exported to Europe remains unconfirmed. The […]
January 28, 2025
According to a recent study by consulting company PwC, global sales of battery electric vehicles climbed to 10.4 million units in 2024, a 14% increase from the previous year. Despite this growth, regional variations highlight the uneven adoption of electric vehicles worldwide, with China firmly in the lead in absolute numbers. However, Belgium beats China […]
January 28, 2025
Rumors have it that Volkswagen could enter into a joint venture with a Chinese car manufacturer in Europe to produce the latter’s cars in its underutilized plants. Two top managers have spoken out in favor of such a move. Audi boss Gernot Döllner is apparently open to offering surplus capacity in VW plants to Chinese […]
January 27, 2025
European aircraft maker Airbus is ceasing operations with Airbus Beluga Transport (AiBT), its cargo company, for exceptional transport. The company used specially developed megaplanes, ‘Beluga ST’. It involved 75 jobs. “Global demand for cargo transport by aircraft remains strong,” said Airbus. “But we have found that certain activities have shifted to shipping.” In addition, the […]
January 27, 2025
At the F.A.T. Ice Race in Kitzbühel, Austria, Audi is showcasing a new concept car based on its latest electric SUV, the Q6 e-tron. This off-road concept has been fitted with custom-made portal axles to increase significantly the Q6’s terrain-driving potential, transforming the family vehicle into a “highly emotive car.” The F.A.T. Ice Race is […]
January 27, 2025
Princess Elisabeth Energy Island’s estimated costs in the North Sea doubled to 7.5 billion euros instead of the original 2.2 billion when Energy Minister Tinne Van der Straeten (Green) launched the plan. This has led to criticism from the business world and raised questions in parliament about the costs and financial consequences for families and […]
January 27, 2025
After unveiling the Chinese version, Tesla officially introduced the new Model Y Juniper in Belgium. A series of upgrades are introduced to safeguard the SUV’s leading position in sales. Deliveries are set to begin in March, as the Grünheide factory in Germany has already commenced production. But Belgian prices show a steep 9,000 euros increase […]
January 27, 2025
Shipments of the Voyah Courage, Dongfeng Motor’s premium electric SUV, have officially kicked off. The first batch of vehicles has left China for Europe. The car is Voyah’s first global EV and will debut in Norway before launching in other European markets. The first batch of vehicles departed for Norway via the China-Europe freight train, […]
January 27, 2025
A day before the deadline, three Chinese EV makers, BYD, Geely, and SAIC, and the China Chamber of Commerce (CME), filed challenges at the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) in Luxembourg against the tariffs the EU is imposing on electric cars made in China. At the last minute, BMW and Tesla joined […]
January 25, 2025
According to a new Traffic Safety Institute Vias study, the number of electric car accidents has increased significantly in the last few years. Although limited, the number of electric vehicles on the road has also increased considerably. The share of accidents involving an electric car in the total of accidents involving a passenger car is […]
January 25, 2025
After several delays, the FIA Formula E electric racing series is finally introducing mid-race fast-charging pitstops at the Jeddah E-Prix in Saudi Arabia in February. Drivers will have to take a mandatory pit stop, during which a 600-kW ultra-fast charger will provide a 10% energy boost. Ever since the introduction of the third-generation Formula E […]
January 25, 2025
The European Union is developing a unified subsidy program to bolster its struggling electric vehicle market and counter China’s growing influence in the sector. European Commissioner for the Green Transition Teresa Ribera confirmed the initiative, which German Chancellor Olaf Scholz originally proposed a few months ago. The 6% drop in EV sales in Europe last […]
January 24, 2025
BMW Group CEO Oliver Zipse will not extend his contract beyond the summer of next year when it expires. The German Manager Magazin reported that he will stop mid-next year, citing a source familiar with the matter. “There will be no further contract extension,” the source is quoted. Zipse, who will be 62 by then […]
January 24, 2025
According to the Belgian business newspaper De Tijd, Austrian energy and chemical giant OMV has advanced plans to build a refinery in the port of Antwerp. At the Kallo plant, waste streams such as used frying oil and other vegetable or animal fats from the food and agricultural sectors could be converted into sustainable aviation […]
January 24, 2025
Dutch U-Boat Worx launched its upgraded ‘Super Sub,’ a luxury three-passenger electric submarine water toy it claims is now faster than a dolphin. According to Wikipedia, the company, based in Breda (Netherlands), is recognized as the foremost manufacturer of private submersibles globally, with over 60 submarines in operation. The Super Sub resembles an ultra-streamlined, suppository-like […]
January 24, 2025
At the Brussels Motor Show, we spoke with a couple of top managers at Stellantis. The group caused a small earthquake at the end of last year when CEO Tavares was suddenly ousted. It was the last devastating event in a very incidental 2024, resulting in fewer sales, loss of market share, and dwindling profits. […]
January 23, 2025
Chinese manufacturer Segway-Ninebot, the global leader in e-scooters with more than 13 million Ninebot eKickScooters on the road, is launching its next generation of eKickScooters. Seven new models are involved. With that new generation, the quality, such as an improved suspension system and the driving range of almost every model, increases slightly again. Like all […]
January 23, 2025
Dutch catering wholesale company Bidfood Netherlands, part of South African holding Bidcorp, is doubling its electric truck fleet with an order of 25 additional Renault Trucks E-Tech vehicles. This brings the total to 50 zero-emission trucks in its fleet. Bidfood has been running Renault Trucks E-Tech electric trucks since 2021. According to the manufacturer, the […]
January 23, 2025
According to the Chinese bus industry website Chinabuses.org, Chinese manufacturers exported more than 15,000 ‘New Energy’ buses in 2024, including electric, plug-in hybrid, and hydrogen fuel cell buses. This represents an increase of 28.33% over 2023, with a sharp upswing in December 2024 alone. BYD is, like with new-energy passenger cars, the biggest manufacturer and […]
January 23, 2025
According to formateur Bart De Wever (N-VA), the so-called ‘Arizona coalition’ is gradually entering the final straight line for forming a new federal government. One notable mobility measure on the table is that Charleroi Airport would get a connection to the rail network. This is according to a leak to the newspaper La Libre Belgique, […]
January 23, 2025
The die is cast. The Californian Monarch Tractor, a pioneer in self-driving electric tractors, wants to conquer the European market from Belgium and has founded Monarch Tractor Europe NV, based in Antwerp, Belgium. Monarch Tractor is famous for its ‘smart’ tractors. The brand produces the world’s first fully electric tractor, for which the driver is […]
January 23, 2025
Swedish-Chinese electric performance carmaker Polestar announced its long-anticipated market entry into France. It’s a key milestone in the company’s global expansion, as a legal dispute with Citroën over logo rights long banned the brand’s sales and operations. Polestar plans to begin operations in the French market in the summer of 2025, marking Polestar’s 27th market […]
January 23, 2025
Citroën allegedly wants to give the classic 2CV model a second life. Initial design work for a new electric edition of the 2CV is probably already underway, but the project is still at an early stage. Read: It has not yet been fully decided. Citroën also seems to be reacting to its competitor Renault, who […]
January 22, 2025
Dutch truck and trailer rental company TIP Group has created, together with SolarEdge e-Mobility and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Thermal Transport, the world’s first e-reefer trailer that combines solar, battery, and kinetic energy recovery, the Powered Trailer. This solution should provide emissions-free, temperature-controlled transport while also saving money. So-called “reefer” trailers are temperature-controlled trailers mainly used […]
January 22, 2025
Figures requested by Flemish member of parliament An Christaens (CD&V) show that the public transport company De Lijn has more than 300 buses with more than 1 million kilometers on the counter. Because of this outdated bus fleet, De Lijn is increasingly struggling with technical problems, and passengers are paying the toll. De Lijn has […]
