June 29, 2023
Following a troubled relationship with its investment and manufacturing partner Foxtron, electric pickup maker Lordstown Motors has filed for protection against debtors. In the eponymous town, the company had the Endurance assembled in a factory that it had sold to the Taiwanese firm. But as the latter allegedly broke the terms of an investment agreement, […]
June 29, 2023
Given the current level of performance of Renault Group, which is above initial expectations, the group upgrades its financial outlook for the full year 2023. It expects an operating margin between 7% and 8% (6% before) and an automotive-operational free cash flow superior to or equal to €2,5 billion (€2 billion previously). “This improvement is […]
June 28, 2023
The Eurostar Group, the merger of high-speed train operators Thalys and Eurostar, transported 14,8 million passengers last year and posted a turnover of over 1,53 billion euros, two and a half times more than a year earlier. As a result, profit before Ebita reached a record level of 332 million euros. By mid-October, a new app, […]
June 28, 2023
According to the works council, Volkswagen has temporarily reduced the production of electric cars at its Emden plant. The reason for this is weakening sales. This apparently affects not only the ID.4 but also the production start-up of the new electric sedan ID.7. Demand is almost 30% below the planned initial production figures, it was […]
June 28, 2023
The Flemish administration has issued a permit for a link road between the Brussels Ring Road and Parking C at Heysel, according to the business newspaper L’Echo. The link road is considered essential for NEO, the Heysel redevelopment project. However, according to the Flemish Environment Department, the link road has a purely logistical function and […]
June 28, 2023
On Tuesday, the BMW Group took a significant step toward building electric vehicles in the United States as it broke ground for a new high-voltage battery assembly plant in Woodruff, South Carolina. The Woodruff plant will produce sixth-generation batteries to supply fully electric vehicles at nearby BMW Manufacturing in Spartanburg. More than 300 jobs will […]
June 28, 2023
Chinese luxury brand Zeekr, daughter of Geely Holding Group and sister brand to Volvo and Lynk & Co, among others, is starting its European offensive by opening preordering for the Zeekr 001 and Zeekr X in the Netherlands and Sweden. The latter is Zeekr’s second ‘homeland’, where the Global Design Center and European R&D are […]
June 28, 2023
As part of Volvo Cars’ aim to be a fully electric carmaker by 2030, Volvo joins Tesla, Ford, and GM in North America using the North American Charging Standard (NACS), recently launched by Tesla. “The company is the first European carmaker to sign an agreement with Tesla, giving current and future electric Volvo car drivers […]
June 28, 2023
Michelin and the French postal services are partnering for a two-year test of airless tires. A European-first, forty yellow ‘La Poste’ vans will be equipped with Michelin Utips tires by the end of 2024 in the Hauts-de-France region. Currently, this is the only airless tire being used on open public roads in Europe. With that, […]
June 28, 2023
Avesta Battery and Energy Engineering (ABEE), a Brussels-based start-up specializing in battery and energy technologies for e-mobility, plans to build a large-scale battery factory for electric vehicles in the Romanian city of Galați. That is what the ABEE founder and CEO Noshin Omar announced on Tuesday during a press conference in Ninove (Belgium), where Prime […]
June 28, 2023
The 14-brand-strong group, Stellantis, is launching a new ecosystem for electric vehicle charging under the umbrella of Free2Move Charge. The new entity will allow clients to install and finance home chargers, with options ranging from AC charging to Vehicle-2-grid (V2G) systems. Furthermore, it’ll give access to almost all of Europe’s charging points. The Stellantis group […]
June 27, 2023
With its 5,27-meter length and full two meters width, the Chinese Maxus’ MIFA9 is quite a giant-looking full electric people mover for seven or eight persons. A challenge to test drive on narrow roads in the hinterland of Namur. But that proved surprisingly pleasant: a rather pussyfooting elephant, we would say. The price of its […]
June 27, 2023
Apart from dieselgate, there was another conflict of interest between consumers and manufacturers of diesel cars, the so-called ‘thermal window’ software. For the first time, the German Federal Court (Bundesgerichtshof or BGH) has considered that customers, having bought a car with the device, can claim compensation. The software permits controlling the air pollution equipment on […]
June 27, 2023
It is by no means certain that the European Union will achieve its ambitious climate and energy targets for 2030 with the current measures, warns the European Court of Auditors in a new report. Moreover, the foundations of the member states’ climate plans are not transparent, so it’s unclear whether they are feasible. The Auditors […]
June 27, 2023
Skoda has unveiled some technical details of its next-generation Kodiaq family SUV, which will get a plug-in hybrid drivetrain for the first time. The model is launching before the end of 2023 and should share its technical basis with the future Superb. The second-generation Skoda Kodiaq will build on the practical strengths of its predecessor, […]
June 27, 2023
Due to maintenance, nine Brussels tunnels will temporarily be closed during the summer holidays. To limit traffic disruption, work in four of the nine tunnels will be carried out only at night, reports Brussels Mobility. And in the country’s south, some major highway projects will also be carried out, which could immediately impact the traffic […]
June 27, 2023
French sportscar builder, Alpine, has confirmed its electric ambitions for the future. By 2030, the brand will have launched seven fully electric cars, including a future A110 coupé, a roadster, and a new A310 4-seat coupé, to sit on a new dedicated platform. In Formula 1, Alpine Racing Ltd. gets a €200 million investment to […]
June 27, 2023
Prepping for its first battery-powered model in 2025, the British sports carmaker has announced a partnership with American EV start-up Lucid for the supply of batteries and powertrain technology. For Lucid, which gains a 4% stake in Aston Martin in return, it’s the first partnership of this kind. While combustion-engine parts can easily be shared […]
June 26, 2023
The Walloon government will allocate another 79 million euros to finalize works on the new Liège tramway. These have been seriously delayed, much to the annoyance of traders and residents. The amount comes on top of the 450 million euros initially planned. The modern 11,5 km tram line will connect Standard’s stadium to the Coronmeuse […]
June 26, 2023
According to Shell Recharge’s annual EV Driver Survey, Europe is at the tipping point of mass adoption of electric cars. Real-world experiences make EV drivers slowly swallow their range anxiety, the ones still seeing a problem dropping from 60 to 50%. 47% don’t feel the need to recharge daily, and there is no turning back […]
June 26, 2023
The Antwerp city council doubts the further tightening of the low-emission zone (LEZ) from 2028 onward. So write the Gazet van Antwerpen and Het Laatste Nieuws. A study on the impact of existing and future air quality measures should provide the answer. In Antwerp, diesel cars will normally no longer be allowed from 2031. From […]
June 26, 2023
Toyota has revealed the production version of its second-generation C-HR, which shares the striking design and plug-in hybrid drivetrain of the recently launched Prius. The development work of this hybrid crossover was done by Toyota’s R&D Center in Zaventem, Belgium, while the production of the model will come from Europe. De design of this new […]
June 26, 2023
In an open letter to the EU, 41 firms call for bigger ambitions on the greening of transportation in the logistics sector. Among the companies are Heineken, Nike, the Colruyt Group, and shippers like DFDS and Maersk. They say that increasing the targets will lower costs and make it easier to decarbonize fleets. More precisely, […]
June 23, 2023
The US Department of Energy (DOE) plans to loan $9,2 billion to the joint venture BlueOval SK between Ford Motor and South Korean battery maker SK On for its battery plants in Kentucky and Tennessee. A massive loan that nearly matches the $11,4 billion the companies themselves are investing in the project. It marks the […]
June 23, 2023
Last year, the number of road fatalities in Flanders fell by 9%. However, the Flemish Region still had the most accidents (62%), compared to Brussels (11%), and Wallonia (27%). The figures come from Flanders Statistics (Statistiek Vlaanderen). Among the victims is a growing percentage of vulnerable road users, mainly cyclists. In addition, there are still […]
June 23, 2023
According to three car-sharing platforms operating in Brussels, the number of attempted thefts by minors of their cars has reached alarming levels. La Capitale newspaper reports this. According to them, Miles Mobility, Poppy, and GreenMobility have sent a joint letter to Brussels authorities denouncing the problem. According to the three suppliers, their vehicles in the […]
June 23, 2023
At the Goodwood Festival of Speed, British EV start-up McMurtry stunned the crowds breaking the hill climb record. The blistering run has spawned the necessary interest in this 1 000 bhp single-seater so that the Spéirling Pure will go into production. As a supercar for the modern ages, the Spéirling Pure builds its performance upon […]
June 23, 2023
The Namur cable car, back in operation since 20021, has been little used as a soft mobility solution. As a tourist attraction, the cable car over the Sambre toward the 650-meter-high Citadel meets expectations, but as a city transport offer, the figures are disappointing. From 1 September, the city will consequently implement new timetables and […]
June 23, 2023
The French charging infrastructure specialist Electra has opened its first fast-charging station in Belgium at the shopping site of Maasmechelen Village (in the east of Limburg province). Electra is teaming up with LSGI Group, one of the largest developers and operators of large shopping malls, to build these stations in places where many people come […]
June 23, 2023
Smart has announced another variant of its Smart #1 electric model. The #1 Pulse is planned to hit German roads still in 2023. This will be the second all-wheel-drive variant next to the Brabus offshoot and top model. Orders can be placed now in the ‘Bundesrepublik’ at prices starting at €46 490. Other European markets […]
June 22, 2023
More than 20 European consumer organizations have filed a complaint to stop what they call misleading greenwashing claims by a series of airlines. The complaint is filed with the European Commission and the Consumer Protection Cooperation Network (CPC). It is directed against 17 airlines, including those in the Lufthansa Group (among which Brussels Airlines), Air […]
June 22, 2023
Brussels Mobility has launched a campaign to get the Brussels expat community on bikes. Ambassadors from Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, Botswana, New Zealand, Bosnia, and Slovenia in Belgium are “not influencers, but real ambassadors” and are pulling the campaign. The Brussels Capital Region has the largest expat community in Europe, with 220 000 people making […]
June 22, 2023
Belgian Energy Minister Tinne Van der Straeten (Groen) wants more large battery farms to store energy temporarily. The minister also plans to provide subsidies for it. With the growing amount of energy from solar panels and wind farms, she expects much storage capacity will be needed to maintain balance on the grid. Solar and wind […]
June 22, 2023
After a long wait, Opel has finally finished the development of its Astra Electric, which means we got to drive it. Thanks to its new Nidec electric motor, the compact hatchback promises, quite frankly, astonishing efficiency figures. Or is it too good to be true? In the battle between the technically similar e-308 and Astra […]
June 22, 2023
Panasonic and Mazda announced they have agreed to enter into discussions on establishing a medium- to long-term partnership for automotive batteries with round cells. The tentative language suits Mazda’s relatively relaxed approach towards electrification, yet the timeline also fits. Mazda said it would commence “concrete discussions” with a view toward Panasonic Energy supplying the carmaker […]
June 22, 2023
As the Chinese economy shows signs of slowing down, the government has extended the tax exemption for hybrids and electric cars to 2027. Buyers of these so-called new energy vehicles (NEV) skip the purchase tax. Since 2014, the Chinese government doesn’t impose a ten percent purchase tax on electrified cars to support their adoption and […]
June 22, 2023
The Volvo FL and FE Electric distribution trucks have received a significant battery upgrade, offering 42% more capacity and increasing the range to 450 km. According to Volvo Trucks, this significantly increases the usability of these electric trucks, making them suitable to “replace our customers’ entire fleet of diesel city trucks”. The FL and FE […]
June 22, 2023
Volkswagen Group CEO Oliver Blume presented its vast reorganization plan for the group on Wednesday at the group’s Capital Markets Day. A severe cost-cutting exercise is needed to remain competitive, and the group wants to increase electric sales in China and the U.S. “If the bulk of our revenues still comes from Europe, the growth […]
June 22, 2023
In May 2023, the EU car market saw a significant increase in passenger car registrations, with nearly 1 million units, marking an 18,5% growth from the previous year, according to the figures of the European car manufacturers association (ACEA). This is the tenth consecutive month of growth. All the EU’s four largest markets grew, with […]
June 21, 2023
Brussels public transport company MIVB/STIB has won two awards at the prestigious ‘Red Dot Design Award’. The transport company won awards for designing its new TNG tram and M7 metro inspired by the curves of Art Nouveau, an art movement inextricably linked to Brussels. The New Generation Tram (TNG) and the M7 metro, whose design […]
June 21, 2023
From next year, French people will be allowed to get their driving license and drive alone from the age of 17. French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne has reported this. Several traffic associations have already spoken out against a reduction because of the risk of accidents. Driving a car as a 17-year-old in France is now […]
June 21, 2023
The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) calls for a three-year postponement to restrictive rules on EU-UK electric vehicle trade, set to come into force in six months. Otherwise, tariffs could total € 4,3 billion, potentially reducing electric vehicle production by some 480 000 units, according to ACEA. Goods exported under EU free-trade agreements must comply […]
June 21, 2023
French energy provider, Engie, launches Vianeo. Under this new brand dedicated to electric mobility, the company aims to develop 12 000 electric charge points across France by 2025. In addition to that, the company confirms that “about one hundred” fast chargers will be built in Belgium too. Engie isn’t one to miss the transition to […]
June 21, 2023
The ‘tsunami’ of Chinese EVs is reaching European shores with yet another brand, Human Horizon’s flagships HiPhi X and Z, available now in Norway and Germany. With prices above €100 000 euros, these are not your average budget cars, and they’re bluntly targeting the heart of Europe’s premium car market, armed with luxury and high-tech. […]
June 21, 2023
Daimler Truck has celebrated the build of its 1 000th eCitaro electric low-floor bus for city use, available in fixed and articulated variants. Now, the Mannheim plant is gearing up for the hydrogen variant of the eCitaro, which uses a fuel cell as a range extender. The Mercedes-Benz eCitaro has been in production since 2018, […]
June 21, 2023
On Tuesday, June 20th, global materials technology and recycling group Umicore inaugurated one of the world’s most advanced solid-state battery material prototyping facilities in Olen (Belgium). Solid-state batteries are expected to propel electric mobility and complement Umicore’s world-leading portfolio of battery materials technologies. The new 600 m² facilities with state-of-the-art installations and equipment support the […]
June 21, 2023
Car manufacturing group Stellantis, the world’s number four, and Taiwanese contract manufacturer Foxconn have announced the formation of SiliconAuto, an equally owned joint venture for developing and selling advanced semiconductors, particularly for electric vehicles. Like Stellantis, SiliconAuto will be headquartered in the Netherlands and is expected to supply the automotive industry, including Stellantis and Foxconn, […]
June 21, 2023
Renault has unveiled the senior management team for its EV and software subsidiary Ampere. Luca de Meo, currently CEO of the Renault Group, will personally take charge of the new management team, and two managers will join him to handle day-to-day operations. Josep Maria Recasens and Vincent Piquet will be appointed Chief Operating Officer and […]
June 20, 2023
Indian low-cost airline IndiGo has ordered 500 Airbus A320 aircraft. By volume, this is the largest contract ever concluded in civil aviation. The contract represents a theoretical list price of 55 billion dollars. The aircraft are to be delivered between 2030 and 2035. And Walloon aviation company Sonaca also sings the “largest contract in its […]
June 20, 2023
Ark, a London-based EV start-up, has launched its first electric car, a quadricycle called the Ark Zero, claiming it’s the most affordable EV in the United Kingdom, where it is offered exclusively. With a price tag of £5 995 (€7 012), this microcar is a competitor to Citroen’s Ami (£7 695) on the other side […]
June 20, 2023
Porsche looks likely to produce high-performance battery cells on a much larger scale than previously planned. The German carmaker will no longer do so with its partner Customcells but on its own. The Cellforce Group, the battery joint venture between Porsche and Customcells, is said to have been completely overtaken by Porsche in May. 20 […]
June 20, 2023
The Netherlands has passed the milestone of 500 000 charging stations. The vast majority (384 200) are private points at home. The country is one of the forerunners in Europe regarding charging infrastructure. For comparison, Belgium has an estimated 150 000 charging points. At the end of March, there were more than 30 000 public […]
June 20, 2023
After launching the Han, Tang, and Atto 3 in Europe late last year, the Chinese EV leader BYD (Build Your Dreams) is expanding its European portfolio with two more models previously launched in China: the Dolphin hatchback and the Seal sedan. The Dolphin, the first to be deliverable from the fourth quarter of 2023, is […]
June 20, 2023
Turkish electric car brand Togg is reversing its sales plans. Available since March in dedicated European markets, the brand is re-focusing on its domestic market only as the brand needs to sort out certain teething problems. “We should first show sustained success in our own market,” told Togg CEO Gürcan Karakas to the German newspaper […]
June 20, 2023
Dacia allegedly wants to offer the next generation of its most popular small car as an electric model from 2027 or 2028. It could even become a BEV-only model, some British media report. The new-generation Sandero is expected to be based on the CMF-BEV platform, which will also be used by the full-electric Renault 5, […]
June 20, 2023
Citroën will be the first to launch a small, affordable EV costing less than €25 000. The ë-C3 will be available in Spring 2024, earlier than already announced competitors like the VW ID.2 and the Renault 5 Electric. The affordability of an EV in the lower segments is a big concern for car manufacturers. Until […]
June 19, 2023
Indian-born Ashwani Gupta, Nissan’s COO, will leave the company by the end of this month. In a short press release, Gupta is mentioned as one of the fathers of Nissan’s recent resurgence but also that he leaves “to pursue other challenges or opportunities”. Ashwani Gupta (52) arrived in the highest ranks of the Nissan management […]
June 19, 2023
Chinese carmaker BYD eyes one-tenth of the electric vehicle market in Germany. The ambition was made public by its sales director Lars Pauly, who didn’t commit to timing for the target. BYD’s commercial start in dedicated markets in Europe is very fresh. But the brand obviously aims to make its mark. “We want to have […]
June 19, 2023
The fight of Dutch fast-charger company Fastned and Tesla with its Superchargers against the charging station monopoly for Tank & Rast, owning 95% of all fuel stations along German highways, is moving to a higher level; the European Court of Justice (ECJ). Both companies were challenging the decision of the German Federal Anti-Cartel Office, which […]
June 19, 2023
Municipal, provincial, and regional officials in Belgium will soon be allowed to fine motorists alongside the police if they overtake a cyclist in a bicycle zone. The council of ministers has decided this. A car driver who overtakes cyclists there risks a municipal administrative sanction, known as a GAS fine for short, of 58 euros. […]
