SD Worx: ‘Number of new company cars fell by half in 2025’

January 10, 2026

Company managers and employers often prefer to extend their current contracts by one year rather than purchase a new company car to keep the old, more favourable corporate tax deduction rules in place for longer. And if a new company car is purchased, it is greener but more expensive. By the end of 2024, 8 out […]

Dumarey Powerglide in Strasbourg closes down: 320 jobs lost

January 10, 2026

There has been unrest for some time at the Dumarey factory in Strasbourg, which manufactures car gearboxes. The union protest is set to grow now that West Flemish businessman Guido Dumarey has announced plans to close the factory in Alsace, France, before the end of this year. The closure could result in the loss of […]

810 km on a charge: Volvo’s all-new EX60 aims to crush range anxiety

January 09, 2026

Volvo Cars is raising the stakes in the crowded compact electric SUV market with its upcoming EX60. The battery-powered successor to its bestselling XC60 will travel farther and charge faster than any electric Volvo before. The EX60, set for full disclosure on January 21, is positioned as a critical model for Volvo as it tries […]

The vacuum cleaner’s hypercar dream(e)s that come true in Vegas

January 08, 2026

Chinese appliance maker Dreame, stepping onto the CES 2026 stage in Las Vegas, clearly hadn’t come to talk about better suction power alone. Next to robot vacuums and cordless cleaners, the company unveiled three dramatic electric sports car concepts. An idea that it has been playing with for some time now, coming true in Vegas, […]

Alpine extends its distribution network in Belgium

January 08, 2026

Reinforced by its recent sales successes, Alpine is substantially enlarging its dealer network in Belgium. “This strategic enlargement follows the dynamic growth curve of Alpine and shows that Alpine wants to be even closer to its customers to deploy its electric portfolio progressively,” says the importer, Renault Belgium. Alpine already has ‘Alpine Stores’ in Antwerp, […]

Former Polestar CEO Thomas Ingenlath returns to Volvo Cars

January 08, 2026

Volvo Cars announces the appointment of Thomas Ingenlath as Chief Design Officer, effective 1 February 2026. Meanwhile, Volvo also reported its December sales and 2025 results. “The appointment of Thomas Ingenlath marks the return of one of the most influential designers in the company’s recent history and reinforces Volvo Cars’ leadership in design,” Volvo proudly […]

EV Belgium’s success story and the silence on convincing consumers

January 07, 2026

At its annual press conference, EV Belgium, the umbrella federation representing the business ecosystem behind zero-emission mobility, delivered impressive figures: 2025 ended with more than 145,000 newly sold electric vehicles, a market share of 35 percent, and nearly 450,000 EVs on Belgian roads. Much of that success, however, is driven by the continued dominance of […]

BMW and Mercedes compete on AI assistance at CES

January 07, 2026

At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, the German premium car manufacturers BMW and Mercedes-Benz are taking their intense rivalry to the technology show, showcasing digital AI innovations in their latest-generation vehicles. On the one hand, there’s the BMW Group with AI assistant technology via a collaboration with Amazon Alexa; on the other […]

Brussels Motor Show 2026: the car salon that refused to disappear

January 07, 2026

Brussels is set to reclaim center stage in the European automotive calendar this winter, as the 102nd Brussels Motor Show opens from 9 to 18 January 2026 at Brussels Expo in Heysel. After drawing more than 307,000 visitors at the previous edition, organizers once again expect comparable numbers, confirming the Belgian show’s remarkable resurgence at […]

‘Belgian used car market hits best results since 2006’

January 06, 2026

Last year, the Belgian second-hand car market achieved its best results since 2006. While the new car market continues to decline, the volume of used cars remains stable at a historically high level. Registrations increased by 0.9% (+6,194 units) after consecutive years of growth and a very strong 2024. In December alone, 59,090 used cars were registered, […]

EV interest rebounds among Belgian households, BNP survey suggests

January 06, 2026

Nearly one in five Belgian households now report considering a switch to a fully electric car within the next two years, while almost a quarter already drive some form of electrified vehicle. These are some of the figures BNP Paribas Fortis presents prominently in its latest mobility survey, released ahead of the opening of the […]

Dutch GoVolta envisions Ghent-Paris too with revamped Belgian trains (update)

December 22, 2025

The new Dutch international train company, GoVolta, will begin operating direct daytime trains from Amsterdam to Berlin and Hamburg in March. The trains are expected to run three times a week. Belgian passengers will also be able to take advantage of this offer, as the train is scheduled to stop in Ghent – expect a […]

BMW Belux CEO prudently positive about 2026

December 19, 2025

For the 5th year in a row, BMW is the undisputed market leader in Belgium, a unique feat worldwide. BMW Belux CEO Alexander Wehr was, of course, thrilled with this result at the traditional yearly overview. When it comes to the future of BMW and Mini in our countries (and abroad), BMW’s top manager remains […]

Flanders’ largest public fast-charging hub opens at Malinas Mechelen

December 19, 2025

On Thursday morning, charging infrastructure company Allego and real estate investor Mitiska REIM have opened a public fast-charging park for 24 cars in the parking lot of the Malinas shopping center in Mechelen.  According to both partners, it is now the largest publicly accessible fast-charging hub in Flanders. The largest public fast-charging station so far […]

BYD hits 15-million NEV milestone overtaking Tesla and VW combined

December 19, 2025

Chinese automaker BYD announced this week that cumulative output of its electric and plug-in hybrid models has reached 15 million units, a figure that now exceeds the combined lifetime electric-vehicle production of Tesla (8.1 million) and the Volkswagen Group (under 3 million). That acceleration mirrors what is happening across the global market. Recent analysis shows […]

VW ID. Polo reveals its inner secrets before launch in Spring 2026 (update)

December 19, 2025

Ahead of the market launch of the ID. Polo next year, Volkswagen has released further details about its electric compact car. This includes performance data for the four drivetrains and two battery variants. In an interview with the German car magazine, VW boss Thomas Schäfer emphasized that the future is electric, especially for smaller cars. […]

Arval–Athlon talks point to a new 2.3 million-vehicle leasing giant

December 18, 2025

The announcement in an official press release on 18 December that BNP Paribas’ subsidiary, Arval, has entered into exclusive negotiations to acquire Athlon from Mercedes-Benz Group is widely seen as the next significant milestone in consolidating Europe’s vehicle leasing market. If completed, the transaction would create a full-service leasing group managing around 2.3 million vehicles, […]

EU waters down 2035 ICE ban, trading clarity for short-term comfort

December 17, 2025

In the short term, Europe’s car industry gains breathing space. In the longer term, Europe’s climate policy and electric-mobility leadership risk losing clarity and momentum, despite mounting evidence that the electric car is already the technologically and economically superior option. That is the uncomfortable trade-off at the heart of the European Commission’s new automotive action […]

Ford pivots back to ICE vehicles in the U.S.

December 17, 2025

Ford Motor Co. is drastically scaling back its electric vehicle plans and refocusing its U.S. manufacturing footprint on hybrid and gasoline vehicles to reduce losses from an EV market that never developed the way it envisioned. Ford has announced a comprehensive realignment of its electric vehicle business—primarily focused on North America. Production of the F-150 […]

EU Commission’s first draft automotive action plan softens 2035 ICE ban

December 17, 2025

The European Commission has presented as expected on Tuesday its broad Automotive Action Plan aimed at supporting the competitiveness of Europe’s car industry while maintaining the EU’s long-term climate objectives. Central to the proposal is a revision of the framework governing CO₂ emissions from new cars and vans after 2035, combined with industrial support measures […]

Renault Twingo E-Tech Electric: Belgium gets the €19,500 price

December 16, 2025

Renault has put a number on its promise to democratise electric city cars. As promised, the new Twingo E-Tech Electric starts at €19,500 in Belgium, making it one of the very few fully electric cars from a mainstream European brand to slip under the symbolic €20,000 threshold. And that, more than any design cue or technical […]

Smart #2 starts road testing: turning a provocation into a rational choice

December 16, 2025

According to a newly released statement from Smart Europe, the fully electric #2, to be launched at the end of 2026, has entered an intensive real-world validation phase on its entirely new Electric Compact Architecture (ECA). The #2, expected to become the spiritual successor to the original Smart Fortwo, arrives at a moment when the […]

Brussels Motor Show has high hopes for 2026 edition

December 12, 2025

According to organizer Febiac, the Brussels Motor Show 2026 is alive and kicking. This 102nd edition will feature a record number of participating exhibitors (64), while two-wheelers are back again, with an additional 28 exhibiting companies. Frank Van Gool, CEO at the sector federation Febiac: “Records are always lovely for statistics, but to me it’s […]

Car lobby wins battle to keep combustion engines alive in the EU after 2035

December 12, 2025

Europe will no longer hold on to its long-promised ban on new registrations of gasoline and diesel cars as of 2035. The Commission has settled for a rewrite, now demanding that the average vehicle sold will be obliged to emit 90% less CO2 after that deadline. Pitched as a measure to safeguard jobs in the […]

De Lijn orders 350 more e-buses from BYD and Daimler

December 11, 2025

De Lijn is expanding its e-bus fleet with another 350 vehicles from BYD and Daimler. The BYD buses are the last of a 2023 framework agreement for 500 e-buses, which sparked criticism from Belgian stakeholders for not selecting local bus manufacturers VDL and Van Hool, both of which have since gone bankrupt. The first BYD […]

Trump goes for ‘gas guzzlers’ again

December 11, 2025

Last week, President Donald Trump’s administration proposed loosening federal fuel-economy standards, giving automakers a reprieve from stringent emissions rules and prompting some analysts and environmental organizations to say the change could mean the return of the gas-guzzler. Trump and Department of Transportation officials said automakers might now be required to meet an average of 34.5 […]

Milan Nedeljkovic will succeed Oliver Zipse as BMW Group CEO

December 10, 2025

The Supervisory Board of BMW has decided on the successor to CEO Oliver Zipse: At the Annual General Meeting in May 2026, current Production Board Member Milan Nedeljković (56) will take over as Chairman of the Board in Munich. BMW had already made an exception to its internal age rule for Zipse. In 2023, the […]

Strategic partnership between Renault and Ford on EVs in Europe

December 09, 2025

Renault Group and Ford form a strategic partnership for passenger and commercial vehicles, starting with two affordable electric cars in Europe. The companies have signed a partnership agreement to develop two Ford-branded passenger electric vehicles based on Renault Group’s Ampere platform. Additionally, the companies will explore the opportunity to collaborate in the commercial vehicle segment […]

CATL says battery-powered ocean ships are just three years away

December 09, 2025

When Chinese battery giant CATL announced last week that fully electric vessels capable of open-ocean voyages could be commercially viable within three years, the claim sent a jolt through the maritime world. Batteries have already reshaped personal mobility and are rapidly gaining ground in Europe’s leisure boating market, but scaling them to the demands of […]

Ricardo report: ‘Charging stations in Europe to triple by 2030’

December 08, 2025

The charging infrastructure in Europe will increase from approximately 12.2 million charging points to around 35.4 million by 2030. That means almost a threefold increase over five years. This is according to a recent report compiled by the consulting firm Ricardo on behalf of the European division of the International Automobile Federation (FIA). A large […]

Vias study: ‘Why we don’t like each other on Belgian roads’

December 08, 2025

According to a recent study by the Belgian road safety institute Vias, there really is an “affective polarization” in traffic ─ negative feelings and hostility ─ between different groups of road users. People clearly rate their own group more positively than others, with particularly negative feelings toward e-scooters and cyclists. In an urban context, these tensions […]

Fiat Grande Panda and Dacia Bigster winners of VAB’s family car election

December 05, 2025

For the 39th edition of the Family Car election by Flemish mobility club VAB, the participating journalists and VAB members could choose from two pricing categories. In the past, there was a third category for electric cars, but it has since been abolished as more affordable BEVs have entered the market. This year, (partial) electrification […]

Europe agrees to adopt Belgian Car-Pass system to combat odometer fraud

December 05, 2025

There is an EU agreement for a system like the Belgian Car-Pass, at least if it is up to the European transport ministers. With this initiative, Europe aims to tackle odometer fraud in second-hand vehicles across the European Union. The mandatory registration system is primarily based on the operating principles of the Belgian Car-Pass, a […]

New analysis offers a sharp snapshot of Europe’s fast-shifting EV market

December 05, 2025

Despite the (mostly German) carmakers’ lobbying to hit the brakes and give ICE another chance, Europe’s electric-vehicle landscape is shifting fast, and a new analysis from TradingPedia offers an unusually detailed snapshot of which brands and models are winning the race in 2025. TradingPedia, a Bulgarian financial analysis platform that frequently works with industry datasets, […]

Design chief Gerry McGovern ousted at Jaguar Land Rover

December 04, 2025

Jaguar Land Rover’s design chief, Gerry McGovern, has left the automaker amid a shakeup instigated by the new CEO, P.B. Balaji. McGovern was fired and “escorted out of the office,” Autocar India reported, citing sources with knowledge of the situation inside JLR’s Indian parent company, Tata Motors. JLR declined to comment when contacted. McGovern, 69, […]

Poppy launches new flexible, short-term private leasing formula

December 04, 2025

Poppy, the D’Ieteren-owned mobility provider with its iconic red cars, is today launching Poppy Lease, a 100% digital, flexible offering for Belgian private individuals and the self-employed. The project actually started three years ago under the name MyPop as a test phase. Belgium lags far behind its neighbours in private leasing. A study by Renta, […]

Mercedes CEO Källenius re-elected as President of ACEA

December 04, 2025

As already assumed earlier, the Board of the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) has re-elected Ola Källenius, CEO of Mercedes-Benz, for a second term as ACEA President in 2026. Källenius is also setting the tone for his second year at the helm of the association: Competitiveness and market-driven decarbonisation high on agenda,” states the headline […]

Ford to replace Focus in European lineup with Bronco nameplate

December 04, 2025

To stabilize its shrinking European market share, Ford plans to leverage its most rugged American model. The carmaker is preparing to launch a Europe-exclusive version of the Bronco in 2027, but it will not feature a purely electric driveline. And don’t expect a rival for the upcoming small G-Class and baby Defender. Ford doesn’t shy […]

Nissan Belux deploys plans for 2026

December 03, 2025

A lot is going to happen for Nissan Belux in 2026. The recently launched Micra and Leaf are ready for sale; other BEVs are coming. Secondly, Nissan will again be present at the Brussels Motor Show (BMS) in January. Thirdly, Nissan Belux, part of Nissan eNEST (Benelux plus three Scandinavian countries), will be selling the […]

Why used EVs are becoming the safest bet: VAB’s end-of-lease analysis

December 03, 2025

A new analysis of end-of-lease EVs by Belgian mobility organisation VAB confirms what international research has long indicated: battery reliability is far better than many early predictions, and the second-hand electric car market has matured much faster than most consumers realize. With high battery health, falling purchase prices, and ownership costs that increasingly rival or […]

Belux car registrations in November: -11.8%

December 02, 2025

According to data from the sector federation Febiac and the Federal Public Service Mobility & Transport, 28,071 new cars were registered in November, 11.8% fewer than in the same month last year. Looking at the first 11 months of this year, sales went down 9.2% compared to the previous year. We see the same trend […]

Kia picks Brussels for its Europe-only ‘affordable’ EV2 world premiere

December 02, 2025

Kia officially confirmed on Tuesday that its all-new EV2 will make its world debut at the 2026 Brussels Motor Show in January 2026, a decision that places Europe firmly at the center of the brand’s electric ambitions. The EV2 has been designed from the start as a European car. It will be the smallest member […]

Flemish government scraps stricter low-emission zones

December 01, 2025

The Flemish government has definitively abolished the tightening of the low-emission zones (LEZ). Initially, the plan was to ban diesel cars with the Euro 5 standard and gasoline cars with the Euro 2 standard from Antwerp and Ghent starting in 2026. Still, in September, the Flemish government decided to suspend this tightening. This suspension has […]

Leapmotor’s B05 China launch to ignite battle for affordable EVs

November 28, 2025

When Leapmotor first unveiled the B05 at the IAA Mobility show in Munich last September, it was clear that the compact electric hatchback was conceived with Europe in mind. What was less clear then was how aggressively the Chinese newcomer, backed by Stellantis, intended to position itself. Now, following the official launch of the model […]

CATL and Stellantis break ground on Spanish battery factory

November 27, 2025

CATL, the world’s largest manufacturer of automotive batteries, and automotive giant Stellantis have started construction of a battery factory in Figueruelas, near Zaragoza. The expected capacity of the LFP battery factory is up to 50 kWh, enough to supply tens of thousands of EVs with batteries each year. For CATL, this is the third battery […]

Is BMW considering a range extender for larger cars?

November 27, 2025

BMW is reportedly considering equipping some electric models with range extenders, primarily for the Chinese market. The larger model series are the main candidates, as they are more likely to have the space for an additional powertrain. News agency Bloomberg broke the news on BMW’s plans, citing sources familiar with the company’s strategy. Apparently, the […]

How Kia’s EV3 propels the brand to the front of Belgian EV market

November 26, 2025

On the Belgian car market, where company cars account for more than 60% of registrations, no electric model has made a louder entrance this year than the Kia EV3. With 39% of its cars sold being purely EVs, Kia scores higher than the Belgian market average of 33%. And by launching a new EV4, EV5, […]

Mercedes CEO Källenius to be reelected as ACEA president?

November 26, 2025

Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Källenius is apparently seeking a second term as president of the European Car Manufacturer Association ACEA. The ACEA president is elected annually, and an extension is possible, which Källenius now appears to intend. The rumors were reported by the German business publication Handelsblatt, citing industry sources. Typically, the ACEA president serves a […]

EU car registrations up 5.8% in October, EV share 16.4% and growing

November 26, 2025

According to the data of the European Car Manufacturers Association ACEA, there were 5.8% more cars registered in October compared to the same month in 2024. Year-to-date, there’s a slight progress of 1.4%, mainly due to the positive last four months. The battery-electric car market share reached 16.4% YTD, yet it is still below the […]

Peugeot family divided over new Stellantis VP on the Board

November 25, 2025

Before the end of the year, the Peugeot family must decide who will represent them on the Stellantis Board. Currently, Robert Peugeot (75) is the Vice-President of the Board, representing the PSA part of the group. At the same time, Agnelli heir John Elkann is the President of the Stellantis Board, representing the FCA interests. […]

Electric crown slips from Tesla’s grasp as BYD surges forward

November 24, 2025

BYD has moved decisively into the global lead in battery-electric vehicle sales, widening the gap with Tesla and signalling a shift in the balance of power in the world’s largest and most contested segment of the auto market. New data for the third quarter of 2025 shows BYD selling more than 582,000 BEVs worldwide, comfortably […]

Magnus Nilsson succeeds Stefan Fesser as plant manager of Volvo Car Gent

November 21, 2025

On January 1st, 2026, Magnus Nilsson will take over as the new CEO and plant manager of Volvo Car Gent from Stefan Fesser. After more than seven years, Stefan Fesser will take on a strategic role within the company. Magnus Nilsson (58) was born in Sweden. He has worked for Volvo Cars since 1988, in various […]

MG pushes deeper into EV family market with roomier S6 EV

November 21, 2025

Chances are high that you’ve seen this S6 EV before. In the summer, this SUV was inadvertently published on Euro NCAP’s test publication pages ahead of its official reveal. MG has finally unwrapped the full specs of its latest addition to its electric portfolio. It’s an SUV destined for families who have outgrown the S5 […]

Driving a halo-EV with rally genes: Opel Mokka GSe

November 21, 2025

With the new Mokka GSe, which we drove on the roads north of Madrid and on the Jarama race circuit, Opel is doing something unusual in today’s EV market. Instead of chasing maximum range, fleet efficiency, or price-optimised urban mobility, the brand is deliberately injecting emotion and performance into one of its smallest electric SUVs. […]

Mercedes to adapt its product strategy to ‘premium in all segments’

November 20, 2025

According to several sources, primarily German, Mercedes is quietly shifting its model strategy. According to the German newspaper Handelsblatt, the ‘L-word’ (L for Luxury) has now become taboo, and the Stuttgart-based manufacturer is now reshifting its focus to ‘premium in all segments’. About three years ago, Mercedes announced that it would focus more on the […]

Porsche Cayenne Electric officially launched

November 20, 2025

Porsche has unveiled its second electric SUV with the new Cayenne. In the Stuttgart-based company’s revised strategy, the Cayenne Electric is no longer the only way forward, but part of a ‘three-pronged drive strategy’ alongside combustion engines and hybrids. One thing remains clear: if you want to drive the most powerful Cayenne, there’s no getting […]

New Recon is Jeep’s first EV with off-road spirit

November 19, 2025

Jeep is taking battery power off-road with the 2026 Recon, its first trail-rated electric vehicle. The 650-hp Recon was built to handle rugged terrain, with plenty of torque to overcome obstacles in the wilderness. It offers up to 400 km of driving range and accelerates to 100 kph in less than four seconds. Product blitz […]

Leapmotor’s new A10 crossover charges into Europe’s affordable-EV race

November 19, 2025

Leapmotor, the only 10-year-old Chinese electric carmaker backed by Stellantis, is about to launch a new compact crossover, the A10, with an all-electric powertrain. It will be positioned to directly compete with BYD’s Atto 2, with an expected price between 80,000 and 100,000 yuan (9,710 and 12,137 euros). This could be an essential player in […]

Global EV survey shows 41% won’t buy Tesla over ethical concerns

November 18, 2025

A new international survey by the Global EV Alliance suggests the electric-vehicle landscape is being shaped as much by politics and perception as by product and pricing. As for car brands, 41% of buyers are reluctant to buy Tesla due to political concerns, while one in ten opposes cars made in China. The Global EV […]

Will Renault and Nissan revive the Alliance?

November 18, 2025

Renault Group and Nissan are in talks to revive their faltering alliance following leadership changes at the two automakers and struggles at Nissan, The Financial Times reported. Citing people familiar with the discussions, the FT reported on November 17th that Luca de Meo’s departure last summer had spurred the talks. De Meo was replaced by […]