CATL’s next battery shot: the cell that breathes air

June 04, 2026

The world’s largest battery maker has publicly backed lithium-air technology as its long-term strategic direction. Not solid-state (though that is next up, too). Not sodium-ion (that is already going into mass production this year).  The battery company that correctly predicted and pushed those transitions now says the real endgame is a battery that uses atmospheric […]

ICCT: ‘PHEVs emit 5 times more CO2 in real-world conditions’

June 04, 2026

A study by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) shows that plug-in hybrids in Europe emit, on average, five times more CO₂ than official test values suggest. According to the study, the gap between real-world and certified emissions is particularly large for plug-in hybrids compared to other powertrain types, and continues to widen. In […]

Avello: ‘Cycling infrastructure hinders safe commuting’

June 03, 2026

Wallonia and Brussels lag behind Flanders in bicycle commuting to work. Of course, the terrain and the capital’s busy urban environment play a role in this. But according to Avello, an advocacy group for cyclists in Walloon and Brussels municipalities, Wallonia and Brussels are also structurally the least bicycle-friendly regions, and it is precisely the […]

Uber extends its robotaxi services in Munich with second partnership

June 03, 2026

Ride-hailing giant Uber announces a three-way collaboration with chip giant Nvidia and Israeli artificial intelligence startup Autobrains to launch a second robotaxi program in Munich. With a different software approach, the technology bets on fast scalability and carmaker independence.     Uber’s new deal combines Autobrains’ autonomous driving software, Nvidia’s Drive Hyperion Level 4 compute […]

Chinese TikTok car will not be about powertrain but cockpit 

June 03, 2026

Despite earlier denials of the rumors, TikTok’s parent company is preparing to launch a car in its home country, China. It will be a crossover targeting the youthful audience typically active on social media platforms. The car itself will be manufactured by Seres, the Chinese automaker that’s also behind Huawei’s Aito brand. Five months ago, […]

Battery worries: Renault asks Verkor to “revise its trajectory”

June 02, 2026

Renault Group is a shareholder and, temporarily, the only client of the French battery-cell producer Verkor, and on Monday, it severely criticized the company’s growing lack of competitiveness and the 18-month delay in starting production. Renault asks Verkor “to revise its trajectory” and ” to come with credible governance”. “We will stay a partner of […]

New record for traffic violations in Belgium

June 02, 2026

Last year, the federal police recorded 10,1 million traffic violations in Belgium, a new record. Approximately 83% of all recorded traffic violations were speeding offenses. However, the majority of these are minor violations, involving speeds of 0-10 kph over the limit. This trend is largely attributable to the fact that traffic enforcement in Belgium is […]

Belux car registrations slightly lower in May, BEV sales continue to grow

June 02, 2026

According to the data of the sector federation, Febiac, and the federal government service Mobility & Transport, 33,625 new cars were registered in May, 2.1% fewer than last year. Febiac stresses that there were two fewer working days this May than last year, which is the main cause of the regression. Overall, looking at the […]

Toyota scraps the Lexus LF-ZC despite production promise

June 01, 2026

Japanese automaker Toyota has quietly killed its most technologically ambitious electric vehicle: the LF-ZC. It joins Honda, Mazda, and Subaru in retreating from their own electrification promises. When Toyota unveiled the Lexus LF-ZC at the Japan Mobility Show in October 2023, it looked, briefly, like the world’s largest carmaker had decided to stop hedging. The […]

Charging station manufacturer Enovates pulls the plug

June 01, 2026

Enovates, the Belgian manufacturer of electric-vehicle charging stations established in Lokeren, East-Flanders, had to close its books after several years of financial losses. According to the newspaper De Tijd, the mother company, Connect Group, has finally pulled the plug. Enovates has installed several hundred thousand charging stations across Europe, and many charge point operators are […]

New Lancia Gamma crossover SUV comes in Autumn

May 28, 2026

Lancia has unveiled the first images of the New Gamma crossover, the model “that marks a key step in the brand’s evolution”. Designed, engineered, and developed in Italy, the New Lancia Gamma is produced at the Melfi plant, one of the most advanced manufacturing sites within the Stellantis Group. The first vehicles are already undergoing […]

Former VW CEO Herbert Diess plans to build electric tractors

May 28, 2026

Former Volkswagen CEO Herbert Diess plans to launch a new mid-range electric tractor next year. To this end, he has founded Diess E-Agrartechnik AG, based in Munich. One of the unique features of the e-tractor is expected to be a swappable battery system enabling 24/7 operation. Herbert Diess is undoubtedly enjoying an active retirement: after […]

Tesla Cybercab certified as the most efficient EV ever built 

May 27, 2026

The Tesla Cybercab leaves every other production EV in the dust when it comes to frugality. For robotaxi economics, its record consumption is genuinely significant. For everything else, context is more important. Tesla’s Cybercab has been officially certified by the US EPA at 165 Wh per mile. Converted to the European WLTP standard, this would […]

EU car registrations up 5.1% in April, one fifth fully electric

May 27, 2026

In April 2026, year-to-date (YTD) new EU car registrations increased by 4.2%, despite ongoing geopolitical factors heightening uncertainty and downside risks, according to data from the European Car Manufacturers Association (ACEA). In April only, the market increased 5.1% (YOY). “The market continued to benefit from strong consumer demand for a range of electrified technologies, supported […]

BYD launches Dolphin G DM-i: the smallest plug-in hybrid in Belgium 

May 27, 2026

BYD is bringing plug-in hybrid technology to the B-segment, a class that until now has been bypassed or abandoned by car makers. The Dolphin G DM-i aims squarely at Europe’s B-segment. Not only is this the first model BYD has developed specifically for overseas markets, but it is also the only PHEV currently on sale […]

Deutsche Bahn aims to boost regional train punctuality back to over 90%

May 26, 2026

German rail operator Deutsche Bahn aims to restore punctuality in regional services to above 90%, although it has not set a specific timeline for achieving this target. Historically, regional trains from Deutsche Bahn, or DB Regio, did perform well, with punctuality consistently above 90%. But the German rail operator’s aging, worn-out network is undergoing simultaneous […]

Body cams coming soon to Belgian public transportation

May 26, 2026

Both train conductors and drivers at De Lijn, MIVB/STIB, and LETEC will soon be allowed to wear body cams. This was decided by the Federal Council of Ministers. The draft legislation must still be approved by the Council of State and then by Parliament before it can take effect. With this measure, the government hopes […]

Ferrari unveils the electric Luce, do we see the ‘light’ at €550,000?

May 26, 2026

Ferrari has unveiled its first battery-electric vehicle, the Luce, revealing a potentially polarizing four-door fastback that departs sharply from the supercar maker’s tradition and heritage. The Luce, styled by former Apple design chief Jony Ive’s LoveFrom collective, abandons Ferrari’s signature looks for a simple, futuristic shape with floating aerodynamic elements and hidden taillights. ‘Deliberate decision’ […]

Xpeng rolls first series-produced robotaxi off the line

May 26, 2026

Chinese tech company and EV maker Xpeng has achieved a domestic first: a robotaxi built entirely with in-house technologies has entered series production. But rolling a vehicle off a production line might well be the easy part. The real test starts in the second half of 2026. Xpeng has officially rolled off the assembly line […]

Electra undercuts home rates for fast charging – but not always and not everywhere

May 20, 2026

The French charging point operator (CPO) Electra is the first major player in Belgium to tie public charging costs to time-of-use logic. This means that off-peak rates will be offered that are lower than the average Belgian household electricity tariff. This scheme provides a new windfall for environments where charging is constrained by practical caveats, […]

Skoda Epiq is VW Group’s third compact EV offering

May 20, 2026

Following the Volkswagen ID. Polo and the Cupra Raval, the Volkswagen Group is introducing the Skoda Epiq as the third model in its new family of electric small cars. Prices are set to start at €26,290 in Belgium, but most likely only more expensive models will be available initially, starting with a ‘First Edition’. The […]

EV adoption: emerging markets overtake established leaders

May 20, 2026

According to new data from the International Council on Clean Transportation ICCT, zero- and low-emission architectures accounted for a quarter of all global light-duty vehicle sales in 2025. While established markets show significant variation, emerging economies — particularly in Southeast Asia — are rapidly accelerating the e-mobility transition. The global electrification of light-duty vehicles, combining […]

Germany starts new €3 billion ‘E-Auto Booster’ subsidy scheme

May 19, 2026

Germany has launched applications for its new electrified vehicle subsidy program. Backed by a €3 billion budget, the scheme aims to support around 800,000 battery-electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids, and range extenders by 2029 through income-based grants of up to €6,000. Germany has officially opened applications for its new electric vehicle subsidy scheme after the program […]

ZAS Hospital Group calls for ban on nighttime rides on shared e-scooters

May 19, 2026

The Antwerp-based ZAS Hospital Group is advocating a ban on shared e-scooters between midnight and 8 a.m., according to Gazet van Antwerpen. With this proposal, emergency services aim to halt the rise in accidents involving this mode of transportation. However well-intentioned it may be – and understandable given the frustration of emergency room doctors who […]

Ford plans 5 new cars for Europe, made in Europe

May 19, 2026

Ford plans to introduce five entirely new passenger car models by the end of 2029, all manufactured in Europe for the European market. These include a fully electric compact car, a small electric SUV, and three models available with various powertrain options. Ford has provided further details about its European plans: before the end of […]

VW ID. Polo also comes as a GTI (Update)

May 19, 2026

Volkswagen is bringing the GTI into the electric era while drawing heavily on the badge’s heritage. A red stripe, tartan trim, and GTI mode meet 166 kW, an adaptive chassis, and a front-axle differential lock. The manufacturer will open pre-sales for the ID. Polo GTI in autumn at prices starting just below €39,000 in Germany. […]

Will there soon be a single ticket for train travel in Europe?

May 18, 2026

If the European Commission has its way, there will be a single ticket for anyone wishing to travel by train across Europe. The measure, described as “a game-changer for rail travel” by European Commissioner for Transport and Tourism Apostolos Tzitzikostas, is intended to make cross-border travel on the continent easier. For international train travel, passengers […]

Vision BMW Alpina study hints at the future of BMW’s new sub-brand

May 18, 2026

Revealed at the 2026 Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, the Vision BMW Alpina is a design study that heralds a new chapter for a brand, now entirely under the BMW flag, defined by sophistication and the mastery of both performance and comfort. “Alpina has always represented a very specific idea of performance and refinement, where speed […]

Humble Hauler challenges Einride’s grip on autonomous freight

May 18, 2026

For the past several years, discussions surrounding driverless, cab-less electric freight have been heavily dominated by a single European player: Sweden’s Einride. Now, a well-funded Californian challenger emerges. Humble proposes an alternative to Einride’s established ‘Pod’ architecture. Its arrival launches a new phase of competition in autonomous port and yard logistics. San Francisco-based start-up Humble […]

Flanders allows Tesla’s FSD Supervised on public roads

May 13, 2026

Following the regulatory approval in the Netherlands, Tesla is officially allowed to expand its Full Self-Driving (Supervised) to Belgian roads. However, as regulatory barriers across Europe are being lowered, the automaker is simultaneously overhauling the pricing model for its assisted-driving package. The Netherlands has triggered the regulatory domino effect under EU law, and it is […]

Renault adds a ‘beach adventurer’ to its R4 Electric portfolio

May 13, 2026

Following the Savane 4×4 Concept last year, Renault is unveiling a new variation of the Renault 4 Electric at the 2026 Roland-Garros French Open: Renault 4 JP4x4 Concept. A fresh take on the Plein Air and JP4 versions of the original Renault 4, ‘Renault 4 JP4x4 Concept’ is a modern beach car, an adventure-seeking leisure […]

Belgium increases tax-free EV charging allowance for third straight quarter

May 13, 2026

Belgium will raise the maximum tax-free reimbursement that employers can pay workers for charging their electric company cars at home for the third consecutive quarter, highlighting how the country’s deeply entrenched company car system is rapidly adapting to electrification. From July 1, employers using Belgium’s official flat-rate system may reimburse employees up to €0.3222 per […]

GOCA: ‘Minister’s plan on car inspection collides with future EU regulations’

May 12, 2026

The drastic reform of the car inspection procedure in Flanders, planned by Flemish Mobility Minister Annick De Ridder, goes in the opposite direction to the new regulatory plans of the European Union, says GOCA, the sector federation currently responsible for the technical and safety inspection. “We have a growing impression that a more ideological viewpoint […]

The VinFast trilogy (2): Vietnam’s electric bus gamble rolls toward Europe

May 12, 2026

After building artificial lagoons, universities, hospitals, shopping malls, and entire private cities across Vietnam, Vingroup is now attempting something even more ambitious: exporting Vietnamese-built electric buses to Europe. Just a short drive from the monumental Vinhomes developments outside Hanoi, VinFast’s sprawling industrial complex in Hải Phòng reveals another side of the conglomerate’s ambitions. Next to […]

Van Mossel is largest car sales group in Belgium

May 11, 2026

Last year, the car dealer group Van Mossel became the biggest car seller in Belgium. The group overtook importer D’Ieteren, which had been the most important car seller in this country for years. According to data from dealer data analyst Aumacon, requested by De Tijd, Van Mossel recorded 32,500 new-car registrations in 2025, while D’ieteren […]

EV retreat: Porsche shuts down battery, e-bike and software subsidiaries 

May 11, 2026

Porsche has decided to wind down three non-core divisions, resulting in the loss of over 500 jobs. The closures are part of a sweeping strategic reversal that is stripping Porsche of the electromobility ventures it spent years building. The way forward seems to be the backview mirror for the German sports car maker. Germany’s most […]

The VinFast trilogy (1): building a private imperium in communist Vietnam

May 11, 2026

Vietnam does not usually come to mind when discussing global industrial powerhouses. Yet on the eastern outskirts of Hanoi, an empire has emerged that increasingly shapes how modern Vietnam lives, moves, studies, shops, and dreams. VinFast, the new EV brand with a whole lineup of cars and its own electric buses, is now trying to […]

Is Geely choosing Valencia over Ghent for European production?

May 08, 2026

While its subsidiary Volvo is struggling with overcapacity, and the Ghent factory needs relevance through the production of Chinese models, the Spanish outlet La Tribuna de Automocion reports that the mother company Geely is in talks to buy a part of Ford’s plant in Spain. Chinese brands are boosting their manufacturing ambitions in Europe to […]

BMW Group produces its two-millionth BEV, iX3 demand soars

May 08, 2026

A BMW i5 M60 xDrive sedan assembled at Plant Dingolfing is the BMW Group’s two-millionth all-electric vehicle. The anniversary vehicle is going to a customer in Spain. Meanwhile, Group CEO Oliver Zipse revealed that there are already more than 50,000 pre-orders for the iX3 ‘Neue Klasse’. Plant Dingolfing began series production of all-electric automobiles in […]

Alcohol in the morning at airports? Ryanair wants a ban

May 07, 2026

Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary wants to ban alcohol in airports in the morning, before regular restaurant and bar opening hours. The Irish low-cost airline reportedly has to divert a flight almost daily due to the behavior of some passengers. In addition to the morning ban on alcohol before 10 a.m., he also advocates limiting each […]

Belgium hits milestone 500,000th electric car, just three years after 100,000

May 07, 2026

The half-millionth fully-electric passenger vehicle was registered in Belgium earlier this week. To celebrate this milestone, advocacy group EV Belgium held a small ceremony, handing over the keys to a new Polestar. It also reflected the positive market developments that enabled accelerated growth in EV adoption in Belgium. Three years ago, in early 2023, the […]

No driver, no excuse: robotaxis no longer escape fines

May 07, 2026

California is closing a years-old legal loophole that made driverless cars effectively untouchable by traffic police. Starting this summer, autonomous vehicle manufacturers can be fined directly for moving violations committed by their vehicles. The question is: aren’t robotaxis built to behave under all conditions?  For years, driverless cars in California operated in a gray zone. […]

Ghent startup Optimile finds its next gear as DKV Mobility takes over 

May 06, 2026

The Ghent-based software builder for charging stations, Optimile, has found a new breath. To expand its operations at a European level, the company has been fully acquired by the German fuel card giant DKV Mobility. The takeover fits into a broader scenario, as the latter has been buying similar companies over the past few years […]

Amazon becomes a full-fledged logistics company

May 06, 2026

For two decades, the story of Amazon was about what it sold. From now on, the story is about how it moves its own and others’ goods, and for whom. Companies like DHL, FedEx, and UPS have a new, very serious concern. Amazon pulled back a curtain that few in the logistics industry wanted to […]

IEA warns: ‘Methane remains at very high levels’

May 06, 2026

Emissions of methane, a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming, remain very high. The International Environment Agency (IEA) reported this on Monday during an international meeting in Paris, where its annual Global Methane Tracker report was presented. In 2025, record production from the fossil fuel sector (oil, coal, gas) was responsible for 35% of […]

Ex-Ferrari boss di Montezemolo wants to fix German high-speed rail

May 06, 2026

The man who turned Ferrari into a cultural icon wants to do the same for German rail. His weapon: €3.6 billion, 26 Siemens Velaro trains, and a proven Italian playbook that cut ticket prices by 40 percent. Germany has a train problem. In 2025, Deutsche Bahn’s long-distance network posted its worst punctuality record in history: […]

Historic turnaround: Belgium plans to nationalize old nuclear power plants

May 05, 2026

The Belgian government wants to regain full control over energy policy and has secured a purchase option on Engie’s Belgian nuclear operations. Although the decision, a historic shift following the nuclear phase-out under the Verhofstadt 1 government, is generally welcomed, criticism is also growing. The costs remain a major question mark – even Prime Minister […]

European auto industry back in the firing line as Trump reignites 25% tariff threat

May 04, 2026

The trade deal between the US and the EU, which was agreed just last summer, is already showing cracks. President Trump signals a return to the tariff playbook and proposes imposing a 25% duty on European cars and trucks. But this time the trigger is geopolitical as much as economic. Donald Trump’s tariff menace has […]

Is Volvo Ghent’s future at stake? (Update)

May 04, 2026

The fact that the Belgian federal government has set up a ‘task force’ to consider the future of Belgium’s only surviving large car assembly plant in Ghent, operated by Volvo, has set off several alarm bells. Despite the soothing words of Flemish Minister-President Mathias Diependaele, concerns are rising. The different rumors are also fed by […]

Volkswagen’s ID. Polo officially launched, pricing starts at €24,990

April 30, 2026

Volkswagen is finally entering the compact EV segment with the ID. Polo, a name steeped in tradition. It is positioning the new model as an entry point into its electric lineup, priced just under €25,000. Next year, the even smaller ID. Up (name not confirmed yet) should become available at ± €20,000. The Polo first […]

Free bikes on Belgian trains? A popular idea facing hard realities

April 29, 2026

The Belgian Chamber’s Mobility Committee has unanimously approved a resolution by Vooruit to allow free bike use on trains. Whether this will ever actually happen, however, remains to be seen. A resolution is not legally binding. For the resolution to take effect, the government would need to amend the management contract with NMBS/SNCB. In an […]

BYD profit slump highlights global EV pivot as China price war intensifies

April 29, 2026

BYD, the Shenzhen-based carmaker, reported a 55% year-on-year fall in net profit for the first quarter, confirming analyst expectations and underscoring the pressure created by an ongoing price war in China’s hypercompetitive electric vehicle market. Revenues also declined, even as sales volumes remain robust, highlighting a widening gap between growth and profitability. The sharp drop […]

Audi updates Q4 e-tron and stops A1 and Q2 production

April 29, 2026

The wave of updates for the MEB-based electric vehicles from the Volkswagen Group continues. Audi has now unveiled its comprehensively revised Q4 e-tron, featuring technology and design changes, some of which are Audi-specific innovations. Deliveries are expected to begin this summer. The Audi Q4 e-tron is transitioning from the MEB electric platform to the upgraded […]

Freelander is reborn as an electric 4×4 built in China (update)

April 29, 2026

Once upon a time, the Land Rover Freelander was the best-selling four-wheel-drive vehicle in Europe. It held that title for five consecutive years. Now, nearly three decades after its 1997 debut, the name returns, reborn as an independent electric brand built in China but coming to Europe. Together with Chery Jaguar Land Rover and Chinese […]

CATL turns sodium-ion into a grid reality with a 60 GWh landmark deal

April 29, 2026

One week after unveiling its Naxtra sodium-ion battery for electric vehicles, CATL has signed the largest sodium-ion battery order in history: 60 GWh for grid-scale energy storage over three years. The technology has crossed the line from lab breakthrough to industrial product. The ink on CATL’s Tech Day announcements was barely dry. The world’s largest […]

Much-discussed Ventilus project gets environmental permit

April 28, 2026

Flemish Minister of the Environment, Jo Brouns (CD&V), has granted grid operator Elia an environmental permit for the long-awaited Ventilus project, he announced on Monday. The wind energy sector and environmental organizations are relieved; action groups and companies along the route are disappointed. “Minister Brouns is completely disregarding 3,000 objections,” opponents say. New high-voltage line Ventilus […]

Alcohol and drugs remain a persistent problem for De Lijn drivers

April 28, 2026

Last year, 68 drivers at the Flemish public transportation company De Lijn were caught using alcohol or drugs. This marks another increase compared to previous years, when 62 and 57 drivers were caught during preventive checks, respectively. According to Flemish Member of Parliament and CD&V faction leader Peter Van Rompuy, who requested the figures, the […]

Belgium’s company car fleet turns electric faster than anywhere else

April 28, 2026

For the first time, fully electric cars have become the largest group within Belgium’s company car fleet—and the shift is happening significantly faster than in neighboring countries such as the Netherlands, Germany, and France. New data from the National Social Security Office (RSZ) show that electric vehicles accounted for 37.2% of all salary cars in […]

Create a free account, or log in.

Gain access to read this article, plus limited free content.

Yes! I would like to receive new content and updates.