April 17, 2025
China, a long time forerunner in autonomous driving features tested on public roads, is tightening the screws on that technology after an accident that shocked the nation. A dramatic accident in which three young female students were killed in a Xiaomi SU7 sedan that caught fire in March, apparently, was the last straw. Carmakers are […]
April 17, 2025
According to data from the sector federation, Febiac, and the government services, 120,940 new cars were registered during the first quarter of 2025, a decrease of 10.5% compared to 2024. We already showed these results earlier; now is the time to get into the details about who buys what. In 2023 and 2024, Belgium had […]
April 16, 2025
Chinese electric car manufacturer Xpeng has unveiled its updated X9 for 2025, a luxury electric minivan with advanced comfort and driver assistance functions. The model has been on sale in China since 2024 but is now going international, with a European launch expected in the second half of 2025. Xpeng is already present in Europe, […]
April 16, 2025
Rho Motion, a leading EV research house, revealed that 1.7 million electric vehicles were sold globally in March 2025, with 4.1 million sold in Q1 2025. The EV market grew by 29% in March 2025 compared to March 2024 and increased by 40% compared to February 2025. For Q1 overall, the growth rate was also […]
April 15, 2025
Globally, 2024 was the warmest year on record and the first with an average temperature exceeding 1.5°C above the pre‑industrial level. The last ten years have been the warmest ten years on record. This is stated in the Copernicus European State of the Climate Summary 2024, compiled by the European climate service Copernicus and the […]
April 15, 2025
About 320,000 Belgians who bought a car with ‘fraud software’ from the VW Group can finally claim indemnification. Nine years after the court case started, an agreement exists between the Belgian consumer organization TestAankoop/TestAchats and Volkswagen. In those nine years, Volkswagen finally admitted that it had sold some 11 million diesel cars with engine type […]
April 15, 2025
The Belgian federal government gave hybrid cars more breathing space in its Easter agreement. The authorities now think that a battery electric car is not yet the right solution for everyone and are providing more room to hybrids. Organisations that promote EVs or environmental associations see the new rules as a serious step back. The […]
April 14, 2025
The member states of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the maritime branch of the United Nations, reached an agreement on Friday on greening shipping. The deal involves a standard to limit the use of fossil fuels and a price mechanism for companies that do not meet the imposed standards. Ships will have to emit 30 […]
April 11, 2025
Will the EU’s punitive tariffs on Chinese EVs soon end? The European Union and China have opened formal talks on setting minimum prices for Chinese electric vehicles sold in Europe as a potential replacement. Both sides confirmed the development in negotiations, signaling a possible escape route from the escalating trade dispute that has shaken the […]
April 10, 2025
Trade union FIM CISL said Tuesday that Stellantis Group’s production in Italy has worsened and is now at its lowest level since 1956. It said Stellantis production worsened significantly in the first three months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, which had already been “a black year.” Minus 36% Some 109,900 units […]
April 10, 2025
BYD’s newest flagship models, the Han L and Tang L, have gone on sale in China for significantly cheaper than initially presumed. Both models are built on the Chinese manufacturer’s latest ‘Super e’ platform, which promises megawatt charging (1,000 kW) to recover up to 400 km of range in just 5 minutes. Even the fastest-charging […]
April 10, 2025
Belgian private drivers are avoiding electric vehicles. They cite cost, lack of infrastructure, and doubts about sustainability, even as the country embraces broader changes in mobility trends. According to the 2025 Mobility Barometer by insurer Europ Assistance, 62 percent of respondents say their next car won’t be electric, a 10 percent increase from last year. […]
April 09, 2025
Chinese automakers posted a significant sales gain in Europe this February, shrugging off mounting trade pressure from the European Union. Leaning into plug-in hybrids has helped them offset the punitive EU tariffs. BYD, in particular, is leading the charge — topping domestic sales, previewing record-breaking profits, and deepening its presence in key European markets. The […]
April 09, 2025
What kind of drivetrain will we choose for our next car? Plain-old gasoline, hybrid, or electric? It’s often a question about actual needs, economics, and practicality, which most families wrestle with. In reality, 44% of family drivers have no idea of their mobility profile, and a third don’t even know how much their current car […]
April 08, 2025
Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government has confirmed that hybrid vehicles will remain on sale in the UK until 2035 to mitigate the Trump tariffs and shield British automakers from their ripple effects. This is an extension of the previous 2030 ban, which Starmer reinforced as he took office. The ban on new gasoline and diesel […]
April 07, 2025
According to charging station operator MobilityPlus, a quarter of all employees with an electric car hardly ever charge their company car at home. Nevertheless, employees with electric company cars usually have a charging station at home. But most fear that charging at home will drive up their energy bill. MobilityPlus discovered that 26 percent of […]
March 28, 2025
President Donald Trump’s decision to impose a 25% tariff increase on all imported automobiles—set to take effect next week—has ignited sharp reactions across the global automotive industry, triggering concerns among European, Japanese, Korean, and even American manufacturers. Tesla seems to have gained the most from these measures, but Western and Asian countries are warning of […]
March 27, 2025
Mercedes’ mid-size electric panel van, the eVito Tourer, is getting a serious battery upgrade: the panel van is now available with a 90 kWh battery and the existing 60 kWh pack. The larger pack comes from the passenger models EQV and eVito Tourer and offers up to 480 km of range. The W447 generation of […]
March 27, 2025
Japanese car manufacturer Nissan has confirmed that it will release a fully electric version of its Micra this year, the car’s first all-electric generation. The EV will be built by Nissan’s long-time partner Renault in France and will share the same platform as the electric R5. Two other Nissan EVs have also been announced. Meanwhile, […]
March 27, 2025
SAIC, the mother company of the now Chinese MG brand, unwrapped last October in China the fully electric MG ES5, a compact SUV, to succeed in the currently still popular MG ZS EV in Europe. And it’s ready to wash ashore on the Old Continent in the UK first, in April, for a base price […]
March 27, 2025
Mobilize, Renault Group’s sustainable mobility arm has opened 25 fast-charging locations in France and plans to open as many as 100 by the end of 2025. The group also hopes to manage 650 EV charging hubs across Western Europe by the end of 2028. Belgium and Spain are a priority here. The Mobilize Fast Charge […]
March 26, 2025
Geely brand and former Volvo sibling Lynk & Co, known in Europe for its monthly subscription model, is launching a new global flagship PHEV model: the six-seater SUV ‘009’. It’s opening for pre-sales now in China, with four trim levels offered and prices ranging from 330,000 to 435,000 yuan (42,105 – 55,500 euros). It is […]
March 25, 2025
As previously announced in 2023, the Belgian federal government has created an exemption for using a tachograph in electric vans of up to 4.25 tons. Professional drivers of these heavier vans will not have to adhere to mandatory rest times, but there are some conditions. In an attempt to boost the electrification of light commercial […]
March 25, 2025
Stellantis is under increasing pressure as thousands of customers report persistent issues with the onboard chargers in its electric vehicles across Europe. Since 2019, owners of Peugeot, Opel, DS, and Citroën models have been dealing with a recurring defect that renders their vehicles unable to charge via standard AC stations, forcing them to rely exclusively […]
March 25, 2025
BYD has surpassed Tesla in annual revenue for the first time, cementing its status as the new driving force in the global EV industry. The Chinese automaker reported a record revenue for 2024, up nearly 30 percent from the last year. Windfall was particularly advantageous in its home market. Where Tesla posted revenue of €90.5 […]
March 25, 2025
China’s fourth-largest carmaker, state-owned Changan, has set foot ashore in Mainz, Germany, last Friday as the first step in its ‘European invasion’ in ten markets to start on the Old Continent in the following years. Its EU parts headquarters will be in the Netherlands. The group showed its electric SUV, Deepal S07, as its first […]
March 24, 2025
The Brussels Parliament has approved the proposal for an ordinance clarifying specific provisions postponing the tightening of the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) until January 1, 2027. The vote was 67 to 14, with the Greens and DéFI voting against and Benjamin Dalle (CD&V) abstaining. Whether this definitively eliminates the problems remains to be seen. Touring, […]
March 24, 2025
Once a symbol of Europe’s proud automotive tradition, several closed or downsized car factories across Western Europe are now being repurposed for defense manufacturing. Not only Audi Brussels but also VDL Nedcar and Volkswagen Osnabrück are trading in automotive parts for military components. This reminds us of how the automotive assembly sector was transformed for […]
March 22, 2025
With the next one—the #5—hitting the market in a few weeks, Smart has grown up. With its 4,695 mm length, width of 1,920 mm, height of 1,705 mm, and wheelbase of 2,900 mm, it is almost double the size of the original Smart ForTwo, which saw the light of day in 1998. Mercedes’ little brother, […]
March 21, 2025
“Our sales in Europe will make a big jump starting in March and April,” says Stella Li, Vice-President of the Chinese car manufacturer BYD. The carmaker still wants to expand its offer of PHEVs and BEVs, including a very affordable entry-level model. Meanwhile, Europe is investigating the financial aid the company got to build its […]
March 20, 2025
IKEA Belgium is ramping up its sustainability efforts by introducing seven new electric trucks for home deliveries. The move aims to modernize its logistics operations. Built by Volvo Trucks in Ghent, these vehicles will handle large orders, such as kitchens and wardrobes, reinforcing the retailer’s commitment to eco-friendly transportation. The purchase of the electric trucks […]
March 20, 2025
Surprisingly, SAIC Motor’s daughter MG will launch a completely new version of its MG4 EV. This car sells well overseas but has very low sales in China. The new version is larger than the previous one and has a brand-new design. This might signal that the company decided to start all over again with its […]
March 19, 2025
Tesla’s turbulent start to 2025, fueled by CEO Elon Musk’s political narrative, is lashing back at its owners. These face not only repercussions from activists throwing eggs and dog excrement at their cars but also higher running costs. For a brand that once set the pace for the global electric vehicle market, Tesla’s past few […]
March 19, 2025
Scientists in China claim to have found a way to breathe new life into worn-out lithium-ion batteries. Researchers at Fudan University have developed a revolutionary lithium injection method that could restore degraded batteries to near-factory conditions. They say this breakthrough could dramatically extend battery lifespan and stabilize EV resale values. The findings, published in the […]
March 18, 2025
Stellantis is partnering with Swedish startup Luvly to explore its innovative flat-pack vehicle production method. This method could dramatically reduce manufacturing and transportation costs and prove a worthwhile Western alternative to Chinese low-cost production. With the Citroën Ami and its siblings at Opel (Rock-e) and Fiat (Topolino), Stellantis has already explored the market for microcars. […]
March 18, 2025
The crisis at Audi deepens. Just weeks after the full closure of its Brussels plant, the luxury carmaker announced that it will slash 7,500 jobs in Germany by 2029 as part of a broad cost-cutting strategy. The Volkswagen-owned luxury automaker announced the move after lengthy negotiations with the company’s works council. The job cuts, which […]
March 18, 2025
Chinese EV maker NIO, known for its pioneering role in battery swapping, is joining forces with CATL, its major supplier, to set up a worldwide car-swapping network. CATL, the world’s biggest battery maker, puts its money where its mouth is by investing 2.5 billion yuan (€316 million) in Nio Power. Both parties signed an agreement […]
March 17, 2025
BMW is preparing for an aggressive product rollout. As part of its annual earnings call, the carmaker unveiled plans for more than 40 new and updated models by 2027, starting with the highly anticipated Neue Klasse iX3. The German automaker is betting on this next-generation EV technology to reverse a 4% drop in global sales […]
March 17, 2025
Changan, a state-owned Chinese auto manufacturer known for its sub-brands Avatr and Deepal and its joint ventures for domestic production of Ford and Mazda models, is coming to Europe. The brand will hold a launch event in Mainz, Germany, where it will introduce the Deepal S07 to the European public, soon followed by other models. […]
March 14, 2025
Since the Covid-19 crisis, there has been a “permanent change in household mobility behavior.” In particular, expenditures on car use have fallen significantly. That is the conclusion of a recent report by the Federal Planning Bureau and the Federal Public Service Mobility. However, there is a big difference between the regions. Households living in Wallonia […]
March 13, 2025
Porsche is embarking on a significant restructuring effort, cutting 3,900 jobs as it faces declining sales in China, rising trade tensions, and a potential tariff battle with the United States. The German sports carmaker is adjusting its financial outlook and product strategy to maintain profitability. The company announced the job reductions to boost efficiency and […]
March 13, 2025
Europe’s pride in battery manufacturing, Northvolt, has filed for bankruptcy in Sweden, marking a major setback for the EU’s efforts to compete with Chinese dominance in the electric vehicle battery market. Despite years of substantial investment from automakers, financial institutions, and government subsidies, the company failed to secure the $1 billion needed to sustain operations […]
March 12, 2025
Volkswagen’s profit dwindled by one-third last year due to slow demand and a cooldown in the Chinese market. But the salary of its CEO, Oliver Blume, rose. Will the near future relieve the ongoing problems at the German car giant? Volkswagen’s net profit plummeted 30.6% in 2024 to €12.39 billion. Europe’s largest automaker grapples with […]
March 12, 2025
Tesla shares tumbled more than 15% on Monday, suffering their worst single-day drop since 2020. The electric vehicle maker is grappling with plunging sales, and its valuation has been halved since December to roughly $700 billion (€640 billion). The trend marks a dramatic reversal from the optimism that followed Donald Trump’s election victory. To help […]
March 12, 2025
Nissan, the Japanese car manufacturer, has decided to change its leadership. The current CEO, Makoto Ushida, will leave at the end of the month. Ivan Espinosa, previously head of planning, will take over as CEO from the 1st of April. Ushida is said to have taken responsibility for the company’s economic crisis and the failed […]
March 12, 2025
Another car-sharing company is pulling out of Belgium. German provider Miles Mobility will leave the country entirely just two years after entering the market, citing rampant vandalism, misuse, and theft – issues particularly severe in Brussels. Margins aren’t strong enough to compensate for the rotten apples. The company announced on Tuesday that it will gradually […]
March 12, 2025
Three Toyota EVs will be on the market soon, and three more will be available by 2026. Luxury brand Lexus also promises three new EVs within twelve months. Nevertheless, the world’s number one car manufacturer won’t change its ‘multi-pathway’ approach. For Toyota, Europe is significant. It may sell ‘only’ 1.2 million cars on the old […]
March 11, 2025
Mercedes has begun the final winter testing of its new generation of luxury MPVs on the all-new VAN.EA (electric) and VAN.CA (combustion) platforms. This new model will be the successor to the current V-Class and EQV minivans, with a focus on more comfort on board and a more advanced electric drivetrain. Winter testing is one […]
March 11, 2025
Volkswagen has announced that its upcoming entry-level electric vehicle, the ID.Every1, will be produced in Portugal, as part of affordability push. Expected to hit the market in 2027 with a price tag of around €20,000, the compact city car will be built at the company’s Palmela factory, located 40 kilometers south of Lisbon. The announcement […]
March 11, 2025
Brussels-based holding company D’Ieteren enjoyed a record year with over a billion euros in pre-tax profits. The importer of VW vehicles and parent company to auto glass repairer Belron/Carglass, among others, came in at 1,065 billion euros in 2024. That’s 9.6% better than in 2023. Total sales also rose 3.5% to 12.07 billion euros. More […]
March 11, 2025
American car manufacturer Ford is supporting the transformation of its European business with fresh capital for its German subsidiary. The US manufacturer announced a capital injection of up to 4.4 billion euros, which is intended to ensure the “financial stability of Ford-Werke GmbH.” At the same time, it cancels an important guarantee, which worries the […]
March 10, 2025
Volvo’s flagship electric SUV, the EX90, is set for a significant technological upgrade. The carmaker is preparing to transition to an 800-volt electrical architecture, which will significantly improve the vehicle’s charging speed, bringing it in line with Volvo’s latest electric model, the ES90. The EX90, which only recently began reaching customers in key markets after […]
March 07, 2025
Chinese carmaker Xpeng has started rolling out its highly anticipated 2025 model lineup, and the latest addition is a refreshed version of its flagship SUV, the G9. This SUV, also available in Europe, is exciting as stakeholder Volkswagen intends to build derivatives of the model. The new G9’s LiDAR-based driving assistance aid swap is among […]
March 07, 2025
The world’s number one automaker, Japanese Toyota, is aiming its arrows on the world’s biggest auto market with the bZ3X electric SUV, introduced in China at 109,800 yuan or some 14,000 euros. The Chinese elbowed each other out of the way, crashing the server with more than 10,000 orders in an hour. It’s Toyota’s cheapest […]
March 06, 2025
After the first teaser info, and a leak of a picture from Volvo’s Belgian division yesterday, the Swedish car maker finally took the wraps off its new sedan ES90. It’s the first all-electric offering from Volvo in this segment. And the Swedes tried their best to give the Audi A6 e-Tron, BMW i5 and Mercedes […]
March 06, 2025
At a big event on Wednesday, Volkswagen showed its concept of the €20,000 BEV it wants to launch by 2027, the VW ID. Every1. The name gives away the whole idea: with this small BEV, ‘Volks-Wagen’ wants to become the manufacturer of ‘the car for all people’ again. With the series model, which will follow […]
March 05, 2025
Belgian Trends-Tendances magazine reports that Spanish-listed train builder CAF has won a tender to build hundreds of trains for Belgian railroad company NMBS/SNCB. French player Alstom, which is firmly entrenched in Belgium, missed out on the contract worth more than 3 billion euros, even though it was cheaper than the Spanish competitor. According to La […]
March 05, 2025
In the past month of February, slightly fewer second-hand cars were registered, but noticeably more private individuals were interested in new cars. According to Filip Rylant, spokesperson for Mobility Federation Traxio, “In February, 60,047 used cars were registered, a slight decrease of -0.5% (or 308 units) compared to February 2024, but 6,852 (+12.9%) units more […]
March 05, 2025
Chinese tech giant Xiaomi’s CEO, William Lu, is currently in Spain, where he told the Chinese press Jiemian that he will tour Europe’s car markets in the coming days to prepare for the launch of its EVs on the Old Continent starting in 2027. He wants to see firsthand how Chinese EV makers are doing […]
March 05, 2025
After promising ‘dozens’of new or refreshed models by the end of 2027, Mercedes has unveiled more details of its product offensive for the coming two years. The German manufacturer will launch over a dozen all-new models, eight facelifts, and two concept cars that will further expand the model range. Mercedes has faced a rough 2024, […]
